Chapter Four: Is it that easy to trust someone with your life?

Fatigue and agitation had already taken over my saner side. My entire irritation and anger started boiling out.

“Why are you doing this?” I spoke agitated. “You had been following me since the day I met you. You are trying to give me gifts. Now you are standing here, requesting to drop me home yourself. Why are you being so generous towards me? I want to know what your intentions are, loud and clear.”

He simply stood there, facing me, composed and quiet. He just stared in my eyes. That was making me nervous, but I had to control my fear and get myself out of this mess.

“Why are you quiet now? Tell me what do you want? I barely know you and you too, don’t know me much. Why do you think I would take favors from you?” I continued yelling at him.

Still no response. I felt scared. He stepped closer and stared me with deep intensity.

“S-Stay w-where you are. Don’t come near me. I swear I’ll shout. W-What do you want from me?” I started stuttering nervously. My heart was pounding and I was breathing short swift breaths.

“You.” He said gravely.

A chill ran through my spine. Was it the cold breeze or his one monosyllabic word, that made me shiver badly.

“W-What are you talking?” I fought my tears. “I don’t understand anything.”

He smiled responsively and held my chin lightly with his forefinger and thumb, and whispered on my face, “I. want. You.” He spoke the words one by one, and continued, “I want to be with you. I love you.”

I shivered hearing those words. I was too confused to react. Why? How? Me? I didn’t know how to respond. I was so deeply perplexed that I couldn’t utter anything coherent. His gaze froze on mine that made me breathe heavily. All I could find the words to speak were, “no no no. There must be some misunderstanding.” I shook my head. “I’m married and have a child.”

“That does not matter to me.”  He whispered intensely.

Chapter Four: Does it feel creepy when you discover someone knows you more than yourself?

I found a cozy corner with a bulky sofa. I made myself comfortable and placed my cup on the wooden coffee table in the front and started flipping the pages of the book: ‘Pride and prejudice’, then ‘Emma’, then ‘Wuthering heights’. I couldn’t decide on one story. My concentration couldn’t centre itself on one title. Maybe I had less time to spare here and I didn’t want to engross myself so much that I lost the track of time and got too late for home. My hands kept stroking the crème pages. They kept flipping from right to left and then back fumbling under my fingers. It was so uneasily silent that the sound of the flipping leaflets was more than audible to my ears. I decided to look for some other book and moved my limbs to rise.

Suddenly a book slammed on the table in front of me. I looked up to see who was there, and my eyes met the set of beautiful deep gray eyes. I could never get used to this beautiful heavenly face that stood a few paces away from me. He smiled divinely and covered a couple of steps between us.

“Classics are not your type. You would love to read this book instead.” His gentle, melodious voice spoke to me.

I was too stunned to react. I kept staring at his beautiful face for a while, till I jerked myself back to the reality and closed my eyes to at least cut the connection I helplessly felt that drew me magnetically towards him. I took a deep breath to compose myself. He was the same man! I held myself from panicking or at least fainting, but that was creepy. What was he doing here? Was he following me? And what he meant by my choices?

“I’m totally surprised at your knowledge on my preferences. But sorry to disappoint you, I love classics.” I spoke bravely, keeping my eyes away from his face.

I knew if I looked at his face directly, I would end up stammering nervously. I didn’t know why but he made me nervous. His presence gave out a strange feeling in me, my body strangely responded to each of his gestures as if he controlled my mind. My heart started racing like a wild horse and I noisily breathed that embarrassed me more. I thought he must be amused at my childishness.

“Mm, I see. But I’m confident you would love this book. Classics bore you. Self improvement manuals bore you more.” He said in certain but a bemused tone.

“How come you are so confident about it?” I said a little irritated.

“Just read the title first and then you are free to debate.” I could hear the tone of confidence in his soft, whispering voice.

I sighed and looked down at the table, where the other book was kept. It was a medium sized, thick book, antique looking with a brown colored cover. Its title was written in bold golden ornamented alphabets, and it read:

            ‘THE STRANGE SUPERNATURAL LOVE STORIES.’

I opened my mouth in astonishment. I had read many books similar to this, when I was young. Such stories always fascinated me to the core. Nature’s such strange and unfolded mysteries when fell for the common species, what consequences they bore and how did the two worlds meet, rose my curiosity whenever I got my eyes on it. I somehow managed to hide my interest in the book. This guy could not be so accurate in this! Even Alec could have never guessed my preferences so perfectly.

“Where did you find this? It looks creepy. I don’t want to end up having nightmares when I sleep.” I tried to conceal my interest. Good attempt. That was smart enough. I should certainly not give him any clue about me. He stepped closer and covered the remaining distance between us and whispered.

