Arlene passed the florist’s shop and noticed something different. Margret had lilies. She never kept lilies. “Today must be a special day,” she thought and walked ahead.
She overheard a conversation between two elderly women walking their dogs, “Violence... these kids” one of them grumbled.
“Did these women have anything better to do in life, other than gossip?” she wondered. She reached the campus and found it comparatively empty. It had begun to drizzle. Although she hated the rain, she enjoyed the tiny droplets falling on her forehead, as she crossed the large campus garden.
As she climbed up the stairs that led to the principal’s office, she froze. She could almost picture him, in that large heavily decorated office, with leather chairs and bronze vases. She could almost hear him.
“Never again shall you dare to venture into the college library.”
“Never again shall you see the face of a scholarship.”
“Never again will you be considered eligible for student elections.”
“Never again shall you dare do what you have done today.”
She could almost hear herself, “It was their fault, I swear I didn’t do it” she sobbed.
“Oh!”, he barked sarcastically, “I’m sure they must have painted the laboratory too? Afterall, you are the most brilliant student of the university. You couldn’t possibly lie!”
“Please believe me,” she had begged, “they thought I would tell on them. It wasn’t me. It wasn’t me.”
“Never again shall you set foot in the institution, you juvenile freak! Get out!”
The sound of thunder brought her back to reality. He was wrong. Here she was, standing on the very campus she had been kicked off, two years ago. Things however, were different today. Dark clouds gathered overhead. Her shoes were soaked by now. She walked up to the principal’s door and paused. “Should I knock or should I just walk in?” she debated with herself.
Finally, she walked in. He was furious, “How dare you!”. She stretched her hand out in his direction.
“Never again, eh?” she said, and pulled the trigger.
Crappy no? Deal with it.
Safe Earth
The waterfalls poured into the center of the valley. A young fox chased a Callippe Silverspot through the woods. He tried to jump over some mushrooms, but his tiny feet got entangled in a stray root and he spun into a patch of lilies.
Rolling onto his back, he absorbed the sight of millions of rays of the sun, trying to make their way to the forest's surface, through the dense mesh of leaves and branches. His ear twitched. A sound, far too familiar to ignore, got him back on his feet.
He dashed through the forest, in the direction of the dam, carelessly slipping over some rocks, covered with moss. A flock of birds flew above, casting a huge cloud like shadow ahead. When he reached the dam, he saw his father standing against a wall, calling out to him.
He climbed onto the wall and approached his father slowly. The big fox looked beyond the dam, at the rising sun, and took in a deep breath.
"The world is such a beautiful place, isn't it?", he asked.
"Yes father," he replied, with a twinkle of innocence in his eyes, "thank goodness those humans are extinct!"
The Engagement
Trevis tripped over some loose wires as he balanced a pitcher of cold beer in his right hand, and the cordless microphone in the other. After a few glances through the crowd, he spotted Belinda standing near the couch with Janice and Beatrice. Missing the glass center piece by inches, he crossed the large living room and stood by her side.
“Sweets, my digicam is in the lower left pocket of my coat,” he said, spreading his arms, “could you please fish it out for me, and record what follows.”
“Trevis,” she threw her hands up in frustration, “make someone else do it.”
“Pretty please,” he begged, “You’ve got good stable hands, I have this gorgeous surprise planned for Jessica, and I want a nice, clear, non-earthquake-effect video of it.”
Belinda gave in. It was her best friend’s engagement party, how could she possibly refuse! Even though she knew that he was marrying the non-fictional version of Cruella de Vil, she began recording, half-heartedly.
Trevis climbed onto the soft beige leather couch that sat pretty in his ‘to-be’ in-laws living room, pitcher still in hand. “Ladies and gentlemen, could I please have your attention,” he said, raising the pitcher high for all to see. “DJ, could you stop the music for just a moment? Yes, thank you,” he turned back to the crowd. “I know how this looks, ‘beer in hand’, ‘guy standing on the couch with a microphone’, but no, I’m as sober as sober can be.” A faint wave of laughter ran across the room.
“Jessica, darling,” he said pointing the pitcher at a gorgeous woman dressed in a peach micro-mini, “could you come here please, by the couch?”
Jessica was already half across the room. Her mother was furious to see Trevis climb onto the couch. The surprise did not matter; it was a very expensive couch.
Jessica tugged at the right leg of his pant, “What are you doing?” but Trevis just winked at her and went on. “The reason I’ve stood up on this couch, is so that all you wonderful people in the back don’t miss it. This one’s for you darling” he blew her a kiss. “Two years ago, I met a gorgeous, talented woman at a party, full of life, radiant and adventurous. I wouldn’t be wrong if I said, it was love at first sight. From that very moment, I never stopped falling in love with her.” He watched as couples exchanged glances and smiles.
