The Anniversary

WARNING!
"Before I start off with this story, I'd like to mention that this work is not an individual effort...as always there is, behind every debacle, a lady, I just want to say that this is no exception to the thumb rule. :P...and one more thing, it's a short story, not a long post :D"

I happened to be at a mall last weekend trying to figure out what to buy for my fiancé. This had to be a fantastic present for she was really special .. meant the world to me. And it would be our third anniversary tomorrow .. 23rd of December '06.

So I am at this giant of a mall .. trying to pick something for someone who has a keen eye for things! Makes one tense and panicky, doesn't it?

For the first time I was going decide upon buying her something to wear on our special day.

So there I was, trying to decide, swimming through the kaleidoscopic whirlpool of evening wear. I take a break and look around at the sea blue and bottle green shades of the interiors of the shop and just as I am about to dive right in, my tired eyes met those bewildered ones as though crying out loud "Gods must be crazy to send this man hunting for a dress!"

She glides towards me .. smoothly. There's an indistinguishable aura around her. “What seems to be the problem? I feel you could do with some advice.”, she speaks in a mellifluous voice. Perplexed as I am I welcome the proposal and vomit out the words in a fluster, trying to describe the situation. She merely nods her head, a smile spread over her flawlessly chiseled visage. Her sharp eyes turn toward the myriad that lies before us, her perfectly manicured fingers maneuvering through it all.

And her hand stops at a little black number, lying discretely amongst the vibrancy. With anticipation she looks at me for approval. Her eyes gleam, blinding the shimmer of the swarovski work on the dress. I give her a naive nod while wondering how she would look in it. I clear the bills at the cash counter and offer to take her to lunch .. the least I could do to repay her. She politely refuses .. her eyes never leaving mine. I persuade her enough to settle for a hot cup of cappuccino.

And so we move to one of those lesser known exclusive cafes where the ambience is just right for a nice warm private conversation. We place the order and wait for the coffee to arrive. She lights a smoke...I liked that. There she is .. suave .. smooth .. sure.

The coffee arrives but soon turns cold since we are engrossed .. talking incessantly. We talk about her, me, n the whole goddamn world we have to be a part of. Time flies and before we know, the cafe manager comes up to us with a closing time notice. Hence, we finally plunge into the wilderness of the world once again.

The biting cold winds, after the warmth of the café, remind us of the chilly winter that the world is blessed with at this time of the year. We quickly get into the car and just as I was about to put the key into the ignition she turns to me and says "why don't you let me take the wheel. I really feel like letting my hair down tonight."

So there I was, sitting besides her and watching this gorgeous lady take it out on the wide winding empty roads...

She was a masterful driver .. the sudden rush of blood to the head .. the ultimate thrill that speed induces .. all amounting to my growing affection towards the lady besides me.

But it came to pass, as we neared her place.

And there it stood, her house .. nothing fancy on the outside .. lying in the solitude that sometimes shone in her own eyes.

She parked right outside the main gate and we got out ... still recovering from the after-effects of the speed … still laughing and giggling from a joke that lingered on in our heads.

So here was the awkward moment of parting...

We both fell silent for a moment and I realized that we hadn't even introduced ourselves as yet...

So to fill that embarrassing void I introduced myself and learned her name .. Rahel .. it was Rahel .. as charismatic as her.

Anyways .. we just stood there looking .. into each other's eyes. Deep within lay a mutual understanding and appreciation for each other. We had just known each other for just a few hours and had hit it off surprisingly, totally, mind-fucking-bogglingly well!!

Something told me that we'd been looking intently at each others’ quite a while now .. I suddenly snapped out of it and, shy I as I was, started with a goodbye. She put her hand on my lips and before I knew it .. I was being led to her doorstep. She opened the door and lo .. there was the most dazzling house I'd ever set foot in, all white, silver and glass .. so pure and chaste .. just like her.

I loved it, her even more so... she lead me up the stairs to one of the bedrooms and put on the lights .. dimmed and some music .. Iris ..

And I'd give up forever to touch you

Coz I know that you feel me somehow,

You're the closest heaven that I'll ever be

And I don't wanna go home right now.

And all I could taste is this moment,

And all I can breathe is your life.

Sooner or later its over,

I just don't wanna miss you tonight.

I moved towards her in spite of my shyness .. gradually pulling her towards me. She didn't make any attempts to break free. We stood there .. caressing .. the fires within risen .. forgetting what was around us .. lost ourselves into each other .. slowly, passionately, completely. What came to pass during that night and between those white sheets of silk is all a haze now...sweet memories. What I clearly remember is of waking up with a start .. finding myself in some one else's bed .. my chronograph showing 7am .. Especially THAT morning made me feel weird. Then all the things came rushing back to me .. the beautiful girl ..Rahel.. the quite evening .. the fast lanes of the late night city and the climax.It was my goddamn ANNIVERSARY!! and I was here , in someone else's bed. God, what would I tell Ruma, she'd be heartbroken, but I had to be honest with her and then it was up to her to decide my fate. The place was not quite the same .. the pureness missing, everything somewhat dulled .. infact quite downtrodden .. as if in a state of disuse .. the silk sheets were gone and so was she!!

Things white and silver were now yellow and rusty .. I couldn’t figure what in the hell's name happened to the place .. all in a night!

I still hadn't found her .. and was now starting to worry .. her beautiful smile flashing in front of me now and then... the beautiful eyes I had bared my soul to were nowhere to be seen.

I decided to look outside, made my way amongst the clutter and the cobwebs toward the door. I opened it in the hope of finding her standing outside and right in the middle of the ground lay a stone that read:

Rahel D'Souza

14 June 1984 - 23 Dec 2004

R.I.P
“THE young, the lovely pass away,
Ne'er to be seen again;
Earth's fairest flowers too soon decay;
Its blasted trees remain.

Full oft we see the brightest thing
That lifts its head on high,
Smile in the light, then droop its wing,
And fade away, and die.

And kindly is the lesson given,
Then dry the falling tear;
They came to raise our hearts to heaven,
They go to call us there.”

I passed out.