“I can easily take care of that.” He smiled crookedly. The deep dents on his cheek grew prominent, taking my breath away. Oh I wished so much to touch those deep dimples on his smooth glowing skin. His face was just a few inches away from mine and I could see his flawless features much precisely.  

THE GIFTED ANALOGY: The origin of true love!!

I once read somewhere, there was an ancient myth that before any civilization came into existence, and the human form was entirely different than what we are now. Humans were creatures who were partial male and partial female. They were complete and strong in themselves. The Gods turned jealous of their power and thus separated the male and female forms from each other. Since then, each part searched for its other half to complete itself.

Thus, we all keep searching for our soul mates throughout our lives. But a very few lucky ones really find their compliments. I knew now that he and I fit perfectly well with each other like the two lost pieces of a puzzle. Although our worlds could never meet, but the horizon of our union was the place where we belonged. Any kind of longing, worry, fear, sorry or any other negativity collapsed to nothingness here. No doubts or questions could plant their seeds between us.

I could sense what he felt and how similarly our heartbeats were singing a tune totally unique and exclusively for us. His aura showed brilliantly golden when he bent closer and kissed my lips. 

A short trip into Chapter Two: When you meet someone who mesmerizes you completely!!!

I was breathing hard as I felt my hand on something leathery. I shuddered and turned my face to look at my hand that strongly held something black and cloth like. I jerked to force myself away from whatever it was, but it was too strong to even let me move. Still I kept moving violently to break free.

“What are you doing, you’ll fall.”

I heard a soft, melodious voice from behind. It was so sweet and calm that it surprisingly sent vibrations of relaxation and security in me. The grip loosened a bit to give me room to turn around. I turned to face someone completely extraordinary, holding me in his arms.

Initially, I felt as if death had embraced me already and took me to the gates of heaven in the arms of an angel. He was astonishingly beautiful. His light brown silky hair shone in the sunlight, giving out a tinge of gold like a halo around his head. His forehead was broad and blissful contrasting with dark eyebrows. His eyes were deep, dark gray; a color so outstanding that nature could have never been able to blend such a hue again. His sharp features could make any woman fall for him and any man envious.

His pinkish lips were slightly parted in amusement and partial concern. His skin was olive colored and very smooth, with no sign of any tan. Its texture was too soft and glowing, as if it touched no sign of any earthly pollutants.

  “Are you all right?” The soft, musical voice rang in my ears. I kept staring at him like a dumb child seeing the moon for the first time.

He smiled in relief and I could notice a cute dimple on his left cheek. I wondered it was so biased that nature blessed someone with the bag full of beauty with no compromise on anything. That’s so unfair, it could have at least done some adjustment somewhere on his looks.

He was unmistakably an angel, yet immensely strong as I realized he was still holding me. I shuddered and he smiled and loosened his grip around my waist. He turned mischievously and looked at my left hand and I followed his gaze realizing I was still holding his jacket sleeve tightly. I blushed and let it go.

He moved his broad shoulders aside to direct me downstairs and when I saw the way back, I froze. How did I climb those rocks? And now how would I retreat back from the same way? 

ATTENTION: A Valentine Question!!!!!

This Valentine I would like to place a tricky question for all those who are committed to someone for your life.
Let's take it straight, that you are into a wonderful relation with someone who is although not closely similar to your dream mate but still your relationship has worked beautifully together. 
There are situations in our lives when we are sometimes betrothed to someone by circumstances and we try hard to live with the fact that this is what we deserved and there is nothing in this world called "PERFECT". 

Even our spouse too tries hard to make things work between us and with the coarse of time, we get drawn to each one and find ourselves complimenting each other. Mostly, such situations arise in arranged marriages when others, particularly our family members arrange a partner for us. Then, we are bound to live with the fact that our partner who is directly contrast to us and fails several times in understanding us, is the one who's 'perfect' for us!!

Thus, while we sportively compromise to make our relation work and live happily with our partner whom we have sworn to be with, we fall into a turning point. Precisely, we bump into someone who has to be the one whom we could define as PERFECTION! The one whose looks are totally tempting, who knows you inside out, who has every thing you dreamt in your 'perfect partner', with whom you could imagine your life complete, and above all, who loves you crazily!!

So, my dear friends, what should we do now?
 Should we dump our partner to chase the dream of our life?
Should we cheat on the one who worked hard to make our relation work?
Or should we cover up to make a brave face and let our lives rule us and let us live with the 'less deserved' opportunity?

THE GIFTED ANALOGY, Prologue

“Make your choice, Sophie.” His deep grey eyes bored in mine. A chill ran through my spine which made my whole body shiver.

SURRENDER.

The word made me hyperventilate. How could I do this? I barely knew him. But, his eyes, looking at me intensely, his extraordinarily beautiful face, so close to mine. I could count his breaths. How could he be so calm after giving me such an impossible choice?

