Fragile Desire

Regular Day

My alarm disturbed me from my peacefull sleep. I hurriedly took a warm bath, brushed my teeth and hurriedly sipped my coffee before grabbing sketchpad and charcoal pencils into my shoulder bag and took a deep breath which satisfied me that i hav everything to carry with me to the store where i worked.

I was never on time, I took a bus. I lived in middletown after my parents demise. I left granny in Portland accross the river. It always feels good crossing the Connecticut river to see her. I worked in broad Street Books store, The Wesleyan, which was queit a bit far from Green street where my appartment was. I loved the area where I lived. When ever i missed my parents or was upset I would go and sit by the river, I love the music of water.

The Natural Market was just round the corner of the street so I never had to walk a lot for buying some basic things for my self. It took me 15 mins to reach my work place.

I handed the artistic belongings to Mr. William Mathew , who owned this store. I guess he was in his mid fifties. He lived alone as in no kids no wife. Quiet hard to handle at that age. I was late enough. He gave me an angry look. I handled the accounts on the counter.

I was sipping my coffee when I heard a very young voice,"Hey! Can you help me with a novel-The last song of the dusk." I looked up to the young boy surprized to ask that book, It wasn't much famous. I read that book seven years back. This guy looked some where around his eighteen or nineteen in age.

I wasn't quiet sure of its availability. "Umm, I am not sure. Let me check." I got that book some where inside the not-so-famous book shelf. It was an indian book. I handed it to him, "I hope you love this too! Have a good day." I guess he was rich, by his clothes, his phones. He shove a bright smile and left.

It was afternoon by now, I again had the same feeling of someone's presence. It made me feel uneasy. I searched everywhere, it was waste, i never saw his face nor i heard him. "What in god's name, are you day dreaming of ?", Mr. Mathew yelled. "Sorry", I murmered weakly. I later made my self busy with accounts. I usually skipped my lunch, so starving was something i could easily bare.

I reached home by six in evening. On reaching i noticed something on the door. It was a note from harley-' I am going Hartford to visit my parents. See you soon babe. I will me back in a week or two.' I wonder where had she been the whole night.

I was too hungry. I went in the kitchen and cooked some cheese casserole and macaroni. I watched tv while enjoying my dinner. It tasted better than ever. Before sleeping I counted my savings that reached to ten thousamd and eighty dollars in a year. It made me feel like perfect. It was something more like an achievement. I slept early that night after washing my dishes. I knew staying up would make me think of that stranger.