The Love of My Teens by Mobashira Mehar

STORY PART -1

It was a difference of seven years. I was back into my magnificent place. Monopoli, the town which falls in southern Italy, just fifteen minutes from Polignano . The town was as same as, I left it seven years ago for Rome.

The Castle of Charles V and the clock tower was reminding me of my past, throughout my way from the airport to home.

Oh! So pleasurable moments I had been into. Suddenly, I saw the church with the "Town Arms" (three white roses on a red bottom). This took me into my flashback. When I was a young charming teenager.

"Eve! Evelina! " I shouted. I was not in my own control. The taxi driver stopped the car.

He said ,"Any problem Signore?". Then I realized, I was being mad. I swiftly apologized for my misbehavior, and requested the driver to continue his work.

It was already midnight, when I reached my home. My house was immensely huge, with white walls and beautiful Palm trees.

The most interesting part was, no one in the family knew, that I am arriving today.

Now, I was standing in front of my old classic house, as it used to be sixteen years ago.

I was ready to give a enormous surprise.

On the business years I spent in Rome, because of my terrific busy schedule, I rarely had the formality talk with my family. Actually, they were only familiar with one thing, that I am alive because I used to send them money regularly to them.

My fingers on the cute golden door bell, heart beating like a hummingbird wing, unable to understand my own emotions. I was back, after seven years. Finally!

As usual, mummy open the door, "Oh Jesus! No way! No! A Ghost! Are you a Ghost? A Ghost of my son? Luna, is that a prank?" Mummy was really shocked. She was even not believing that she is in reality, rather not in a fantasy.

" Luna, don't mock me I'm warning you. Just tell me who the hell is he? What sort of prank is this?" Luna came rushing towards the door.

"Oh! Oh my God! Bro is that really you? I can't believe it." Luna was fascinated. "Yes! This is really my son." Mummy was filled with charms.

After so many emotions, love of meeting and shocks, I finally entered my house. It felt like, I never left it. The sweet smell of fresh bread and lemon jam was dancing already in the hall, and it was quite obvious, because it is Matteo's favourite. When I came, he was asleep.

I was so tired, that I immediately went for sleep, without any discussion, just after the luscious dinner.

I started exploring the changes, the old streets of my town. The next five days, passed away like a flash. My old heritage town, beautifully welcomed me. I was happy, really happy, until a black cat caught my luck.

One day afternoon, Mummy, me and my both younger siblings, Luna and Matteo, were sitting in the dining for the lunch. Sorrowfully, but my dad was martyred during a normal immediate war rush. I remember, I was only six years old, when this incident took place.

Although, after lunch mummy and Matteo went for the locksmith, because Matteo's locker was not working properly.

I was reading my emails, lying on my bed when Luna entered my room, with an auspicious facial expression .

She came, and sat on the wooden chair, which was placed in front of my bed.

"What's wrong? Did something happened? Tell me, if it is so." I asked.

"No, not at all, but obviously something is going to happen, not so nice, with you brother." " Don't make words, you idiot. Tell me what's the matter?" " You….You remember, Eve, Eve your….?" " Yes! Evelina right? Yes I do. But what? What next…She must be married till now. Isn't she?" " Nah! She is not in a state to do so."

Now, this was being serious, Luna's statements where terrifying me , I was really worried to know what actually has happened with Evelina.

Evelina was my secret reason, for why I was unmarried. After spending seven years with Roman beauties, I never felt anything for any one of them. Quite obvious, Eve was the reason behind.

After hearing, that she is yet not married, I was somewhat ecstatic. But Luna was not. I was able to see the pain in her eyes. Something, heart rending was waiting for me.

STORY PART – 2

The sun was ready to be disappeared. The glacial breeze was tearing my guts, like a knife dragged down on a silk cloth. I was sitting, on my bed, just next to the window. With half sun in the sky, the green palm trees, shaking softly and going with the way of wind. It was an uncanny situation.

Luna, knew our bond. The strongest love story, which was ended futile. We were graduated from the same Hydrogen University. But her parents wished to keep her with them. And absolutely, I was understanding the critical condition of my family, thus I consented to go Rome, for a better job opportunity.

I conjectured, that something worst has happened with Eve. Luna, creed bitterly and ,next started her tale. " it's important for you to know this." She said.

