Short story: Broken promise

Crystal was working overnight at the hospital. When all available doctors were called for an emergency. They all gathered in their main hall. A bomb has exploded in Nuwara Eliya and many have been injured.

All the hospitals were full of patients and have sent messages asking for help from the Colombo hospitals. None of the tired doctors were willing to go. All they wanted was to go home and sleep, after working all day and night. But as they were much too dedicated to their work they decided at least five doctors should go.

Crystals name too was added to the list of doctors who are leaving for Nuwara Eliya in the four O'clock train. Crystal ran to her car, drove home, packed her clothes and was at the station by three fourty five. Once they were in the train they all fell asleep.

When she opened her eyes, they were travelling through a tunnel. She felt a stranger seated right next to her. When they came out of the dark, lonely, tunnel, she saw that the golden sun had risen, the lonely barren lands were shining and iguanas and wild pigs were sun bathing.

"The world is pretty, a new bright day has come," she told herself. Her mobile phone rang just then she knew who it was "Hi, I got your message, take care honey!... the conversation went on and on. It was Maleen, her fiance. While talking she saw the man next to her smiling and looking at her over and over again.

Once the conversation was over, she ignored him and was reading a newspaper. Suddenly the man seated next to her said, "Hi! Windy how are you?". She almost jumped out of her skin with astonishment, because that was her pet name that only the closest friends called her, And it was forgotten a long time ago.

She found herself staring at the stranger, he looked familiar. She felt like an old woman who had met an old friend was trying to recall the past.

Memory

She took a deep breath and was about to ask, "Do I know you?" when a long forgotten painful memory suddenly struck her mind, "Oh, my God, I'm sorry, you are Jason aren't you?" was all that she could say and she dumbfounded.

"Why did you leave with no message?" was all he asked, "I left because my heart was broken, I wasn't able to bear it" she muttered under her breath.

"And neither you nor Rhizam was heard of again and every one was gone, leaving me. I felt like woke up from a dream to find it's all over. Do you remember how was spent time together in our office. That was like a beautiful spring time". Yes, Jason too remembered how they used to have lots of fun together, the members of their batch who were assigned in one process, Jason, Rhizam, Crystal, Thamaru, Salome, Nuwan, Rasheinka, Zacky, Thilini and Judy.

Most of them were right after school including Jason, rhizam, Judy, Crystal and Rasheinka. They didn't even open their mouths on the first day of their induction week, but were only smiling. But very soon, with the group activities, the ice began to break, they became very friendly and felt like one family.

When time went by it was no secret to all the others of the batch that, Rhizam was head over heals in love with Crystal. He was always talking about her, feeling bad if she didn't talk much with him, looking forward to catch a glimpse of her or to see her beautiful smile.

Every one was bugging him and helping him at the same time. When time passed by, with Crystal not realize that her friend was in love with her, Rhizam decide with the advice of the other friends that it's high time for him to make a quick move.

So as it happened after months of thinking and hoping she was in love with him too, he got a chance to reveal his love for her. One day when they were standing outside the office building, ready to depart after a days work, he started a conversation, but he was too scared and shy to tell what he wanted and Crystals office van came and she left, saying goodbye.

He was disappointed but he called her that night and told her, his feelings for her. For a minute or so, he thought the line went dead, she was shocked to learn Rhizam's feelings for her, but she didn't give an answer, instead said that she would like to remain friends.

Days went by and she hardly spoke to him, he was absent for a week having a fever, all the friends told Crystal whom they called Windy, about his true love for her, she decided to love him in return.

An year passed by, with love and fun, new people joined the company, one among them was Rukshani. She fell in love with Rhizam, but was heart broken to find out about Crystal. Crystal too was upset to learn that, but she knew Rhizam well and even bugged him, saying "You know Rhizam no body owns anyone in this unsteady world and you are always free to leave me", to which Rhizam gets mad, "Oh yes, you are right and I was waiting till you say that, I know you are so children and stupid, but I never thought that you would under estimate my love like that, you don't realize how much I love you, do you?" was the only words he said.

