"Yes,you are absolutely right,I'm nothing but a Prostitute",saying this she busted out the front door of the 'cafe.
This is about a girl named Maria.
Like all prostitute,she was born both innocent and a virgin,and,as an adolescent,she dreamed of meeting the man of her life(rich,handsome,intelligent),of getting married(in a wedding dress),having two children(who would grow up to be famous)and living in a lovely house(with the sea view).Her father was a travelling salesman and her mother often remained ill,and her hometown,in the interior of Brazil,had only one cinema,one nightclub and one bank,which was why Maria was always hoping that one day,without warning,her Prince Charming would arrive,sweep her off her feet and take her away with him so that they could conquer the world together.
But this was not what she actually got.After her mother's death her father drowned in depression began to drink(as we all know too much drinking is fatal) and as a result he soon died,and she was left with nothing but her younger brother,to look after.She was just 16,what did she even know about the world other than,her dream.She being the elder one now had to take up all the responsibility.She had to find a job to pay the rent of the house,to fulfill the needs and above all to survive.She knew the man whom her father worked for and went to ask for help.He assured her that he would give her work not to just earn money but loads of money.But she would have to move out because the work,he talked about was to be done in a different city.She agreed not knowing what she would have to do,she just thought about the money that she would bring back.
She asked her uncle to look after her brother,for a while(as they had three daughter and they were fond of her brother and always asked her father to give him,so that they could adopt him,in return they even promised to give him a better life,but her father never agreed to his demands),she knew he would be safe there,and she promised him she would be back soon with so much money that he would never have to compromise on anything.Then kissing him she left with the man.
She had never stepped out of her hometown before.She didn't know how far the city was or where they were heading to,all she thought was about:money,having no financial problem ever,the bright future,her dream.
After forty-eight hours by bus,they finally got off and a road side sign told her she was in a place called:Rio de Janeiro!
She had vaguely heard about this place from her father and some friends when she used to attend school,she always thought of this as so very big place,and she never imagined she would ever visit the place,then.But now that she is here,she was excited.They hailed a taxi and checked into a cheap hotel in Copacabana.
That evening,before she could unpack her bags,she was gifted a beautiful dress(like which she had never seen in her entire life)accompanied by a pair of shoes(which must have cost double as much as her father earned in a year),he asked her to wear it and then they would go to meet someone and talk about her work.She could not believe her eyes,she felt it was the beginning of the road.She was ready to be transformed into the princess of the universe!The man had offered her work,promised dollars,given a pair of exorbitantly expensive shoes and a dress straight out of a fairy tale!What could she want more!
They left their hotel and went to a restaurant,as they entered,she thought about the person who was going to offer her work and whom they have come to meet(must have been filthy rich).The interior was decorated with expensive items,this place,she very well understood belonged only for the rich,that someone like her could never afford to come in.She felt as if she was in Heaven!
They walked towards an Arab man sitting in a corner table,smiling and waving at them.They sat down,and the Arab man greeted the man,in a language she din't understand,and he greeted her too but she returned it with just a smile.
While they talked in a language she din't understand,she turned around to look at all the people seated there,everyone was dressed well,symbolizing high class of people.She saw the paintings hung on the wall and wondered what did it mean.Then her thoughts were interrupted by a waiter offering her some sparkling looking water in a fancy glass.She turned to the man,and he signaled her to drink it as it was usual.She had seen the similar glass on every table,and she drank it.After a while her head felt heavy and dizzy.She was felling a little uncomfortable now but she couldn't say what made her feel that way,slowly,slowly her vision blurred and she fell asleep.
The moment she woke up she found her head hurting a little,she looked around, wondering this was probably not the same room that they had checked in the afternoon.This was a posh one,she saw her dress fallen on the carpet and turning to her left she saw the Arab man sleeping beside.She was horrified now,she din't know where she was,where did the man go,or why was she there,what had happened to her.She jumped out of the bed wore her dress as quickly as possible and ran barefooted out.It was cold outside but it din't matter she ran and ran looking here and there searching for the hotel or the man,but she couldn't find.
