The sweet smell of cinnamon drifted in the air as she walked across the mall. The smell that would haunt her forever. She tried to close her eyes in an effort to force away the thoughts that were haunting her. But instead of it all going away, she saw his face. It felt like she could reach out her hand and draw her fingers through the smooth line on his forehead and caress his cheek. She opened her eyes as soon as she could and felt small drops of perspiration on her forehead. Her brown almond shaped eyes had no emotions in them though.

"Are you alright honey? You seem to be perspiring!" Damn that freaking man. Why did he have to be so observant and notice every small detail?

She looked at him with a bright smile on her face and tried her best not to show her displeasure at the sight of him. "Oh nothing to worry about sweetie. These people turn on the heat too high, and you know how I can’t stand high temperatures."

Her husband seemed to be satisfied at her explanation. He smiled and brushed his knuckle on her cheek affectionately and then diverted his attention to the shops that were brightly decorated. Everyone was festive and cheery. People were greeting each other with warmth in their voice. She was disgusted at the glitter in their eyes at the thought of giving gifts to their dear ones. 'The Christmas spirit' they called it. The worst time of the year for her. The time that would remind her that again and again that dreams were only created to be shattered.

It was ten years ago that she had landed in the land of dreams. She had been away from him for two years and there had not been a day that she had not thought of him. She had wept herself to sleep for the first couple of weeks but the hope of meeting him again kept her going through the tiring days. She had come to the United States with a F-1 visa and a $10,000.00 scholarship at the Whitworth College. It was a private college in a small city that deprived her of any chances of working under the table. The only reason for her abruptly aroused interest in getting her higher education completed in the USA was the hope of seeing him again.

She had been 18 years old when his mesmerizing eyes and easy sense of humor had swept her off her feet. He was 23 at that time and she had understood that he was completely out of her league. The closest that she could ever get to him was in her thoughts where he was her savior who would take her away from the black and white world she lived in. When he showed interest in her, she had been pleasantly surprised and more than willing to give every bit of herself into the relationship. He had always told her how attracted he was to her simplicity and innocence. She was his "innocent baby" and he would do anything to maker her happy. Well that's what he had always claimed.

The first few months consisted of stolen kisses and shy, abrupt hugs. She would blush at the thoughts of what they had done together and think of him till the dark blanket of sleep would take her in its arms. When he had announced one day that he was leaving for the United States with no plans of returning to Nepal, she was shattered. He had won the DV lottery and his aunt had agreed to sponsor him. He had only two months left to stay in Nepal. She had wept herself to sleep that night feeling helpless and frail thinking about losing him. Her eyes were red the next day when they met. What he said next had changed her life...

"I don't want you to be this way. I promise I will marry you; in fact I have an idea. As we will be far away from each other why don’t we just get married in the court? I have a friend who can be our witness."

She had been shocked and frightened at his proposal. Her family was not very supportive or liberal. If they ever found out that she was dating someone, let alone about to marry someone secretly, they would disown her. After a lot of persuasion and promises she finally agreed to do the craziest thing in her life. After all they were meant to be together, so why not be a couple legally? She told her family that she was going to spend a night at her friends house and had explained to her friend that she had to go somewhere with her boyfriend so she was to lie if her parents were to inquire.

After gathering her bravery and a bunch of lies she was on her way to get married to the man of her dreams. The marriage was short and nothing that she had ever dreamt of. After signing the required papers, they were on their way to spend their wedding night at Nagarkot. He has soothed her nerves and had assured her that there was nothing wrong in what they were about to do. There were married now and there was nothing in the earth that could separate them. She had believed him. No one ever found out about their marriage or about the night they had spent secretly. She had put her life and body in his hands and there was not a single minute that she hesitated.

She had spent two years without him and had finally persuaded her parents to send her to USA for education. Though he was in New York, she had to go to Washington, which was in the west coast. The scholarship amount was too great and the only thing that her parents could afford. He had been excited about her arrival but did not have the time or money to go meet her. He promised that they would be together on summer. Summer arrived and they finally reunited after two years. They would stay in bed till noon and go to restaurants everyday for meals. The three weeks they spent together was filled with luxury and a promise of the future. She could never have been happier!

He kept ignoring her plea to move in with him. He told her that universities in NY were too expensive. NY was expensive and they would never have time for each other in their busy lives anyways. The more she tried to persuade him, the more he got annoyed. She finally decided to apply in a University and give him a surprise. It was 20th of December when she moved to NY. She had a cousin there who had helped her move to New York. She was temporarily staying there until she could move in with him and announce to the world about their secret wedding. The smell of vanilla and cinnamon drifted everywhere as she went to meet him at his apartment. She was so excited that her palms were sweating in the cold weather. She could feel her heart in her throat as she rang the bell.

"Hi, Can I help you with something?" A blond petite girl with pretty blue eyes answered the door.

"Uh, I think I got the wrong address," that was weird, how could she have mistaken the apartment.

"Oh no. Maybe you are a friend of Akhil's, you look like a nepali.. He is in the office right now but he should be back in an hour. A lot of people don't know about us so u must be confused. I am Amy, Akhil's wife. We just got married last year."

