Disclaimer: This story is part of the #TornadoGiveaway posts by The Book Club and has been published as-is, in its unedited form on Tell-A-Tale.
Love becomes our solace or our crutch? When and why does love overshadow the person? This and much more in a short story by Namrata who delves deep into love.
The stark whiteness of the bed sheet looked in tandem with our skin. The slight attempt to hide our nakedness along
with our togetherness was too injudicious. I glanced sideways to see Chetan fast asleep, his rhythmic breathing creating music of its own.
What was there about him that I loved so much I wondered as I kept looking at his face! Cute dimples, rarely seen yet charming smile, looks to die for with a golden complexion he did set my heart on fire every time I thought of him. And about me? Well, 28, unhappily married was perhaps the most apt description. Suddenly I smiled thinking about my own thoughts just a moment ago – I love him? Sounded strangely comforting. I needed to hear this today, know that what I felt for him was much more than pure lust.
I lusted after him not to just sleep with him but to hold hands and witness thousands of sunsets together. I lusted for his arms to feel protected and sleep peacefully safe from the whole bad mad world around. I lusted for him in a way the sky lusted for the moon every night so that the sky could stay illuminated and yet live two different lives. His mere presence itself was enough to light up my life.
I met Chetan at a random party I had decided to tag along with a friend to on a boring weekend. Younger to me, there was something about him that attracted me in the first instance itself. And no it wasn’t his looks. It was the way he looked at me. He made me feel like a woman, desired and wanted. It had been a while I had felt like that. He awakened the woman in me who loved attention, getting compliments and flattered to no end.
Perhaps finally the great Sunaina Kumar was tired of taking care of herself, of portraying how tomboyish she was while deep beneath those tough exteriors laid a dormant woman who was dying to be rekindled. Chetan did just that and with nothing but his words. Within days I was blushing at just a thought of his and we were constantly chatting on the messenger like lovelorn teenagers.
There was no love lost between us. He was looking for some thrill while I was looking for some excitement in my mundane life. What I didn’t know was there were emotions at play and hearts at stake. Before I could realize I had lost mine. I don’t know if it was the emotional need to be with him or a physical one but the desire just kept increasing every day while for him I was just another girl on his life albeit a rich one who pampered him and entertained all his whims and fancies.
I wanted him. My heart kept singing “Can I just sleep in your arms for one night knowing that I belong there?” but there was never an answer. Usually lovers play she loves me she loves me not but here I was playing love me for a moment and I will make it last a lifetime. Needless to add I lost this game too. I was bound by my own limitations and he had his own rules in the game.
Off late I had begun to notice a change in his behavior. My clinginess was perhaps wearing him off and Sunaina never wanted to be a Ms. Chipko. I decided to make a quiet exit from his life before emotions overruled senses and today was the day. A nondescript hotel room which was witness to our love was also witnessing the supposed farewell.
I looked into the mirror adjusting my hair when my eyes fell on him. It looked strange to see it like this, me and him next to each other in one frame. Perhaps this is how we were meant to be together, in a reflection which after all was just an illusion.
I hastily exited the room leaving behind a note for him:
You will forever remain in a corner of my heart. And it is not for now or till the time I meet someone else. It will exist till the day I do or maybe even beyond that. I may fall in love again or may be not but that small place will forever be yours for you define that word for me. You mean LOVE.
About The Author
Namrata
Namrata is an investment banker who dreams of making a difference to the world, one word at a time. She romances life through her writings and aspires to make love the universal language. She is a contributor to various anthologies and e-zines along with having recently published her first solo e-book called Metro Diaries: Seventeen LOVE classics. She is also the editor for Writer’s Ezine, apart from being a reviewer for leading publishing houses.
If you want to win her book
METRO DIARIES
try the #TornadoGiveaway organised by The Book Club or check out the Rafflecoper below.
Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word… Thank you for being a Reader… You keep the Authors motivated… This is our way of saying a Thank you 