Meanwhile the Arab man sent his goons to find her and bring her back after all he had paid for her.
Her legs ached and her body felt numb due to cold still she ran until she collapsed.She felt a sharp bee-like sting on her arm and then everything felt like eternity.
This time when she woke up she was surrounded by orange and deep reddish lights all around,she din't know where she was,all she heard was whispering and saw was some weird dressed girls sitting at the corner.She cleared her vision,but the lights were too hard,hurting her eyes.But she managed to pull herself up together.
The girls sitting now stood and came walking towards her,one of them offered her a glass of water.She looked up and asked where she was,they told her she was in a place called Geneva,its in Switzerland.They could make out she was scared,one of then put hand on her shoulder now comforting her said,its was a phase,and that this too would pass,there is nothing to be scared off.
She cried asking when she could go back,asking about the man,the Arab,about being in Rio.But none answered her questions.Two days passed,without any word from anyone,trapped in that horribly lighted room.
Then on the third day,a girl came up with some weird looking clothes and asked her to wear it,but when she denied,she was forced into them.Her body shook with fear,then she was pushed in front of another man,from the girl's way of taking and calling him,she understood the man's name was Milan.
She stood there in silence,shaking with fear.
Suddenly then Milan spoke,"Look!I have purchased you,you have to work here,she will give you further details about your work",he stood up and before leaving he said,"I am the owner of this nightclub,I am Milan,everyone here listens to me.Another thing,if you ever try to run away,let me inform you,you will never get out!",then he left.
She fell onto her knees and sobbed,all her dreams shattering in front of her eyes.She lay there,not knowing for how long.
Last night she was dressed like a fairy,seated among rich well-dressed people,dreaming about her bright future,going back home with enough money and now she was here wearing an ugly dress and in such a pathetic place with all weird looking people around.
Again the same girl barged into the room,wiggling Maria's shoulder.She stood up and the girl began to talk,"My name is Sonia,i work here like others,I'm an Australian,we work here as Prostitutes,you will do the same too,selling body for money.Now coming to the clients,we have two types of them,one the normal one and other the 'special clients',though you are a newcomer so you will have to deal with the normal,but when Milan feels you are ready he will introduce you to the special ones,you will know that by time.Get dressed and cleaned up,you start tonight!"and without another word she left.
Maria was trying to deal with the reality,she couldn't believe where she was,she was totally shattered in thousand pieces.
She cleaned herself up,and walked out into the hall.She looked around,there was a bar,behind which Milan stood,there were tables spread all over the big room,some were filled with girls of her age sitting with men of different ages,some empty,the lights were dimmer than the ones in that room where she was all this while.The people spoke in whispers,even laughed and giggled softly.
She now looked towards Milan who pointed out at the man entering the club,she walked to him(forcefully,though not wanting to) saying 'Hello',they sat on a nearby table.Milan then signaled her to come over and carry the drink to that man.She did as asked and told.Soon after that,she and the man left in a taxi.
That night when she got back to that one room,horribly lighted apartment,she cried her heart out.Then many nights followed in the same manner,but soon she got used to it,and one day she finally stopped crying.
Everyday was similar one,no change same routine,those same people.In all these days she had been able to find two friends,to whom she could share her thoughts with,one was her colleague named Nyah and the other a dairy.
Nyah told her about her hometown,about Spain,about different people of Geneva,about Switzerland(that they made tasty chocolates and expensive watches),she even showed her own gifted watch by one of her client,about her dreams(which was similar to hers).Even Maria told her about her hometown,about her younger brother(Nyah always said,someday she would surely get to meet him again) which Maria wasn't sure of.
Every night,after her work,she wrote down in the dairy,about her thoughts,about different people,what she learnt about them,about the place,about her dream,that she still clings to.The dairy was the only source for her to keep that innocent girl alive,somewhere,though it faded slowly.Her heart was cold as stone and her feelings as dry as wind.
