[Nida_Shaaz]

The magic of true love...
My eyes were getting heavy; my legs are all but steady I could see the front door of my home at the end of the sloping alley. It was raining and my pair of jeans weighed a ton. Just then my neighbor peeps out of her window and shouts "Hey dumbo! You are drunk again, just watch your step or else you might slip and fall" I replied "No, Renuka I am not drunk!" but she was not to fall for that trick, she knew me like the back of her hand. She just smiled and said "No wonder you are carrying umbrella closed and covering your head with a banana leaf! Man! What has gotten into you? You crazy mixed up guy!" and she shut her window and left me alone.

That’s when I asked myself "What is happening to me?" all I could think was nothing, I was blank inside. There I stay still in the rain with my eyes closed and seeking forgiveness. But what I was I seeking forgiveness? Was it for my disastrous drinking pattern or was it ignoring the only person I love in this world? All of a sudden I felt sick and started to hate myself.

I was halfway through my alley when I stopped and looked around; the alley bore a dead street look. The only things that looked alive were the two flickering lamps one in front porch and the other on the lamppost on the other end of the alley. Suddenly near the flickering lamppost I catch a glimpse of a silhouette, it looked so familiar but yet so forgettable, who could that be? That’s when I called out "Hey! Lady you don’t have an umbrella do you want mine?" the reply I got was " Jim, you crack pot, quit yelling at the lamppost it will dry up in the morning, man all you drunks tend to follow the same routine every night!" Before I explain to her about my ‘vision’, Renuka said "Yes, I know she is without an umbrella, why don’t you just leave her alone and sit on that tree stump while I get dressed and royally escort you home before u wake up the neighbors." So I sat down on the stump all cold and wet with my mind still hot about whether the silhouette was a hoax or real.

"Let’s go Mr. Knockout! I shouldn’t be out at this time its past midnight." grumbled Renuka. I followed I her to my porch and I insisted on opening the front door to which she agreed. We entered into my living room that was deader than a city morgue, that’s when she said "Well Jim, you can be the first one to wish me Happy Belated Birthday!" Just then my mind snapped back to reality and then I realized that I had not kept my promise, the promise that I won’t get drunk on her birthday and that I would be there for dinner at her place. I went up to her, gave her a kiss and wrapped her around my arms and I whispered "I am sorry, please forgive me" to which she replied in a cold voice "The dinner is on the table and our favorite chicken dish is in the casserole, enjoy your meal" with those words she let go of my grasp and walked put of the house.

There was no use going after her, I had spoilt her day and shattered her heart. After all the drunk just got the knock out punch he had been trying to get since evening.

I snapped up from my sleep in the morning, I was in bed all cuddled up inside the blanket but I don’t remember coming into my room, but then when do I remember! I lose all my senses once I get home after my rendezvous with my fellow drunks. I got up and went to my cupboard to pick up Renuka’s gift and letter; that’s when I checked up my mobile phone, it had a few calls from Renuka’s place, I called back and her mother took the call, on knowing it was me she said "Jim, my Ren fell from the stairs last night and she is in bad shape, we have been ringing you since then, where have you been?"

A fear crept upon me, the fear that I was responsible for the fate of my beloved friend last night. I rushed out to her house went straight up to her room. The sight of her gave me a shiver; she was in a bad shape, her face bruised and arm strapped. I froze there, just then she smiled and said "Good morning Jim. Could you please excuse us I am halfway through my dressing!" that’s when I realized she was half dressed and her maid was giving me stony stare. I smiled sheepishly and went out. After a while the maid came out and said "Just look how much of pain my little girl is facing due to your folly and arrogant ways". Now I was completely soaked in guilt, I some how gathered courage and entered the room.

