He stood there breathing in the fresh air and admiring the beauty.
Ireland,a place where Nature sets the mood for romance.The green meadows,the beautiful houses,the people living there all of them define Beauty and Love.And this is where he belonged to.
The scene was dreamy.A house by the lake and greenery all around,just the perfect place for someone who is 82 now to spend the rest of his life.
All his memories of childhood filled his head.How his daddy used to call out,"Michael,lets go son!" and the hot pancakes that his mommy cooked every Sunday morning,the smell of fresh mud,the long walks in the orchard.A smile spread around his winkled face,such beautiful days he had back then,he thought,and at the same time he regretted of not visiting here often.
He had once asked his,now late wife,to come and stay with the daughters.But she had dropped the idea.Though she was a beautiful lady,lovable wife,caring mother,and a talented person but she was practical,for her,life at New York was more promising for everyone than staying at countryside.
And now that the daughters were both married and he was alone,he could stay anywhere at his will.So after a lot of thinking,he decided he would follow where his heart leads,and it led him here to the place where he had started off his journey.
He walked through the iron gate and creaked open the door.A gust of odor of something old and dusty filled his nares.It seemed it was all brown there.He further pushed the door open and to his surprise there were numerous envelope scattered on the floor.The color faded and dust had collected on it.Out of them he picked up one and read,it was addressed to him,and seemed new,the color was fresh and dated recent,and specially the red color attracted him,the rest others were either blue,green,yellow but not red.
He tore open and read the letter
Dear Michael,
I have been writing letters every year with the hope that maybe one day you would reply,but you hadn't. Maybe we weren't meant to be together or maybe you dint feel the way I did.I just want you to know I have no regrets to any of it.Probably this is my last letter to you,I want you to be happy.
I Love You.
-Always and Forever!
Love,
Juliet
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The image of a 14 year little girl appeared in front of his eyes.His only friend,Little Juliet,who lived by the market place.And how much he had missed her when she had to leave with her parents.
He picked each of the letters and cleaned them with his handkerchief and closing the door behind him,he sat on the wooden stairs and started opening each of them and read.
His thoughts went 65 years back,when he was 17.He had first met Juliet at the market place,a little girl sitting alone by the fountain.He had walked up to her and from then on they were friends.They had grown fond of each other and everyday after school he would take time out to visit her.
They would sit by the lone fountain and chat for hours.He loved listening to her.Her thoughts were so fascinating and sweet.And the 'purple flowers',how can he ever forget that.She had once said,"Mike,the day Mommy dresses me up as bride in white gown,I would hold these purple flowers when I would walk down." and he had promised her that he would be the one to pluck them for her,and they both had chortled at their thoughts.
And then he remembered her tear stained cheeks while she was leaving town with her parents.For a better earning and life,her parents had to move out taking her along,that was the saddest day of his life.
While he was drowned in his deep thoughts,the cawing of the crow reverted his thoughts back to present.
And then he realized something,something so crucial,something that he had been searching all his life,something that he thought was missing,and all of a sudden he found the missing piece to the puzzle.
He had a near perfect,happy family,he loved his wife Marie,dearly,he had two beautiful daughters and a smooth going life,yet he had missed something,and that was 'True Love'.And it was always right in front of him,but he hadn't realized it until now.
It was both sided,even Juliet felt the same way,she had loved him all along.And then a question ran through,"Did she not know that We had left town too,just after them?"
Of course she dint,otherwise why would she keep mailing the letters here.
Suddenly a sharp,refined but a high-pitched voice called out,"The Old man back from the dead!"
A man of his age,but leaner and with a stubble,stood right outside the gate.
He looked up,and replied "Hey! mate"
He spoke again,"No time for chit chat now,come by at the house tonight. Martha is cooking dinner."
"Okay,I will!"
"I hope,the Cinderella doesn't need pumpkin carriage!"and saying this he laughed and walked away.
He sat their grinning at him.That was Gary,he was the only man he had been in touch with while he was away.Both of them went to the same school.Back then they weren't so close as friends.It was one summer when he had received a call from him asking for a favor.His daughter,Mavis had got into the university and he wanted him to help with her accommodation.Gary is a good person,his father had helped Michael's father many a times,so to repay it back that was the least he could do.From then on they were family.
He cleaned the rooms,and washed off the old sheets.It was past 6,so he got ready in suit for dinner.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Martha,as he had seen was a very sophisticated and disciplined woman.She welcomed him in.And the three was soon seated at the dinner table,talking about various things.Michael,then discussed about what he found this morning,about Juliet.
Martha said,"You are right,you must go and visit her.Its your fate or destiny,whatever you call it has led you to this!"
"I think so!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning he brought a ticket and noted down the address and on his way he stopped by the market place and traveled to her city.
He got into a cab and reached on the address.But to his surprise,he was late.She no longer lived there.He also came to know she was spinster,that she had lived her life alone waiting for him.
He asked the driver to turn around and drive to the place where she was now.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He stood still,tears rolled down,as he read
In loving memory of
Died 14th February 1981
He placed the purple flowers that he had picked up on his way,and spoke,
"See! Jules,your favorite ones.
I'm sorry.I promise,I will make it up to you for all those letters every year,I promise!
Maybe we weren't together but I want you to know I have loved you then and I love you,now
Always and Forever."
Ireland,a place where Nature sets the mood for romance.The green meadows,the beautiful houses,the people living there all of them define Beauty and Love.And this is where he belonged to.