Days passed,soon it was a month,then another and then into Six months.
All this while she never visited a church,though she wore washed,clean and ironed clothes,but within she never felt clean enough to be able to enter a church.She visited a library,walked by the lake,went to coffee shops,but never to a church.She was angry with God for giving her such a life that she hated.She hated the world and the people who have used her when she asked for help.
One day Milan called her to introduce her to another 'special client'(she had got many 'special clients before all introduced to her by him,who paid thousand Francs per night),she turned and looked the full length at the man.He was smiling at her,but she din't return it,then as the ritual was they had a drink and left in a taxi.
Now they were in a hotel room with a window facing the sea.The breeze was cool and calming,she asked for the changing room,but he replied it was not required,she could make herself comfortable on that couch.He sat across her on another couch,for a moment no one spoke,just looking at each other.Then he spoke,"you might be wondering about all of these,don't worry,I'm here to just talk".
Maria was astonished to hear,'He paid a thousand Francs just to talk!'
She knew these special clients were generally the rich ones,some high class employees,or some rich businessmen,she had learnt,they wanted freedom from daily life or some of them suffering mid-life crisis,and that is why they came to her,but none of them just came in 'to talk'.They always wanted 'eleven minutes',and that is why the even paid so much!
While she was thinking all this,he offered her a drink,she simply denied saying,"I don't drink when I'm working'.
He continued staring at her,which made her for the first time in all these days feel uncomfortable.
Breaking the silence she asked,"then why have you brought me here for?"
He replied,"I just wanted to talk to someone,someone like you who has a special light in her,who will understand what I have to say."
She got up,dropped the thousand francs on the table and began walking towards the door.
He stood up,shouted,"Wait!Please!",picking the money,he tucked it inside her purse and opened the door for her and said,"Goodbye,hope to see you again."
That night,back in her apartment she wondered about this man,she had categorised all those men she had been with in different categories according to the manner they behaved,but she just could not fit this man in any of them,and,she also wondered what he might have meant about 'special light',that he saw in her.She felt he might have been crazy,how can someone see 'special light' that to in a Prostitute!
Next night,he was back again to the club,and as usual they went to the same place,they had the night before,again the same thing followed,silence....silence...simply staring...then walking out the door with a thousand franc.
A week passed in the same way,finally one night he spoke,and she listened,he told her,his name is Ralf Hart,that he is a painter by profession,he had been around the world many times,met different people of different religion and caste,and had been married twice.
She spoke to him about her home town,about the people there,about her parents,about her brother,about how she got here,about the Arab man whom she will never forget.
She saw something different in his eyes,which she hadn't experienced or seen before,but couldn't exactly make out what it was.She was twenty-two now and she had learnt enough to realize there is nothing called love or prince charming,at least not in this place!
They talked every night in return for a thousand francs,she soon felt for this man,something which she couldn't explain in words.Three weeks passed and they met often,one day he decided to take her to his house instead of the hotel they always met.She couldn't imagine he lived in such a big house,(she felt house is a small word,it is actually a chalet),well furnished,there was warmth in the ambience,and everything around was extraordinary.
They sat by the fire place and talked and laughed,looking slyly at each other at intervals but no wanting to catch each others gaze.
Then he said something,that hung in the air for a while,"You are Beautiful!"
She though,had heard it many a times from different people,but not in this manner or tone,she blushed.
Back in her apartment,she thought about Ralf Hart.She couldn't stop smiling,she had momentarily forgotten who she was,or where she was,or that what she does!
She was in LOVE!Autumn never seemed so beautiful before to her,she loved the nature for its beauty.She smiled more often to herself,the stones now never felt hurting while she walked by the lake,waited every night for him to come,his eyes staring at her,she listened to him wanting there conversation to never end.She was back to being 16,her dream of prince charming sweeping off her feet,of love,of children,of beautiful house,everything!
