LOSING HAPPINESS

Those days with Nova were best time of my life. We were enjoying so much that I forget about all my worries and other complications of life.

He talk to my home class teacher and took leaves for me so that we could spend more time with each other.

He took me to different places and I got to know about his different sides. At times I wonder that how much he care about me. We used to eat and drink together and sleep in the living room.

On the last night, again we had dinner outside. We came back and Nova asked me to get hurry for change so that we can watch the movie that he had brought and about which he was so excited. I went straight to my room and got change. Then when I was about to move downstairs I grab the paper bag with me and put that on the couch under my blanket in living room while Nova was still in his room.

“Nova?” I yelled from the living room.

“Five minutes.” He yelled back. I went straight to the kitchen and prepared hot chocolate for both of us. Nova was sitting on his mattress with remote in his hands when I came back from the kitchen. I handed him his mug and sat down next to him.

“Thank you.” He said with a smile and I nodded in reply.

“Ready?” he asked me.

“Yes.” I smiled. And he pressed the button on the remote and the film started.

And the screen was filled with my pictures from different occasions and the air was filled with a soothing guitar tune. I looked at Nova who was already looking at me.

“When...” and he put his hand on my hand to stop me from questioning him. I turned my gaze to the screen again. And with no time my eyes get wet with tears. I was watching the film but tears were falling as if they were waiting for these moments. After about fifteen minutes it was him...Nova with a bright smile and a note in his hands.

“You are my only reason to smile.” The note read. And the film ended. I turned to Nova who was also having teary eyes.

“I’m sorry to make you wait for so long. Pease forgive me.” he said pulling me toward him and embracing me in his arms.

I didn’t say anything to him. It was more than anything that I had ever expected from him. I just cry in his arms letting out everything. He pulled me away and looked at me in my eyes. He wipes my tears. I smiled at him faintly and nodded. Then I moved toward the couch and pull out the paper bag and hold it toward him.

“You are forgiven.” I said as he took the packet.

He opened the packet and look at the bottle of perfume. He pulled out the cover and opened the lid and sprayed the liquid in the air.

The scent of perfume scattered into the sir leaving a fruity, flowery smell behind. It was strong but still peaceful and calming. He closes his eyes as he felt that deepness of the fragrance. After few moments he opened his eyes and took out a note out of paper bag.

“Everything can be replaced in the world but not an emotion.” Read the note. He looked at me with his duo black eyes which were sparkling with tears. I hold his face in my hands as he cried. I wipe his tears and comforted him.

“It’s okay Nova.” I said to him. “We are together. And that is enough for me.” I added. He looked at me and nodded with a smile. After that we both ended up sleeping with TV on.

Next morning I woke up at about four in the morning. It was the day when mother and father were going to come back home. I got up and started to put everything at its normal place after getting done with my morning routine. I rushed Nova who was still sleeping. I wiggled his shoulder to wake him up.

“Nova. Hey! Sleeping beauty! Wake up...!” I said as he was still half asleep.

“Come on. Wake up. Mom dad will be here at any moment.” I said pulling his arm to make him sit. And at my statement he opened his eyes and stood up with a jerk. He looked at the clock on the wall it was about five. He stood up without saying a word and run to his room. I was still sitting watching him in half sleep. I let out a sigh and started to fold the blanket. After few moments he appeared back in to the hall.

I looked at him, he was rubbing his hands.

“Coffee?” I asked him piling the folded sheets on couch.

“Yup” He said with a long face. I went to the kitchen and prepared our coffee. By the time when I came back he had already put everything at place and he himself was sitting on the couch with my sleep belongings.

I handed him his coffee. He held his coffee and took me to the lawn. It was still dark but sun was starting to come up with warm rays.

“Let’s drink here.” With these words we sit on the chairs and drain out coffee out of mugs.

“When will they are coming Nova?” I asked him looking at him.

“I don’t know. But dad told me that they will be back today.” He said looking at me.

“Hmm” I said nodding. “Will you be at home?” I asked him.

“No. School” He replied.

“Okay. Let’s get inside I have so much to do.” I said and we both came back inside. I started with my cleaning while Nova helped me with dusting and laundry. By the time we both have completed our cleaning and prepared our breakfast.

“Go. You will be late for school.” He said taking spoon from my hand. I looked at the clock. It was about six forty-five. I nodded and handed him and instructed him what to do. I head upstairs and took shower and get ready for my school. It was after so many days that I was going to school. I prepared my bag and head downstairs.

“Come. Hurry! ” Nova said sitting on the table.

I rushed and slurped my breakfast with juice. After finishing, he handed me my lunch and water bottle. I put them in my bag and look toward him. He was smiling.

“What...?” I asked him.

“Nothing. I will miss you.” He said clearing his throat.

I nodded and moved toward the main door. He followed me and opened the door for me.

“Take care of yourself sister.” He said waving at me.

“You too brother.” I replied with a smile and left home behind.

I called Zoe on my way to school.

“The number you are calling is not answering your call.”

I tried again and after three calls she picked it.

Zoe: Hello? Licia. I’m already at school.

Saying this she hung the call without waiting for my reply.

It was very odd for me to believe how she reacted to my call. I put my phone back into my pocket and hurried for the school.

