THE MIRAGE

It rained on that day also. I felt like seeing him, hearing his words..It was for the first time I felt so empty, without his presence. As I lay there with my eyes closed, I welcomed him more than my own life. Sometimes life does cruel things to us.

I would have never imagined in my deepest dreams that I would visit an enemy country one day. But, when I did, I was astounded with my familiarity with that place.My friends joked at my silliness saying that I might have born there in my previous birth.our visit was on behalf of our P.G degree,to understand the painful lives of people living in the border. We were taken to a slum there and asked to interview people on their lives, hard goings etc. That was when I met him for the first time. He was there, in one of the houses, sharpening some wooden stick. He was so absorbed in what he was doing and hardly noticed me coming his way. I had to clear my throat twice before he turned to look at me. He had thick eyebrows and his eyes seemed like they were hiding behind the brows. But, the intensity of his look, shook me out of the world. I was not afraid of him, as he thought he would make me. But instead, I felt genuinely attracted to him the instant he looked at me. He had a dusky complexion and i would not have heard a sweeter sound than his. "What do you want?", he asked rather harshly, though I found it welcoming. I wanted him, but how can I reply like that? So, I explained my purpose of visit to him, to which he listened patiently. When I finished, he told me that he had no time to spare for my stupid questionnaire. "Sorry", he said flatly,"I cant do that. You can ask somebody else to do it. As you see, there are many houses along this row. You can ask any one of them and spare me. Its time for me to go to work.". And he departed to the inside."Where do you work?" I asked, but, did not get any reply. I moved to the next house, my eyes still on the house I just left. When I saw him leaving the house, I quietly followed him. I thought he would never know me following him till we reached the woods. He stopped in the midst and without turning, asked,"Why are you following me? Didn't I ask you to go to some other people?". I was watching his elegant footsteps, but, when he stopped, I felt sad."Sorry",I told "But where do you work?May be I can get somebody from there". "This is not a good place. These are the hide outs of rogues in this village.", he told. Just then, I heard series of gunshots in a distance. " They are coming! What will you do now?"he asked,tensed. "Come on, climb up this tree"he ordered. It was then that I noticed that almost every tree had a small hut constructed on top of it. He produced a rope, tied a knot and made it to clutch on one of the projecting ends of the hut."Go on, climb! Quick!!" he told."I..I don't know how to",I cried."I'll just stay here". "If you stay here,You will be burnt alive. Come on then, Climb on my back" he said, grinding his teeth. (A small smile might have escaped my lips) and together we climbed on unto the hut. I clutched hard on his hairy chest and was smiling inwardly for my good fortune. But just then, he reached the top and pulled me down. "Go and hide somewhere there", he said"Nobody should find you.Else they will kill you. Be here till I come back. Don't get out to the balcony. I'll get you after I return". I could see him getting guns and bullets from the hut."You are a rogue yourself" I told. "I am" he replied. "Why are you not killing me then? I am from your enemy country. He didn't reply to what I asked."Be safe" he said and was gone in a second.I saw that he put back the rope into the hut in one try.

I don't know how many hours passed before I was shot down by his friends. It was raining and I heard a couple of people talking. I was afraid and kept to a corner. But they came to the hut and saw me hiding,shot me after a few curses and laughed out loud...

Rain was still splattering on the roof. I felt as if I was sleeping. The pain was seeping into each and every part of my body, My eyes were heavy and they were going to close. Tear drops trickled down my eyes ...If I could ever see him again...I closed my eyes. The last vision I saw was that of him,running towards me in the pool of my own blood. He picked me up and saw my pulse slowing down."I love you" were my last words before my heart beat stopped.I was sure that a tear drop fell down to my face.....