I was all sunshine and smiles at the party. The storm that had wreaked havoc just a few hours back was well hidden beneath the cheerful facade. My friends urged me on and I obliged, downing one drink after another. No one had any idea about the volcano that raged beneath the surface. I fiercely pushed the negative thoughts back to the dark nether regions where I believed they rightfully belonged, at least for this one night of celebration. I was one of the nominees for the best script writer and was expected to walk away with the much coveted Critic’s Award.
There was a commotion at the entrance. All heads turned as one to watch as she made her spectacular entrance. Without turning around I knew she looked stunning in her wine colored off-shoulder tea length gown that I had paid for with my hard-earned money. The matching accessories that went with it also came from my pocket. I visualized how I had seen her last, when she threw me out of her apartment. Get out, she had screamed, I am done with you.
I could hear the click-click of cameras and see the flash bulbs go pop one after the other. Steeling myself, I turned around to look at her. She was hanging on to the arms of her latest beau, some business tycoon whom she had met on her sojourn abroad, whose existence I had come to know just a couple of hours back bringing on that storm.
She was laughing now, her head thrown back showing off her tiny pearl like teeth. Her silky curls, in which I had buried my face many a night, fell seductively to her shoulders. She looked as delicate and beautiful as ever. My breath caught in my throat like it always did at the sight of her. Then she looked across the room at me and the spell broke.
Eyes they say are the mirrors of the soul and right then, in her eyes I saw her true self. How could I have been blind to it till now?? I don’t know what hex had me in its grip not to have seen her for what she was, nothing but a gold digger. The storm that I hid with so much effort seemed ridiculously insignificant to me.
Suddenly with no prior intimation a pair of dancing eyes intruded into my thoughts, eyes that were truly mirrors of a beautiful soul. How had I forgotten them?? What madness had made me push them into some godforsaken corner of my mind?? They seemed to be gently reprimanding me, as also smiling obliquely at my predicament now. I told you so, it seemed to tell me. Have you forgotten, they seemed to ask. I got up hurriedly. My friends looked at me enquiringly.
“I have to go.” I told them.
The function had not even begun. Guests were still streaming in. Today was supposed to be my big day. Even if I did not win the award, fame would be mine and so would riches. I paid no heed to their entreaties that followed me till I was out of earshot. I knew where I wanted to be. At last I knew what I had to do.
I remembered a long lost promise to write that master-piece I had so passionately outlined to a pair of dancing eyes. I remembered the rapt attention in them, the absolute love and pride as I spoke. I had to break free of this rat race and go back. I had to fulfill my promise.
I was already on a bus, on my way to the house in the far off village on the foothills of the Great Mountains even as my name was being announced as the Best Script Writer of the year. In fact I won the Critics Award too, as the newspapers proclaimed the next day. I couldn’t have cared less. I was by then planning and redoing the chapters of my book. I knew from wherever they were, the dancing eyes were looking down at me with absolute bliss in them.
Words this week: break, negative, surface
seems like his is in a much better place, mentally and physically.
@ThomG, Yes, he is going to feel better in both ways now
Oh wow!!
)
That’s one complicated story.
I’m not sure I got the ending (put it down to my partially sleepy state
Will try out the three words though.
@momofrs, Waiting to read your post Noorulayn. Hmm.. you definitely were sleepy while reading this
I don’t think its all that complicated! The dancing eyes were looking at him from somewhere above 
He is left alone to pursue the dream he once shared with those eyes.
Well, I’d hate for him to go back and for those dancing eyes to have been waiting for him all these years only to welcome him with open arms. Grrr… I think people who lead lives the way they like not caring for those who genuinely love them (and whom they love in return) don’t deserve to have that love handed to them in a platter when they ‘conveniently’ open their eyes to reality somewhere in the last reel. Oooops, now I am being really vehement. But that’s how I feel.
Excellent idea. You could develop this into a full fledged story.
