Short Story: A shattered dream

I closed the door with a thud. I couldn't control the tears that were pouring down my cheeks. Was it really him? How am I to believe the sight my eyes witnessed just now? I sat on the bed and started crying. I saw how his eyes twinkled with tears when he caught sight of me. He was transfixed.

I opened up the window and looked through it. The lawn replete with luscious greenery showed me no beauty at all. Everything looked dull and gloomy.

Perhaps it was the distress that I suffered from which made me see no beauty today. I kept on staring at the dull silhouettes. The way his eyes glistened with tears totally shattered the tranquillity of my mind. The memories flooded into my mind.

Rapport

It was nine years ago. We were so attached to each other. We were in our blooming youth then. The rapport between us was so sentimental. We argued and quarrelled for no reason. Still there was something inexplicable in our love which made it so obscure and therefore marvellous.

Our romance was studded with smiles and tears. Tears, I believe is an essential ingredient in true love. When I cried he was often beside me. But things changed as time passed by. Dreams shatter when we least expect them to.

Even though I knew quite well, that true love is worth everything, I couldn't challenge society. I never had courage. We cried like children on the day we bade farewell to each other. "Your love will make my life go on". Those were the words he uttered last. So precious was his love to me. I celebrated it secretly. I couldn't erase his memory even after nine years.

Disorderly

He was the same disorderly him. I wanted to talk to him. I was so confused over seeing him. I tried to justify why he didn't talk to me. He might not have seen me or he might also be crying like me now confined to his room. I never thought, I would encounter him again in an unexpected way like this.

It was for an examination that I came to the city. I reserved a room in a private hostel as I wanted to be to myself without any interference. But signs of a miracle occurred a few minutes ago. Truly I feared the outcome.

Simultaneously, I needed to experience it in full force. My conscience blamed me for letting a valuable opportunity of talking to him fly away. It seemed that he was staying in the room just in front of me. I couldn't resist the temptation of opening the door and having a look at the corridor, to get a glance of him once again.

In fact I did. But there was pin drop silence everywhere. I felt like knocking at his door. I went there but couldn't do it. I heard somebody talking to him. "Perhaps he might have found somebody by now". My conscience supplied me with a hypothesis to work on. I came back to the room. I arrived at a decision. "Tomorrow holds better chances. Wait till tomorrow".

Dreamt

I went to bed early that night. The confused state of mind didn't allow me to be at ease. That night I dreamt of him several times. I dreamt of him being with me and softly caressing my cheeks softly. When I got up I really regretted that it happened only in a dream.

Then again I saw him staring at me with tear-filled eyes. His emotional nature was evident in those eyes. I wept till my eyes ached. I woke up during the mid-night. I couldn't wait for the last few hours patiently. I couldn't fathom how beautiful and emotional our encounter will be in the morning.

Woke

When I woke up early in the morning I went to the window. I could see the rays of the sun trying to peep through the rainy clouds. A dark cloud prevented the rays of the sun peeping into my room. The whole room was engulfed in darkness.

I looked forward to the long-awaited encounter. I chose a dress of the colour he liked most. "You look like a fairy in pink". The words he uttered a long time ago resonated in my ears.

I felt as if my whole self has rejuvenated. I looked at my reflection in the mirror several times. I felt as if I'm running to the arms of my long-lost love. "This time I'm not going to let him go from me". I came to a firm decision.

I ran to the door. Then only I noticed a scrap of paper lying on the floor. My heart started to beat fast. I unfolded it with trembling hands.

"It's your love which makes my life go on still. Your love is the cause of my existence. Destiny is not so unkind. I got to see my fairy again. I don't want to invite trouble to your life. Therefore I'm leaving you. Love you eternally".

Indu Gamage, ELTU, University of Ruhuna