“I – I can’t.” I stuttered.

“Alright, then bear me for the rest of your life. You can never get away from me.”

No! If he stayed near me for some more time, I would never be able to stop myself from falling for him.

I wanted him to leave, but this decision……. Both ways I would lose myself.

He stepped closer, now his heartbeat was so audible to me. I was sure he could hear mine too, which was racing like a horse. I could feel the heat of his body.

I shut my eyes to cut the connection to my thoughts. I couldn’t think anything. My brain had stopped responding. My heart was too tired racing; it was of no use to help any other. And my lungs, all I could breathe in were the fragrance of his breath and body.

I was trembling in fear. Fresh drops of tears fell from my eyes. I wanted to plead and beg him to stop torturing me this way. But his face tightened with perseverance. My helplessness softened him. He stood closer to me trying to read my expressions. Then he drew his face closer to me and I flinched, turning my face away from his. My lips tightened to suppress a shriek.

THE GIFTED ANALOGY, The Story Outline

‘There are some commitments beyond life itself, beyond body and heart. Those are the commitments of the soul……’

The novel is set up in the present days in the fictitious onsets of a small European town named Angelston situated near London, UK. Sophie is a simple 32 years old Indian woman who visits this place for the first time travelling alone all the way from India. She parts from her loving husband, Alec in the New Delhi airport with a heavy heart and leaves to meet her Aunt Anna who had urgently called on her to fly to the unknown land. She never imagined that her decision to visit her Aunt would change the course of her life forever.

She has always felt an unknown repulsion towards strangers, particularly men and travelling all by herself among such group kept her jumpy throughout. She confesses that the strength she gathers in such moments is always from an inner voice whom she believes to be her imaginary friend and calls him Dave. Aunt Anna greets her with motherly warmth but that was not enough to prevent her from feeling homesick and missing Alec and their daughter Tia.

Next day, Sophie almost met with an accident while exploring the neighbourhood but was saved in time by a man who led her to her aunt’s home. His heavenly looks and drop dead gorgeous smile swayed her from her feet for the first time in her life. She felt a strange pull in him and tried hard to fight her feelings that eloped from her heart every time she saw him. Strangely, more she tried to run away from the draw towards his attraction, more his presence was spotted around her.

He was as if following her like a shadow everywhere she went. She’s utterly shocked to realize that he knows her much more precisely than anyone else- not even Alec. On one such encounter, she develops her courage and directly questions his intentions behind the interest he shows in her. He confesses his immeasurable and unbounded love for her, although it’s strangely true for her to admit that she has not met him anytime earlier.

Sophie faces some unusual incidents in a row that somehow turn out to be life threatening. Every time she finds him beside her, ready to leap in to save her.

His constant wooing makes it impossible for her to withstand his deep magnetic passion and affection for her. But Sophie’s morals and trustiness towards her husband makes her internal fight fiercer. To top it up, he turns out to be Aunt Anna’s close acquaintance and finds a way to spend more time with Sophie. With the Aunt’s due permission, which she readily gives him, he takes Sophie to a celebration at his palatial house.

 There, Sophie is attacked by an unknown thing but is saved by him. During that moment, he turns anxious and starts pressing Sophie to accept his love and allow him to be closer. She tries hard to resist him but the pull is too strong for her to repel from. She finds herself victim in the hands of his attraction. Opportunistically, he grabs the moment and kisses her. The second his lips rest on hers, she realises that his touch is not humanly. It not only moves her body and mind, but her soul is stirred to the core. She falls unconscious……..

The moments spent with him start challenging Sophie’s entire existence on the whole. If there is anything that she could swear on, then it’s definitely her unbounded love for him. But the mystery still prevails that who this man is and what his intentions are.

 He stays with her for some unknown purpose, but what is it? How does he know her so precisely when they have never met before her arrival to Angelston? Why she feels danger hovering around her all the time? What is it that keeps on drawing her towards him? Will she be able to discover her deep desires back? Moreover, her guilt of cheating on her loving husband starts accusing her. Her dilemma takes on her sanity as she couldn't lose him now. Neither she wants to let Alec go away.

A meek virtuous girl like her who never thought could fall in love and married someone arranged by her parents; today is stuck between two shores. Her deep love for her husband and the love she felt with the other man, both weighed equally in her eyes. It was extremely painful for her to see either of one leaving her.

THE GIFTED ANALOGY takes us to spectacle an altogether different side of love, something out of the world….. Something supernatural!! It’s never easy to give your heart to someone, but it’s harder to let go of someone who’s connected to your soul. The novel ends up with a question that can anyone truly love two people at the same time?

(Maybe, we get the answer in the Book Two, THE EQUILIBRIUM.)