But it takes only a moment for the reality to sink in.She was back to the 'Real' world,where she was a prostitute,and she didn't have the right to fall in love!
It was nine months now,that she has known Ralf.But everything always seemed as if it was the first day!and she felt more scared of often meeting him.She was scared to look at him,with the fear of disclosing her true feelings for him.She never wanted him to know nor did she want him to have the same feelings for her.
On one of the similar nights,he told her that,he would have to go out of town for a week for one of his exhibition.After he returns,he promised her to take her to one of his exhibition,which is going to be held in Geneva,itself,and,there he would introduce her to his friends.
She was standing in front of a church,having second thoughts about entering,but she finally did,no matter what clothes she wore,this time.She sat there in silence,all the images of past and present flashing through her mind,crying and laughing,agreeing and disagreeing,complaining and approving.Then without breaking the peaceful silence she walked out of the church.
That night in her apartment,she knelt down crying her heart out,this time actual tears rolled down her cheeks,moaning cursing and complaining to God for such a life.
Far across in one corner of the room,two apparition talking to each other,
What manner of woman this is which toucheth,she is a sinner.
And Jesus answering said unto him,Simon,I have somewhat to say unto thee.And he saith,Master,say on.
A certain lender had two debtors:the one owed five hundred pence,and the other fifty.
And when they had not wherewith to pay,he forgave them both.Which of them therefore will love him most?
Simon answered and said,He,I suppose to whom he forgave the most.And he said unto him,Thou hast rightly judged.
And turning to the woman,he said unto Simon,Seest thou this woman?I entered into thine house,thou gavest me no water for my feet;but she hath washed my feet with her tears,and wiped them her hair.
Wherefore I say unto thee,Her sins,which are many,are forgiven;for she loved much.
Simon said,Master if you loved her much,why thou allow her,to do it.
Jesus smiling answering said unto him,I thou wouldst not decided her destiny,man decides for himself,for I have created thee,thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others.I guide upon.
She sobbing,talking to God,'Yes,I love him very much,as I have never loved another man,and that is precisely why I am leaving,because,if I stayed,the dream would become reality,the desire to possess,to want his life to be mine...all the things will transform love into slavery.It's better left like this-a dream.
One can't say to the spring:"Come now and last as long as possible."One can only say:"Come and bless with hope and stay as long as you can."
I can't bind him in love,how would he face the world or his friends who would know who I'm,how would my children deal with it,how will society deal with a prostitute.I can't risk everything on it,that is why it is best to leave!'she falls down onto the carpet.
Far across the apparition vanishes at the same time.
After a week Ralf Hart was back to the club,searching for Maria,he has rehearsed it numerous time this afternoon,yet now he was nervous.He entered the club,and asked Milan,but this time before he said anything,he felt the earth beneath his feet suddenly moved.He stood there still,as if thousands of knives were poked,digging through his skin,and with the pain and silence he left.
He drank vodka that night instead of wine(wine wasn't strong enough to remove the pain,he needed something much more stronger to hit his brain and nerves directly),tears rolling down,he cuddled up on the carpet and slept through the night.
Next morning,he woke up,like a real gentleman(what Maria always thought him to be),dressed up and buying some flowers from the gypsy lady walked to her grave.There for a while he spoke to her,placed the flowers,and then passing by he saw the 'cafe.
He entered,and all the memories came back,about the first day when he had met her,and that their conversation ended on a bad note and she had banged the door and left angrily,when she found he knew who she was.He had fallen in love the very moment when he saw her there,sipping coffee,and he saw a light in her eyes,just that he had saved it for later to sweep her of her feet,when she would know he loved her,like he never did before,but that was what which din't happen,though.He paid for the beer and asked the waiter to keep the change and walked out to the pavement.On the other side of the road he saw her waving at him,he crossed the road and holding each others hand they walked down the road......
