The Anniversary.

NOTE: This work has been co-authored with a friend hence credit will duly be shared. :D
Also, the narrator/protagonist of the story is a man .. just so you keep it in mind while reading it.

I happened to be at a mall last weekend trying to figure out what to buy for my fiancée Ruma. This had to be a fantastic present for she was really special .. meant the world to me. And it would be our third anniversary tomorrow .. 23rd of December '06.

So I was at this giant of a mall .. trying to pick something for someone who has a keen eye for things! Makes one tense and panicky, doesn't it? For the first time I was going decide upon buying her something to wear on our special day.
So there I was, trying to decide, swimming through the kaleidoscopic whirlpool of evening wear. I took a break and looked around at the sea blue and bottle green shades of the interiors of the shop and just as I was about to dive right in, my tired eyes met those bewildered ones as though crying out loud "Gods must be crazy to send this man hunting for a dress!"

She glided towards me .. smoothly. There was an indistinguishable aura around her. “What seems to be the problem? I feel you could do with some advice.”, she spoke in a mellifluous voice. Perplexed as I was I welcomed the proposal and vomited out the words in a fluster, trying to describe the situation. She merely nodded her head, a smile spread over her flawlessly chiseled visage. Her sharp eyes turned towards the myriad that lay before us, her perfectly manicured fingers maneuvering through it all. And her hand stopped at a little black number, lying discreetly amongst the vibrancy. With anticipation she looked at me for approval. Her eyes gleamed, blinding the shimmer of the swarovski work on the dress. I gave her a naive nod while wondering how she would look in it. I cleared the bills at the cash counter and offered to take her to lunch .. the least I could do to repay her. She refused politely .. her eyes never leaving mine. I persuaded her enough to settle for a hot cup of cappuccino.

And so we moved to one of those lesser known exclusive cafes where the ambience is just right for a nice warm private conversation. We placed the order, waiting for the coffee to arrive. She lit a smoke .. I liked that. There she was .. suave .. smooth .. sure.
The coffee arrived but soon turned cold since we were engrossed .. talking incessantly. We talked about her, me, and the whole goddamn world we had to be a part of. Time flew by and before we knew it, the cafe manager came up to us with a closing time notice. Hence, we finally plunged into the wilderness of the world once again.

The biting cold winds, after the warmth of the café, reminded us of the chilly winter that the world was blessed with at that time of the year. We quickly got into the car and just as I was about to put the key into the ignition she turned to me and said "Why don't you let me take the wheel. I really feel like letting my hair down tonight." So there I was, sitting besides her and watching this gorgeous lady take it out on the wide winding empty roads ..
She was a masterful driver .. the sudden rush of blood to the head .. the ultimate thrill that speed induces .. all amounting to my growing affection towards the lady beside me.

But it came to pass, as we neared her place.
And there it stood, her house .. nothing fancy on the outside .. lying in the solitude that sometimes shone in her own eyes.
She parked right outside the main gate and we got out ... still recovering from the after-effects of the speed ... still laughing and giggling from a joke that lingered on in our heads.
So here was the awkward moment of parting...
We both fell silent for a moment and I realized that we hadn't even introduced ourselves as yet.. So to fill that embarrassing void I introduced myself and learned her name .. Rahel .. it was Rahel .. as charismatic as her.
Anyways .. we just stood there looking .. into each other's eyes. Deep within lay a mutual understanding and appreciation for each other. We had just known each other for just a few hours and had hit it off surprisingly, totally, mind-fucking-bogglingly well!!

Something told me that we'd been looking intently at each others for quite a while now .. I suddenly snapped out of it and, shy as I was, started with a goodbye. She put her hand on my lips and before I knew it .. I was being led toward her doorstep. She opened the door and lo .. there was the most dazzling house I'd ever set foot in, all white, silver and glass .. so pure and chaste .. just like her.
I loved it, her even more so... she lead me up the stairs to one of the bedrooms and put on the lights .. dimmed and some music .. Iris ..

And I'd give up forever to touch you
Coz I know that you feel me somehow.
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be,
And I don't wanna go home right now.
And all I could taste is this moment,
And all I can breathe is your life,
Cause sooner or later it's over,
I just don't wanna miss you tonight.

The lissome beauty stood there, her long black hair now open and her curves perfect. I found myself moving towards her in spite of my shyness .. gradually pulling her towards me. She didn't make any attempts to break free. We stood there .. caressing .. the fires within risen .. forgetting what was around us .. losing ourselves to each other .. slowly, passionately, completely.

What came to pass during that night and between those white sheets of silk is all a haze now ... wild yet gentle. What I clearly remember is of waking up with a start .. finding myself in some one else's bed .. my chronograph showing 7am .. Especially THAT morning made me feel weird .. leaving me with a vague feeling of uneasiness.

Then all the things came rushing back to me .. the beautiful girl .. the quiet evening .. the lonely lanes of the late night city and the climax .. all this overpowered with the horrid feeling of the sin I had committed ON MY ANNIVERSARY!!! I didn't know how I would face Ruma's eyes when she would learn of the betrayal. I decided I would be honest with her. After all, I was her criminal and she had every right to take any stand.

Buried in shame I started on my way out of the burning inferno that housed me.
The place was not quite the same .. the pureness missing, everything somewhat dulled .. infact quite downtrodden .. as if in a state of disuse .. the silk sheets were gone and so was she!!
Things white and silver were now yellow and rusty .. I couldn’t figure what in the hell's name happened to the place .. all in a night!

Rahel was no where to be seen .. and I was now starting to worry despite the humiliation drowning me. I started to look for the smoothness of her curves, that beautiful smile (flashing in front of me now and then), those capturing eyes I had bared my soul to.
I decided to look outside, making my way amongst the clutter and the cobwebs towards the door. I opened it in the hope of finding her standing outside and right in the middle of the ground lay a stone that read:

Rahel D'Souza
14 June 1984 - 23 Dec 2004
R.I.P
“You shall not taste of death
For there is no death for you.”

I passed out.