Then he muttered under his breath, "yes, you will never know that, and you are always blind, just like you never realized that Jason was in love with you too..."

Disturbed

Suddenly her string of thoughts was disturbed by her friend. They have come to the Nuwara Eliya station. She looked around to see Jason standing near the door. He waved her good bye and was soon before she could say anything.

She walked to the army truck, which awaited them and was soon in their army quarters. The situation didn't seem to be that good and everyone was talking in fear. But Crystal hardly heard a thing, as she was deeply in her own thoughts. When talking went to work in the hospital, she wasn't able to catch up with the rush of the things around her and felt like her head and spinning. She was soon sent back to the quarters.

Though only a few words were spoken, a silent volcano had exploded in her. While waiting by the window against the dreadful, cold wind, zipping a hot coffee, her mind ran back to her life seven years ago.

Pilot

She recalled the day that, Rhizam told her that he is going to become a pilot, which was his dream ever since he was in high school. She was so happy to hear that except for the last part, that it is Rukshani's dad, who had contacts with the air force, who is helping him achieve his target.

She till remember the day that Rukshani came up with photos of Rhizam and herself. A storm went through her life. Rhizam had to go for training in Australia, it was a busy Christmas season, and Crystal was waiting for a message form Rhizam. Months went by with ni news from Rhizam, Crystal didn't have any contact with Rhizam's family and hardly knew anything about them. So she was lost and was left to believe whatever Rukshani and jason told her.

Jason too was busy with his new position at the office, and said in disappointment that Rhizam seems to have forgotten them, because he didn't send any sms or E-mail to him either. Rukshani had evidence to prove that Rhizam cheated Crystal and that he was having an affair with her.

Heart broken

Crystal was so heart broken, she sent many sms's, which were never delivered, E-mails that never got a reply. Finally she decided that Rukshani is telling the truth.

She till remembers the days she did nothing but crying, she felt like the while world has collapsed. She was so lost in the world. She quitted the job, which was not a nice familiar place anymore. Crystal was selected to the medical college in Peradeniya and so she moved to Peradeniya. Time went by hardly healing the deep wounds, she still cried because, she couldn't believe he betrayed her.

She was disturbed by a sudden knock on the door. A man came, gave her a letter, took her signature and went. She opened the letter and was shocked to see it was from Jason, "Rhizam's plane was captured by terrorists, so he never saw the Australian soil and he was taken in to custody.

He came to meet me last year, he has been tortured badly in the dark cells for live five years. It is a miracle that he is still alive, though he was left crippled as a result of the tortures. When he was deprived of all hope, he has lived with the hope of seeing you again Crystal, but he has found out you are happy with the guy that you are to be married next year. He could not come back to your life again.

He said, he is too tired with the rough journey of his life, I never heard from him again. What ever Rukshani told you is not true..."

End

Crystal cried so much after reading the whole letter, she called Maleen and told him the whole story. A cold week went by and finally a new day was born and it brought a peaceful season back to Nuwara Eliya. They all left to come and Maleen was waiting for her at the Fort station.

Crystal was in deep thought, all the pain that was bottled up in her for years, was overflowing now. As soon as she ran to Maleen and they hurried to their car though the sudden drizzle, all the people were running for shelter.

Someone passed her by, brushing against her arm, she looked back and saw a man slowly walking, slightly dragging his left leg. She got in to the car, and she shocked to see a pale familiar face, staring at her through the shutters from a passing taxi.

She got down from the car, and ran after it, calling a name she never mentioned for live years, with tears coming down her face. But it was too late, the rain-washed away her voice leaving her painful thoughts inside, she was lost in a dream. She wondered why they came to an end, and but she guessed she'll never know".

Dilini Amalka Goonawardene,

Kandana.