The Painting

                                              
                                                           ***** Here I refers to John ******

It was a dark stormy night when my car got struck in mid of highway. It was thundering as if a great battle of skies is about to begin. Tired of trying to fix the car, quickly opened my google maps and searched for some shelter.

Despite of being  29 year old with a heavily built body, I started feeling scared as there wasn't even a single vehicle or people crossing my way. Moreover it was lightening very badly, spending a whole night at car will really be a risky thing to do.

Sweet scent of rain made me realize its fast approach.Soon Drizzling started accumulated with rain.

Due to bad weather my mobile refused  to show me any result. Leaving the car locked, I started towards a dim light seen at few meters away with an intention to reach it before I get completely wet.Very soon I  was able to see lights clearly in the stormy night.  Reaching there to my surprise it was a Hotel.I entered while rubbing my wet hair to remove excess water. A gorgeous receptionist at the entrance greeted me. She had an amazing smile as we shared little intro. After insisting her to check for a room, finally I got one. She was in plain hair with ruby red top. She handed over room keys and directed me. I  gave a thankful smile which in turn received the same from her. The ambience of the inn was  amazing and walls were beautifully carved. The rustling sound of wind chimes, the lonely corridors, imported furniture added an essence to it. It was half past to 11 O'clock. I ordered a sumptuous meal as I was too hungry. I lied on bed thinking of the things happened in my life.

When I opened my eyes it was too dark as the power has gone. I managed to get some candles lit. I was too sleepy but the thunders and heavy rain kept me awake. Amidst of candle light my eyes went on to a beautiful painting of a house which is located at a hilltop with an amazing landscape at back. It was beautifully painted on a droplet shaped glass frame. It was looking like a water droplet if seen at a distance because of the glossy touch of oil paint. I stared it for a while and forgot the knocking sound of door. Sooner I realized there is someone at the door step as it was unlocked. It was a young girl ,  "Hii....Am from next room could you please lend me a candle." I replied "sorry mam there is only one candle" suggesting her to stay in his room till the power comes. she sat on sofa at the corner of the room.

Breaking the silence She said " Am priya, a professional photographer. Have come here to capture the exotic beauty of this place". Correcting my voice I replied " Hi Am john an entrepreneur. My car got struck in mid way so have to come here."

                                                          ***********Thunder sound continues**********

I resumed  looking into the window. A deserted road with water making its way from sideways, apart from this Nothing else was seen as the storm was too wild and sky filled with grayish black clouds with  lightning striking irregularly.

Silence remained for few more minutes.

I casually asked "so miss priya!! how is life going on ". Priya with full on energy replied "Marvelous awesome amazing... I have been loving the profession I chose" "What about your personal life?" A great silence again. A low voice emerged " my parents expired 2 years ago in a car accident.  From then am living with my best friend, Loneliness."Oh am sorry!!" I exclaimed . "No its ok am used to it. I forgot everything Infact am taking it from my positive lens." replied priya showing her positivity with a smile.

"Won't your parent's  sweet memories haunt you?" I remarked.

"Hmmm. Yes Sometimes ....but I do things which they like me doing. So am living with their  thoughts and ideas. They are always with me through Memories." replied Priya with her positive attitude.

"Great....Thats the Perfect way to overcome all the odds of life !!" I commented.

"So how about your life John!! " asked priya suspiciously.
"Its a long sad story and I dont disclose it to anyone", I replied with low voice.
"If you dont show wounds how will they get cured. Okayyy if its toooo personal I wont interfere. "priya said sarcastically with an intention  to let him disclose his story.

"Its too difficult to sleep without power. Hope it comes soon" murmured priya within herself but still enough to be audible.

                                                        ******John  explaining his story*****

"Neha.... her name was Neha. We were close childhood friends. We grew
together." I started with my story.

There was hardly any secrets between us. Our ideas were so practical and synced perfectly.Our likes and dislikes are meant a lot to each other. There was'nt any spot in Dehradun where we never hanged out.We never knew how time passed and when we were graduated from the university.

One day my father expired due to a prevailing disease. Everyone was crying at home. I was startled, broken, confused, shattered, not knowing what to do. Neha came to my house and sat beside me for sometime and gave a gentle pat on my shoulder. First time she was speechless but still her silence spoke more than her ever time non stop gossips. She held my hand and took me to her house.

She served dinner and said " you might be hungry so I brought you here." How is food? Even if its good or bad credit goes to my mom as its been prepared by her",  Priya smiled leaving a little bit of it on my face. I wonder how girls react to situations and change their behaviors accordingly. I thought women has the power to calm any serene situations.

