Chapter 12
Christmas eve and Russian Vodka
DIMITRI
Fate always has its own ways. I sat next to Roza in the car. I think Bhabusha was right in saying "Fate always finds its way". It has been eight years now, when I lastspent my Christmas eve with a teenage Roza. Now at present, it's again a Christmas eve. It is Roza, who is beside me. The evening is beautiful as well, the snow is same.
I held Mama and Bhabusha and took them inside. They sat down on chair, I turned around, unable to find Roza. I looked around the hall for her, then I saw her, standing at the gate alone, by herself. She was a wearing a glittery violet coloured dress, with her hair bundled up in a bun. Why didn't she let her hair down? She looks more beautiful with her hair down. I walked towards her, she noticed me and turned, trying to dodge me, she spent her all energy in looking at the entrance. I asked her what is she doing here, she replied that she's waiting for her beloved boyfriend cum fiance.
I stared at Roza whilst she waited for Adrian. Adrian! Shit! That rascal should have known how lucky he is. Roza looked beautiful, I inclined towards her, and took off hair pins. Her hair fell on my face, I took a deep breath in and smelled her hair, it reminded me of Jasmine and coconut. Realising how close we were standing, I took a step back. She still reminded me of Christmas morning. But somehow she lost the passion within her. The fire that made me fall for her for the first time. Adrian entered the hall, his suit matched with Roza's dress. Is he always like that? I began to wonder how my imagination has never done me justice. She never appeared this beautiful in my dreams. He put his arm around her waist. I looked away.
Shit?
What the hell am I doing? She isn't mine to have. In a few months, she will be my sister-in-law. I turned to look at the entrance. Where is Tasha and Ivan? I hope they don't start a fight in the middle of the nowhere. Just then, Tasha entered the hall, she was wearing a scarlet long dress with a red blazer. Her hair was curled around her face and her deep red lipstick matched with her dress. The scarlet dress brought out the blue of her irises perfectly. Sometimes, I forget how beautiful she is. She smiled at me, I took her hand in mine and led her inside.
ROSE
The hall was decorated with Christmas lights, the walls were covered with tapestries. The tapestries showed people dancing around a big fire, like I have watched in movies. Adrian kept me in his arms, I was glad. I smiled and met every friend of Belikova's family. They all greeted me with pleasant gesture. I felt suffocated, with all these people around. Ever since the accident, I haven't been able to be around so many people. That's why I refrain to attend parties, balls or charity gathers. I would just show up and disappear in a corner, where no one could see me!
The dance started, the first pair was the town's mayor's son and his newly wedded wife. They danced around for a while. And then other couples joined them. Vika danced with Nikolai, Denis with a blonde girl, Dimitri with Tasha. Adrian held out his hand and asked if I wanted to dance, I readily agreed. I danced with Adrian. Adrian is a skilled dancer, while I took dance classes for two years to perfect my steps. We both danced gracefully, and then I turned and the partner was changed. I danced with a blond dark skinned man.
I looked for Adrian, but I found Paul instead, he was dancing with a young girl in her arms. She was teen, hardly 15. She chuckled and they danced in their own rhythm. Looking at them reminded of something, I looked harder, I saw Paul with a brunette girl in blue Frock. The girl turned her face towards me, it was so similar. The girl Paul was dancing with was me, the teen version of me. What is happening? Am I going crazy? It wasn't Paul with whom I was dancing with, it was Dimitri.
I was watching what I did years ago. I turned to the other couples, but I only able to see Dimitri and me. What the hell is happening to me? Am I going crazy? I looked at my partner, it wasn't the dark blonde man's face in front of me, it was Dimitri's. I turned around, the partner changed again. I looked at my new partner, it was again Dimitri. What is happening in my mind? I said "Dimitri?", he nodded. It was actually Dimitri, with whom I was dancing with. I turned to see other couples, there were normal people, Vika was dancing with a short guy, Karolina was dancing with Ivan, Adrian was dancing with a sandy-blonde haired girl, Paul was dancing with a curly haired strawberry blonde girl. The mayor's son was still with his wife. I looked at Dimitri again, he looked at me with worry. I left him at the dance floor. I went and stood near the wine counter. I asked for a shot, a tall guy with black hair and pale skin offered me a shot of wine. I gulped it, it burned in my mouth.
