The Second Chances upd Epilogue pg63 on 22thFeb

Hi all,

This is the second Tasha FF I have been promising you all. I have posted this story under the name 'The Christmas Wish' with different lead characters in tintiny's site. Link:

https://alliswell.express-forum.net/creative-writing-f1/a-christmas-wish-t1602.htm

Index: Prologue Pg1

Ch1First of many firsts Pg2

Ch2 Always forever Pg5

Ch3 The unspoken Pg7

Ch4 You are not Alone Pg8

Ch5 The Gift Pg12

Ch6 Pyar ke side-effects Pg15

Ch7 The Collections Pg19

Ch8 The New Beginnings Pg23

Ch9 Understanding Pg26

Ch10 The Realizations Pg29

Prologue

Present day:23^rd December 2009, 8p.m

Place- All St.Cathedral, Nagpur.

She sat at the steps of the church looking dry eyed at entrance. The guests have long departed since the announcement made by D's cousin. She sat there staring at her white and orange Dutch rose posy. Dispassionately she thought the florist had lied to her, he had guaranteed that the posy would stay fresh for at least 30 hrs and look, in only 10 hrs the petals of the roses had turned dark at the edges wilting away. Probably like her make-up, she thought. She had got up at six in the morning to be ready for the 10o'clock wedding. Fashionably late was one thing, not showing up was another. At least she had been here by 10.30 a.m unlike some. She looked again at the entrance and saw an old Chetak scooter passing by on the road, a little kid standing in front of his dad looked at her sitting on the steps and poked a tongue at her and grinned. So, these things were still on the roads, she thought and pulled the hem of her ivory Elizabethan empress cut dress and spread it to cover her Catwalk exclusive 5inch sandals. The dress and the shoes had been a dream found and quiet cheap, all things considered. Maybe they will take the dress back if she said it didn't fit. Cutting down on some of the loses.

Nakusha Jose Winget laughed at her rambling musings. She immediately got conscious and looked back at the church main door to see if anyone heard her laugh. They might wonder, what could she have to laugh about. They might think that finally the shock had made her lose her mind. Nakusha smiled, a stretching of lips actually which the next moment turned tragically twisted as she tried to hold back a sob. How this could be happening, she asked herself again. How could the day which was supposed to be the happiest day of her life turn into the biggest tragedy of her family? D was supposed to be here. He was supposed to receive her at the entrance and take her in to the minister to say their vows. She was supposed to be with her in-laws now. Instead she was sitting on the church steps in her wedding dress waiting. Waiting not for the groom to show up. No. The hope had long died away in her heart. She was waiting for the realization of her lose and humiliation to set in. Waiting for some feeling to enter again, in her heart. Any feeling 'anger, hurt, hate, pity, sorrow anything. Anything other than this cold numbing dead silence in her heart. She could hear her thoughts loud but could not make out their connection to her situation. Does a bride left by her two year fianc on her wedding day really thought about the running condition of an old model two wheeler, or about the returning of her wedding dress? Shouldn't she be angrier about her rat of a fianc breaking his guarantee to love her for the rest of her life, rather than the florist breaking his word? Oh, D was a rat alright. He had been lying to her for the past six months. Not only to her, but to his and her families too. The self-centered prick. He didn't even have the guts to tell his parents the truth; he left a voice mail for them to find out. A Voice Mail? On his cousin Jereme's phone. Dear cousin Jereme who was going to appear for his Higher secondary exams in feb. How very mature of him? Nakusha fumed. Finally some emotion.

She remembered the scene from this morning and replayed it in her mind again. She was waiting in the bride's waiting room in the church. She was so angry at D for being so late on his wedding of all days. She had heard all the ribbing and jokes about the bride being late and the groom making a last dash for freedom before being caught in the pastor's trap. It was 11am already and he was not answering her calls. She was beginning to get restless but keeping a serene look on her face because D's frail mom and her maa were sitting in front of her trying not to panic. D's mom Sara aunty was recounting all D's childhood stories about being tardy for his Sunday schools, trying hard to calm herself and others.

She bit her lip to stop the moan of despair from escaping. The first drop of tears fell on her cheeks she blinked and swiped it off as more of its decedents fell in its place. She sniffled and heaved, squeaking a little to hold back the cries that were tearing her throat to break free. She was swiping them of continuously the posy clutched in her hands making the blocking of tears difficult. She felt a pair of familiar gaze on her. No. It can't be him. Not now. How was that possible? He had left her. He had left everyone for his selfishness, right? It was figment of her imagination. She lifted her watering eyes to the gate of the church again and saw him standing there. His intense, night dark eyes shearing a path through her body, burning her inside. She was dreaming this, she told herself. Like all those past Christmas wishes and those wishes made before blowing off the candles of her birthday cakes. She stood up on wobbly feet looking at him. Reality or apparition?

'Naksh'.

And the bride threw her bridal bouquet as the tradition dictated at the person on the steps of the church, a bride who never got around to be married on her wedding day and a person who had long ago vowed never to marry.

And there by starts my tale of the second chances.

....to be continued...soon.

thanks for the PM yaar

Congrats shilpi on ur second FF, so far I am loving it... so naku gets stood up on her wedding day...tsk tsk.. then he shows up after.. boy.. i guess will have to wait and read.. Thanx for the PM dear