Days passed by my relationship with her grew stronger. By then my step mother had left me all alone as she married my father only for the wealth. She never showed true love to me so it was not so surprising for me. I  never got a chance to see my true mother who passed away when I was just born". As days passed by it was Neha's support who brought me back to normal life. Had she not been in my life, no doubt I would have ruined my life with all bad habits just to overcome my loneliness. I started falling for her but never expressed  due to fear of loosing her 

Destiny never stopped playing with me. As  Neha's father got transferred so she too left with lots of promises to stay in touch. I was too timid to express my feelings to her even at this time as I cannot afford loosing her friendship. We use to write letters whereabouts, etc. Our friendship matured with age. Seasons passed like decades. Everything looked so deserted that I hardly hanged out with friends. The streets , campus, meeting place and my terrace everything wore deserted look.Everything reminds me of her. But still my fear of loosing her consistently won over my feelings of expressing true love to her. It was a long time since we met but the letters became mirrors of our daily activities.

With firm mind I decided to express my feelings. I Have penned down my feelings to her in a letter. Perfectly enveloped with an imported perfume smeared over it, I was  desperately waiting for the next day to drop letter as I hardly slept previous night.

Next day when I got ready for office, I received  a letter from post man. It smelt great. With her unique style of lettering it was written " To my pal John". I was surprised as she never sent such a decorated envelope. To pause my curiosity, I quickly opened the envelope.

Its her wedding invitation but the name of groom is scribbled and with dark ink it was written above as JOHN. I was so happy in fact in cloud nine but same time puzzled with the surprises. One question was literally hammering my head its about the wedding card,  groom name and the wedding date is just 2 days from today. I Quickly searched envelope and got a letter inside. The handwriting shows as if its been written in a hurry.

                                                  ***************************  The Letter  ************************
 
Hi Johnu,

I know you love me and am madly in love with you. But my parents has fixed my marriage despite of telling about our relationship. So I decided to leave my house and come for you. I have to take this decision as everything went so quickly even wedding cards are ready.No time to write more am just coming to your home on the wedding day.  If you love me please call me on 91########

At any cost am not gonna marry that guy.

Will be waiting for your reply.

With tonnes of love

Urs forever Neha.

Without any delay  I quickly called her. I heard some stranger voice. Hello this is John.

"2 mints sir" replied the stranger.

Within couple of minutes I could hear Neha's voice. With deep breathe she said "Hello."

Without giving a chance to her I said "
Hello where are you..Neha I love you ... Am just coming there dont worry. U just be calm We will meet soon, " I said

Neha replied  With tears in her eyes " Love youuuu toooo. I had been waiting for your response..No No...please dont come here as everyone knows about you. They will kill you if you are seen. I had planned perfectly. Nisha and Rohan (mutual friends) is also with me. Thanks for calling...Love you ....johnu. Just wait for 2 more days am coming" she responded without pausing for a single sec.She hanged the phone.

I tried couple of times but the stranger said she had left.

There was no limit to my happiness but was also puzzled with the things moving so quickly.

Finally on the wedding day she managed to reach my home. She looked even more beautiful in her wedding attire. She could not control her tears after seeing me as its been years since we met. Nisha and Rohan confronted us. I secured her by saying everything is alright now by taking her into my arms.

Her elder brother, was following her without being noticed.

Suddenly Her brother found the spot and yelled at me ,"I will kill you".

 Neha said " please don't , I love him its not his mistake. Why dont you leave this hatred. I beg you please." Her sweet voice did not affect his intentions to kill me. Her brother targeting me shot a bullet. The bullet gushed into  Neha's body as she had just come right before to save me.

I thought to kill her brother but seeing him shedding tears with a guilty look, it stopped me.

The last words of her still haunts me every day and night.  She said " Am physically departing from this world but I will always be with you spiritually".
 

                                                          ********Intensity of thunders and lightning increased followed by heavy rain *********

  Priya was all listening  to this sternly with wet eyes.

John has never opened up his story to anyone. But this time he was weeping vigorously after expressing his grief which was hidden from many years.

Priya consoled him by his words " You are so lucky to have such wonderful memory. Very few are worth to have such. Store them preciously. Do not let them go through tears."

                                                         ******Story  is completed. Now in present*****

I dint realize when the night passed, how I  came on sofa unless a tender sunlight from a tinted window  kissed my eyes waking me up. Rubbing my eyes, I recollected all the things happened last night and Priyaaa!!   where is she?

I quickly searched for her. My quest for her continued but disappointed by seeing the other rooms locked. Without waiting for a second I enquired from receptionist.

She said "Sorry Sir!  There is no visitor or guest registered with name Priya. In fact the whole hotel is vacant from past few days. You  are the only visitor for the previous night. Anything more I could do for you Sir?".

"No.Thanks "I  replied with a confused look.

When I went back to the room, I found the painting was dazzling through the glass frame as a beam of rays falling on it.

I stared for few seconds and found a script at the bottom in bold letters 

"Happy memories are bound to be in heart. Do not let them go through tears".

                                                                                                                                         - Priya.