Aaron's Watch

Paper cut

January 29, 2010 at 12:29 pm (Uncategorized)

This used to be our favourite place…the amber sunset that illuminated the skies was a perfect replication of her natural beauty that culminated when her lips parted into the most amazing smile each time I surprised her with a little gift, or when I took her into my arms, looked into her eyes & told her that I loved her..the circling breeze that swept in from the vast distances of ocean..the cool, wet, but yet so soft touch that rolled over the surface of your skin always takes my mind back to the many times we just lay there kissing & caressing – just taking each other in. That was pure passion..pure magic of the most mystic kind…yes there were issues, there were harsh words exchanged & tears shed..but we would always work our way through….always… just like the heaviest crash of waves would still retreat back into the sea…calmly..but surely…….

That’s how it was…how it was…till last night…..

It still felt like it was our first date each time I hurriedly got dressed to pick her up. I thought that was the sign to know she was the one. We’d go some place quiet, to sip a cocktail while we’d talk for what seemed like countless hours & then we’d realize we were the only ones left there..This night was different..for some reason after 3 blissful years, that magic seemed to have deserted her captivating face..that electricity that ran through us when our hands connected seemed to have been short-circuited. Was it something I said? Something I did?…..the tears that now rolled down her cheeks told me that it was neither….

To think that we met quite by chance – my brother was as always has been the customary practice cramming 2 weeks before his CIM exams. Many who make such a bold attempt find solace in some ‘magical’ tutes that seemingly drop from some special place above. My brother had now possession of one such special scroll. Before he left for church that Sunday morning I was asked to hand this over to one of his friends who was expected to arrive within the hour. As I was to be home that morning, I duly agreed. “Her name’s Ruvina” called my brother as he stepped through the car door.

The feeling I had as I saw her at the door could best be described through the scene in the first Godfather movie when Michael Corleone first sets eyes upon Apolonia. His Sicilian bodyguards quite appropriately termed it a ‘as being hit by the thunderbolt’. I feel no further description is needed here. She looked beautiful, yet untouched. Like some beautiful garden of Eden that had just been discovered, ready to be explored. I almost forgot the tute that had to be given to her. We spoke briefly before & after the handover took place. Since that moment I just could not put her out of my mind. I don’t know what Hiran prayed for that morning, but I’m sure it was not for someone to run away with my heart. Ruvina is all that he heard from me for the remainder of the day. Finally he gave way & agreed to set up a meeting. With time an overwhelming crush blossomed into thoughtfully caring & then into love of the most divine kind. She was everything to me – the stars & moon that hid behind clouds at night, & the sunshine that lit up each day. I missed her so dearly when she had to go out of town on work. Though the momentary emptiness was hard to get through I sincerely felt these spells fuelled a greater desire that strengthened our bond.

The economic meltdown had made her work more challenging that demanded her to travel around the country more often. Or at least this was what I was made to understand at the time. Yet, I was too blinded by love to ever doubt her. How naïve could I have been? In all my years have I forgotten what the world is like? Do I not know how week the flesh is for us mere mortals made of flesh & bone? “There is something I have to tell you….” She began…and then with every sentence, every word that parted her lips I felt the dagger of painful truth pierce deeper & deeper into my soul. The last sight I caught of her was when I looked back for one parting glancing, as I headed for the door at Cavern’s. She stared back at me helplessly with her face drenched in tears. I knew then that I would never see her again.

I was back at our favourite place – the beach. How the world could change so fast. Today I was a tortured soul. The place that brought me to life had now transformed into a murky dungeon where invisible agents kept hounding me at every turn. All I could see in my minds eye was Ruvina’s tear ridden face. How could she do this to me? It was unbearable to hear her tell me that she had been unfaithful to me. But I was soon to find out that more was to follow that took despair to a new realm. A realm that I doubt I would be ever able to comprehend. She was pregnant.

As I made my way back inland, all I kept seeing were flashes of Ruvina attired in Kandyan sari, standing at the Poruwa, on the threshold of being someone else’s wife. What a price to pay for infidelity. She looked so beautiful….

The next day, Templer’s road was its usual buzzing self. Flashy sports cars whizzed by as bullock carts tottered along taking brief intermissions at petti kade’s for momentary relief from the sweltering sun. All was usual except that the gates at No.38 continued to remain chained, despite a greater part of the morning having come & gone. ‘Strange’ thought the kade mudalali. ‘Looks like he’s not up for string hoppers this morning…’ he said to himself as he got up to tend to some customers who had just walked in. No. 38 stood in the distance across the road. The salty Mount Lavina winds not only disturbed the hedges that lined the wall, but also raised the pages of the ‘Daily Mirror’ that lay in the drive way uncollected. In a tine corner lower down in the front page was the almost unnoticeable caption ‘Another suicide at Mount tracks’…….