Love stories written by the Gods, beautiful moments of sublimity that create a bond of love and togetherness, promises and vows meant not to be broken. But for some the blossoms wither and sweet immortals, words spoken by the heart vanished into the chambers of bitterness and pain. 

Sonia’s expert hands trained to execute perfection as a cosmetologist put the final touches to the bride’s face, enhancing her youthful beauty with a radiant look.
Today was the most beautiful day of her life when everyone would be looking at her and she smiled, a glow on her face from the happiness within, her groom awaiting her to begin a new journey in her life.
Sonia packed her cosmetic kit and with a warm smile, she hugged the bride, wishing her the best, before leaving for another appointment, half of an hour’s drive away.
At the end of the day, she felt so tired, a something normal for her during wedding periods. After a long, refreshing bath, she played some soft music and pouring a glass of wine, she cheered to herself, “To you Sonia, for another lonely night.”
She had loved and lost. No fresh flowers for her, just cravings of the heart.
“Is this my destiny? No one to share my life to feel the comforts of love and passion?”
Questions she could not find answers for and deep inside she had the ache, living each day with a smile on her face, tears in her heart.
The wine and soft music soothed her mind and she closed her eyes, her thoughts drifting down the paths to the days when there was always sunshine in her life, falling in love at sixteen, he was seventeen, so young yet so happy.
“Too young to love,” her parents had objected.
“Too young to get married,” friend had commented.
But neither listened, the love songs in their hearts, all they could hear and secretly they had gotten married. She had given up her studies and her ambition for love, a bold step that had created a deep tension in her family, not knowing at that time how much pain she had caused them.
Two years later, sponsored by his mother, her young husband left for overseas against his wishes and then did she experience the pain of separation from someone, dearly loved. It had been so hard to say ‘Goodbye’ but he had promised her to return, a promise she held onto as time moved on slowly.
One year later, just before Valentine’s Day, the sun stopped shining for her, a dark cloud hovering overhead, when she read his text, “I won’t be returning,” he wrote,  “Things have changed. Move on with your life.”
The shock had left her numb. The pain so deep, she had felt like dying.
What had happened to the promises, the beautiful moments they shared, a love that had made them inseparable?
“How could be forget me so easily?” she had cried.
A pretty, young girl-her life like an exotic flower, fresh and fragranced, suffocated now by betrayal, wither thy bloom.
Time had sought to heal as four years drifted by, but it was hard for her to forget. The only thing that helped was working endless hours so when she came home tired, she could sleep. But she could not stay in one job too long, a desire born in her to be self-independent and to be her own boss.
So with her parent’s blessings, she had moved to her aunt’s home on the outskirts of the city to seek better opportunities. After two weeks of looking at different vocational business careers, she had decided to pursue courses in cosmetology.
It was something she loved and hoped could define her personality as a successful, independent woman. After making her career choice, she had for the first time, since her break up felt her life was going somewhere but an unexpected twist interrupted that.
Sonia opened her eyes and pouring another glass of wine she walked to the window and looked out into the dark night, bitterness in her heart.
“Why does heartache have to follow me? Why can’t I be happy?”
She had been just a few days away from enrolling in cosmetology school when her aunt suddenly fell ill. A single mother with two children at high school, the woman feared that a few days absence may cause her to lose her well paid job and it left her with no choice but to ask Sonia to stand in for her.
Sonia wasn’t sure it was a good idea but deeply concerned for the poor woman, she consented to help her, putting her own studies on hold.
Her aunt worked as a maid for a wealthy, business family, prestigious and sophisticated. The lady of the house, an attractive woman, was not too pleased having Sonia as a replacement and when she spoke, there was a sharp edge to her tone and a hard look in her eyes.
“I do not employ young women in this house for various reasons but since you are only a replacement for a short period, I’ll allow it.”
“Thank you,” Sonia said, politely, relieved for her aunt’s sake.
The woman looked at her for a long moment, a scrutiny more or less and said in a lower tone with a sharper edge, “I have two young sons and I don’t want you to talk to them unless it’s absolutely necessary to do so.”
“Yes ma’am.” Sonia answered, with a little tremor of fear.
She was given a maid’s uniform and an older maid detailed to her, her aunt’s duties in the expansive house. Everything went well for the first day, much to her aunt’s relief, who knew the difficulties of working with that family. But on the second morning as Sonia was polishing the antique vases with utmost care, a boyish voice said, loudly, close behind her, “Hey you!”
Sonia turned around, startled, almost dropping the vase in her hand and the boy about fifteen years old, laughed mischievously, “Gotcha.”
“You gave me a scare,” she said, trying not to look displeased.
“Did I not tell you to not speak to my sons?” the lady appearing from nowhere said in a scatting voice.
“I-I’m sorry,” Sonia apologised turning back when another voice, the voice of a young man said from the stairs, “Let her be, mom, Arvin was being mischievous.”
Sonia glanced at him and for a brief moment, their eyes met as she turned back to her work.
Just one fleeting moment and a blank page came to life to begin a new love story.
The lady and her younger son left but the young man stood there a while longer, looking at her. Sonia continued her work but from the reflection of the vase, she could see him, tall with modern good looks, a slight smile of interest on his face that sent warning bells ringing in her head.
He was younger than her and not from her world of a lower middle class background.
“Don’t think about it,” she cautioned herself, “It’s not for you.”
But his portrait had already been sketched in her mind.
The next morning, she was engrossed in dusting some intricate pieces of ornaments and was almost startled when the young man spoke behind her, “What’s your name?”
She glanced at him, not sure she should answer but he did not leave, sitting down comfortably on the sofa.
“So?” he looked at her.
“I-I’m not supposed to talk to you,” she said, a little scared, “I’m just a maid.”
“It’s okay,” he said, “My mother is not at home.” He paused and looked at her closer, “You don’t look quite like a maid.”
She did not answer, moving to another part of the living room to continue her work and he followed her. “My name is Arun,” he said, prompting her to speak but she didn’t and he continued to follow her around, talking until she lost her patience and told him her name.
“Pretty,” he said, “Just like you.”
She shook her head resigningly, hoping it was just a casual interest, that in a few days time, she would leave and she won’t see him again.
But she was wrong.
“I was so wrong,” she said softly, finishing the glass of wine, “He made me love again and he left too.”
As she laid down to sleep, the last words on her lips as her eyes closed, “He left too.”

(To be continued)

By Maureen Rampertab