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Anti Climax

by GRACE TUBOI
 

She opened her eyes and found the bright morning sun flooding her room.

She made to get up hurriedly then suddenly realised that there was no need to hurry. Exams are over and in another two months time she'll be in college. She acknowledged with a sense of pride that she was a big girl now and not a school-girl anymore.

She had a leisurely bath and went down for breakfast. As she enters the kitchen, her mother looks up and with a loving smile told her teasingly "I thought you were never coming down". And her 12 yrs. old brother joined in "10 minutes later and I would have finished all the goodies". Mom's giving us a special breakfast coz it's our first day of vacation". Amanda looked up "I wish I were late then you would have finished all the goodies and grown into a beautiful balloon. And she added mischievously" Lydia would have had to look for a new boy them". Tomy cried 'Mom, look what tony is saying. Their mother a beautiful slender lady without turning around said. If you two want that special breakfast then stop all that and let me cook in peace.

After breakfast, she raced to her room, got ready and called out from the hall "Mom, I'm going to Maddy's place" 'Yes dear and be careful' and added 'don't be late'.

She rode on our bicycle to Maddy's place. Smiling to herself and reached her friend's place in record time. They were going to the beach for a picnic along with a few of their other friends. She called out 'Maddy' I am here are you rady? If you are, then let's move".

Maddy came out, she had completely forgotten that she had asked Amy to pick her up. She cried 'Oh' Amy, I'm so sorry I should have rung but I had completely forgotten of our plans. She looked apologically at her.

"What's up, something's wrong"?
– "No, No... it's not that. It's like this, my cousin brother, you remember, Mark has turned up unexpectedly.
– But Amy look thoughtful, she had a vague memory of that episode. It was two years back when Mark had come down for a visit and all her friends had not been able to stop talking about him. Of course she had not met him then. She had been down with a flu. She looked at her friend and said-But I don't understand why can't you come with us just because your cousin is here.

Maddy looked wearily at her friend and said-you see, he is not here for just a visit. He is an architect and has come down here to look for a site. And he needs me to show him around.

Amy said dejectedly, "Okay, I guess I'll have to go back."
– But, Amy, you don't have to. Go and enjoy yourself.
– Maddy, you forgot, most of the people are new to me and those few familier faces I am not close to. It just won't be the same without you.
– Then a smooth, clear voice said from behind Maddy, "You can come along with us if you want." Then turning to Maddy he said" what do you say?" But Amy was lost. She could not move she was rooted to the spot. Her friends hard not done justice while describing him. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. She just stared at him. Then realise that Maddy was asking her something. She snapped herself back to the present.

What? Oh yes, I'll come that is if you don't mind". She said and looked up at Mark. Of course not, if I had I would not have invited you.

The next few days where heaven. She was floating in the air. Everyday she went with Mark & Maddy. And she found her feeling's going deeper and deeper each day for mark. He was funny, witty and had a sense of humour get matched her's. She enjoyed his company a lot. He occasionally flirted with her. Those were the happiest moments of her life.

One evening while returning from one of her friends place, she saw Mark and he was not alone. He was kissing someone. Her world was shattered; she ran back all the way home and directly went to her room and cried her heart out. She had thought that Mark really liked her too. But its obvious now that she had been wrong all along. What a fool she had been Oh! But how much she loved him. She loved him so much that it hurt.

There was a knock and her brother called out "Amy", "Go away David and leave me alone." But her brother walked in.
– David, Please, leave me alone.
– Amy, "I... I saw...
– Saw what?
– I saw you; saw that guy kissing another girl
– “David, she said alarmingly.
– Just then their mother walk in
– “What’s going on and Amy Dear, Why do you cry?” That did it. She threw herself at her mother’s arm and begun to sob uncontrollably.
– “ She saw a guy kissing another girl”
– Her brother put in, “Amy dear, now now. You are going to make yourself sick.

Her mother said, gently drying her tears, “Now, tell me what is this about?”

‘It’s Mark,’ she blurted out, ‘I love him so much, mom and I thought he love me too,’ she put in between hiccups., He was always so nice to me and make me feel so special. Oh! Mom, what am I going to do.’ She began to cry again.

After sometime, her sobs subsided and her mother said, “ Amy, there will be many more. You are young and you still have a long way to go. May be he was not the right one for you. Don’t take it to your heart.

But Amy knew nothing would be the same again.

She looks wishfully out of her window. It has been nine months since those fateful days. But the pain was still there.

She spoke softly to herself, “Mark, Someday, I’ll find my destiny of love.”

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