Autumn is a season that can get even the most cheerful person a bit glum. The sky would be clear blue like a blank canvas, sun would be raging it’s heat, people would abandon the streets, birds won’t leave their nests and animals won’t come out of their burrows.
But it was nothing new for Allor. Sitting on a bench amid a garden in autumn is like sailing a dingy through an ocean of dried leaves. Every time someone walks over them he could hear even the finest of sound made by crumbling leaves. As a child he would enjoy jumping on them, but it didn’t entertain him anymore.
He looked at the pile of raked leaves which was not there yesterday. It’ll all be burnt, leaving ash and smoke.
Life was stagnant for him at autumn. It was like a station from where no train would go anywhere, a station which has solely been built just to signal trains to pass by. And he won’t complain about it anymore to anyone.
Life was not the same for him 5 years back. He used to be jovial and lively. Just in 5 years he now appeared to have grown ages. His hair unkempt, his face like a mask and he rarely would smile.
He was lost in thoughts until his phone vibrated springing him back from flashback to the present.
Yes, He answered.
You want it today? Asked the voice.
Yes, he answered again.
What time? The voice asked.
The usual. He replied.
Alright. Said the voice.
How much? Allor asked.
We’ll decide. The voice said and hung up, and Allor went back to his flash back.
Life and luck mostly had him biased or the people around him. He obtained most of the things no one else could at an age no one else had, at least those who were around him.
He had been envied by almost everyone, His siblings, his friends, colleagues, everyone. And he had never been snobbish about his achievements. He lived a modest and simple life.
A giggle intruded his silent world and he saw a teenage couple passing by holding hands, throwing him back to his days when he won his first kiss. He was barely 14. It was none other than Aliza, the class allure. Even at 14 she was like a Greek Goddess, her dark brown hair had a perfect match with her golden skin. She was the only girl to have hazel eyes in the whole school. She was looked upon as an angel just less of wings which her heart had. Her heart would never settle on a thing except for Allor and he never understood why.
Watching them holding hands and walking around the school campus made acid regurgitate to mouth of every guy. They all wanted to be in his place but they were just not lucky enough.
He was just 16 when they made love, which was nothing but experimentation and curiosity. Aliza didn’t let him down. She was Bold & Beautiful. By 22 he had all his fantasies come true with Aliza and he had enough in his plate to marry her. At age of 23 he was married to his 10 year girlfriend, had a respectable job and everything else to make one believe life was so perfect for them.
His phone vibrated again.
It’s done, the voice said.
Alright. Allor answered and hung up.
He had been sitting on this bench for more than 3 hours now. He had a few drops of sweat running down his temple. It was time to move, he felt and walked towards the lake which was half a km away. He had to return to his apartment by 8 pm and it was about 6 pm now. He had one more hour to kill.
He took a round of the lake feeding himself cool breeze to calm his unrest mind. After having enough of it, he turned on his way back. He saw a kid coming towards him holding hands of her mother. He froze a moment and felt a chill running down his spine. They appeared to him like it was his own Aliza and their daughter Aurora. Although he realized it was not possible as, Aliza and Aurora are not in the city, not even the country maybe. They approached near and the lady was giving him looks for his stare.
Oh! Excuse me, Allor uttered.
She is such a beautiful girl- He said and walked away.
The woman was perplexed and her eyes followed him and Allor didn’t turn back.
He reached his car. Some dust had settled over it parked there for a while and some air could do justice to it. He revved the engine and took it to 80 mph and later lowering it down to 40.
How would Aurora like now? He imagined her playing around and running down the field. It’s been 5 years since he saw her last time.
He still remembered the first time he ever saw her. She was the most beautiful girl he ever saw. He had tears running down his eyes when he took Aurora into his arms. He told Aliza, I’m the happiest Dad in this world. It was a moment he felt God blessed him with everything he wanted.
And life taught him a hard lesson. One has to pay for everything one wants. Every smile, every moment one spends in happiness everything one has gained.
His love for Aliza grew more after having Aurora in his arms. He’ll never be late from his office. Oblige to every of their wishes. Everything he did for them made him happy too.
But it was not the same for Aliza. Though she was comfortable with whatever she got from Allor. At times she was more like testing him. She’ll put one wish after the other and Allor would gladly fulfill them. She would be irritated most of the times not because he would fail but because he’ll never miss. It was just too perfect, more than perfect for her.
It was around the time Aurora was to be 5.
One day out of nowhere Aliza asked Allor- If I want something huge from you would you give it to me?
Allor without even a thought replied- Of course honey, tell me what’s in your mind?
You need to promise me said Aliza.
