A New Beginning

One of my friends writes a series of connected stories much like a novel. He narrated to me one of his chapters’ theme and asked me to write it. Honestly I wasn’t sure about it, but by the time I had completed it, I knew it was good. So today I am posting this story, a part of someone else’s story, written by me.

A New Beginning

It was a hot summer afternoon when Rahil stood tired under a mango tree rooted beside the pavement where regular people walked at erratic intervals. He was tired from wiping off the continually generated sweat from his forehead. The sun was at its full might when, an angry bus driver went past the road cursing the delicate man fallen on it, who had dared to ride his dilapidated cycle alongside the demi bus. Rahil constantly looked at the man and his concentration was only snapped by a small semi naked boy asking for spare change. Rahil offered a two rupee coin but the boy demanded five. He did not want to argue so he did just as the boy asked. On such a day, he would probably traverse the streets in a quarter pant with a top that one would feel ashamed to call a T-Shirt. But as always, formalities had taken over comfort and the red shirt paired with a blue denim along with sneakers were right now his worst enemies.

'This is probably the worst day ever' he said to himself. 'But how can this be bad?' He argued 'For today I am to meet her again'. It is funny how someone unknown till yesterday can make us do so many idiotic things and still make us feel happy about them.

The phone rang and he immediately took it out expecting her call. 'Joy Calling', said the screen and he with fallen hopes received it.

"Dude! Where the hell are you? We need to get drunk now." he said ecstatic.

"What? Why? I can't come. I'm outside the Nicco Park waiting for Ayesha. What's the matter?" he asked.

"I'll tell you when we meet. Why didn't you tell us you would be gone today?"

"We just planned it yester night, Ayesha and I. And dude, I wouldn't get drunk at 1 pm even if I were at home."

"But you aren't at home, that is the point. See ya later, bye."

"Bye."

Time had started to slow down. Every second seemed like an hour. Desperation mixed with scorching heat was something even Satan would want to avoid.

All his weariness slipped away as a yellow taxi gradually approached him and stopped right in front. The wait was over: It was her. The girl looked all pretty in her black pants and blue racer back top. He couldn't dare tell her how wonderful she was. Ayesha took her steps towards him with a smile. A fresh smell of her perfume replenished his lost energy in a jiffy.

"You are late again" Rahil said.

"Yup, traffic jam. But I guess I fulfilled my promise" she replied rubbing her hands together. The small details he noticed made his heart skip a beat.

"Anyway, so should we go in now?" Rahil referred to the place they had decided over the phone last night.

"Ok sure"

Both of them slowly strolled towards their destination – One step at time. The sun was still at its zenith while Rahil’s mind was lost in search of words.

 "So how is your preparation going on Rahil?" she demanded to know.

"Yes I am preparing, let’s see. Any way you look good today". This was something he said every time he met her.

"Oh, thank you for that, and yes how are your friends?" she asked again.

"Yup, they are good too. I was wondering to move to Prashit's place for a few days so I could study."

"You can only study when you are alone. Nevertheless, if you think that will help then you should do it. So have you been here before?"

"Where? Here?” his voice grew huskier and how Ayesha loved that.

"Yes, I came here once for my school picnic you know" she explained herself walking towards the gate.

"Okay, let’s go in now" Rahil suggested as his hand went for her shoulders intuitively. He inconspicuously retracted them.

"Hey, let’s try the boat ride", those were Ayesha’s first words inside the park.

'I was thinking of food, but who am I to think, she is the one who controls me', Rahil said to himself.

"Sure, no problem." that would be his reply to almost anything coming out of her mouth.

They at once started walking towards the counter.

“How much for the boat ride” he asked the young lad at the counter.

'What?' he replied in an alert tone.

"How much..." he was stopped by Ayesha "We would like a boat ride please."

“Sure” he smiled.

Rahil looked at him with a frown.

Ayesha looked at Rahil and giggled.

Rahil realised how stupid he was being and smiled back on her face.

"Hey, can I tell you something?" he said trying not to look at her serene face.

"Yes you can." she replied.

"I have not been on a boat before and I am a little afraid of water" his eyes were on the ground and a crimson blush took over his face.

"What?" she started laughing.

"Don't laugh, it can happen to anyone." he gathered courage enough to shield his self-esteem.

"Okay, Okay", she tried to stop laughing but after a short pause gave in to the intensity of the joy.

Rahil looked at her laughing and was struck by something that gave him the joy of getting drunk over and over again. He was intoxicated by her. He no longer cared about the world, about himself, he only wanted to stare at her realizing he was the cause of her happiness.

