Blank Stare

The Maiden's Tale

"Well, letting that slide, how long are we gonna stay here?" Ishmael asked. 

At first, Sophia couldn't get what he was talking about but later she realized. They have stayed here almost for an hour. She have to put the fact into consideration that Ishmael is a normal college-going boy and he must have a family and a home to return to. But still she wanted him to stay a little longer. It wasn't out of affection rather out of curiosity. As the true founder of the brotherhood, pioneer preacher of their ideology and supposed husband of Sophia, Ishmael was someone Sophia couldn't but be curious about. Yet he isn't showing his core. He isn't faltering rather putting up a façade. He is acting to be a flirty, pompous and a sentimental but Sophia knows that it's not what he is feeling or thinking right now. And to be honest, this meeting is getting futile from Sophia's side. However, She avoided Ishmael's question and asked,

"You said you aren't interested in the stories of the world right?"

" Yes, I did." Ishmael replied.

" And you aren't interested in people either. Rather you are interested in pattern of people. Then you must have met people who usually don't tend to fall in any pattern or role devised for the betterment of story?"

" Rarely but yes I have." Ishmael sounded a bit confused. "I am getting what you are pointing to but let me be clear. Rather than finding people who don't fall in any category I have found people who falls in special category." He judged Sophia's eye for a second and said," I call them Blanked Eyed people. They have a very well built psych, greater grasp of themselves and are manipulative. People like you... People... like... me." Ishmael finished the sentence with a sigh.

"Ah... I smell depression." Sophia smirked a little. "Whatever. Did you ever thought why do these people only have a well built psych? Let me hear your opinion. What do you think about the origin of these people? What makes them special?"

Ishmael judged the look of Sophia for a while and said. " As I said earlier, I have no recollection of my transition period. So I really don't know how it happened or what is the cause. As for other blank eyed people I have met" He took a small pause. " The common thing between this people is that they possess the traits of all kinds of people. And sometimes their action may seem controversial or hypocritical. They can act to be any kind of person and deceive others by their act. So based on that we can't guess one's past or even imagine. They are unpredictable and I guess my opinion on this cant be legit."

Sophia leaned a little towards Ishmael and said, " Do you want to hear my thought on this regard?" She started to whisper. "That way you can give your opinion based on my thoughts and we will both be able to know each other well."

"Your thought?"

"More likely my past." Sophia knew that this was the only way. Thoughts rises from memories and fictions. What he lacks is fiction. And what she lacks is his thoughts. " You said you don't know anyone's past and that's why you can not build up a theory. What if I tell you about my past? And in return you will give your opinion, your thought based on it. That might help me understand your thought process."

Ishmael smiled," Yes, I would love to." He brushed his mane with his right hand. He sighed a little and suddenly locked his eyes on Sophia." You can start." He said in a manner of order.

Sophia hated the idea of sharing her memories to a person she doesn't even know very well. But for some reason, Ishmael felt very close to her. She wondered if it is just a trick by her mind or not. Or the rumor that he is her husband is true. She started in a thoughtful manner,

" You see, when I was a child I was very much proud of myself. I was pretty, intelligent, well-mannered, kind to others, indulged in good stuff, had a good comprehension in everything and lots of other good qualities. I was praised a lot by all and on top of that I admired myself unlike anything I have ever come in touch with. However, As I grew up this pride suddenly transformed into my anxiety." She stared at Ishmael and said," I guess you can understand this feeling right?"

Ishmael nodded," Yes. My type of superiority complex."

"Our" Sophia corrected him. "So, I started to think like why I am this much good? Why there isn't any people like me? Someone I could envy, someone I could admire. There were people whom I could envy for a particular field , like there were prettier girls, there were kinder girls, but none was as compact as me. I started to belittle them a bit out of my loneliness. But that wasn't all. I started to notice the oddity surrounding the incidents in my life. Can you guess what sort of oddity?"

Ishmael sounded confused," Repetitive story pattern? 

"Well, not even close." Sophia sounded a bit disappointed. " I guess this thought might be new to you so listen carefully. When I was in the middle of teenage, I started to notice that about every single incidents that takes place with my awareness is directed towards me. Suppose, I got hurt for a random cause. I would find almost every incidents around me about getting hurt. I am not talking about incidents related to me rather incidents that takes place around me. Or suppose I am talking with someone about some random thoughts. I would fine almost every single person, unrelated to me stating the exact same thoughts around me. At first I thought, it was just my brain playing a trick on me or some co-incidence..."

" Wait." Ishmael interrupted her. " It can be explained. There are 2 things at work here. One is directed thoughts and another is mass thought. When you got hurt your brain tried to sympathize with you so he only showed you the incidents of people getting hurt which you would otherwise ignore. Vast amount of incidents takes place around us and we only notice which our brain makes us to notice. And when you were talking about random thought, I guess this thought of yours was generated by certain things happening around you. You can call it internet influence or something where your thoughts are basically manipulated by incidents and incidents are manipulated by thoughts and this manipulation takes place without any relation among each other. Do you agree with me?"

Sophia laughed. " Yes, I do agree nerd kid. And I have believed so for a long period of time. Let me finish my story. Then you would understand the whole thing and would be able to relate it to your life."

"Okay, my lady !! Sorry for my interruption. Forgive my rudeness!! " Ishmael said in a funny way.

Sophia patted his head and continued her story,

"So as you said, I started to think that it was just a trick of my mind and alchemical fact like universal thought or something. I have to throw out your internet manipulation theory because internet wasn't that much popular when I was a kid and I didn't have access anyway. Okay coming back to story. I also noticed some unnatural co-incidental stuff. Stuff that took place so unnaturally that it may seem impossible. Then there was the fate case. In every case where there was a possibility of things being in my favor or not in my favor it always turned to worst case scenario. I would happen to see things every time when I needed to see anything. But as you would have done, I too casted off those random conspiracy thoughts and started to think that maybe because I was special?? As I told you admired myself unlike anything in this world, so I started think like the world is also acknowledging me and showing proof or something about my greatness? Until the very day I turned 23."

"And that would be 20 years ago?" Ishmael said in a serious manner.

Sophia hit Ishmael's head and pouted," How old do you think I am? I am just 9 year older than you."

"Sorry, sorry." Ishmael apologized in a cute manner. "And for your contentment I am more into mature women." Sophia blushed a little. "Anyways what happened on your 23rd birthday? Continue your story."

"Ok." Sophia arranged her thoughts and said, "That day I met a man whom you call a blank eyed person. A type of people I have never seen before."

Ishmael concentrated a little," Who was it?"

"Solomon Elsayed." Sophia said in a serious tone. "The first founder of the Almaedist brotherhood."