She explained me that what has befell. I was listening calmly to her. She said that these seven years, where the most difficult ones of Eve's life. With week tones she continued, " I don't know much, we've talked just twice in a year. Every time, I had a conversation; I came to know that, she is going more and more puzzled in her disease. You may go tomorrow, to Old Port. She still lives there, but unfortunately alone. She really needs you, please have a good meet." Next, Luna stood and walked away out of my room, gently weeping.

My soul was injured by Luna's truth. Her words started echoing in my mind. I decided to leave, next afternoon for a meet with Evelina. I was sharply knowing that I have to face more bloody jabs. Clearly, Evelina was going to tell me the pain in detail. As decided I left my house, on the bright but dead afternoon. All our memories started appearing in my inner thoughts, like an old romantic picture, which never had a climax. That wide shining smile, her face more beautiful than any pearl of the world.

" Hey…Hey Emer, where is my diamond necklace?" Every time we met, she used to ask this. She loved diamonds and Emerald the most, that's why I was named as 'Emer' by her. According to Eve, I was her Emerald. But sadly, she neither got her diamond necklace, nor her Emer.

"But soon, you'll have your Emer, I'm coming." I said this to myself. Shortly, I reached the Old Port, now I was on the streets, where once I decided to expend my whole life, with her. But wistfully, this was not accepted by the fortune. Every step towards her house was making my heartbeat more rapid. Finally, I reached. My dream house which belonged to my Eve. No doubt, it was now old. I was in terror and very afraid, even to knock the door; Even to press the door bell.

But at last, I gave a measured knock on the old wooden door. I was going to meet her, after seven years. Yes, I was.

STORY PART – 3

I was lost in the sentiment of my past . I was restlessly waiting. "When she'll open the door? I can't wait. I don't have patience, please open the door Eve." I thought.

"Second knock", No response. "Third" same, the last and fourth. But this time a shrill voice responded on my knock.

"Are you stupid Francesco? Keep those milk bottles outside! Don't knock a thousand times! Don't disturb me. Go away!" The lady shouted.

Yes, she was frustrated. But Fortunately, this was not Evelina for sure. She's such a polite girl with the sweetest voice.

"I'm really sorry madam, but I'm not your milkman." I replied. "Oh! I understood. You're that insane Dante! Right? So, for god sake keep push the newspapers through the mail slot."

"Madam, but it's too late for newspapers. Isn't it? So I guess you like to read newspapers at afternoons? You're weird. Do you know this."

Suddenly, I heard a sound of quick footsteps coming towards the door. Of course this was the lady. She was annoyed by my words, and yes, she was coming to have a nice argument with me. She opened the door brutally and shouted, "So, you're that tiresome gentleman! Huh! You look so well educated, but I guess you're a witless guy for sure! Right?"

"No, Not at all madam" I calmly replied.

"OH! Disgusting. Tell me one thing mister! You're not the milkman, even not the newspaper boy. Okay! Okay! I know it's not the right time for newspapers, but still no one makes such tremendous effort to visit this house apart from these two people. Oh! Oh! I understood. You're a robber. Huh! Finally I caught you. Right? But you look like a gentleman, so handsome. So why you choosed robbery as a profession? It's strange. Tell me why? Oh say something now. Tell me!"

She was insane. I guess she don't know how to stop from the moment she starts speaking.

"Oh stop it!" I screamed. " First of all Madam, I'm not a robber. Okay? And of course I'm not going to harm you. I'm here to just meet Eve." I said.

" Eve? Who? I don't know, who is this Eve! Oh, you're at a wrong place. No Eve lives here. You may go now."

" Excuse me Madam, unfortunately for you, I'm at a very right place and I want to meet , Miss Evelina Merrick Abner. And I know, she lives here."

"Oh my god! What? Are you not kidding? Seriously."

" Did I said something wrong? Why are you reacting so much?"

" Because, I'm living here from last five years, and you're the first person of this world to visit this house to meet Miss. Abner. Who are you?"

Her words were true. She was really shocked that how someone has came to this doorstep. And why no one visits Eve? This was really shocking to me. Now, I was curious to know that why it is so.

"Okay, fine. Calm down. May I come in? Let us talk comfortably. Alright?" I said.

"Yes, yes sure. Please come in mister."

STORY PART- 4

So finally after seven years, I was going to enter in my love's house . "Ah, the same sweet smell of her jasmine perfume", I whispered in myself. The remarkable thing was that, I was unable to notice even a single change in her house. It seemed that there has been no time spent inside here. The whole world changed, but this place was absolutely selfsame as it used to appear years before.

