Perhaps I was the only one who could see Siah in just one piece towel that recklessly wrapped lower half her body. Her body was totally smudged with sands of Calangute and the black kohl that rimmed her eyes had spread over her cheeks notoriously while she worked hard trying to make castle with the sand on one lazy evening. She religiously spent her Sunday evenings with her aristocratic dad who owned a big motel in the heart of Goa. And when the lingering twilight of the evening would fade into the ocean, she would go to the nearby church to offer her obeisance and then prayer to the almighty Lord who had stole her mother away just as she first chucked her leg into this ephemeral world.
"Hello boy!" a voice summoned me, a voice that seemed to be fading into the evening sea breeze.
But I was lost in sporting Frisbee that would artistically come back to me after hurling it into the air. I had learnt this art from my father who would daily come to the beaches of Calangute and practice this sport.
"Hello ….hello boy …can't you see my Tower of Eiffel?"
and I felt a push on my shoulder, I barged backward and Frisbee I just tossed, returned and hit my nose. I collapsed down and my knees started bleeding mildly and my nose turned red like tomato and I started crying.
When I opened one of my eyes squinting through the tears on my eyelids everything appeared blurred for ones. I rubbed my eyes with my fingers for a clear view and found my daddy, a cute little girl and a man with sunglasses and bearded cheeks trying to console me singing lullaby as I was a kid of 2 years.
I felt bad as I always wanted to grow up fast like my well built daddy, ride bike with matchless celerity and drink glasses of cold drink which my daddy used to classify as drinks for big people.
When I opened one of my eyes squinting through the tears on my eyelids everything appeared blurred for ones. I rubbed my eyes with my fingers for a clear view and found my daddy, a cute little girl and a man with sunglasses and bearded cheeks trying to console me singing lullaby as I was a kid of 2 years.
I felt bad as I always wanted to grow up fast like my well built daddy, ride bike with matchless celerity and drink glasses of cold drink which my daddy used to classify as drinks for big people.
Nevertheless I got up, dusted sand from my body and touched the blood on my knees. I felt the pain as I gasped and whined, "Aaaah"…
"I am Sorry friend, had I not pushed you, you would have stamped my tower"
When I looked up I saw her leaning on her knees and her gaze fixed on my bleeding wound.
"I am very sorry friend", she confessed again as her father nudged her shoulder.
"It's ok", I reciprocated her with a disgusting "OK" as I drove back to my house with daddy.
*********************
Well this was how I met Siah for the first time. The clock kept rolling on and I kept thinking of Siah, penning down every pastime with her trying to relive those mushy and naughty moments of our old days. Perhaps what could be the best ever gift for her on her nineteenth birthday than a memoir of our lovely pastimes? Her birthday was truly special. It was a day when a soul descended from heaven just because someone was waiting for her, a soul that made someone happiness bloom like a fresh flower and soul that made my life complete. She came in like rain drops in my life, like an oasis in my parched heart. Parched because I had just my father at my stride. My mother passed away when I was just six month old in a gory car accident. Soon after me and Siah met for the first time on the beach, our parents became friends and I often rambled to her house and she to mine. We grew up together playing with the same toy train, scrapping on the same slate and sharing the same bench in the classroom. Initially her demeanor appeared very slender and bony. Our classmates used to tease her for her skinny appearance calling "a coconut tree" and she used to shed her tears in my bosom. I used to then fight for her like a macho man and sometimes with 5 six guys n gals at a time posing like an action hero and when I defeated them she used to flash a soothing smile and thank you kiss me on my cheek. Always…
Many springs descended. I kept fighting for her and she kept bidding me thank you kisses. We played. We cracked jokes and I kept giving her favorite midnight beauty ice cream. Time rolled and rolled. We grew. I developed a small thread of mustache and standing streak of beard at my chin which she kept pulling it playfully. But as she grew, her beauty kept budding like a sensual flower with lovely petals and matchless curves. Now every girl looked her with an awe and ever guy with fantasy. But she was only mine and I was hers. Something which was never told. It was a silence which spoke more than words. It was a communication understood between her hearts but never said. Never ever…
Many springs descended. I kept fighting for her and she kept bidding me thank you kisses. We played. We cracked jokes and I kept giving her favorite midnight beauty ice cream. Time rolled and rolled. We grew. I developed a small thread of mustache and standing streak of beard at my chin which she kept pulling it playfully. But as she grew, her beauty kept budding like a sensual flower with lovely petals and matchless curves. Now every girl looked her with an awe and ever guy with fantasy. But she was only mine and I was hers. Something which was never told. It was a silence which spoke more than words. It was a communication understood between her hearts but never said. Never ever…
"Excuse me", I summoned the waiter.
"Another can of beer and I am not sitting on your bike"
"It's just another can, Siaaaah, Come on!”, I pleaded
"O Sam, This words of your just makes me weak…" she said almost softly taking a sip of her vodka.”
"Which words dear?"
"It's juuuuz.. annather ther can Siaaah…",she said making faces.
"You beerish freak ...Sam.…I just cannot resist it…..but Sam u need to cut down on beer...ok?"
"Ohhhh'…I smiled looking at her eyes as she mischievously pulled my beard again. I gulped the can of beer on the rocks and she finished her favorite vodka. We then drove.
I tilted the side mirror of my Avenger to see her. She looked beautiful as her hairs were swirling with the wind and her eyes half closed defying the fast moving air due to the swiftness of my bike.
"Saaaaam?”
I tilted the side mirror of my Avenger to see her. She looked beautiful as her hairs were swirling with the wind and her eyes half closed defying the fast moving air due to the swiftness of my bike.
"Saaaaam?”
