LOVE

(Short Story written by Soumya Ray)

I

He saw from a distant place; so far that he could not hear the cheering; but he could see everything very clearly, it seemed that he was a part of the cheering crowd.

The people in the crowd (mostly men) were dressed in woolen kurta and pyjama; some had jackets on.  These elders had surrounded the two kids playing cricket, and were cheering them.  The five year old boy, clad in a black jacket, held a bat in his hands and waited for the ball to be delivered.  She was seven; she threw the ball with full vigour.  The boy hit the ball and the crowd cheered.  

Then, there was a gun shot (the sound of this gun shot was very loud and clear but it was unclear where the gun was shot); everyone became still.

II

The kids reached home.  “We are going upstairs to play,” the girl said to her father, while entering the house.  She led the boy holding his hand.  The words were very clear; though could not see the girl’s father, but it could be felt that he was around somewhere.

III

Few years have passed; the girl is now eleven.  She is sitting on the bed with his younger sister.  They are talking, giggling, and laughing.  He is now nine, standing on the door, leaning on the wall, looking at her, seeing their closeness and falling in love with her.

IV

He is twenty-one.  They are married.  She is wearing wedding bangles.  She still has heena on her hands.  They are roaming together in a beautiful and peaceful valley.

The feeling of content is in air for him.

V

“Even though I knew it, I continued to love you,” said he. “I married you because I love you, but moreso because I wanted to protect you from the society, coz’ it won’t accept your relation with her, like I never could,” he said this while pointing at his sister with disgust.

He was talking to her, as she held a revolver in her heena clad hands, aiming at him.  His sister stood mutely, looking at them with watchful eyes.  “But I love her,” and she shot at him.