"What the hell is this?". "Russian vodka" he replied in a deep Russia accent.
I laughed at him, he smiled at me. I took few more shots, but when I was about to take my 7th shot, a girl pushed me and my vodka spilled on her dress. She looked at me with her brown eyes. I apologized, but she looked at me as if she recognized me. I looked at her, and realized it was the same girl, with whom Adrian was dancing.
I apologized, "I am really sorry" but she sweared at me right then. She then started cursing me in every way possible. I lost my temper, I felt anger rising in me. What the hell did I do to her.I felt a rage within me, how the hell could she say anything like that to me.
I said, in a clear and cold voice "Shut up, you bitch.
"I am Rose Hathaway Mazur
USA's youngest female tycoon
Daughter of the Turkish Lord Ibrahim Mazur
And who the hell do you think you are?"
I shouted at her. She stood quietly and looked at me. Everybody was looking at me. I took a bottle of Russian Vodka and stormed off the room.
DIMITRI
Roza walked away from me. Is she alright? She went to the bar, and took a shot. I looked for Tasha, where is she? I looked around, but I was unable to find her. Tasha was not here. I asked Ivan, if he has seen Tasha, he replied that he saw her going in the washroom. I went towards the washroom, I heard a woman moaning. I followed the sound, and found Tasha in arms of a stranger. Tasha looked at me. I regretted my decision. How could I trust this woman again, who had already cheated on me once. Ivan was right in calling her a she-devil. How could she do this to me again. How could I be so stupid? She whispered "Dimka?" I left her. I walked out of the washroom and went towards the wine counter. Emir, the bartender, poured me a glass of Russian Vodka. I gulped it in..
...
By the time, I felt calm, I didn't remember how much drunk I was. I left the party and walked out...
ROSE
I don't remember how many glasses of vodka I have drank till now or how inebriated I was. I felt bad, I never used my reputation to make someone feel inferior. How could I do that? I promised myself I will never use my name for anything. I will become something of my own. I never wanted to use my father's name for my own benefit. How could I do that? There were tears in my eyes. I heard somebody's footsteps behind me. I turned to look who it was?
DIMITRI
I walked slowly, trying to balance my steps. I felt a little dizzy. I saw a woman, standing alone in the dark. I walked towards her, to check whether she's alright or not. I walked slowly, she turned acknowledging my presence. I saw her face, it was Roza, my Roza, my beautiful Roza.
There were tears in her beautiful eyes. Why is she crying? I said "Roza.." More teardrops fell from her eyes, she tried to remove it with her palms. I instantly walked toward her and cupped her cheeks. More teardrops fell from her eyes. Teardrops made its way from her cheeks to my palm and fell like a morning dew on a fresh leaf. I said "Roza, are you alright?"
She whispered my name. I nodded to her. Holding her closer to me. She pushed me away and shouted at me "Stay away. Don't come closer." I walked towards her and said "Roza..." She took a step back and shouted at me "Why are doing this to me? I think I am going crazy. What are you doing to me?"
What is she talking about? I did nothing, I did nothing at all. She's the one driving me crazy.
I held her by her arms, and said "I have done nothing. You are the one who left me. You are the one who is marrying my cousin. You are the one who is living in my house. You are the one who's driving me crazy, Roza. I have done nothing." She was trying to loosen my grip, I pushed her back and held her against the wall. She shouted at me "I didn't know. I have done nothing. Leave me alone." She kept shouting, I shouted back to her "Why did you leave me?" She didn't listen, I repeated once again "Tell me, why did you leave me? Why did you stop messaging?" She looked at me and cried out "I didn't. I don't remember." What the hell is she saying? "Don't lie. Tell me, why?".
She cried out the truth "I have Amnesia. I had an accident. I don't remember anything." I calmed down. Her eyes were filled with tears. I asked "What?". She repeated "I don't remember anything. I lost my memory of you."
She looked at me, I kissed her.