The Love God

It was about time the Love God showed up to show off his miraculous power. She was tired of everyone advising her to get back into the dating scene. She didn’t want a match; but, a fate ordained love.

“Have they announced the boarding call for flight 777 to Madrid?” Shelly asked, trying to regain her normal breathing momentum. The sprinting hopefully compensated for her missing out on her daily workout routine. The divorce had left her spending hours losing herself in plots of TV series. Piling back the fifteen kilos she’d managed to shed would bring back the feeling of inadequacy she’d buried.

“No Ma’am. There has been a delay. Boarding starts in thirty minutes. Please take a seat”, the polite, impeccably dressed airline attendant smilingly replied. Taking a mental picture of the slimming, A-line skirt she wore, Shelly thanked and scanned the area for a vacant seat. Her tired feet were punishing her.

“Mom, I’m sleepy. When will the flight come?” A six year old boy questioned pushing himself tenaciously against his chair.

It’d been Shelly’s second trip. One thing she’d learned by being at the airport was- be it a first time traveler or a frequent one - young, middle aged or old- everyone waiting at an airport, at some point of time had their strong claws of agitation come out.

Her eye lids weighed heavy and she closed them shut.

She’d loved kids, unlike her husband Steve, who was never interested in having any. His reality was to give birth to his dream, of carrying forth the family businesses and excelling at it. She had loved him dearly. An orphan marrying into wealth was a rag to riches story. Her marriage had a fairy tale touch to it; though, not ending on a happily ever after note.

Shelly had thought it futile to compete against a young, perky girl, to win back her husband’s love. In her heart she’d known he’d regretted his action immensely, but forgiveness did not come easy to her. Showering her with extravagant gifts of branded labels and jewelries from high end stores, had not eased the betrayal ache. On the last day of the month, she’d served him the divorce papers.

Steve had agreed to pay her a hefty sum in return for her silence. They agreed on the reason of divorce—‘parting ways on the basis of irreconcilable differences’. For people’s sake, they remained friends and admittedly, having him around as a buddy was better than an absent husband.

Instantly getting rich had its benefits; however, for Shelly, the high did not last long. The hurt hole dug up in her heart was getting covered in numbness. Where she had once felt love, suffocation arose. She needed a soul awakening. She had to go back to her roots.

The decision to travel to India had been instantaneous. The story of her unforgettable first flight experience entailed, the terrifying anxiety attack she had suffered, and, a happy ending, citing the extra attention she’d loved receiving from flying first class.

The trip to India had opened up all her senses, literally. The colours, smell and vibrancy in the atmosphere were intoxicating. Overwhelmed at first, she’d to remind herself often: the motive of her travel was to wean herself off the negative emotions. On the last leg of her trip, soaking up the sun on a beautiful resort in Goa, she’d felt unfilled; wondering what the meaning of her life was and questioning her need to love again.

Lying on the beach shore, she’d seen a man, hard to be missed in his orange coloured chinos, yellow t-shirt, with the symbol Oum painted all over his shirt, stride by every day. Idly walking on the beach, the waves wetting his feet, he glanced at the people sitting on the shore. As soon as he caught someone looking up at him, he would approach them, an irresistible smile on his face, whilst taking out what looked like playing cards from his pocket. It took Shelly a few days to predict he was a fortune teller. Curiosity stung her, but she feared his predictions and decided to avoid eye contact. She’d caught him staring at her once, yet he’d not come up to her.

“Madam, you want to know your kismet- your fortune. I can read for you”. Shelly was delighted; he’d approached her, finally.


“Yes, please tell me,” said Shelly, not able to control her excitement. Trying to guess what was hidden inside a wrapped present called life, reminded her of the childlike nature in her.

“You lost love recently Madam. You are very sad,” he’d looked at her with concern.

“Don’t be sad Madam. The Love God is going to bless you new love. This time the love God is sending you true love. You will be happy 100 percent Madam. The past man had very bad Karma. You will find your matching partner soon Madam. Travel together and you happily live with him. Ok?”

Skeptical she was; but, how was he to have known about Steve’s bad Karma. He was responsible for her losing faith in love. The fortune teller had unlocked the conduit of hope she’d closed in her.


“Tell me more about the man the Love God is going to send me. Can you see him in there? Shelly’s voice filled with hope, pointed at the stack of cards he was holding.

“Let me see Madam. Hmmm…..I am only seeing the colour yellow and money flowing. The Love God will meet him too.”

Scratching his goatee, the fortune teller voice let his voice trail off.

“Really?” Gratitude flowed from her to him. “You have given me hope.”

“Always welcome Madam. If no more reading, it will be fifty rupees.”

“I have a hundred rupee. Do you have change?”Shelly handed him the money.

“No problem Madam. I bring the change to your hotel.”

The fortune teller walked away singing, leaving behind his aura of high spirits. That was the last Shelly had seen him. Waiting at the hotel reception; he never showed up. She hadn’t known his name to enquire his whereabouts. She’d flown out of India, cross with herself for believing him.

“Boarding for flight 777 to Madrid will begin in 10 minutes.” Shelly opened her eyes and sat up straight, stretching her back, accidentally knocking over something that was on the arm of chair with her elbow.

“Oh No, I’m sorry!” A wallet with its contents lay scattered over the floor.

“No, it’s my fault. I should have kept it on my lap.” The owner instantly bent over to pick it up.

Shelly helped him pick up the contents one by one. Out of the blue way, her eyes caught a glimpse of a familiar note. She couldn’t read the scribbling on it.

Shelly lifted her head to face the handsome man standing up.

“Thank you. I am Dave Meyer.”

“I am Shelly Das,” shaking his hand, “Sorry to ask you this, but did I see an Indian Rupee note in your wallet?”

“Oh that note! It’s a long story. So, are travelling to Madrid too?” Dave tried to change the subject.

“Can I see it, please?” Shelly pleaded.

Reluctantly opening his purse, he handed the note to Shelly.

Shelly looked at the wordings in awe, “To Madam, from your Love God”, trying to control her tears.

“I met a fortune teller when in India a couple of weeks ago, on a beach in Goa. His name was Mara- the Love God. I know it sounds lame, but, when he gave me back the note he signed that and said: “The ‘Madam, would understand”, Dave tried to explain sheepishly.

“Let me guess your favorite color is yellow?” Shelly pointed at his T-shirt.

Dave let out a hearty laugh. “I guess so. My favorite football team jersey is yellow.”

“This might sound crazy, but I am the ‘Madam’, Mara-the Love God told you about.” Shelly went on to tell her side of the story. She stopped, to check out Dave’s puzzled look.

It had all made sense now. Mara, the stranger, a reincarnation of the Love God as he believed, had linked them.

Dave elucidated his reason for seeking love. His wife had left him for a wealthy man, two years ago, taking a part of him when she’d left. He had vowed to himself to become a better man in all areas of his life; while pursuing his passion for law- working now as a corporate lawyer- for a Fortune five hundred company.

“They’ve made the final boarding call. Shall we make a move to the gate?” Shelly searched for her boarding pass in her purse.

“My seat number is 4B. I could ask the person next…”

“Mine is 4A, next to you Shelly!”

Travel together, was exactly what the Love God had foreseen. He’d fulfilled his prophecy. Walking towards the plane, she silently looked up and winked.