SwaRon OS: The Reality..

"Swayam what happened to you? You seem so lost ever since...-"

I let Rey's voice float into my ears without bothering to analyse it. It didn't matter to me, to be frank. I had been hearing this for the past 3 weeks and it didn't matter to me. Nothing mattered to me now except her...and she wasn't here. My heart beat painfully at her thought as if it desired nothing but to stop beating as she wasn't there. Tears singed the corner of my eyes as the contents of the letter flashed in my mind. Why did I have to meet her? Why did I fall in love? Why did she save my life just to kill me once again? The pain the burns had given me was nothing compared to what I was undergoing now. The scars had healed but the memories were still etched deep.

A lot had changed in the 3 weeks following my encounter with Sharon. I had agreed to my dad's whim to get married. When I knew I wasn't going to get the life I wanted then why not live it for those who loved me, for those who I loved. And I had also become extremely broody. I kept to myself the whole time and didn't even step out of the house. That's what was worrying Rey so much. He was afraid I had slipped into depression. But I was sure I was not depressed- in the medical sense of the word. I myself couldn't place what was wrong with me.

"Okay. This is it. I have had enough" I heard Rey snap. I looked up to see him furious. So finally he had realised that all his talks were falling on deaf ears.

"We are leaving for Mumbai the first thing tomorrow. I would rather you pack your bag soon." Rey huffed and stormed out of the room.

I stared at the intricate wooden furniture in front of me and it reminded me of the beautiful paintings in Sharon's cottage. I leaned back on the armchair and closed my eyes letting the wave of memories overtake my senses. Those greenish orbs, the heavenly face, I felt a shiver pass through me as I pictured them. How my heart felt complete in her presence. She had fitted perfectly in my arms and so did her lips with mine. I would have immediately found peace if I had died that time. And then the letter floated in my mind and I flinched. How could I think of Sharon just as a mirage when my heart craved to acknowledge her existence, when it craved to have her by its side?

DING! DONG!

I jerked up as the clock struck 6. I felt something wet on my cheeks and realised that I had started crying. I quickly wiped the tears away, grabbed Rey's jeep keys and made my way outside.

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My heart beat increased in pace as the jeep wobbled over the sand dunes. I wanted to feel Sharon's essence in the desert wind one last time before leaving for Mumbai. Somewhere I wished to see Sharon and I felt I would though my brain refused to believe it. The reddish tinge of the sunlight over the golden sand made the uninviting desert look strangely beautiful. As i neared the place I had fainted earlier I saw a familiar figure clad in white staring at the setting sun. I slammed the brakes and got down in a jiff, not believing what I saw.

It was Sharon standing there. This time she was free of her scarf and her vibrant black hair flew along with the breeze. Tears were flowing down her cheeks and I couldn't stand them. I wanted to go and wipe them away instead I found anger building up inside me. How could she expect me to forget her when she herself was incapable of doing so? I called out to her in a stern voice.

"Sharon"

I saw her freeze, turn in a jiff and face me, her eyes huge and the tear tracks visible beneath her eyes. She kept on staring at me in disbelief as I took slow steps towards her, my gaze softening with each step. I thanked God for giving me the last chance and I was going to make the most of it. We could be together, we HAD to be together. I wasn't going to buy any excuse Sharon would present, not when I knew being apart was hurting us both.

I stopped very close to her and looked into Sharon's eyes with venerable love in mine. Her scent was intoxicating me every passing second. My heart was chanting her name with ardent fervour. I was captivated by her presence and I knew I couldn't live without her. I had to have her beside me, with me.

"Sharon" I whispered once again.

That brought her back and she immediately looked away avoiding my gaze. She took a step backwards and was going to take more when I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her causing her to bang against me. She looked at me with in surprise and soon got lost in my eyes. I slowly wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tight, burying my face in her fragrant hair.

"I love you Sharon."

She hugged me back in response and whispered in her rich voice. "I love you too Swayam." Time stopped for me that moment. Listening to those words from her was my stairway to heaven. It felt like a dream come true...so right. Soon reality struck us and Sharon stepped away, breaking the hug. Fresh tears had started flowing from her eyes. I cupped her face quickly and wiped them with my thumbs.

"Why are you here Swayam?" she asked.

"The same reason you are here Sharon." I replied.

Sharon moved her face away from my grip and looked away. That irked me a bit. I wanted my answers from her.

"Why are we doing this Sharon?"

She looked at me confused and asked "doing what Swayam?" I chuckled dryly.

"Don't act as if you don't know Sharon. I am asking why we are staying apart."

Sharon looked at me with her deep eyes and replied earnestly "Because we are from different worlds Swayam. I don't belong to your world and neither do you in mine. We shouldn't be together."

I was really mad by now. At myself more than at Sharon. I couldn't believe I allowed this reason to keep us apart. It sounded really silly now. I voiced my thoughts aloud.

"The fact that we are both right here, right now isn't enough to make you believe in us?" I lashed out. Sharon flinched in response and I sighed.

"Why are we caring about the world Sharon?" I pleaded "we both love each other. Isn't that enough? I can't stay without you Sharon. The past 3 weeks have proved it. The more I think that I need to forget you, the more you capture my thoughts. I can't do this for my whole life Sharon."

My voice cracked at the end. I couldn't continue. My eyesight went blurry as tears started forming in my eyes. Before they could make their way out Sharon enveloped her arms around me and kissed me, pouring out all her feelings in the kiss. I pulled her towards me and kissed her back, my heart finally at peace.

As I deepened the kiss, the colour of the sky deepened along, drowning both of us in a red, warm light. I smiled against her lips and we pulled apart due to lack of oxygen. Sharon blushed slightly and my smile grew wider. I had got my answer without her saying it aloud.

She was no more my Mirage...She was my Reality.

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Err..so how was it? I hope i could do justice to the first part..

do drop in your comments and criticism :)

Love

Nishi.