P.S:Inspired from the book 'Eleven minutes' by Paulo Coelho.
The story completely differs except for the names,which are same.The story he said is way beautiful than this,if you like reading,you can always read it.
This is about a girl named Maria.
Like all prostitute,she was born both innocent and a virgin,and,as an adolescent,she dreamed of meeting the man of her life(rich,handsome,intelligent),of getting married(in a wedding dress),having two children(who would grow up to be famous)and living in a lovely house(with the sea view).Her father was a travelling salesman and her mother often remained ill,and her hometown,in the interior of Brazil,had only one cinema,one nightclub and one bank,which was why Maria was always hoping that one day,without warning,her Prince Charming would arrive,sweep her off her feet and take her away with him so that they could conquer the world together.
But this was not what she actually got.After her mother's death her father drowned in depression began to drink(as we all know too much drinking is fatal) and as a result he soon died,and she was left with nothing but her younger brother,to look after.She was just 16,what did she even know about the world other than,her dream.She being the elder one now had to take up all the responsibility.She had to find a job to pay the rent of the house,to fulfill the needs and above all to survive.She knew the man whom her father worked for and went to ask for help.He assured her that he would give her work not to just earn money but loads of money.But she would have to move out because the work,he talked about was to be done in a different city.She agreed not knowing what she would have to do,she just thought about the money that she would bring back.
She asked her uncle to look after her brother,for a while(as they had three daughter and they were fond of her brother and always asked her father to give him,so that they could adopt him,in return they even promised to give him a better life,but her father never agreed to his demands),she knew he would be safe there,and she promised him she would be back soon with so much money that he would never have to compromise on anything.Then kissing him she left with the man.
She had never stepped out of her hometown before.She didn't know how far the city was or where they were heading to,all she thought was about:money,having no financial problem ever,the bright future,her dream.
After forty-eight hours by bus,they finally got off and a road side sign told her she was in a place called:Rio de Janeiro!
She had vaguely heard about this place from her father and some friends when she used to attend school,she always thought of this as so very big place,and she never imagined she would ever visit the place,then.But now that she is here,she was excited.They hailed a taxi and checked into a cheap hotel in Copacabana.
That evening,before she could unpack her bags,she was gifted a beautiful dress(like which she had never seen in her entire life)accompanied by a pair of shoes(which must have cost double as much as her father earned in a year),he asked her to wear it and then they would go to meet someone and talk about her work.She could not believe her eyes,she felt it was the beginning of the road.She was ready to be transformed into the princess of the universe!The man had offered her work,promised dollars,given a pair of exorbitantly expensive shoes and a dress straight out of a fairy tale!What could she want more!
They left their hotel and went to a restaurant,as they entered,she thought about the person who was going to offer her work and whom they have come to meet(must have been filthy rich).The interior was decorated with expensive items,this place,she very well understood belonged only for the rich,that someone like her could never afford to come in.She felt as if she was in Heaven!
They walked towards an Arab man sitting in a corner table,smiling and waving at them.They sat down,and the Arab man greeted the man,in a language she din't understand,and he greeted her too but she returned it with just a smile.
While they talked in a language she din't understand,she turned around to look at all the people seated there,everyone was dressed well,symbolizing high class of people.She saw the paintings hung on the wall and wondered what did it mean.Then her thoughts were interrupted by a waiter offering her some sparkling looking water in a fancy glass.She turned to the man,and he signaled her to drink it as it was usual.She had seen the similar glass on every table,and she drank it.After a while her head felt heavy and dizzy.She was felling a little uncomfortable now but she couldn't say what made her feel that way,slowly,slowly her vision blurred and she fell asleep.
The moment she woke up she found her head hurting a little,she looked around, wondering this was probably not the same room that they had checked in the afternoon.This was a posh one,she saw her dress fallen on the carpet and turning to her left she saw the Arab man sleeping beside.She was horrified now,she din't know where she was,where did the man go,or why was she there,what had happened to her.She jumped out of the bed wore her dress as quickly as possible and ran barefooted out.It was cold outside but it din't matter she ran and ran looking here and there searching for the hotel or the man,but she couldn't find.
