They met. It was another routine day. No breeze pushing strands of hair across her face, no stars in the sky worth lying down and watching, no shallowness of breath, no one's heart beat fast, or slow. They said the same things, asked the same things and talked the same things. As usual. Like everyday. They started yawning almost simultaneously and unanimously decided that they should go back to their rooms and sleep. Big deal. They knew as soon as the first yawn would come, they would part their ways. The "I love you"s were said and sweet dreams were wished. Monotonous. He squeezed her hand halfheartedly, and she patted him on the cheek lightly, as the finale of this evening's show. As he was going away, he messaged her "Love you, umma!", to get the same message back again. Even the owl watching them was almost shutting his eyes. They said goodbyes on the computer chat again. Blah!

He had had enough. He could take it no more. He was surely going to end it all the next day.

She experienced this feeling of relief every day. Every day. She had to end it. There was no other way.

And they slept. Cupid, watching all this, was pained. He could take it no more. He had to end it all.

That night, Cupid sent 2 of his emissaries to the boy's room, and ordered them to carry him off to a far off island. It was an island in every sense. You were either self sufficient or not. If you weren't, you had to make yourself one. The boy arrived, with only his clothes on.

The girl was left in her room. She had no inkling of what had happened.

The boy got up, and to his consternation, found the sunlight blinding his eyes. He looked around to find only trees and huge ones at that. He had none of his personal possessions, except his clothes. He started walking around. Everywhere looked the same. Some trees were huge, some small, but they were green, leafy trees alright. Finally, after a day's roaming around, he reached the water's edge, and gulped down lots of water. Never mind that it was salty.

The girl did her chores, went for work in the morning, came back, and freshened up for the evening's meeting with him. She went to the place they met everyday, and waited.

He had roots for food. And water. He found a cave, and to his surprise, found a pen and some sheets of paper. His joy lasted very few minutes, as he could find no bottles to write an SOS message. He slept.

She waited. A lot. The owl's eyes were bright with amazement. Never had this happened before. She went before she yawned.

It was early morning, and he got up to forage for some more roots, and if he's lucky, some fruits. He drank a lot of water, carried lots of it back to the cave in shells. He could find nothing more than roots, again. He came back early that evening. Again, he saw the pen and the paper. He couldn't resist the temptation. He had to write, even though he knew that there was no use writing anything.

She did her chores, went for work in the morning, came back, and freshened up for the evening's meeting with him. She went to the place they met everyday, and waited. Not too worried. It had happened before.

" Dear, I am missing you like never before. I love you. Thinking about you, I remember those days, when we used to go for those long walks. Aimless. Just ambling along. Talking sweet nothings in each other's ears. Eyes speaking up instead of our voices. Those days when we used to stop, stare at a songbird and listen to its sweet melody, hand in hand. Days when the moonlight struck your beautiful face and reflected light and warmth all around."

She came. Waited. Worried about him a little. Went back and slept. The owl widened its eyes.

Next morning, he couldn't find the paper he had written upon the previous night. He started worrying about his sustenance and went through his daily routine. He came back in the night, and took up the pen and paper again.

She had tears in her eyes. She wiped them constantly with her saree pallu and waited.

"Darling, I remember the times when the breeze pushed strands of your hair forward and the way you brushed your hair back. Those long fingers, when they used to touch me ever so slightly, used to spread warmth and tingled my toes. Those pristine white teeth, when they used to smile, gave me unsurpassed joy. Those huge, round, beautiful eyes. Whenever you looked at me, it was like arrows shot upon my heart. My blood just gushed out for you."

The owl looked at her. It seemed as if he wasn't the only one who spent a long night yesterday.

"Honey, you remember the day when you tore your sandals and I had to carry you along? You were so petite in my arms, like a flower about to blossom. Your arms wrapped around me felt like a garland of sweet smelling flowers, flowers that never wither. Those anklets on your feet. There was never a sweeter sound I have heard in my life. The sound they produced were resonant with my heart beat."

The owl didn't have to wait long to see her go. He was sad. He had no company.

"Love, those rosy lips of yours. When you used to drink water, I wished I was the water drop hitting your lips. I wish I was the hair tucked lovingly behind your ears. I wish I were the necklace around your neck, close to your heart. That ever so sweet gesture of you putting the necklace in your mouth when you are deep in thought is endearing. The way your eyes flutter when you talk sweet nothings is a sight I would give anything for. That coy gesture, shyness resplendent on your face, when I say something, is a sight I would never forget."

The owl was all alone.

"That sweet voice of yours, when it beckons me, I can follow it anywhere, even through hell. Those slender hips, creating fluid motions as you walked, was a treat to the eyes. I would give anything in this world possible to just see you once again. Just once. I want to hear that sweet voice of yours, feel that sway of your movements, hear the swishing of the saree pallu, see the flutter of your eyes. Just once."

The owl didn't even bother to look at the place.

The next morning, he found himself back at his room. He looked around, to find everything intact, and miraculously, he wasn't even tired. He ran to her room, and banged the door till she opened it. He was flabbergasted at the sight of her disheveled hair and puffy eyes. Before he could grasp the situation, there was a gushing sound of laughter, tears were falling down on him and kisses were raining everywhere on him. She didn't leave him, and they hugged for eternity. No one talked. They stayed in each other's arms the whole day. It felt like heaven.

The owl rejoiced. He had company. He flew about, knocking things out of his way, happily toowhit - toowhoo ing. He flew into her window, and accidentally knocked down a box of papers. They were all crumpled and looked like someone had poured water over them. He saw the words

" The way your eyes flutter when you talk sweet nothings is a sight I would give anything for. That coy gesture.........."


and understood. He rejoiced even more.

Cupid was happy. His plan worked. He sent his emissaries all over the world and asked them to get rid of mobile phones, computers and anything that tried to substitute the warmth and feeling of being in love. Have his emissaries come to you yet??



p.s.: I have been waiting to write and publish this for a very long time, but couldn't find the time to do so. And I dedicate this to love...