4.4
653 Words
Ravana wakes up and finds a note on her door. It says,
"I am going to college. Eat breakfast before you leave."
Ravana finds toast and an omelet on the table. She smiles and sits to eat.
Ben is sitting with Stephney after the class. Stephney is busy studying. "She works so hard. I wonder what fuels her..." Ben thinks. He is staring at her. Stephney gives Ben a look.
“What?” Stephney asks.
“Do you have any dreams? Anything you want to be?”
“We all have dreams.”
"Do I even have a dream!" Ben thinks looking down.
“Can I ask you something stupid? Like really stupid?” Ben asks awkwardly.
“What?” Stephney asks while putting her books away.
“Have you ever fallen in love with any of your clients?” Ben shallows air and asks hushedly.
“No.” Stephney says with a straight face.
Ben realizes how stupid he sounds. Stephney stares at Ben but says nothing. They sit in awkward silence. Stephney breaks the silence.
“It’s fine if anyone falls in love with their clients. We are human beings at the end of the day.”
“You think so?”
“Hmm…”
Stephney opens her book and focuses on her studies.
“If I say that I love Ravana, will you believe me?” Ben hesitates.
“Why not? She is rich... And beautiful too…” Stephney talks as if these are obvious answers. Ben finds her amusing.
“Won't you think it's because of her money?” Ben wonders.
“I will.”
Ben signs. Stephney looks at him signing.
“Look at them, Ben.” Stephney points at a campus couple.
“Why do you think they were attracted to each other?”
“How will I know?”
“Exactly! We never know what others think of us. We can only make a guess but it's never definite.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you keep telling a lie for too long people will think it's true, including yourself.”
Ben keeps looking at her. He doesn’t know what to say. Everything Stephney says makes sense but still, it sounds so wrong. Stephney signs.
“Look Ben, everybody looks for something in their partner. Beauty, values, look, money, company, love, or even children. As long as it's spiritual like company and love, people think it's okay to crave for them. But it’s worse in reality. You can earn money back, but if trust is broken once it never fixes.” Stephney says with a straight face.
Ravana's teary eyes when Ben talked about love and marriage crossed his mind. He thinks that this woman has every materialistic thing one person can wish for but when it comes to the spiritual peace like company and love of a partner or the happiness of having a family she has none.
“It doesn’t matter why you started loving her. Now that you do, just don't leave.” Stephney says.
Ben looks at his hands. Stephney closes her book.
“Miss Rosewell is rich enough. And as long as I know she is not planning to be broke any sooner. So even if you like her money, you will have your reasons to stick to her.” Stephney stands up while talking.
“Will you have to go now?” Ben also stands and asks.
“Yeah. I will see you later.”
Stephney pats Ben's shoulder and leaves.
Ben looks behind to leave from there when he finds a girl staring at him angrily. Ben starts to feel awkward. It looks like she is throwing a laser beam from her eyes.
“Excuse me? Do you want some…” Ben hesitates.
Before he can finish she leaves hurriedly from there. Ben keeps looking at her from behind. He doesn’t get what is going on.
- Writer
