There was a news in a newspaper daily,though not on the front page or claiming a significant portion of the newspaper,just a little paragraph on some part of the newspaper...may be just to show the common people how much attentive they are,regarding all the incidents,regardless of however trivial or insignificant it may appear to everyone! That may be not so important to the rest of the world as they don't have that much time and interest left in them for such trivial matters.You can't blame them! they already have lots of problem in their life to deal with...so,what happened to a stranger in some part of a city fails to create sufficient interest and compassion needed for their further interrogation!After all she was just an ordinary,simple stranger...not any celebrity!
To sum up the news....an young Indian girl was found lying under a maple tree,in a park situated in Lake District,England. She was completely wet due to rain, her body was frozen and numb. At dawn, when a local sweeper came there to clear up that portion of the park, he discovered her body...covered with red-orange maple leaves. She was rushed, without any further delay...to nearest hospital, where she was declared"brought dead".Nothing was found in her wallet which may be sufficient to know her identity and details,except a little diary,filled up with some quotations and poems.The local police is still investigating on this issue, and they have informed Indian embassy regarding this event.
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It was a slightly dark...slightly misty....slightly hazy forest.An invigorating green aura was coming through the brownish,greenish,yellowish leaves of those unknown tress. There was a strange smell , something which leaves you bewildered as you fail to identify the source.The setting Sun was leaving behind the last warm golden rays,though not enough powerful to pierce through the thick cover of mist,covering the whole forest! Rather that created the effect which turns a simple dark forest into paradise...it was dazzling,shining,and exuding that strange heavenly greenish aura through the opaqueness of grey mist.The sky was partly cloudy,strangeness of the grey,smoky fog was enough to raise a shiver down your body,everything was so much similar to the descriptions usually found in mystery-horror stories. She was standing by the dark brown tree,just beside the frozen lake.The chily north wind was playing with her curly, brown locks.She was wearing her favourite black hooded-jacket.She was waiting there alone..her face was bright with unending enthusiasm and joy! Every second was like an hour...but she was waiting patiently. At last he came...silently and she was so preoccupied with her thoughts or rather with daydreaming..that she failed to sense his presence behind her back.
He came like a sudden breeze blowing from unknown direction...he put his arms lightly around her neck,then wrapped her little tightly and brought her more closer to him.She was completely taken aback by the suddenness of the event! But her shock was pleasant and she released a sigh of relief.His hands were cold,but enough to bring that special rush of blood through her veins.His touch was always,kind of electrifying to her senses! It left her powerless..helpless and clueless! She closed her eyes slowly and with that calm,angelic smile she surrendered herself,leaned her body on his shoulders.Her silky,brown hair was brushing slowly on his face and he was enjoying that pleasant tickle.He was feeling her warmth and slowly turned her face towards him.She was still radiating that calmness with her smile,while her eyes remained closed.Both of them were speechless,silence was just more than enough! He brought down his face closer to hers...gently touched her cheeks with his lips...then pressed his lips on hers...while caressing her face with very gentle strokes of his fingers.Her eyes were still closed, almost imperceptibly he tucked her locks behind her ears, with much care and hugged her more tight with his arms.
All of a sudden that horrible vibration woke her up! She was completely astonished.It was her stupid cell phone...vibrating like a senseless moron! It destroyed the most pleasant dream she had ever .It was 7.30 in the morning.She raised her body gently from the bed,and smiled shyly thinking about everything that was happening just a few moments ago!
Then slowly her senses brought her mid to reality,"Oh no!! I have to hurry...today I have my project submission!" She nearly hopped up from her little warm bed and got ready in another half an hour.She made her breakfast and had to eat alone as her room mate was on a vacation.
She was an Indian,doing her Masters from an university,here in Lake District,which falls within the territory of Cumbria and one of England's mountain regions.It is situated on the north west coast of England.Though it usually has moderate temperature throughout the year,it seemed that day it was much more dry and cold than the usual,and the sudden blows of icy cold wind was making it much more worse! And to team with it the sky was a little gray in colour,which brought the anticipation of rainfall.
By the way her name was Charulata Sengupta,a bengali girl from Kolkata,residing with a Spanish room mate. Her name was a little outdated compared to those names which are given nowadays. But it didn't matter to her anyway!She was engaged to her boyfriend named Ashmit Roy,after having two years of courtship.She met him in England and relationship with him was actually the most beautiful thing ever happened after coming here.And no prize for the guess, who was there in her dream!