@Vivek, Now that you say so, perhaps yes, I should try and make it into one
Thanks Vivek.
Love the imagery in your words!
@Priya, Thank you
Great! finally the artistic heart is free from bewithcing eyes.Good riddance , I must say.
@kirti, Indeed!
Eyes truly are mirrors to the soul. Like you’ve used that in the story. And thank you Shail for putting me on to 3WW too
@Dreamer, 3WW is a cool thing. I really enjoy it. Glad you like it too. And you are right about eyes. I don’t trust anyone whose eyes don’t smile. You can really know a person’s inner nature by looking at their eyes.
A lovely story..out of the rat race.. yes its so soothing.. I needed it today..for I have been thinking to follow my heart and be on my own.. thanks for your visit too to my page.. keep encouraging..
@Ramesh Sood, Welcome to Shail’s Nest. Yes, one should always follow one’s heart. Unlike what the world thinks, it will be a much better place for everyone then. I enjoy reading your creative expressions. Thanks for dropping by.
I truly would like to read a novel based on this …. why don’t you?
@Phoenixritu, You have given me the seed of an idea. Thanks
@Shail, Great, am waiting for the book launch
Shail, my dear, dear friend.
I always LOVE your writing.
That lovely head of yours is bursting with words that flow from your finger tips like a mountain stream. They sparkle and dance at time, make me laugh at times and make me weep at times as your tribute to Goofy did.
You are one amazing lady!!
Missy and MM send their tail wags and doggie kisses.
I must get after Missy and make her start writing again….she says she has a writers block. Pooie I say!! It’s a lazy block!!
@Patsy, thank you so very much. I am so glad you dropped by. Awww I am blushing reading what you have written about me. *beet reed* Thank you once again.
Hugs to Missy, MM and you.
Patsy, you must push Missy to blog again! I simply love reading her. Lazy block is right!
Like the sun coming out of a cloud
A beautiful faces emerges from the crowd
Artificiality is put in a shroud
A beautiful relation is about to bud.
Good one Shail. Challenge yourself and write a 55-er with 3 words.
@Govind, How can i write a fifty-five words with three words?? *totally mystified*
I deserve this, what is a dim wit (me- to set matters correctly) doing amongst the intelligentsia??? :O
@Govind, Really and truly, when I wrote that, I had no clue what you meant. I spent time racking my brain and ultimately came up with the answer. You are telling me to try a 55-er story using these words??
Don’t laugh. My first impression was that I should write a 55 word story using only three-lettered words. I swear!
BTW who were you referring to as intelligentsia??
@Govind, Your comments come from your heart, and for me, that is one of the most intelligent, as well as nicest acts, that one human may relay to another. I applaud you. Bob Hoff :0)
Ur fictions are damn good…I dont know how you do it – building a story with 3 words…My god, you are damn good at this.
Good story. 
And Interesting too…
@UmaS, Thank you!
Beautifully woven words! Shail, you’re an amazing story-teller
“All heads turned as one to watch…” loved that expression! Supreme writing as always!
@Deeps, Aww… thank you so much!
You have written this scene so that it was a “video” in my mind, of people alive, each with histories, goals, needs, faults, and hopes and the environment that you have woven them into is full of suspense and provacative details that I want to know more about. Immediately!
Once again: Bravo!
@Bob Hoff,
Sorry Bob, it may take some time. But you will know soon when I write more about them. And thank you!
I apologize for this late response to your comment. I am mystified as to how I missed it! :O
No problem, my Friend. I know that you are a very busy person and that you always “follow up” on notes is a tribute to your thoroughness and caring I think.
What scares me is my memory as I seem to forget regularly o(*v*)o about something or other. I saw somewhere reently that is is not any “magical” food we eat that protects our memory for “later” it is walking at least a mile a day now. How many kilmeters is that I wonder?
@Bob Hoff,
1 mile = 1.609344 kilometers