"yeaaah sweetheart". my voice diffused in the air …
"You...crazy freak....dont look'em me", she said playfully as she stretched her hand and intentionally stood on the bike disappearing herself from the mirror.
"I am not able to see you Siah… juzzz sit down...otherwise...", i said still looking into the mirror.
"othersie what Sam ?"
“Otherwise…”
And I charged on the accelerator as my bike started flying with electrifying alacrity. Things around passed by hazily like the stroke of a painting. The air stormed on our faces .Siah started shouting and when she came down and hugged my chest tight I simmered down bike to its normal pace. I saw her again in the side mirror. Her hairs were in complete disarray and a streak of fear amplified her innocent prettiness. I bid her a flying kiss and she gestured an awkward expression with her cheeks and looked away
“You freak….I hate you… I told you to booze less…right?...Never drive like this when you are high…”
“I am sorry Siah… I am really sorry… But did that make you nervous?”
“You always Sam… When you drink and drive… I really go weak”
“O….I love you Siah”
“Love you too Sam”
I parked my bike as we reached Siah’s house. She invited to me come in as the cloud really got darker and there were chances of possible rain. I went in and as usual her house was beautifully arranged with umpteen antiques and old paintings hanging on the wall. Her room was on the first floor of her duplex house. She unrolled the curtain of window that overlooked the emerald garden outside. Soon it started raining and the climes turned out to be really cold. Her servant brewed a hot coffee for us. We sat together in her room sipping our coffee lost in the sweet nothings of our lives.
“I am really sorry Siah… I dint knew the speed would scare you so much… by the way ,you looked beautiful”, i said soflty.
“Shut up Sam”, she giggled and held my hand tight.
I looked into her eyes that reflected the turquoise rim of my blue glasses. The solitary moment made her look more stunning than ever. An abnormal and an insane silence which I never ever heard before had overridden as we kept looking into each other. Outside the rain started pouring with greater energy. The mischievous rainy breeze made us come closer as she started playing with my beard with a naughtiness that made me breathe heavier. She then closed her eyes. I gingerly held her waist and kissed her lips. It was no more a childhood thank you kiss. That rainy day stole our wisdom and both of us lost our virginity for the first time.
Siah and I never made love again… Why? No one knows. Perhaps no one. No, not because we never met alone. Or maybe I will tell you a little later. But yes, we exchanged a lot of furtive kisses and we enjoyed doing it with a surprise.
Time was tickling fast. It was almost midnight. I looked out of the window before continuing to write down our sweet memories. A gust of cool December breeze then brushed my face…
A gust of cool breeze brushed Siah’s face. Her hair loosened from her short pony tail and her cheeks turned red. GOD! She looked out of the world. It was the month of December. A season of Love making, romance and date in Goa. Jolly Jack was chosen by me as it gave the best panoramic view in the evening when the Sun miles away was blushingly diving into the ocean seeing the romance of the budding couple by the seashores of Candolim beach. And the Jolly jack Shack was simmered with red neon light with acoustic romantic number in background. It was an amazing concoction of ambience. That night we royally drank. I had, I don’t know how many cans of beer while she had a decent pegs of vodka. We then danced together. I held one of her hand closed to my heart and rested the other on her slim waist. Looking into her eyes I swayed her slowly, twirling and twisting her with the perfect lead. She looked sensual in her pink robe that hugged her body closely. We felt each other’s breath in a flawless rhythm and kept dancing closely until it was midnight and all the lights were suddenly turned off except for one shaft of light that beamed on her at the centre of the dance floor. She held her face with sheer surprise as the well rehearsed choir sang her a beautiful birthday song. It was truly a Birthday to remember.
“Happy Birthday Siah”, I whispered holding both of her shoulders.
She gave me a thank you hug and pulled my beard.
I kissed her…
We then drove back. This 18th December night had many reasons to remember. Siah never expected this pleasant surprise ever in her life. She was really ecstatic as she gifted me with torrent of hugs and kisses. My happiness knew no bounds and I dint realize that the speedometer of bike struck 100Kmh and perhaps neither did Siah. We both were high and kept shouting euphorically. The engine roared louder. The countless trees and street lights bounced in a wink as I swerved my bike in a style. The cold air belted my helmet and tiny droplets of water settled on it and perhaps Siah’s eyes too. Feeling the energy I swiveled the accelerator and soon we started floating in the air as Siah cuddled me very closely. The highness of beer and warmth of Siah took me into the world of cloud nine sailing in the caravan of dreams with a beautiful angel. The tree seemed to be lightening, the street light seemed to be dancing leisurely and every moment seemed to pass in frame.
And suddenly everything appeared dark. It was a blind turn. “Shit!!!.....Holy Jesus!”…. I screamed as the world seemed to topple down twice. The road seemed to be on the left and trees on the top. My bike tumbled around ones, twice, thrice and finally on Siah. Blood started flowing from everywhere shedding of skins at several places. I was still having little consciousness. I saw Siah moaning in utter pain with blood oozing out form her forehead and entire body. My heavy bike was lying on her delicate body and she was dying every second but all I could do was stretch my hand and yell for help.
*************************
A cycle of seasons unfolded since then. Today it’s 18th December. I sit on a bench just near her cemetery in an illusive anticipation that Siah would come one day pull my beard and kiss me. I fish out a can of beer which always accompanied my bag. But today I couldn’t drink and perhaps would never. I hurled the beer in air and moaned lying on Siah. I take out my dairy and leaf through the pages where our pastime is carved in immortal letters. I bookmark those pages with fresh lilies that I brought. I turn around. A gust of wind puffed away my cheeks and the pages of my dairy that started fluttering near Siah's immortal body. I kept the diary near siah as I looked her for the last time. With beads of tear in my eyes I walked away...
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