Rahil smiled looking at her face. Ayesha noticed his sudden silence.

"What happened Mr. Water-O-Phobia?" she asked trying to control her laugh.

There was a short pause, Rahil took a deep breath in "You are…" he said in a placid tone looking right into her deep eyes. He wished to hold her hands but climbed above his emotions "..... idiotic." a reflex smile covered his face.

"Shut up Michael Phelps. Let’s go to the boat now." she had probably noticed how Rahil’s arms were moving towards her hands as he looked into her eyes.

Rahil nodded and continued the paused walk.

'What did just happen?' he said to himself 'Am I fal... no shut up Michael Phelps. Shut up Rahil', though he barely had any idea who Michael Phelps was.

A young woman guided him and Ayesha onto the boat and gave them a couple on instructions about how they should be careful and other trifles that Rahil barely cared about.

So this was the moment. A moment to overcome a cause of his nightmares. No, Not Ayesha, the water.

He gradually rowed the boat and closed his eyes for some time. Ayesha sat before him looking at the lake.

He opened his eyes and there was Ayesha looking straight at him.

She came close, picked up his hand and held it between hers "It’s going to be okay" she looked into his eyes and felt his fear.

"Your life is about to change" she said looking at him smiling and moved back to her spot.

Rahil kept rowing until his hands were tired. He looked all around and there was only still water with a gentle breeze distorting its calm surface. Ayesha looked out to the scenery. Rahil's eyes fluctuated between the wild greenery and his enthusiastic infatuation or was it so?

Long black hair distributed over her shoulders and covering her back. His fears had gradually started to give in and he knew he had begun his journey towards one of the best feelings of the world.

"Why did you stop?" she asked as she turned back to him.

He didn't want to tell her how tired he was "Let’s stop here for a second and enjoy the view."

Ayesha looked at him for a moment and the looked away to the endless lake. From the centre of the lake, the view was breath taking. Temperature had started falling down and the atmosphere was quiet. All around there was nothing but still water, the breeze had stopped. As far as one could see, there was only Gods imagination. A pair of white swan swam just a few yards away from the vaguely umber boat.

It was a different world, where the inhabitants were only people on about a dozen boats and the birds that swam peacefully.

Hardly had anyone realised that dark clouds had started approaching the sun. Rahil looked up at the sky and felt cheated on. Did God really lurked behind watching him from a distance waiting for the perfect moment to ruin his day?

He was about to find out. 'Don't spoil the moment please God' being a sceptic, he hardly had any idea of talking to The Almighty.

Would it rain? No, the question was ‘Did God care enough to leave Rahil alone?'

But it’s the evil God above you, ready to sabotage the perfect moments of your life. It started raining. And it rained heavily.

"Row the boat - fast", she said trying to cover her head with her hands.

Rahil started rowing as fast as he could, but reaching for a shelter from the centre of a humongous lake takes time.

It was too late, he stopped rowing.

"What are you doing?" she shouted.

"It is of no use now. We can't reach the shore. Just enjoy the moment." God could do whatever he had to, to ruin his life, situations are not under our control, but our choices are; He decided to stay.

Ayesha looked at him as he stared into the water.

It was unlike anything he had seen before. How could he fear such a miraculous moment? Falling Water droplets struck the water surface and the once calm scene grew wild. Time paused, but for the better.

The sound of the droplets breaking into the lake, the birds dancing, enjoying the moment - considered evil by Rahil, the trees breaking the falls of droplets, everything was magical.

It seemed God was testing Rahil and Rahil had passed with flying colours. The sun came out tearing through the dark clouds.

It was still raining, but it was sunny. It seemed like God smiled from above to Rahil. Yes he had won. The rain grew moderate and the sun soothed the ambience. Rahil had overcome his fear and it was far more wondrous than anything he had experienced before.

Ayesha looked at him as he felt the moment. Both were cold, but neither showed any concern. They were in the moment.

"How was it Rahil?" she asked.

Rahil looked at her for a moment. He got up from his seat and walked straight towards her. He came up really close and stared into her eyes. She looked perplexed and scared. Anyone could tell how her heart beat had increased as she was locked into his eyes. Rahil gradually lifted his arms towards her waist and held her tight. She closed her eyes and so did Rahil. That was it.

Best moments in life are not seen or heard, they are felt. This was his best moment. It is funny how wicked times, we think, are there to slow us down. For the future is never up to us. Up there someone is looking down at you trying to write your perfect story. It has ups and downs but in the end it’s yours, only yours.

And about Ayesha: Yes she was right, his life was about to change.



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