She hurried towards her college.And the day was as expected....went on smoothly without any kind of unnecessary delay and problems! The presentation was nice and as soon as she finished her works she called Ashmit but like yesterday,his phone was switched of! She was a little bit anxious,as he never switches his phone off,even at the time of charging it! But she could do nothing except waiting with butterflies in her stomach!
She entered the local restaurant where they usually sit and chat for hours and ordered for a coffee.She started to reminisce everything that has happened recently,but she could not find any clue for his strange behaviour. Even three days back when she met him, he was very calm which does not match with his nature.May be he was also trying to tell something but couldn't!His eyes were exuding an aura of hesitance.But suddenly a voice within her started rebuking "why on earth are you thinking all these non-sense! everything is absolutely ok! leave him alone and give him time to breathe! don't smother him! you fool! ".She laughed at her own stupidity! She tried to calm down and relax,took her ear-phone out of her bag and started listening "addicted" by Enrique Iglesias, one of her favourite numbers! She got immersed into daydreaming and suddenly realised someone pulled the chair in front of her and sat down.When she looked it was him! Ashmit! She quickly removed her earphone and smiled back at him ," Hey! where have you been all these days! I was tensed,you know! are you ok? everything all right?" she asked with a concerned voice and curiosity in her eyes.
"Yup..I'm fine.." he replied somehow but his tone and his face was not that much convincing! He was looking tired and his dark circles were almost supporting the fact that something has surly happened...and it's not that pleasant!
"Don't lie to me! I know there is something on your mind....why are you hiding dear? Don't you trust me!??" she tried to sound sympathetic and supporting.
"I trust you...but you know what the problem is? I don't trust myself! I always hurt you dear and I guess this time I am gonna prove that I am a monster!" he replied with am extremely low voice,almost whispered! He buried his head in his palms and tried to hide his face.
A shiver went down her body,she was terrified! "Now what is it?..." somehow she asked while she was trying, not to look to tensed and concerned and it was in her nature ...not to appear vulnerable and weak to others, disregarding the fact ,how much close they may be! She had overflowing emotions within her but outside she was too calm and composed! No one could tell what she was thinking and this is why once Ashmit had commented "Do you know what I like most about you? ...your eyes,they are so mysterious! and do you know what I dislike most about you? Well...again your eyes! for I can't read them..ever!! " So it was all in her nature to appear calm and quiet regardless of how much turbulent may be the storm inside!
" Ok...I know I've to tell everything! but donno where to start...!" he replied with a sigh,looked bewildered and confused! While she was still waiting eagerly for the storm to knock her down!
She was afraid she may give the hints of her emotions so she kept staring down on the table!
"Do you remember Ankita...I told you sometimes about her...I guess" he said with a tone in his voice,alien to her!
"I guess it has to be..your ex! " she looked up and stared directly at his eyes,her voice as cold as ice,completely emotionless !
There was moment's of pause and slowly he replied " Yes you are right. You know what, she came to meet me 4 days back at my apartment and started talking all these non-sense..like she is sorry she ditched me,she was a fool...etc etc " he said all these with an expression trying to convince her as if all these didn't matter to him anyway! But she knew he was faking everything!
"And.....?? " she asked with her stone-cold voice combining it with her emotionless eyes!
Then there was silence...outside the cold wind was whistling and inside the storm of emotions! No one could speak anything.She broke the silence..."I guess...you have forgiven her and want to go back to her! "
He replied nothing...just kept staring at the table. He was too afraid so say anything, he couldn't even look at her face! "Say something.....you still love her? and please dont hesitate..I am not anything ferocious that I'll pounce on you and tear you into pieces" though she laughed a little her facial expression was still that cold and deadly.
His mouth curved a little just to give a slight impression that he was amused.He stared at her and sighed..." I won't prolong this by saying this and that! well..YES...I suppose I am still in love with her.." those last words were spoken with such a low voice that made it most inaudible.
"So..is there any shame in that? " she asked firmly.
"what? shame in what..?" he was quite astonished with her remark.
"Shame in confessing that you still love someone....I mean it's your heart,your mind..you can love anyone you want! why are you saying this with such a low voice?? Oh..if you are feeling guilty then let me confirm one simple thing...I am no one to stop you from loving anyone you want! in fact, no one can stop you! It's your right to be happy and it does not matter who is the reason! The fact is that you are happy,she makes you happy.You want her back in your life...and you know what I don't want to be a burden to anyone.Even I want to see you happy...." she voice was as sweet as honey and soft as silk! While she kept on saying all these, he kept on looking at her with wide open eyes exuding the aura of surprise, astonishment and disbelief!
She Slowly moved her right hand towards his right one and softly touched his cold fingers wet with perspiration!