Meanwhile the Arab man sent his goons to find her and bring her back after all he had paid for her.
Her legs ached and her body felt numb due to cold still she ran until she collapsed.She felt a sharp bee-like sting on her arm and then everything felt like eternity.
This time when she woke up she was surrounded by orange and deep reddish lights all around,she din't know where she was,all she heard was whispering and saw was some weird dressed girls sitting at the corner.She cleared her vision,but the lights were too hard,hurting her eyes.But she managed to pull herself up together.
The girls sitting now stood and came walking towards her,one of them offered her a glass of water.She looked up and asked where she was,they told her she was in a place called Geneva,its in Switzerland.They could make out she was scared,one of then put hand on her shoulder now comforting her said,its was a phase,and that this too would pass,there is nothing to be scared off.
She cried asking when she could go back,asking about the man,the Arab,about being in Rio.But none answered her questions.Two days passed,without any word from anyone,trapped in that horribly lighted room.
Then on the third day,a girl came up with some weird looking clothes and asked her to wear it,but when she denied,she was forced into them.Her body shook with fear,then she was pushed in front of another man,from the girl's way of taking and calling him,she understood the man's name was Milan.
She stood there in silence,shaking with fear.
Suddenly then Milan spoke,"Look!I have purchased you,you have to work here,she will give you further details about your work",he stood up and before leaving he said,"I am the owner of this nightclub,I am Milan,everyone here listens to me.Another thing,if you ever try to run away,let me inform you,you will never get out!",then he left.
She fell onto her knees and sobbed,all her dreams shattering in front of her eyes.She lay there,not knowing for how long.
Last night she was dressed like a fairy,seated among rich well-dressed people,dreaming about her bright future,going back home with enough money and now she was here wearing an ugly dress and in such a pathetic place with all weird looking people around.
Again the same girl barged into the room,wiggling Maria's shoulder.She stood up and the girl began to talk,"My name is Sonia,i work here like others,I'm an Australian,we work here as Prostitutes,you will do the same too,selling body for money.Now coming to the clients,we have two types of them,one the normal one and other the 'special clients',though you are a newcomer so you will have to deal with the normal,but when Milan feels you are ready he will introduce you to the special ones,you will know that by time.Get dressed and cleaned up,you start tonight!"and without another word she left.
Maria was trying to deal with the reality,she couldn't believe where she was,she was totally shattered in thousand pieces.
She cleaned herself up,and walked out into the hall.She looked around,there was a bar,behind which Milan stood,there were tables spread all over the big room,some were filled with girls of her age sitting with men of different ages,some empty,the lights were dimmer than the ones in that room where she was all this while.The people spoke in whispers,even laughed and giggled softly.
She now looked towards Milan who pointed out at the man entering the club,she walked to him(forcefully,though not wanting to) saying 'Hello',they sat on a nearby table.Milan then signaled her to come over and carry the drink to that man.She did as asked and told.Soon after that,she and the man left in a taxi.
That night when she got back to that one room,horribly lighted apartment,she cried her heart out.Then many nights followed in the same manner,but soon she got used to it,and one day she finally stopped crying.
Everyday was similar one,no change same routine,those same people.In all these days she had been able to find two friends,to whom she could share her thoughts with,one was her colleague named Nyah and the other a dairy.
Nyah told her about her hometown,about Spain,about different people of Geneva,about Switzerland(that they made tasty chocolates and expensive watches),she even showed her own gifted watch by one of her client,about her dreams(which was similar to hers).Even Maria told her about her hometown,about her younger brother(Nyah always said,someday she would surely get to meet him again) which Maria wasn't sure of.