“Two years later, we’ve decided to marry, so that nothing on this planet can ever come between us. As all of you know, the big day is on the 26th of the next month, most of you must have already received your invites. The preparations are underway, and everything is going on as planned,” he paused, “rather, as she planned,” he said, throwing her a little smile.
“The car that stands outside below the mango tree; the black Skoda Octavia, that’s supposed to be our wedding car. The only problem is that, I had a tiny accident on my way here, tonight. Fortunately, I am here in one piece, as you can see, hail and hearty and unharmed.” He could tell by Jessica’s face, that she was losing patience.
“The bonnet however, wasn’t as lucky, and has taken quite a beating; something that a quick dose of concealer cannot fix,” everybody laughed this time.
“When I got here, Jessica took one look at the car and freaked out. I got off, and expected her to run to me, and give me a free check up and shower me with kisses. Instead, I got one of the worst lectures of my life. Sadly, Jessica has the added burden of arranging for a wedding car, at the last minute. I was also lectured for keeping her waiting on ‘her’ important day, and not bothering about all the preparations ‘she’ had spent days over, and how my irresponsibility and lack of punctuality would eventually ruin ‘her’ big day. She conveniently left out a few important questions like, whether I was hurt, or what exactly happened.”
Jessica looked up at him and mouthed the words, ‘What the hell!’ but Trevis wouldn’t stop. “She even refused to speak to me or hear me out thereafter. Don’t worry, I’m not here to justify the accident, but yeah, just for the record, it wasn’t my fault,” somebody in the back let out a muffled laugh. “To cut a long story short, all this time, I admired the perfectionist I was in love with, but little did I realize, that Jessica, the woman of my dreams, is a rude, insensitive, pigheaded little b**** who can think of nothing and no one beyond herself and her big plans.”
Jessica’s mother signaled the DJ to switch off the microphone, but he pretended that he didn’t notice her.
“So here’s to Jessica’s perfect little engagement party, may all you lovely people have a wonderful evening” he said and emptied the pitcher of cold beer on her head, as he stepped down from the couch.
Belinda waited a few moments before she hit pause. She was relishing the look on Jessica's face.
Her Friend..
The alarm rang. She peered lazily at the room, through her left eye. The sun light lit her dressing table and the endless procession of bottles diaplayed on it. The dust danced in the beams of light. She could hear him sing in the kitchen, or was he chatting away with a friend. She couldn’t tell. She didn’t bother.
The alarm wouldn’t stop ringing. Why couldn’t he just switch it off for her? He knew she wouldn’t get out of bed if she didn’t do it herself. This was their daily routine. He’d never switch off the alarm, even though he’d always wake up before her. Nature was his alarm.
She crawled to the side of the bed. Had this been a weekday, he’d crawl into bed beside, shower her with little kisses till she pushed him away. Those warm eyes would bore into her heart. He was so gentle, so loving. How could she have ever doubted him? How could she have ever doubted his love for her? It was the same, three years ago.
She was shocked out of her skin when her mother told her, that he’d be staying with them. She eyed him suspiciously, from head to foot. There wasn’t much to eye. He was weak, skinny and unattractive. She wouldn’t really care whether he stayed for a few months or a few years, but she would have to share her room WITH HIM! Noooooooo!
After fiddling with the alarm for some ten seconds, she managed to get it to shut up. He stopped talking. He knew she was up. That’s one of the many things she loved about him, always alert, always observant, always curious.
The shower coughed a little spray of muddy water. She stepped out of the way. She could hear him, behind her, in the room, up and about. The first time she saw him, he at quietly in the corner of her living room, waiting for her approval. Her approval didn’t matter at all. No matter how many tantrums she threw, he would still stay, because her mother was the one in charge and the decision was made. She was just a kid. Yet, his eyes looked up to her in expectation, with a silent plea, begging for her approval. The understanding between them was mutual – ‘keep to your side of the room, and there won’t be any bloodshed’.
As time passed by, they grew close. Her mother was transferred to Bangalore, but she couldn’t leave. Hunting for another perfect job was close to impossible. After days of ‘mature discussions’ her mother agreed to leave her behind, on one condition. He would stay with her. It was either him, or Bangalore. With a heavy heart, she agreed. If she had put up with for all this time, what’s a few more years?
She heard the neighbor’s children giggle in the bathroom next door. The neighbors. They never liked him. They spoke about him, discussed him; they disliked him from the bottom of their hearts. However, they never dared to squeak against him, while her mother was in Mumbai. Once she left, the trouble began. Like her, they too expected him to leave when her mother left for Bangalore. There were meetings, discussions and arguments. Finally, she put her foot down. It was none of their business. Anybody who had a problem with him was free to leave. She even offered to help them find an estate agent, if it would put an end to their bickering. They were never bothered again, except for some scornful looks. She figured that they were just jealous.
