"Dammit" I sweared as the last drop of water from the bottle travelled down my food pipe into my stomach. I threw the empty bottle in desperation and looked at my tilted, half buried in the sand vehicle in dismay. I reproached myself mentally for travelling in the desert alone. And now here I was, Swayam Shekawat, stranded amidst the huge sand dunes with not a single drop to drink. I grabbed my backpack and rummaged through it, hoping to find something. On not finding anything, disappointed, I stood up and staggered forwards, the sand crunching underneath my feet.
The heat was scorching and I walked unsteadily hoping to find shelter and cursing my fate. Heat burns started developing on my body and I could almost feel my usually silky-brown hair shrivel up due to heat. It was so hot...so goddamn hot. I wondered why I was being punished like this. My throat was parched like a withered root and I felt the energy drain from my limbs. Within a few seconds my legs gave away and I fell on my knees. Black spots appeared in front of my eyes. The water level in body was dangerously low. I prayed to God one last time before darkness engulfed me.
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My eyelids twitched as I felt a pleasant breeze flow past me, soothing my skin. I opened my eyes to see a ceiling. I jerked awake and winced slightly, thanks to the burns, I looked around and saw that I was in a cottage. I blinked my eyes to assure that I wasn't dreaming. I looked down and saw my shirt hanging from my shoulders, open and the burns on my chest and hands were covered with a layer of ointment. I sat on the edge of the bed and looked around the cottage, puzzled. And I was awestruck with what I saw. Paintings, the room was filled with beautiful paintings. I stood up and walked towards them, ignoring my pain and admired them. Each stroke of the brush had heaps of emotion hidden in it and this made me more curious to meet the person who had saved my life.
"Oh...you are awake"
I closed my eyes and felt warmth surge through me as the melodious voice floated into my ears. A smile appeared on my face as her voice echoed inside me. Such a beautiful voice. I turned around and saw her. There she stood clad in a long black skirt and black blouse that ended right below her midriff. Her skin shone like the moon. The greenish hazel orbs on her face took me away to another world. The depth in them disoriented my thoughts and I felt my heart thump unevenly as I kept looking at them. I was slightly disappointed as the rest of her face was covered by a thick black scarf and I couldn't control my desire to see it.
"Are you feeling all right now Swayam?" she asked.
She had a rich accent and I was too mesmerised to reply back. Gathering my thoughts somehow I said "yes...I am feeling much better. Thank you so much...err...by the way how do you know my name?"
I saw the corner of her eyes crinkle and was sure she was smiling. "Your card" she said, holding out the piece of cardboard "it fell from your shirt pocket when I got you here."
I smiled and then asked softly "what's your name?"
"Sharon..." she replied.
Sharon...such a different name. I didn't know what was happening to me, why my heart was jumping on seeing her. I had never felt like this before. With an aim to dust these thoughts of my head, I started "these paintings are beautiful. They have got so much meaning to them."
"This is the way I let out of my emotions. The brush and the canvas are my only companions." Sharon said walking towards the paintings; towards me. She stopped a few metres from me and looked into my eyes.
"Why were you in the desert alone Swayam?"
That question brought back everything and I looked away. "Frustration Sharon, that's what brought me here. My dad is trying to get me married off to someone when I am not at all interested! And not only he, my whole family is pressurizing me...and I don't know what to do."
I fixed my gaze on the stone floor when I felt a grip on my shoulder. I looked up to see Sharon looking at me, her eyes soft.
"They are doing this for you Swayam. They care for you. You know you are lucky to have such a caring family with you...unlike me." Sharon's eyes went moist and she looked down.
I looked at her intently. I couldn't see her like this. I held her chin and made her look at me while the other went to the back of her head to untie the knot of her scarf. A lush mane of straight, black hair unrolled itself as the scarf fell and I was breathless looking at the beauty in front of my eyes. I withdrew my hand as I didn't want to spoil her perfection. Her smoother than cream skin, the perfectly shaped eyebrows, the mystical eyes, the long eyelashes, the highlighted cheekbones and her perfect pink lips enchanted me. My heart was on fire and I felt unknown emotions as I kept gazing at her.
Without planning, I grabbed her by the waist and pressed my lips to hers, pouring out all my unknown emotions in the kiss. She gave in readily and clutched my neck, responding passionately. I pulled her more onto myself ignoring the excruciating pain in my body due to the direct contact with the skin. My heart didn't want to let her go and my whole being responded according to it. The feel of her lips against mine was heavenly. My heart felt complete in her presence. But soon the pain grew unbearable and an audible "Aah!" left my mouth. Sharon sprang back immediately and looked at me with worry.
"I am sorry Swayam...come here...come" she said, holding my hand gingerly, taking me to the bed.
"It's okay Sharon..." I breathed as she helped me lie down on the bed. I scrunched my eyes as the pain shot through me, blinding me. I relaxed as I felt a pair of lips touch my forehead, strands of hair tickling my face. I opened my eyes to look at the face of the woman I loved dearly, the woman I had just met and hour ago before the pain overtook my senses making me unconscious once again.
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I fidgeted as I felt something grainy beneath me. I opened my eyes and the sun shone right into them. I held my hand above my eyes and got up, blinking to adjust to the surroundings. I was shocked to see myself in the same place I had fainted before, my vehicle still half buried. One word rang in my brain- Sharon! I panicked. Where was she? What was I doing here?! I felt something stiff in my pocket and looked down to see a letter in m y shirt pocket. I removed it in a jiff and unfolded it with shaking hands.
Dear Swayam,
I am really sorry for this but I had no other choice. Both of us know that we can never be with each other. But I lost my heart to you Swayam in the hour we spent together. I will always cherish the time we spent together and the kiss we shared.
I texted one of your friends- Rey to pick you up. He may be there by now-
I looked up as I heard the rumbling of an engine. A black jeep appeared above the sand dune: Rey's jeep. I smiled dryly and moved my eyes back to the letter.
I just want one thing from you Swayam. I want you to forget me, however hard I may be to do so. Think of me as just another mirage in a desert. I've never cried in the past few months but I think I might if I continue writing...
Love
Yours ever
Sharon
Hot tears scalded my cheeks as I reached the end of the letter. It wrenched my heart to accept the reality but then I had to. I folded the letter and kept it back in the shirt pocket, near my heart. I stood up and looked at Rey walking towards me, the memories of my mirage' etched in my soul for eternity.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
CID
9