The scene was dreamy.A house by the lake and greenery all around,just the perfect place for someone who is 82 now to spend the rest of his life.
All his memories of childhood filled his head.How his daddy used to call out,"Michael,lets go son!" and the hot pancakes that his mommy cooked every Sunday morning,the smell of fresh mud,the long walks in the orchard.A smile spread around his winkled face,such beautiful days he had back then,he thought,and at the same time he regretted of not visiting here often.
He had once asked his,now late wife,to come and stay with the daughters.But she had dropped the idea.Though she was a beautiful lady,lovable wife,caring mother,and a talented person but she was practical,for her,life at New York was more promising for everyone than staying at countryside.
And now that the daughters were both married and he was alone,he could stay anywhere at his will.So after a lot of thinking,he decided he would follow where his heart leads,and it led him here to the place where he had started off his journey.
He walked through the iron gate and creaked open the door.A gust of odor of something old and dusty filled his nares.It seemed it was all brown there.He further pushed the door open and to his surprise there were numerous envelope scattered on the floor.The color faded and dust had collected on it.Out of them he picked up one and read,it was addressed to him,and seemed new,the color was fresh and dated recent,and specially the red color attracted him,the rest others were either blue,green,yellow but not red.
He tore open and read the letter
I have been writing letters every year with the hope that maybe one day you would reply,but you hadn't. Maybe we weren't meant to be together or maybe you dint feel the way I did.I just want you to know I have no regrets to any of it.Probably this is my last letter to you,I want you to be happy.
I Love You.
-Always and Forever!
Love,
Juliet
The image of a 14 year little girl appeared in front of his eyes.His only friend,Little Juliet,who lived by the market place.And how much he had missed her when she had to leave with her parents.
He picked each of the letters and cleaned them with his handkerchief and closing the door behind him,he sat on the wooden stairs and started opening each of them and read.
His thoughts went 65 years back,when he was 17.He had first met Juliet at the market place,a little girl sitting alone by the fountain.He had walked up to her and from then on they were friends.They had grown fond of each other and everyday after school he would take time out to visit her.
They would sit by the lone fountain and chat for hours.He loved listening to her.Her thoughts were so fascinating and sweet.And the 'purple flowers',how can he ever forget that.She had once said,"Mike,the day Mommy dresses me up as bride in white gown,I would hold these purple flowers when I would walk down." and he had promised her that he would be the one to pluck them for her,and they both had chortled at their thoughts.
And then he remembered her tear stained cheeks while she was leaving town with her parents.For a better earning and life,her parents had to move out taking her along,that was the saddest day of his life.
While he was drowned in his deep thoughts,the cawing of the crow reverted his thoughts back to present.
And then he realized something,something so crucial,something that he had been searching all his life,something that he thought was missing,and all of a sudden he found the missing piece to the puzzle.
He had a near perfect,happy family,he loved his wife Marie,dearly,he had two beautiful daughters and a smooth going life,yet he had missed something,and that was 'True Love'.And it was always right in front of him,but he hadn't realized it until now.
It was both sided,even Juliet felt the same way,she had loved him all along.And then a question ran through,"Did she not know that We had left town too,just after them?"
Of course she dint,otherwise why would she keep mailing the letters here.
Suddenly a sharp,refined but a high-pitched voice called out,"The Old man back from the dead!"
A man of his age,but leaner and with a stubble,stood right outside the gate.
He looked up,and replied "Hey! mate"
He spoke again,"No time for chit chat now,come by at the house tonight. Martha is cooking dinner."
"Okay,I will!"
"I hope,the Cinderella doesn't need pumpkin carriage!"and saying this he laughed and walked away.
He sat their grinning at him.That was Gary,he was the only man he had been in touch with while he was away.Both of them went to the same school.Back then they weren't so close as friends.It was one summer when he had received a call from him asking for a favor.His daughter,Mavis had got into the university and he wanted him to help with her accommodation.Gary is a good person,his father had helped Michael's father many a times,so to repay it back that was the least he could do.From then on they were family.
He cleaned the rooms,and washed off the old sheets.It was past 6,so he got ready in suit for dinner.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Martha,as he had seen was a very sophisticated and disciplined woman.She welcomed him in.And the three was soon seated at the dinner table,talking about various things.Michael,then discussed about what he found this morning,about Juliet.
Martha said,"You are right,you must go and visit her.Its your fate or destiny,whatever you call it has led you to this!"
"I think so!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning he brought a ticket and noted down the address and on his way he stopped by the market place and traveled to her city.
He got into a cab and reached on the address.But to his surprise,he was late.She no longer lived there.He also came to know she was spinster,that she had lived her life alone waiting for him.
He asked the driver to turn around and drive to the place where she was now.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He stood still,tears rolled down,as he read
In loving memory of
Katherine Juliet Kavner
"Every phrase and every sentence
is and end and a beginning.
Every poem an epitaph."
Rest In Peace
He placed the purple flowers that he had picked up on his way,and spoke,
"See! Jules,your favorite ones.
I'm sorry.I promise,I will make it up to you for all those letters every year,I promise!
Maybe we weren't together but I want you to know I have loved you then and I love you,now
Always and Forever."
A beautiful,clean post,so smoothly written that I simply am in love with your writing.
ReplyDeleteThank You Da!
Deletenew one good work :)
ReplyDeleteAnd thank You Arjun!
DeleteI agree with Sujay,beautiful story so easily described in such a simple but effective manner.'Love is forever'..true!
ReplyDeleteThank you *smiles*
Delete