Through the entire drama, he stayed quiet. He didn’t try to suck up to the neighbors. Neither did he say or do anything to hurt them. He trusted her, and he knew that she would protect him, just like her mother. So what if he didn’t fit in. So what if he was a little different. Everyone is different. Some a little more than others, but in the end, it’s what’s in your heart that matters. His heart was pure gold; always understanding, ever forgiving.
The shower refused to start. She opened the door. He was standing there, staring at her, with all that love in his eyes. ‘Wouldn’t it be great if you could fix things too?’ He barked back, wagging his tail. She knew he was laughing.
The alarm wouldn’t stop ringing. Why couldn’t he just switch it off for her? He knew she wouldn’t get out of bed if she didn’t do it herself. This was their daily routine. He’d never switch off the alarm, even though he’d always wake up before her. Nature was his alarm.
She crawled to the side of the bed. Had this been a weekday, he’d crawl into bed beside, shower her with little kisses till she pushed him away. Those warm eyes would bore into her heart. He was so gentle, so loving. How could she have ever doubted him? How could she have ever doubted his love for her? It was the same, three years ago.
She was shocked out of her skin when her mother told her, that he’d be staying with them. She eyed him suspiciously, from head to foot. There wasn’t much to eye. He was weak, skinny and unattractive. She wouldn’t really care whether he stayed for a few months or a few years, but she would have to share her room WITH HIM! Noooooooo!
After fiddling with the alarm for some ten seconds, she managed to get it to shut up. He stopped talking. He knew she was up. That’s one of the many things she loved about him, always alert, always observant, always curious.
The shower coughed a little spray of muddy water. She stepped out of the way. She could hear him, behind her, in the room, up and about. The first time she saw him, he at quietly in the corner of her living room, waiting for her approval. Her approval didn’t matter at all. No matter how many tantrums she threw, he would still stay, because her mother was the one in charge and the decision was made. She was just a kid. Yet, his eyes looked up to her in expectation, with a silent plea, begging for her approval. The understanding between them was mutual – ‘keep to your side of the room, and there won’t be any bloodshed’.
As time passed by, they grew close. Her mother was transferred to Bangalore, but she couldn’t leave. Hunting for another perfect job was close to impossible. After days of ‘mature discussions’ her mother agreed to leave her behind, on one condition. He would stay with her. It was either him, or Bangalore. With a heavy heart, she agreed. If she had put up with for all this time, what’s a few more years?
She heard the neighbor’s children giggle in the bathroom next door. The neighbors. They never liked him. They spoke about him, discussed him; they disliked him from the bottom of their hearts. However, they never dared to squeak against him, while her mother was in Mumbai. Once she left, the trouble began. Like her, they too expected him to leave when her mother left for Bangalore. There were meetings, discussions and arguments. Finally, she put her foot down. It was none of their business. Anybody who had a problem with him was free to leave. She even offered to help them find an estate agent, if it would put an end to their bickering. They were never bothered again, except for some scornful looks. She figured that they were just jealous.
Through the entire drama, he stayed quiet. He didn’t try to suck up to the neighbors. Neither did he say or do anything to hurt them. He trusted her, and he knew that she would protect him, just like her mother. So what if he didn’t fit in. So what if he was a little different. Everyone is different. Some a little more than others, but in the end, it’s what’s in your heart that matters. His heart was pure gold; always understanding, ever forgiving.
The shower refused to start. She opened the door. He was standing there, staring at her, with all that love in his eyes. ‘Wouldn’t it be great if you could fix things too?’ He barked back, wagging his tail. She knew he was laughing.
Coffee
‘Rap, tap-a-rap-tap’, it might have been the nth time she drummed her nails on the coffee table. Untamed strands of her silken hair began to creep out of the grip of her hair clip. She pushed them behind her ear, uneasily. The air conditioner had frozen her exposed toes to numbness. Glancing up again, all around, at the door, at the other tables, all in one look and she turned her attention to the dripping glass of water that sat untouched, at her table.
‘I shouldn’t have worn white. It makes me look so fat! Oh! Why did I wear white?!’, she cursed herself.
He was five minutes late. She had been fifteen minutes early. The air was cold and heavy, with bitter coffee. The music was slow. She swayed in a daze, to “Gone with the Sin”. ‘What an odd selection!’ she thought to herself.
He peered through the tinted glass, like a curious child, at table 16. His spectacles nearly dropped out of his sweaty hands. The anxiety and the excitement was making his head spin.
“OK, she’s pretty cute”. He breathed out.
“How can you say that? You haven’t even seen her face yet!” His friend nearly pushed him in.
“No way, dude!” He struggled back, “I don’t want to meet her. Once she sees me, she won’t ever talk to me again”.
