A night without end

The current wind that blows

Lira could speak before she could walk, sing before that, hum tunes even as a baby of few months that led her mother Elena to wonder. The tunes were haunting and often her mother got images of a hilly land with nomadic tribes running on horses, brave men and braver women and a fortress that looked evil. She was a writer, so she wanted to pen down her thoughts. But try as she did she could never write anything nice and light as was her genre. All she wrote seemed to speak of tears that flowed from the eyes of an old woman as she cradled her beautiful daughter in her arms. The daughter laid lifeless. Many years ago that daughter was a new born when she, the old woman was thrown out of the fortress. 

She who was a caretaker of the Prince, had borne him a baby. No one wanted to know how and why. She was guilty before all eyes. The burstling city outside the fortress ,, could not care less. She was after all one of many unfortunate women who attracted the eyes of the ruling family, but could not get any benefit or luxury out of that momentary favour. Only she knew that it was no favour when a boy she considered faultless, forced himself just to test him masculine capabilities. Then once she bore the baby snatched the beautiful baby and threw the mother out. Everyone said the Prince was a model son of King Suhas so much that no one ever knew or wanted to know of the King's other children. 

She was a nobody and her views or appeal were never made. She merely wished that her baby stay well and aged prematurely. But all these years she truly felt that other than mistreating her , abusing her and taking advantage.. he did act as a caring father. The grey morn that drew the cries of the Princess everywhere, people speaking of her treason, caused the old woman to go running to the gate. There was a secret door that she knew.. A door that always stayed closed. What she saw made her shiver in terror..

Elena waited for the next part of the stories, but nothing else flooded her mind. Then suddenly Lira stopped humming that tune. It was as if her little girl understood, how the music was impacting her mother. Lira did not stop singing though. Some morns Elena, now a mother of a seventeen year old Lira, would see in her dreams, the fortress, eagles circling on the top.. 

When Lira's father passed away due to a medical malpractice, Elena neever thought she could raise a dauughter on her own. But she could. Her life was put on a hold though.  Last year at Elena's birthday Lira invited her best friend's uncle home. It was obvious attempt to get Elena moving in her life. Elena would have said a polite no. But Fasi with his strange name and love for reading looped her into interest and friendship. Fasi was adopted and his name was the only thing he remembered when he was saved from the sea coast. It was believed that his natural family was trying to flee for life and took to sea. They all perished but God saved the young boy. He grew up to be a wonderful, caring man, extremely handsome and slightly mysterious. He was also few years Elena's junior. But when anyone remarked that he looked so much more dashing, he would just smile and say, "a curse.., a beautiful face and body, for it hides many unkindnesses.."

May be that was why, despite Lira's desperate hope and Fasi's friendship that did not really hide his passion and love, Elena kept is light till now. Fasi spoke his usual tongue twisters one evening, when Elena ran away from his slight emotional display, " I will be patient.. my friend. Even if it takes many lifetimes." 

Somewhere , unknown to Elena, Lira and Fasi had formed a bond.. a deep bond. She shared her deepest aspirations and he heard them out, painting them in words and actions so that it seemed real. He spoke no tongue twister with Lira.. and assured her that it was okay to leave her mother's nest. He would always be there for Elena. He was also the man who introduced Lira to her music teacher in her college town.. A man who hid in shadows for the fame chased him since he was declared a musicsl prodigy, Ceasar knew Fasi through common friends. He laughed at Fasi's request to train a young girl. But agreed to meet her as the man was so insistent. But that is the main story and let us keep it for tomorrow!