A girl and A boy...

Could life be so cruel? The party had ended with a triumphant bang. Not for her though. All throughout, her eyes had wandered towards the one and only person with whom she wanted to dance; but he would not even look at her.

However, as she was getting her coat on there was a cough behind her followed by, "Hey! Elizabeth! Can I help you with that?” Her heart skipped a beat. There was no mistaking that quiet, sincere voice. "Sure thing" she replied. He helped her on with her coat and made small talk about the party to which she knew not what she replied.

"So how are you getting back home?" he asked her. "Oh! I live just a few blocks from here down GreenSide Road. It's a short walk and I enjoy it especially at this time." He looked at her with some curiosity and said, "Well, that's great. I live close by too so if you don't mind I'll just join you?". “But don't you have to be with Gloria?" The green monster within her had said it aloud before she could stop it. He gave her a cold, penetrating look and said, "We are just friends! She is with her boyfriend now. Shall we go?"
She nodded all her senses on high alert now. She had prayed and waited, re-prayed and re-waited every single time for this moment and now that it was here she was so unprepared. Ever since that first meeting she had been charmed by his unassuming manners, sharp wit and gentleness. Since then she had craved to be with him alone for just a moment and here it was finally. And the beauty was that it was in accordance with her long standing fantasy - that of having the love of her life walk alongside her on a bright, moonlit night accompanied by the soothing sound of gently flowing water.

They crossed the garden walking slowly towards the wooden bridge that overlooked a small creek. "You know! I love this route; I love the creaky old bridge, the view of the trees, the water below... I come here often when I feel lonely or want some peace and quiet. I..." Aware that she was rambling in her nervousness she stopped, her cheeks flushing. He gazed at her for a moment and took her hand. Her heart soared. Was this going to be the night when all her prayers would be answered? She looked up to find the moon but could not see it, and her spirits swayed a little.

She stopped to lean against the railing and stare at the water below. He stood adjacent with his back to the water staring at her. She raised an enquiring glance to which he replied, "I like it better this way! You look so lovely tonight and this lilac colour suits you so beautifully". She was too overcome with emotion to say thank you. He moved closer to her and took her in his arms. "Oh no!” she thought. "It cannot happen today. There is no moon. Stop being so silly!” she chided herself. Oblivious to her mental charade, he pulled her closer and kissed her, tenderly at first and then deeply, wildly, passionately. The moon came out of its cloudy abode and shone out with a brilliance that engulfed both of them in a spot-light.

"Oh! This is just perfect", she thought. The gods in heaven were doing everything to make her the happiest being on earth. They finally broke apart and he said, "I have to confess something!” She stared into his soft, brown eyes and waited expectantly."I live nowhere close to your house. In fact, I live 3 miles in the opposite direction." She looked at him and felt a love so deep and pure it almost shook her. She smiled and then sealed the bond with a bone-breaking hug and finally laid her face close to his heart. He felt the presence of her entire being. Her sweet smelling chestnut-brown hair, slim figure and captivating smile. He held her close and thought, "My biggest fantasy is accomplished. Could life be so great?"

(I hear that true love is hard to find. For those who have my heartiest congratulations and for those who have not; it's still there, look for it. I also hear that soul mates, true love, pure love, live for one another etc. etc. are just words without any basis. I completely disagree. I think it all depends on what you choose to believe. This post is dedicated to all those people who believe and belong in the beautiful world of Cupid.)

The Plan

He was tired and hungry, but he dared not move. All his senses were on an alert tonight. It was just one of those days where instinct and intuition prevailed over sense and reason. His friends (he chose to call them that; it simplified things) thought he was being paranoid but they had all decided to stick together so there they were.

The hours slipped away. It must have been well past midnight now. His fellow companions were getting impatient. He himself longed to get this over with; visions of a filled stomach and warm, comfortable night were looming in his mind. But, he knew this was important. He thought of his mother, her brutal murder and his resolve strengthened. He thought of the others injured painfully and knew they would not survive if this mission was not successful.

The plan was simple. Stick together, hurry to the dungeon, take what they required and hurry away before the enemy found out what had happened. His friends thought he was taking unnecessary precaution when he had asked them all to stay well and clear from the doorway. They thought the enemy would definitely not be here tonight. After all, the enemy had not come for almost three days. But he knew better than that. He who had seen not one, not two but three deaths and nearly escaped two times. He shuddered to think of it.

As the darkness and weariness grew on he knew it was time. And finally, he gave the signal. There was instant activity. Everyone hurried over to different corners of the dungeon and approached their targets. However, as all plans have flaws so did this one. It was too late to realize the glitch. Instead of carrying all the supplies back safely, his companions already starving and exhausted were overcome by the immensity and started having their own fill before carrying some back. He was aghast at their behavior. He urged them to head back but to no avail.

And then it happened. There was a blinding white light. For a split second everyone was paralyzed. Then they hurried away helter-skelter each trying to find the safest position to hide. The enemy had arrived.

He himself was cowering in fear behind what seemed like a huge boulder. He thought on his feet. How long before the enemy realized they were there? He looked around desperately for an escape route but everything seemed to lead straight to the enemy. And then he heard it. One ear piercing scream and shout and he knew they had been exposed.

Wham! Wham! Another shout. Wham! The attack had started. His companions running to find new hiding places. He himself searching for some way to leave his current hideout which he knew would be found in a matter of seconds.

And then he saw it. A clear sure way of getting away from the enemy. It was far away and he would surely have to expose himself but it was worth the try. He built up his courage and surged ahead full speed not looking anywhere but his target. He passed dead bodies but he allowed himself not to feel. There would be time for that later. He ran for dear life and then he felt the crushing weight on him and knew the enemy had found his mark.

The enemy raised to strike again and then it all came back to him. His mother's murder. She had not given up. She had fought till the end. He too vowed to fight till the very end. He would do her that honor. He raised his injured leg and once again moved forward to his goal and then came the second strike. It was more painful than he had ever thought. He felt his body go limp but he still resolutely carried forward with his last ounce of energy.

The enemy was angry that he had still survived the blow. And then came the gas. The final weapon. He knew he had to be a tough one for the enemy to use that. As the gas was taking away the remnants of his breath he knew he had done justice to his mother and himself. He knew there would be other leaders who would succeed in the mission. It had not been a failed cause. He knew it.

His last few moments were spent listening to the enemy muttering something like, "Shit! This Hit spray is almost over. Have to go buy another one. Spend another hundred bucks on these monsters!"