Whole day was normal except for the last lecture when my teacher told me to stay for extra classes after school with other students. After the final bell of the school I pulled out my phone and texted Nova and Zoe about my extra classes. Zoe instantly replied me with an ok followed by take care and a smiley. Nova still have not texted me back. He might be busy somewhere.

There were about ten students in the extra classed. And at six our class finally ended.

“Miss Licia...?” said our teacher of extra classes.

“Yes sir...?” I replied standing up from my seat.

“Can you help me in arranging these sheets before leaving...?” he said pointing at the pile of papers on his desk.

I look at the sky through window; the sky was turning pink already. But it was very unpleasing for me to deny. I nodded in a yes.

Everyone other left except for me and my teacher. After hard work of an hour all the papers were sorted as per his wish.

“You can go now. I will do the left by myself.” He said looking at his wrist watch.

“Okay sir.” I said and moved to my seat to get my bag.

“Thank you Miss Licia for helping Me.” he said as I passed by him toward the exit door.

“My pleasure sir. Have a good evening.” And with final salutation I got out of school. It was about seven and the sky was dark with a tint of pinkish shades with scattered clouds. Street lights were on and people were returning from their daily works. I rushed myself to get home on time. But it was a total waste.

I was all absorbed in my thoughts when I heard someone yelling behind me. I stopped and turned around who was it. It was a man in his early thirties. He was drunk so bad that his feet were unable to hold balance with the weight of his body. His one hand was flying in air and other one was holding a Bottle. He was murmuring something while taking drinking from his bottle and walking toward me. I was standing still at my place observing him. And with a blink of eye, he was holding my wrist. His grip was so tight that my hand gets numb.

“What are you doing here at this hour girl...? Uh...? Tell me...?” he said breaking the bottle of wine on the road.

“Hey. Let me go.” I protested and tried to get out of his grip. He strained my hand and pulled me close toward him. I wiggled and tried to get away from him. My bag fell on the ground as we both were fighting and struggling.

“Hey you drank man. Let go of me.” I was still struggling with him but his grip was so strong. He kept on pushing and pulling me near him and I keep on struggling against him. I yelled for help but nobody was there to help me.

“There is no one to help you here doll!” he said trying putting his hands on my chest. Sensing his intentions I slapped him with my free hand. He got shocked for a moment. But in the very next moment he pushed me against a wall and smirked. I begged for him to let me go. But he kept hitting me with his flapping hands.

“How dare you to hit me...?” he yelled at me. I cried for help but my voice seems to fade away in the thin air. He laughed at me as I started to whimper. He grabbed both of my hands and put them against the wall with his full force to protect me from getting out of his clench. I was crying silently knowing that there was none to help me. My mind stated to get filled with every possible deed that he can do to me. I started to lose hope.

“Why are you so alone in this dark night? Huh...?” he said loudly.

“Who said she is alone.” A firm, deep, male voice replied from behind him. “She’s never alone.” And with these words a swift kick landed in the left flank of the drunken man. His grip get lose on my hands and with a jerk I get myself out of his grip. By the time another kick was landed on his same spot as before. He fell on the ground crying in pain.

“Ah! Ah! Please stop.” He groaned in pain. I looked around to see who it was. But before that he held my hand and hid me behind him.

“Don’t move.” The voice commanded. I nodded in response. He moved ahead and held the man from his collar and punches his face so hard that his nose started bleed. The drunken man kept lying on the ground groaning in pain. He kicked him again leaving him breathless. I was standing still at my place watching all the things happening. He again held the man with his collar and he was about to punch him when I hold on his hand.

“Leave him. He’s insensible.” I said putting a stop to the fight.

He let go of his collar and fixed his clothes. I rushed to get my scattered belongings. I put on my bag and fixed my clothes. He was standing still there looking at me. I could feel his gaze on me and with a sense of awkwardness I looked at him. He was standing against the light so I was not able to see his face. He was wearing all black with a hoodie on and probably his face was covered with mask or any dark cloth. I moved ahead to get a proper view but before that he turned around.

“You should get going now.” He said in a firm voice. I keep standing still for few moments and then nodded. I started to move for home. I took a few steps and turned back. He was standing still at his place.

“Thank you for helping me.” I said to him with a slight bow.

“He nodded in a response. And I carried on my way to home. I was about to reach home when I notice a shadow behind me. I gasped and stopped moving. I turned my head when he spoke.

“It’s me.” It was him. I turned around to see his face but before I could do so he turned his back on me. I let out a deep sigh.

“Thank you for walking me home.” I said in hope of a reply. But he nodded and started to move away.

“Excuse me.” I called him. He stopped and turned his head toward me.

“Who are you...?” I asked him.

“Does that really matter...?” he replied.

“No. But I was wondering about what you said earlier to that man.” I said in hope of a reply. He turned to me and looked at the main door of my house. I followed his gaze and sensed what he was about to say.

“Go inside.” He said to me. And I moved without saying anything. I opened the gate and entered the house. I looked at him still waiting for his reply.

“Please. Tell me who are you...?” I asked him again standing at the main entrance of my house. He moved under the light and removed his mask and put down his hoodie.

I was shocked by his appearance.

“You !”