"Don't be afraid dear..." she flashed her angelic smile and tried to comfort him.He was still in shock..he could'nt believe everything had gone so smoothly and she accepted it so calmly. He was in awe!
Slowly she reached her ring finger and started pulling off the little diamond ring he had once given to her! She pulled it off and put it on his palm..." You want to be free? well..you are free..!! I won't bind you anymore,live your life the way you want to! Give it to someone who means everything to you!" she was too calm, though her eyes were moist yet she controlled her overflowing emotions somehow,and gifted her crooked angelic smile .
"Are you ok? I mean I can't believe....I thought it will be so hard! And here you are...so calm and silent as if nothing has happened! Seriously you are totally unpredictable..." he was still too amazed and surprised by her soothing reactions.
She laughed a little," Yes..that I am! But I am happy for you...genuinely.Don't know if God ever listens to my prayers...but I will surely pray for you,for your happiness and wish you a beautiful life ahead of you ."
"You know what...I had doubts regarding presence of angels ,in fact I thought they never existed, but now I know how a person can turn into an angel...I love you dear,and always will" his voice nearly melted in gratitude.
" So do I..." she nearly chocked but managed somehow not to show her emotions.He broke her hear into pieces, she was bleeding profusely,inside! But outside, she was as serene as a new dawn. As it was her nature, regardless of how much hurt she may be inside or how much pain she may be going through , she never showed any sign to the world! Her outside coldness sometimes gave others the impression that she is heartless, emotionless while in reality it was totally opposite!She was the owner of the weakest heart!
She stood up, clutched his bag with her hands and rushed toward the door. She went out and never looked back, but she could feel his glance on her.
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Outside it was too cold, it was raining.Inside her head there was that sudden storm,driving her crazy...She was literally running, she was trying to escape from everything! She was rushing through the pavements,walking too fast with no clue where she was going.She was so much shocked that she did'not even notice when she had dropped her bag on the road! Her clothes were half wet...her eyes were opaque, filled with tears.She pressed her lips too hard and a groaning sound it made! She kept on running. Some by-standers were looking at her with curiosity. She pulled her hood over her head and it almost covered her face.She was shivering,her feet were trembling...not due to cold but due too the intensity of the agony she was feeling then!Her brown curls here wet, her hands were numb!
Suddenly that voice inside her started abusing her! " So..you had been a timepass huh! you are such a doormat! He used you for sometime and then threw you away,and you idiot! You thought he loves you...you fool! how could you do all these to you!"
" shut up!" she nearly shrieked.." I know he loved me...I can sense that" she was talking to herself and she broke down in tears. She entered the park and rushed towards her favourite place....that old maple tree.She started crying loudly...rather she was shrieking..." Oh God! why does it happen to me always...No one loves me! I'm so bad! I'm the worst..." she nearly collapsed under the tree, " I love you so much...I could die for you, and if you wanted ever, I could break my ribs and cut my heart out for you! and what you did to me!!!" she laid down on the wet ground in the cold rain,she curled her body like a singed cat," I am so cold! I need a hug so much...can you listen?? please come and hug me tight,I don't wanna die...love you so much...will you love me a little..please?? please love me...." she kept on muttering all these with a very low and feeble voice!She was shivering...it was raining on her,the tree could not save her much! She was completely wet,but kept lying there, she didn't had the power and intention to stand up and head towards home! May be she just wanted to die!
Minutes passed...hours passed...but she was lying there ,as still as rock! it was a rainy evening...no one was there in the park, no one noticed her.She was nearly unconscious due to extreme cold, the blood running through her veins nearly froze,her face was pale,and her feet became too numb to move!She was thinking of all those moments they had spent together,all those dreams they weaved together.Time used to glide by when they were together, they used to plan about getting married,having kids! Now all appeared as if those were just some pleasant dreams or may be this is a nightmare! She wanted to pinch herself hard but she had no strength left in her body.She could'not move.
For the very last time she gathered all her powers to open her eyes...all she could see was darkness,everything was pitch black! all the could feel was coldness, deadly coldness.She lost the last trace of warmness she still had in her body.She could not breathe anymore, she was trying too hard and at last she stopped trying.A sigh came from her open mouth, and she leaned back on the ground,tried to clutch the mud one last time, whispered," I love you..." and then collapsed there! She died! Orange,red maple leaves were falling upon her stiff, cold body..She died not from coldness but of broken heart, and on the mud , were lying there scattered pieces of her dreams and broken pieces of her heart. Though no one could see or feel all those , as those were just too trivial for anyone to notice...!!!
Fallen are the leaves...
pale and yellowish;
frozen are the dreams...
lost in the darkest mist!!