Every night,after her work,she wrote down in the dairy,about her thoughts,about different people,what she learnt about them,about the place,about her dream,that she still clings to.The dairy was the only source for her to keep that innocent girl alive,somewhere,though it faded slowly.Her heart was cold as stone and her feelings as dry as wind.
Days passed,soon it was a month,then another and then into Six months.
All this while she never visited a church,though she wore washed,clean and ironed clothes,but within she never felt clean enough to be able to enter a church.She visited a library,walked by the lake,went to coffee shops,but never to a church.She was angry with God for giving her such a life that she hated.She hated the world and the people who have used her when she asked for help.
One day Milan called her to introduce her to another 'special client'(she had got many 'special clients before all introduced to her by him,who paid thousand Francs per night),she turned and looked the full length at the man.He was smiling at her,but she din't return it,then as the ritual was they had a drink and left in a taxi.
Maria was astonished to hear,'He paid a thousand Francs just to talk!'
She knew these special clients were generally the rich ones,some high class employees,or some rich businessmen,she had learnt,they wanted freedom from daily life or some of them suffering mid-life crisis,and that is why they came to her,but none of them just came in 'to talk'.They always wanted 'eleven minutes',and that is why the even paid so much!
While she was thinking all this,he offered her a drink,she simply denied saying,"I don't drink when I'm working'.
He continued staring at her,which made her for the first time in all these days feel uncomfortable.
Breaking the silence she asked,"then why have you brought me here for?"
He replied,"I just wanted to talk to someone,someone like you who has a special light in her,who will understand what I have to say."
She got up,dropped the thousand francs on the table and began walking towards the door.
He stood up,shouted,"Wait!Please!",picking the money,he tucked it inside her purse and opened the door for her and said,"Goodbye,hope to see you again."
That night,back in her apartment she wondered about this man,she had categorised all those men she had been with in different categories according to the manner they behaved,but she just could not fit this man in any of them,and,she also wondered what he might have meant about 'special light',that he saw in her.She felt he might have been crazy,how can someone see 'special light' that to in a Prostitute!
Next night,he was back again to the club,and as usual they went to the same place,they had the night before,again the same thing followed,silence....silence...simply staring...then walking out the door with a thousand franc.
A week passed in the same way,finally one night he spoke,and she listened,he told her,his name is Ralf Hart,that he is a painter by profession,he had been around the world many times,met different people of different religion and caste,and had been married twice.
She spoke to him about her home town,about the people there,about her parents,about her brother,about how she got here,about the Arab man whom she will never forget.
She saw something different in his eyes,which she hadn't experienced or seen before,but couldn't exactly make out what it was.She was twenty-two now and she had learnt enough to realize there is nothing called love or prince charming,at least not in this place!
They talked every night in return for a thousand francs,she soon felt for this man,something which she couldn't explain in words.Three weeks passed and they met often,one day he decided to take her to his house instead of the hotel they always met.She couldn't imagine he lived in such a big house,(she felt house is a small word,it is actually a chalet),well furnished,there was warmth in the ambience,and everything around was extraordinary.
They sat by the fire place and talked and laughed,looking slyly at each other at intervals but no wanting to catch each others gaze.
Then he said something,that hung in the air for a while,"You are Beautiful!"
She though,had heard it many a times from different people,but not in this manner or tone,she blushed.
Back in her apartment,she thought about Ralf Hart.She couldn't stop smiling,she had momentarily forgotten who she was,or where she was,or that what she does!
She was in LOVE!Autumn never seemed so beautiful before to her,she loved the nature for its beauty.She smiled more often to herself,the stones now never felt hurting while she walked by the lake,waited every night for him to come,his eyes staring at her,she listened to him wanting there conversation to never end.She was back to being 16,her dream of prince charming sweeping off her feet,of love,of children,of beautiful house,everything!
But it takes only a moment for the reality to sink in.She was back to the 'Real' world,where she was a prostitute,and she didn't have the right to fall in love!
