To Unrequited Love

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[ Inspired from Tennessee William's play "The Glass Menagerie"]

I walked carefully down the path leading to the park lest anyone takes the slightest notice

of me. It had been a year almost that I was out again for strolling at that hour of the day.

A fresh rush of evening breeze nearly knocked me down as I struggled against its force to

hold my scarf closely wrapped around my face. I reached my destination within just a

couple of minutes hastily to avoid the glances of people on the road that nearly pierced

through my soul.


I seated myself on a wooden bench at a lonesome corner of the lawn as I watched from

distance the children playing and their parents lost in laughter and talk. I was so

engrossed with myself that I did not feel the presence of someone else seated on the

bench facing mine and staring at me for quite a long I supposed. As I looked up, he

responded with a gentle smile. I smiled back. Next, to my amazement he broke

the prevailing silence by speaking to me.


“Hello do you come here often?”

“No it’s just today that I have come to this place.”

“A lovely and serene place indeed! By the way, may I know your name, lady?”

“Oh yes! I am Fatima and you?”

“I am Vivian. It feels good to be here after a long hectic week of work.”


After quite a few exchange of words between us I felt at ease. Finally I was

victorious in fighting back my hesitation and low self-esteem that had shrouded my life so

far almost like a dark cloud. I drew my scarf close to me. My strange habit of clinging to

my scarf every once in a while made no difference… he appeared entirely calm and

unperturbed. Yet somewhere deep down within me I seemed to get drawn to the

cheerfulness that he wore, the warmth with which he spoke to me. I sensed alarm. I knew

that was quite early. Very early indeed!!!


Just at the moment I had begun to regain my normal self, a strong gush of wind from

nowhere dash passed me all of a sudden blowing away my cover and exposing the

awful scars and blisters that filled my face. A chill of embarrassment ran down my spine

as I tried hard to hide my naked face with my hands out of shame.


Years ago an accidental fire in our house almost changed my life. The fire could not

claim my life as I escaped narrowly although with permanent terrifying marks all over my

face and neck yet it had succeeded in reducing my confidence into ashes. I felt

humiliated. I could never stand the glares of people. I was sick of answering them of

how did it all happen. Children were scared of me. Few pitied and suggested me of

cosmetic surgery. But that was not possible owing to our not too good financial

conditions after the death of my father. I had lost the courage to go out or face people.


But here his eyes seemed to understand everything. He demanded no explanation. My

hands almost froze as he stood up to fetch me my scarf. The next moment he was sitting

right next to me. “It’s absolutely okay Fatima. Please do not worry. Accidents do happen

that leave an everlasting scar on our body but it is up to you whether you want that to

take control of your life as well and hurt your soul. Start living once more as if nothing

has happened. Don’t let that scar reach your heart and put off your flame of hope.”


Nothing could bring back and re-instill my long lost desire for life as this stranger whom I

met only an hour back could. I took a resolute stand to fight back whatever comes my

way and not lose faith.


I had almost broken into a silent sob… tears of euphoria. “Yes I will. I promise. I will

start loving myself” was all that I could say.


Then he gently patted me on my back as he rose to leave. I felt a strong sense of

familiarity with him by that time as if I knew him since ages. “It was wonderful meeting

you Fatima. Hope to see you again. I have to rush now. I don’t want to keep my lady

waiting for long. She might have arrived by now. Do you know a florist’s shop nearby?


You see I am new here.”

“Yes take a right turn. You would get one”

“Thank you. Take care.”

“Bye” and then he gradually disappeared out of my sight. It was dusk and the corner of

the park once again fell into a momentary silence as before.



He was so successful in being able to pull me out of the cobweb of fear and insecurity

that I had otherwise spun with great care all those years. But he was not the least aware of the another battle  I was fighting  within myself by then  from which there was no escape.



His words reverberated loud in my mind as I kept gazing at the void space before me

long after he was gone.

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