"Please come in and sit here Mr." She urged. "Oh yes, you too do feel comfortable" I replied. "Absolutely, and you know this sofa...…." "This brown velvet sofa is your madam's favourite furniture. Right?" " Oh my God! How do you know so much?"

She was unaware that I know every single pleasure of Eve. She reacted more fascinatedly after I revealed things one after another, which she thought she only knows.

"Okay now stop there chatters and come sit here, tell me what has happened with Eve, I'm really worried. Try to understand." I said .

" Coffee or Tea? Some beverage necessary. You will need it further to decrease your stress, Which I'm going to give you in some time." She replied.

"Ah! Alright coffee, by the way you must be having The Blue Mountain coffee beans. Right?"

"Oh! Yes-Yes, but I've managed to grind some of them earlier, so it is going to be quite quick. Don't you worry."

" Come faster, I can't wait so much."

By the time, she was busy in the kitchen, I stared the walls for long and I saw something heart rendig also at the same time I felt heaven. I saw mine and Eve's last picture at the Genova Brignole Railway station. I remember Eve's younger brother Riccardo took this picture. He was like my own brother, my best friend too. Unfortunately, he was found dead during his training days , when the Navy ship sank in the Pacific.

It was a very tough time for Eve. This incident happened, just after two months of her parent's death which took place due to a major car accident on Autostranda Del Sole highways. She has gone through so much. All these happenings were informed to me with just some rare phone calls of Luna.

And soon after my coffee arrived. "So here is your coffee Mr. , I made some for myself too." She said cheerfully.

"Cool then, have a seat. And now there is not a single drop of patience left in me."

"Okay, Okay and Okay. So Miss. Abner has gone to her weekly medical checkup." She started.

"What? What are you saying? Why? Oh it must be a normal checkup right? Tell me." I went anxious.

"No not at all Mr. It is possibly not a normal checkup, in fact we may consider it as a rarest checkup of all."

"Look! I'm not in a mood of listening to your round and round stories, tell me straight. What loss has happened?"

"Okay, so now I'm telling sharp and straight Miss Abner is suffering from a very rare and of course deadliest disease. A deadly, brain disorder caused by a long time depression. Almost she has been into for one year."

"Oh Jesus! Please madam, for god sake tell me in which hospital she is, I must go and meet her right now." I pleaded.

"Sorry, I'm sorry. But I can't tell you though, because I also don't know actually where is she."

" Liar, lying! Lying! You're lying." My temper increased.

"Mr. First of all I don't lie." Her attitude was worth seeing. Then she continued, "Miss Abner has strictly told me not to utter things about her, but I found you a sensible gentleman and you know aggregate past things about her. Thus, I opened my mouth and the left thing about where is she, is just a anonymous secret, only known by Miss Abner and the hospital people. The hospitals ambulance comes weekly at a fixed time , takes her for the check-up and drops her at the doorstep itself.

Although, it's a paid ambulance service but they're very genuine at their work."

So all my vexation flew away like some dust. This time again, I went demented in my anger , next I believed her and further asked, "so can you please tell me, when she will come back today?"

"Yes sure, but it will be too late, it could reach 10 o'clock at night, so are you capable of waiting till then?" she replied.

Unfortunately, I was not ready to hear this . My meeting was already planned with the very well classed successful entrepreneurs. I came here with just a thought that I would meet her directly and go back at the right time, for the office work. But something else was written in my Destiny. I think it wanted me to get secure permanently with Eve, thus I was getting hints to come and meet her regularly. It was exceedingly important meeting, so I opted to leave and come back tomorrow, again.

"Okay madam, thank you so much, for giving me your time and sharing me such classified information of Eve with me. It means a lot. Thanks again." I conveyed.

"Oh don't be so silly. It sounds like you're going to die next. Don't behave like that, by the way welcome." She replied arrogantly as she used to do.

Now I was on the entrance again, but leaving the house this time. She seemed dejected , I don't know why. And then suddenly, a thought popped in my mind. And I said, " We had such a long talk, and you didn't told me your name so what is your good name madam?"

"Miss Bianca Emilio" she said with a ennui smile.

"Oh such a beautiful name, Okay then let's meet tomorrow, hopefully with presence of Eve."

I crossed the entrance and moved my foot forward towards the front road when she suddenly cried out.

" Hold on, Listen"

" Yes, anything left?"

"Yes"

"What?"

" She has just few more days left to breathe."

To be continued…..

In part- 5

Thank you!