She was numb as she stepped in the apartment. She had to be mistaken. This has to be some other Akhil that this girl was talking about. His pictures filled the apartment. He was smiling into the blond girl's eye and kissing her. She felt a stabbing pain as if a knife had pierced her heart. She could not stop the flow of tears as she heard his voice behind her. Akhil’s smile disappeared as he looked at her.

"How could you do this to me? How could you marry someone else when you were still married with me? How could you sleep with me when you were married with another girl here? How could you take away my virginity and spend the rest of your night in someone else's bed?" She did not wait for the reply as she went storming out the apartment. She never called him again or answer his phone calls. Did Amy and Akhil’s relationship survive? She had no clue.

She stopped going to college and started working in cheap pubs where she met Daniel. He was a widower in the verge of destroying himself. He was rich and was interested in her. They got married after 2 years. He doted on her and she could barely stand him. She was dead inside. They were out shopping today and he was about to buy her a gift for their seventh wedding anniversary. She had money, an American citizenship and a husband who cherished her and fulfilled her every wish. The only thing she did not have was the one thing she had always wanted. The only thing that ever brought a flicker of emotion to those brown eyes was his memories. Those memories seemed to be a part of her existence and it came to her mind as easily as breathing in oxygen every second.

Rhythm,
Love is in the air! So begins a season that will change everything. I wonder if the closed door opens and an old love steps through...
Well, not every story has to have ending.. just a thought.

"The closest that she could ever get to him was in her thoughts where he was her savior who would take her away from the black and white world she lived in."

Told with insight and grace. Keep coming

Fabulous! Really enjoyed it. A very gentle narrative with profound meaning.

Oops! i thought the story was over in the first part, rather it ended in betrayal.. Phewwwwwwwwwwww... Pareli bhijyo..

ah... how sad...!!!
the story's moving...good writing indeed!!

Sisu darling muuaaaa happy valentine good to che you.... ;)

very nice story

What a happy ending! : ) (pun intended)

"She had money, an American citizenship and a husband who cherished her and fulfilled her every wish."

Often it does not hurt to take just bright side from a very gloomy scenario.

But my favorite was that arousing fiction about that dewar and bhauju. You know which one am talking about gurl, eh! ;) One for the bright side now.

A very appreciative effort to present the poignancy and bitterness.

Keep em' coming...

IndisGuise;)

simply WOW

Nice one Rhythm !
ALways a pleasure to read ya :O)

:)....Keep writing!!!!
Aani, tyo Indi le bhaneko katha ko ending khoi...:p
Anyways Happy Valentines day!!! To you and and to all!!!!..:)

That would have been on helluva sexy ending, but knowing Rythm, she would make it all emotional and teary.

And I thought i taught enough about laughter and life :p

Nirman le pani dhayna dera padeko raicha ;)

IndisGuise:)

Rythm miss le padhayepaachi dhyan diyera padhnai paryo ni..Nabhey fail hola bhanne darr...;)
But Where is the ending anyways..Mai lekhdiim lekhdiim jasto laagyo!!!...
Bho Lekhdina!!!...:D
Indi Sir le lekhnuus na!!...With life and laughter!!!.:P

Mero duitai hath hathkadi le badeko cha ra po. Feri Rythm le malai anyas nai doss dela bhanera matra :p

Engine sela ko ajkal. Tara jun maja comment marnu ma cha, lekhna ma kaha cha ra. Re kya ;)

Just wondering... isn't it illegal to marry someone when you are already married? How come they did not get a divorce? I thought that was required by law.... anyhow, stupid story and stupid girl... lucky she didn't end up pregnant or something... hmmmm something to think about! ... Sorry Rythm, I usually somewhat like what you write...just not this one!

whateva.. you seriously suck!! :O

Opps typo.. it should've been I instead of wateva.. sorry!! :S :O

It is a different country; who's gonna bring and present her marriage certificate anyway? and who cares?

I don't think that she is stupid. Innocence doesn't have anything to do with stupidity. Will you call her brilliant as she's already corrupted and been deceived and now more likely to act with many pre-cautions?

The story is not stupid. It just depicts the treachery of nepali boy in the context of nepali diaspora.

Yes Gwayjo... your brilliance just outshines everyone! IT was very smart of her to get married to someone just few days before he left for U.S. Absolutely innocent of her not tell her friend's or family ofcourse. She is so innocent that she convinced her parents that U.S. is a good place for her to waste their hard earned money so that she could get the education she never completes. Her innocence that leads her to transfer to a whole new place just to "give him a surprise"...Very VERY innocent of her to marry someone and deceive him for more than seven years mind you... He dotes on her right? And she just innocently keeps loving the creep who duped her! Innocence ofcourse...

And yes did I mention how Smart I think you are? Oh WOW! Just astounding!

P.S. Never said shit does not happen in life... but just because you screw up your life, does not mean it was because of INNOCENCE... Well no offense to anyone else... Except Gwayjo ofcourse!