Will They Meet Again?

2. Who Is She?

I was watching her. Thinking, who is she? What is she doing here? What is she doing out in the garden late at night? Why haven't I seen her before?

Ugh... All these questions were eating me. I wanted to know the answers to all of them at once. I can't wait till tomorrow to ask someone. Also who knows that someone knows her. Maybe she is here just for a night and will disappear again tomorrow morning even before I get up. I tried to calm down myself but I couldn't.

I really wanted to go there, grab her, hold her in my arms, kiss her and never let go of her again.

Again damn what the heck am I thinking? I can't think that way. It's not applicable to me. These thoughts are totally different from my already existing mindset.

But I can't stop these thoughts. Not even a single one of them. I can't control myself now. It's really too difficult. But again I am me. Is there anything that I can't control and that too myself....what a joke?

If that was so true then what the heck is going on with me right now? Isn't the current situation a total reciprocal of what I used to be. Ugh I can't even think regarding myself properly.

I momentarily decided to let go of my thoughts and just listen to what my heart, which was by the way totally dysfunctional till now, says. I looked at her again this time I smiled at what she was doing. She was sitting with her fair legs spread on the dark grass and she was playing with the grass. She was singing I think and was quite happy again in her own world.

I was smiling at her. That's right I was smiling at a girl. I didn't realise that until my cheeks started hurting. This was bad I wasn't myself anymore. I was worried. But then I saw her gathering her legs towards herself and in that process the edge of the fountain pond, which had rough texture, scratched the ankle of her left leg and blood gushed out.

She winced in pain and my heart broke which was totally shocking for me. I felt a sharp pang in my chest just seeing her like that and seeing her blood gushing out. My fingers were trembling. I wanted to run downstairs straight towards her and comfort her while tending her injured leg. I was thinking about what to do and she cleaned her wound with water from the pond, got up and left.

I ran downstairs. I saw her coming inside with the help of a maid. The maid tended her wound and bandaged it. She then drank a glass of water and went to the second floor. I was curious so I followed her without her noticing. She went to a room and closed the door. The maid then left.

Thank goodness, she was treated on time.

Also now I can relax as I know that she lives on the same floor as mine just some doors apart. Moreover I have to check her identity. Now that she is safe, I went to my room and climbed on my bed. I couldn't sleep but. All that I saw today kept coming in my mind. Her playfulness, aloofness, carelessness and overloaded cuteness. I giggled at those thoughts.... Damn not again, get yourself together man.

Then I recalled her being injured and again felt the same sharp pang in my chest and I was in pain too. Her wincing was painful to see. I should really protect her no matter what, is what my heart wanted. I didn't understand though why. But she is the first one to have invoke those protective feelings in me. I thought she is too vulnerable, innocent and this world is cruel so she must have someone to protect her. And that someone should be ME, the inner me screamed at myself.

I somehow, with these thoughts, went to sleep with a thumping heart. I calmed it down by telling myself that the first thing in the morning I would find her and check her identity.

Narrator's POV

An elderly couple sat in the balcony of their room.

They were in complete shock after seeing what happened just now.

They seemed to be quite for a long time trying to digest what they just saw.

After some time Mr. Wellington spoke,"Grace, tell me that I'm not dreaming and what we saw is all real."

Mrs. Wellington replied,"Arthur, I saw the same thing that you saw, so it's true. It's not a dream. I can't believe it though."

The couple took deep breaths and then wide smile broke on their faces.

"Our son smiled at a girl, Grace. Did you see that? I'm so happy that I could die. The moment that we have been waiting for so long is finally here."

Grace smiled at her husband and said,"I too am so happy. We have been waiting for this and it came finally. Our cold and aloof son who once had nothing to do with the world has smiled at a girl today. Time sure changes."

"But I hope that he doesn't treat this as a temporary thing and forgets about it when he wakes up. If that happens then it will be a waste. I really hope that all that he saw would not let him sleep tonight at all."

"You are right Arthur. This can't happen. He has to remember all of this which happened. He had a total different emotion on his face and in his eyes. Yes his eyes....they were deep with emotion and sparkling. I've never seen him in this state before."

"I think that we, as doting parents to our son, should do something for him. To be honest I really like that girl. She is intelligent too. If something happens between her and Daniel I'd be more than happy to accept them both. I hope it really happens Grace."

"Me too. Let's see what tomorrow unfolds for us. If Daniel ignores what happened today then we will help him. We will bring them together. First we will have to see their reactions."

"Kim didn't see him right? So she'd have neutral reaction naturally. Looks like we have a big mission to accomplish. We will complete it for sure."

"Yes I'm in hubby. Well I'm tired let's sleep first."

"Ohh my poor Grace, come I'll put you to sleep."

The couple went to sleep.

Same floor, different room...

John was restless. He couldn't believe what he saw either.

He couldn't sleep either. He was full of thoughts. His mind was chaos.

Really brother smiled at her? Was it brother? It was definitely him right? His emotions were different. I saw him. Ahhh....this is definitely going to be so interesting. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

John was more than willing to help his brother. He respected him and was very close to him. He likes Daniel and is always ready to help him. He was so excited to see the turns of events tomorrow. With a smile on his face he went to sleep.