"Okay crackpot go straight to the bathroom wash your face, brush your teeth and then we will share our breakfast I was expecting you". I followed her instructions like a 2 year old listening to his mother. Once we started breakfast, she said "your ring is beautiful and so was your letter" to my horror I was still holding her gift and letter in my hand! She continued "don’t bother opening the two in your hand, you took them out yesterday and gave it to me, well you see Jim if your memory is intact you should have remembered calling me after dinner and weeping out over the phone, then you came to me on all fours and gave them to me after which I took you back and tucked you in bed" I couldn’t say anything because it had to be true. She went "then I got back home and I went to the kitchen as the late night baby sitting made me hungry after my bite I tripped halfway along the stairs and ended up in this mess" and she pointed to her head and arm, rather triumphantly like a prize-winning boxer. My inner conscious went dead and I felt myself wilt in pain and regret.

"Well let’s forget the past" she popped up "Yes! I will" I looked up to her with my utmost surprise, she gave out a radiant smile and it conveyed that she had accepted my proposal in my letter. That made me feel special and felt happy that at least one person in this world, after my beloved parents, wants me. I held her hand said "Thank you".

The day went by as the most peaceful and relaxing day of my senseless life. I thanked God for giving me that day. I felt a sense of relief in my heart. Then Renuka said "Jim, I hope you will be more into your senses now and make me sweat out less for you, I won’t be able to escort to in this state anymore!" I said "Your wish is my command. I am all yours from now".

The next day I woke at sunrise, it was wonderful. Oh! How I missed these experiences earlier in my life. I went up to Ren and told her that I was joining back to work after my leave. She was surprised on hearing the news and told me that "You are going to do fine now, come to me every day after work and tell me your day’s adventure, at least that way I will keep you out of your night pal Smirnoff!"

The week passed by as the most memorable week of my life. I had become more patient, optimistic and best of all I had a smile on my face all day long. My colleagues were happy to see me get back into life. Every evening me and Ren kept ourselves busy with our daily adventures and it would go on till late at night. The magic of her love was working; I had become a better man. The week was coming to an end and I was eagerly looking forward for our private lunch during the weekend. The Saturday before our planned lunch I called up Ren and told her that I won’t be able to make up for dinner that night as I had to stay up late in the office. She said "That’s fine with me, moreover I am having a bad headache and that’s make our lunch more exciting tomorrow!" I became a bit concerned and for the first time I got angry with her "You silly gal, I thought I told you to check up with the doctor about that headache of yours!" She just murmured "Its okay Jim, we will go to the doc tomorrow, is that okay with you?" we agreed to that and cut out our conversation.

By the time I reached back home it was way past midnight. I tried calling her up but I got no answer from her." Well she must be in a deep sleep" I thought. Deep sleep she was but little did we it was for good.

Next morning Ren’s maid came up to my house with an eerie silence surrounding her. Her trembling voice said "Jim, come over to our place Ren’s not waking up" a chill ran up my spine and I rushed to her room, the doctor came up to me and said "A colt in her head pushed into sleep, she will not heed to our calls, it all over, I am sorry". Those words plunged me into oblivion and felt the world tumbling around me.

There was nothing I could do rather than cry and pray that she is safe in the other world.

The Sunday we kept up with our 1Pm reservation but it was not be at our favorite restaurant instead we were at her grave, just me and her. We had our private chat. The sun went down and the orange sky reflected the fire that was burning within my soul.

My life had lost the will to live. That evening I went back to my silent corner and helped myself with my usual company of 6 parts of Vodka and a part of lime. My eyes are getting heavy; my legs are all but steady. I can see my front porch down the alley but I can’t move because I intoxicated and exhausted. It’s raining cats and dogs; the flickering lamppost is the only bright thing in the dark alley. Just then I see this silhouette yet again she looks familiar but unrecognizable. Instead of vanishing away I see her come closer to me I stood my ground to get a glimpse of her, "Jim, You are drunk again, just watch your step or else you might slip and fall". I replied, "No, I am not drunk!" She just smiled and said "No wonder you are carrying umbrella closed and covering your head with a banana leaf!"

I asked her "Do you want to join me in my umbrella?"

Startled but happily she said "I thought you would never ask!"