“This is stupid.” His friend grunted. “If she was as ugly as a rhino, I could understand, but she looks all right. What will it take to get you to speak to her?!” The argument continued.
She wrestled with her watch. ‘06:20pm already’, she gasped. Maybe he had changed his mind. Maybe he had seen her, and walked away, like all the others. The thought crushed her. She didn’t dare call him. Would it be easier to face rejection over the phone, or in person?
“Come on man! Just this once, I swear! You know how many times I’ve bailed you out of deeper s***”, he pleaded with his friend, “You owe me this, I won’t ask for anything, ever again.”
“What if she asks me questions? What if she talks about the things you wrote, the things she wrote?! And what happens when she finds out that, I’m not you?”, his friend raised his eyebrow.
“She’s here for one day. Her flight leaves in another seven to eight hours.” She turned. He dragged his friend to a darker corner. “You do all the talking. She’s shy, she’ll barely squeak!”
“You know what! I’m leaving”, his friend got out of his grip. “You cannot do this to her. Don’t do this to her today. Go out, show yourself. She already loves you..”
He slumped in a chair, pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his sweat studded forehead. His friend pulled him back on his feet, “You will do just fine.”
He smiled, took in a deep breath and walked through the door. He looked at table 16 and stopped dead in his tracks. She wasn’t there.
In utter disbelief, he dragged his feet to the chair, where she sat in anticipation for thirty agonizing minutes.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she got into the taxi. Her sister back at home, had been calling her frantically, for the past 10 minutes. Reluctantly, she answered, “Well? How are things so far?” She tried to suppress her tears, but she choked. Her sister understood. ‘He hid, he saw me and hid,” she sobbed into the phone.
“Are you sure it was him?”, her sister prayed that she was mistaken.
“Oh come on! Maroon t-shirt, Lee-Cooper jeans – that’s quite a coincidence, isn’t it?”, she blurted out.
“Its all right baby, come home. He’s just another jerk.”, her sister consoled her.
By this time tomorrow, she would be back at home, preparing for her engagement.
‘I shouldn’t have worn white. It makes me look so fat! Oh! Why did I wear white?!’, she cursed herself.
He was five minutes late. She had been fifteen minutes early. The air was cold and heavy, with bitter coffee. The music was slow. She swayed in a daze, to “Gone with the Sin”. ‘What an odd selection!’ she thought to herself.
He peered through the tinted glass, like a curious child, at table 16. His spectacles nearly dropped out of his sweaty hands. The anxiety and the excitement was making his head spin.
“OK, she’s pretty cute”. He breathed out.
“How can you say that? You haven’t even seen her face yet!” His friend nearly pushed him in.
“No way, dude!” He struggled back, “I don’t want to meet her. Once she sees me, she won’t ever talk to me again”.
“This is stupid.” His friend grunted. “If she was as ugly as a rhino, I could understand, but she looks all right. What will it take to get you to speak to her?!” The argument continued.
She wrestled with her watch. ‘06:20pm already’, she gasped. Maybe he had changed his mind. Maybe he had seen her, and walked away, like all the others. The thought crushed her. She didn’t dare call him. Would it be easier to face rejection over the phone, or in person?
“Come on man! Just this once, I swear! You know how many times I’ve bailed you out of deeper s***”, he pleaded with his friend, “You owe me this, I won’t ask for anything, ever again.”
“What if she asks me questions? What if she talks about the things you wrote, the things she wrote?! And what happens when she finds out that, I’m not you?”, his friend raised his eyebrow.
“She’s here for one day. Her flight leaves in another seven to eight hours.” She turned. He dragged his friend to a darker corner. “You do all the talking. She’s shy, she’ll barely squeak!”
“You know what! I’m leaving”, his friend got out of his grip. “You cannot do this to her. Don’t do this to her today. Go out, show yourself. She already loves you..”
He slumped in a chair, pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his sweat studded forehead. His friend pulled him back on his feet, “You will do just fine.”
He smiled, took in a deep breath and walked through the door. He looked at table 16 and stopped dead in his tracks. She wasn’t there.
In utter disbelief, he dragged his feet to the chair, where she sat in anticipation for thirty agonizing minutes.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she got into the taxi. Her sister back at home, had been calling her frantically, for the past 10 minutes. Reluctantly, she answered, “Well? How are things so far?” She tried to suppress her tears, but she choked. Her sister understood. ‘He hid, he saw me and hid,” she sobbed into the phone.
“Are you sure it was him?”, her sister prayed that she was mistaken.
“Oh come on! Maroon t-shirt, Lee-Cooper jeans – that’s quite a coincidence, isn’t it?”, she blurted out.
“Its all right baby, come home. He’s just another jerk.”, her sister consoled her.
By this time tomorrow, she would be back at home, preparing for her engagement.