I promise, added Allor.
I need a divorce, said Aliza.
Allor’s world came crashing down. He couldn’t believe what he was listening to. He stood there in shock like he has been stuck with a thunderbolt. His pupils dilated. His mouth open.
But.. But why? He begged.
Aliza knew it would break him. But she wanted to get over with it as soon as possible.
She replied to him- Allor, this is just to perfect, just to perfect for me. I forced myself to believe that all this is real. But how could it be. I had patience for some time, but I can’t keep it anymore. And I can no longer believe that it’s for real. Not any longer.
Allor was baffled. He didn’t understand even a word of it. He wouldn’t even remember when was he sad last time. And right now it was more than heartache.
He asked- what’s not real? What’s not true?
Aliza said- You, your love for me, and your love for Aurora. It’s just too perfect to be real.
I don’t get it- Allor said.
You promised me you’ll give what I wanted- said Aliza. And if you don’t respect it, I can’t be happy with you anymore. It’s upon you to decide now Allor, if you want me to be happy, let me go.
Allor now was hopeless. He was wretched. He went to Aurora’s room, she was sleeping. He looked at her innocent face. How much he loved her, he can’t even translate in words. He took the keys to his cars & left. He didn’t return that night. He called up to his office in morning after spending night in his car & put a leave. He wandered whole day aimlessly. His only objective of his life had been snatched from him.
He made a decision and called Aliza.
He said- Alright you win. But I want Aurora to stay with me. You can’t take her away from me.
Aliza refused. No you can’t. She goes with me.
Allor knew it won’t come easy to him. He fought for Aurora for 6 months in court.
But it was Aliza to win. Everyone favored custody of female child to mother. And Aurora had to leave.
He halted his car at a red signal, symbolizing it with his happy life. He wasn’t far from his flat now. On the way he stopped at a hyper market purchasing 2 bottles of wine, a bottle of scotch some groceries and a few more things.
He reached his apartment by 7.45 pm and set dinner ready.
At 8.15 pm his doorbell rang. He had expected it.
He opened the door and there stood a girl aged 23-25 wearing heavy makeup to make her look older. She had her hair pulled back, thick mascara on her eyes, and crimson red lipstick.
She was wearing a long silk overcoat with upper 2 buttons undone.
He knew beneath it is just skin, and within him love was not real anymore.
His phone rang for last time..
He answered - How much?
The voice said- 10 k for you.
But it was nothing new for Allor. Sitting on a bench amid a garden in autumn is like sailing a dingy through an ocean of dried leaves. Every time someone walks over them he could hear even the finest of sound made by crumbling leaves. As a child he would enjoy jumping on them, but it didn’t entertain him anymore.
He looked at the pile of raked leaves which was not there yesterday. It’ll all be burnt, leaving ash and smoke.
Life was stagnant for him at autumn. It was like a station from where no train would go anywhere, a station which has solely been built just to signal trains to pass by. And he won’t complain about it anymore to anyone.
Life was not the same for him 5 years back. He used to be jovial and lively. Just in 5 years he now appeared to have grown ages. His hair unkempt, his face like a mask and he rarely would smile.
He was lost in thoughts until his phone vibrated springing him back from flashback to the present.
Yes, He answered.
You want it today? Asked the voice.
Yes, he answered again.
What time? The voice asked.
The usual. He replied.
Alright. Said the voice.
How much? Allor asked.
We’ll decide. The voice said and hung up, and Allor went back to his flash back.
Life and luck mostly had him biased or the people around him. He obtained most of the things no one else could at an age no one else had, at least those who were around him.
He had been envied by almost everyone, His siblings, his friends, colleagues, everyone. And he had never been snobbish about his achievements. He lived a modest and simple life.
A giggle intruded his silent world and he saw a teenage couple passing by holding hands, throwing him back to his days when he won his first kiss. He was barely 14. It was none other than Aliza, the class allure. Even at 14 she was like a Greek Goddess, her dark brown hair had a perfect match with her golden skin. She was the only girl to have hazel eyes in the whole school. She was looked upon as an angel just less of wings which her heart had. Her heart would never settle on a thing except for Allor and he never understood why.
Watching them holding hands and walking around the school campus made acid regurgitate to mouth of every guy. They all wanted to be in his place but they were just not lucky enough.
He was just 16 when they made love, which was nothing but experimentation and curiosity. Aliza didn’t let him down. She was Bold & Beautiful. By 22 he had all his fantasies come true with Aliza and he had enough in his plate to marry her. At age of 23 he was married to his 10 year girlfriend, had a respectable job and everything else to make one believe life was so perfect for them.
