What’s Life without Love!

Clad in a simple but elegant cotton saree, she stood there by the window. Though in her mid-forties, she didn’t look a day older than thirty. Watching her, Tareeq realized that she was nothing short of a blessing in his life. She had the quest for life, that spunk in her, that made him head over heels in love with her.

How could he forget that night!

Tia had decided to take a vacation with her colleagues at the relaxing beaches of Goa. Though modern in outlook and thoughts, she couldn’t bring herself to wearing a short dress and it was definitely uncomfortable to stand on a six-inch heels. But then she had promised her three girlfriends to succumb to any of their wishes and there she was, clad in an Allen Schwartz red flare dress and sparkling white stilettos. When the three men joined the girls, they were definitely taken back by Tia’s transformation. How did the gang of seven become thick friends? Could there be such true friendship at work?

They had decided to party in one of the popular night clubs and as fate would have it, Tareeq had chosen the same club for a get-away with his cousins.

She was a treat to watch, dancing to the popular dance number as the DJ kept changing the tracks. And with a Tango beat in the air, he couldn’t hold himself but to go on and ask her for a dance with him.

But then, she was already dancing with another. He held her in the crook of his arm, as she placed her left arm on his right and almost wrapping around the neck. He had placed his hand on her back, slightly below her shoulder blades, into a close embrace. Light but firm, elegant and poised, his grip was. As they moved slowly, his blood boiled. It was then that Tia’s eyes met Tareeq’s. A heartbeat skipped- his or hers? He could see her chest heaving as she tried to gasp for breath. She excused herself from the man’s arms and walked past him. But then he held her wrist to turn her towards him.

“What do you want?”

“Dance with me, will you?”

“Are you insane?”

“Please..”, and then the music changed to Bailando by Enrique, her favorite. As he held her close and smiled, she shivered- that quirky smile which….took her heart away once.

“Are you challenging me? Do you think I can’t dance?”

“Oh sweetheart, match my steps then!!”, he teased.

And then they danced. As they say, like no one’s watching. There was an intense connection between them, as if there was a silent language speaking between their dancing shoes. And as he led her, it’s like an addiction, something you can’t get rid of, something which was passionate and beautiful. He watched her dance like a dream, making him feel alive…as if the world disappeared around him… as if she was his woman. But..

“Who is he?”

“Who? He? Oh….Do you really think its your business to know? Or are you jealous?” she smirked, making him lost for words.

Still held in a tight embrace, they danced..in silence. He could see in her eyes, the hurt, the betrayal, the pain.

“Tia, I’m here now, for you. You friends..had..called me.”, he somehow framed those sentences.

“Oh, so you are my savior! The girl who ran off from her house, just because she didn’t agree to marry any other but you, especially after what you had done. The girl who needs to be saved. I can’t believe I loved you all these years. I can’t believe I had fallen for their words to come here. Leave me now, Tareeq. I got to go”, his name burnt on her lips as she tried to put on a brave face and hold back that tear which could drop down her cheeks anytime from now. And then she was gone.

He saw her walk towards the beach alone and called out her name.

“I told you to leave me alone. Didn’t I?”

“Tia, I want you to know that I have always loved you. Even when I sat like a dumbo when my parents made demands for agreeing to our wedding. I know I have failed you and your parents. It wasn’t like how you had thought. I was astounded at the way things were changing. It was only a couple of hours before when my Dad seemed happy and excited at the prospect of our wedding. If only I knew why. But then, seeing what they have become at your home, I…I couldn’t accept the truth that was in front of me. I stumbled..but for a minute. I couldn’t say a word. And then, you weren’t ready to listen to me. I love you, Tia. I love you to the moon and back. Please try to understand. Please give us a chance. “

It was a task to woo her back- to make her realize how much he had loved her, how he had moved to a penthouse of his own and waited for her all this while. He was ready to give her all the time in the world and when she finally succumbed to the power of their love, nothing could hold them back.

As he watched her today, gazing through the window, he felt the same warmth wash over him, just like that night.

He moved towards her and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“You scared me! What are you doing? Tara is next room.”

“She is my daughter and she understands how much her Dad loves his wife.”, and he kissed her lips.

“Sir,”she said,”you are no gentleman!”

An apt observation,”he answered airily.”And, you, Miss, are no lady.”

They smiled. What’s life without true love!

“This post is a part of the prompt of the week, INSPIRED BY YOUR FAVORITE BOOK – a quote, a line, a character; by The BlogChatter. I have chosen my favorite book Gone with the Wind and the last few sentences are taken from the book.