BY THE RIVER.

My feet immersed in the cool water, I was soaking in the surroundings….the chirping of the birds, an occasional call of an insect, the ruffling of the leaves in the wind and soft music. Music?? I strained my ears to hear. Yes, it was a song being played on a radio or a music player. Getting up to investigate its source, I saw a man stretched out on a blanket with a hat covering his face to block the sun and the music from his mobile.

Turning around to leave, I heard a “Hi”. Felt as if I was caught snooping. I turned to face him...he was smiling, balancing himself with one hand turned to one side. He had a lopsided grin. Sarcasm? Mockery? Enchanting! “Hi” – I replied.

“Did the music disturb you?” – He asked.

“No, in fact it made this whole setting more perfect. Nothing rejuvenates you like the nature does. Waiting for someone?”

He gave me an once over, smiled that smile and said – “you!” “Are you from around here?”

“Yup, upstream. Have been away from home for some years now. Back now on vacation. And you?”

“From the other part of the town, born, brought up, staying and working here. Snacks?” – he asked.

“No, thanks….got to go, bye.” And I fled.

That night, I lay thinking about him. His dark hair, dark eyes…and THE smile. He looked like a ‘Dark knight.’

Next day, I was there again, by the river to see whether he would be there.

“Looking for me?”

“Yes, I mean No. No….I like this place and I always come here” I managed to reply fumbling.

“Gottcha!”

And so began our friendship, our daily meetings and from friendship to romance.

My vacation was coming to an end. It was time to leave. He had some news too. He was also going abroad on an assignment and would not be back for couple of years.

The day we took leave of each other, he recited a poem to me –

Lady!
you are my song
You are the melody
You be the harmony
You light up my life
You make the sunshine and 
You keep away the rain.

You are my sweetest emotion.
You take away my pains
You ease my life
You make it worth living
You are everything 
You are all I need
You are the wind beneath my wings
You are in my every breath
You are in my heart
You are in my soul
you are every where I go
You are my dream
You are my reality.

As, I listened, I could not stop the tears from flowing….no one had made me feel this special.

He said – “All my life I have argued that Luck means preparation meets opportunity. I was certainly not prepared for this nor was I looking for an opportunity like this. I will always cherish the fortnight spent with you…till the end.”

“Hey, this is not goodbye, right? We will meet, we will be in touch.”

Now, as I sat there looking at my reflection in the water, I remembered his words….your eyes are so beautiful that they sparkle like diamonds, your lips so inviting, your smile so mesmerizing, your hair golden and glowing against the sun…. I had never felt so beautiful.

A ripple in the water and then a reflection and there stood my dark knight with his smile!

For -  Mag 98 "River"