His phone vibrated again.
It’s done, the voice said.
Alright. Allor answered and hung up.
He had been sitting on this bench for more than 3 hours now. He had a few drops of sweat running down his temple. It was time to move, he felt and walked towards the lake which was half a km away. He had to return to his apartment by 8 pm and it was about 6 pm now. He had one more hour to kill.
He took a round of the lake feeding himself cool breeze to calm his unrest mind. After having enough of it, he turned on his way back. He saw a kid coming towards him holding hands of her mother. He froze a moment and felt a chill running down his spine. They appeared to him like it was his own Aliza and their daughter Aurora. Although he realized it was not possible as, Aliza and Aurora are not in the city, not even the country maybe. They approached near and the lady was giving him looks for his stare.
Oh! Excuse me, Allor uttered.
She is such a beautiful girl- He said and walked away.
The woman was perplexed and her eyes followed him and Allor didn’t turn back.
He reached his car. Some dust had settled over it parked there for a while and some air could do justice to it. He revved the engine and took it to 80 mph and later lowering it down to 40.
How would Aurora like now? He imagined her playing around and running down the field. It’s been 5 years since he saw her last time.
He still remembered the first time he ever saw her. She was the most beautiful girl he ever saw. He had tears running down his eyes when he took Aurora into his arms. He told Aliza, I’m the happiest Dad in this world. It was a moment he felt God blessed him with everything he wanted.
And life taught him a hard lesson. One has to pay for everything one wants. Every smile, every moment one spends in happiness everything one has gained.
His love for Aliza grew more after having Aurora in his arms. He’ll never be late from his office. Oblige to every of their wishes. Everything he did for them made him happy too.
But it was not the same for Aliza. Though she was comfortable with whatever she got from Allor. At times she was more like testing him. She’ll put one wish after the other and Allor would gladly fulfill them. She would be irritated most of the times not because he would fail but because he’ll never miss. It was just too perfect, more than perfect for her.
It was around the time Aurora was to be 5.
One day out of nowhere Aliza asked Allor- If I want something huge from you would you give it to me?
Allor without even a thought replied- Of course honey, tell me what’s in your mind?
You need to promise me said Aliza.
I promise, added Allor.
I need a divorce, said Aliza.
Allor’s world came crashing down. He couldn’t believe what he was listening to. He stood there in shock like he has been stuck with a thunderbolt. His pupils dilated. His mouth open.
But.. But why? He begged.
Aliza knew it would break him. But she wanted to get over with it as soon as possible.
She replied to him- Allor, this is just to perfect, just to perfect for me. I forced myself to believe that all this is real. But how could it be. I had patience for some time, but I can’t keep it anymore. And I can no longer believe that it’s for real. Not any longer.
Allor was baffled. He didn’t understand even a word of it. He wouldn’t even remember when was he sad last time. And right now it was more than heartache.
He asked- what’s not real? What’s not true?
Aliza said- You, your love for me, and your love for Aurora. It’s just too perfect to be real.
I don’t get it- Allor said.
You promised me you’ll give what I wanted- said Aliza. And if you don’t respect it, I can’t be happy with you anymore. It’s upon you to decide now Allor, if you want me to be happy, let me go.
Allor now was hopeless. He was wretched. He went to Aurora’s room, she was sleeping. He looked at her innocent face. How much he loved her, he can’t even translate in words. He took the keys to his cars & left. He didn’t return that night. He called up to his office in morning after spending night in his car & put a leave. He wandered whole day aimlessly. His only objective of his life had been snatched from him.
He made a decision and called Aliza.
He said- Alright you win. But I want Aurora to stay with me. You can’t take her away from me.
Aliza refused. No you can’t. She goes with me.
Allor knew it won’t come easy to him. He fought for Aurora for 6 months in court.
But it was Aliza to win. Everyone favored custody of female child to mother. And Aurora had to leave.
He halted his car at a red signal, symbolizing it with his happy life. He wasn’t far from his flat now. On the way he stopped at a hyper market purchasing 2 bottles of wine, a bottle of scotch some groceries and a few more things.
He reached his apartment by 7.45 pm and set dinner ready.
At 8.15 pm his doorbell rang. He had expected it.
He opened the door and there stood a girl aged 23-25 wearing heavy makeup to make her look older. She had her hair pulled back, thick mascara on her eyes, and crimson red lipstick.
She was wearing a long silk overcoat with upper 2 buttons undone.
He knew beneath it is just skin, and within him love was not real anymore.
His phone rang for last time..
He answered - How much?
The voice said- 10 k for you.
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