It was nine months now,that she has known Ralf.But everything always seemed as if it was the first day!and she felt more scared of often meeting him.She was scared to look at him,with the fear of disclosing her true feelings for him.She never wanted him to know nor did she want him to have the same feelings for her.
On one of the similar nights,he told her that,he would have to go out of town for a week for one of his exhibition.After he returns,he promised her to take her to one of his exhibition,which is going to be held in Geneva,itself,and,there he would introduce her to his friends.
She was standing in front of a church,having second thoughts about entering,but she finally did,no matter what clothes she wore,this time.She sat there in silence,all the images of past and present flashing through her mind,crying and laughing,agreeing and disagreeing,complaining and approving.Then without breaking the peaceful silence she walked out of the church.
That night in her apartment,she knelt down crying her heart out,this time actual tears rolled down her cheeks,moaning cursing and complaining to God for such a life.
Far across in one corner of the room,two apparition talking to each other,
What manner of woman this is which toucheth,she is a sinner.
And Jesus answering said unto him,Simon,I have somewhat to say unto thee.And he saith,Master,say on.
A certain lender had two debtors:the one owed five hundred pence,and the other fifty.
And when they had not wherewith to pay,he forgave them both.Which of them therefore will love him most?
Simon answered and said,He,I suppose to whom he forgave the most.And he said unto him,Thou hast rightly judged.
And turning to the woman,he said unto Simon,Seest thou this woman?I entered into thine house,thou gavest me no water for my feet;but she hath washed my feet with her tears,and wiped them her hair.
Wherefore I say unto thee,Her sins,which are many,are forgiven;for she loved much.
Simon said,Master if you loved her much,why thou allow her,to do it.
Jesus smiling answering said unto him,I thou wouldst not decided her destiny,man decides for himself,for I have created thee,thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others.I guide upon.
She sobbing,talking to God,'Yes,I love him very much,as I have never loved another man,and that is precisely why I am leaving,because,if I stayed,the dream would become reality,the desire to possess,to want his life to be mine...all the things will transform love into slavery.It's better left like this-a dream.
One can't say to the spring:"Come now and last as long as possible."One can only say:"Come and bless with hope and stay as long as you can."
I can't bind him in love,how would he face the world or his friends who would know who I'm,how would my children deal with it,how will society deal with a prostitute.I can't risk everything on it,that is why it is best to leave!'she falls down onto the carpet.
Far across the apparition vanishes at the same time.
After a week Ralf Hart was back to the club,searching for Maria,he has rehearsed it numerous time this afternoon,yet now he was nervous.He entered the club,and asked Milan,but this time before he said anything,he felt the earth beneath his feet suddenly moved.He stood there still,as if thousands of knives were poked,digging through his skin,and with the pain and silence he left.
He drank vodka that night instead of wine(wine wasn't strong enough to remove the pain,he needed something much more stronger to hit his brain and nerves directly),tears rolling down,he cuddled up on the carpet and slept through the night.
Next morning,he woke up,like a real gentleman(what Maria always thought him to be),dressed up and buying some flowers from the gypsy lady walked to her grave.There for a while he spoke to her,placed the flowers,and then passing by he saw the 'cafe.
He entered,and all the memories came back,about the first day when he had met her,and that their conversation ended on a bad note and she had banged the door and left angrily,when she found he knew who she was.He had fallen in love the very moment when he saw her there,sipping coffee,and he saw a light in her eyes,just that he had saved it for later to sweep her of her feet,when she would know he loved her,like he never did before,but that was what which din't happen,though.He paid for the beer and asked the waiter to keep the change and walked out to the pavement.On the other side of the road he saw her waving at him,he crossed the road and holding each others hand they walked down the road......
P.S:Inspired from the book 'Eleven minutes' by Paulo Coelho.
The story completely differs except for the names,which are same.The story he said is way beautiful than this,if you like reading,you can always read it.
Superb,just loved it
ReplyDeletethank u
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