Mistress

At the Fete..

Reila never knew a woman alone can get so many complements or offers to buy her a drink. In her sleepy town where everyone knew everyone, the boy friends and girl friends were all public knowledge, she never had a boy ask her out. But here she felt powerful and beautiful.

She was reminded of her childhood crush on her neighbour's Ralph. Ralph was always obsessed with sports which made her pick up sports but he never noticed. Did it break her heart? Well in a way it did and she always thought Ralph will smile at her but for everything she possibly was just the kid who cried a lot in her childhood and had a runny nose in his mind. That was how she was when she would come for holidays to grand mother's house. Then even at eight she was quite weepy and irritating. A little voice told her she still was. It was just heart of Shorla that she befriended her. Now Shorla had a boy friend too. She saw a w*****p that said "Listen! Mustaq was so upset at my fall that he immediately said lets become boyfriend girlfriend so we can always travel together. Damn I cannot tell him I was planning to be wild at your city can? Haha. "

While it was a good news, the perennial negativeness in Reila raised her head and said, No one for you now.

A voice called out to her, " Reila.. I was expecting you here.."

It was the man from the Motel. Reila had forgotten his name till it came flooding to her.. Piotr. She gave a silly smile. While it was good to get the attention, she was not exactly sure what Piotr wanted without her radar Shorla. But Piotr was settling himself beside the tiny tabke where she sat, deftly snatching a chair from the other table. The other table full of young party goers moaned but then they settled down when Piotr did not relent his hold on the chair.

It looked funny to see a man as tall as Piotr fitting himself to a chair he snatched from the other and she giggled.

" Ah now she giggles.."

"You are charming you know that? I just wanted to see if you are free and I could possibly take you to dinner. "

Reila did not want to move. She liked the environment of joy and chaos. Peace always brought back her active mind to the forefront with its multiple drama on thus pulling her down. She smiled and declined .." Sorry.. but I just want to sit around for some time. Enjoy the enviornment and go back to the hotel.. motel, whatever and rest. Tomorrow I just want to rest and then check out and go back to the university."

She did not want to go out with a stranger too. However charming was the man. But surprisingly Piotr did not react. He simply settled down and said, "Works with me too. Let me sit and enjoy what you are too. Do not mind me and I will not too. Truly this is a good idea. Do nothing and enjoy the environment."

Piotr managed to grab two cedars and offered her one. She had tried to get one but for the fete the counter was too crowded.

"I see you have had a beer. The night is young and let's grab a wine bottle on the way back and we can have it in the motel or you can even take it back to your room and enjoy it alone. "

After that no one spoke. She slipped the cedar. Appreciating that he had not offered a drink without knowing her at all.

He only spoke once asking, " Do you enjoy dancing ?"

She giggled a little and said, " No. I donot. I am a very boring person you see. But I enjoy seeing others enjoy life and when I go back home I will feel sorry for myself. "

He gave her a thoughtful look but did not move. When the dancing started in the fete, he did play the rhythm with his fingers but he did not move away or join the dancing even when a few people asked.

She kept quiet but wanted to speak, feeling like she can be herself infront of him . Finally the words like bubbles burst forth.

" I am a total misfit to this life. At times I feel, I should've been an insect passing people by quietly . Not the colourful kinds but the camouflaged ones, people never noticed. My mother, father and even grand mother tried in their own ways to get me out of my shell. But what does one do if it is not a shell but skin. Or may be even deeper flesh and bones.

I just like to feel sorry for myself and cry . "

He nodded and looked away. Reila felt a sense of shame of having no sense and taking too much and boring someone. It was like she was ten and her father was introducing her to her step mom . Her step mom , a warm lady was engulfing her in a bear hug that she did not return. Her father mother noted and said hastily, " She is a little reclusive. There is nothing wrong with her and do not cry, noticing Lita's tears.. Her parents have always tried hard to be aloof to toughen her up for her future and not grow attached and she has picked that up towards everything."

It was the truth. Though her father looked livid, he chose to keep quiet infront of his ex mother in law. Reila knew she was destroying what little he felt for her but she just could not do anything more. She noticed the affectionate nothings they shared and thought other days when her father was never available for anything but to show her maths in a stern voice.

Sad couple when they stayed together they broke a part of their souls but they harmed their kids into thinking that the cold environment at home was the right one.

"Listen. This is not everyday . This is a fete. Be sad tomorrow . Cry. Shout. But for today he here. Enjoy. Be happy. Be present. Let's sit together some more.. see the stars above. They are bright. Smile about them.

" They are planets though.."

Piotr laughed out loud and gave her a spontaneous hug, " Yes love . Planets. Be happy then that they are there in the sky and may be they will be there tomorrow also. Now let's try some dancing.. at your pace and step.. Come, just one round."