Chapter 3
"Sir, Mr. Mori is here." the secretary informed.
"Well, send him in."
The girl left taking my answer. Mr Mori entered in no time.
"Hello Mr Saionji" We handshaked. He is a 6 feet tall man, and almost broke my hand with that handshake. What a giant!
"Please have a seat, Mr Mori".
He seated, "What about the deal?"
"Well I think the proposal is enough convincing" I said professionally, "But the fundraising details are not clear enough."
"Oh, yes.." He brought out some official papers, "Here are they."
"I see.." I took them, "I would get back to you as soon as I talk to our legal advisor."
"Thanks, Mr Saionji."
"Welcome.."
He left, with his big feet. I sighed, and added the papers to my next work schedule.
"Sir Here is your tea" I looked up at a familiar voice. My secretary, Sara is standing.
"Did I ask for?" I said in a cold voice.
"Sorry sir, but it's almost time you usually have tea.."
That's true. But I don't want to admit. She is perhaps a good girl, but even good girls need money. I am already ten years in this field, and have seen many people their superiors, just as a ladder for their own good. The world moves on selfishness. May be I would also have blended in, unless..
unless I had known death.
With the cup on my hand, I looked out of the window. Form the 12th floor A lot of sky I can see. A lot of blue.
I never had lack of confidence in getting a good job, I knew my subjects well enough. Now if I look back..
Beep!Beep!
A Reminder? Hell, I've a meeting in one hour at the other part of city!
I rushed out, sudden temperature change out from A.C. flushed through body, and hastened to the car. Drive fast..
suddenly a sharp cry, and I saw a little child coming running in front of the car.
I braked, as hard as I can. Phooo! Just a moment late..
"Rumii!" An woman in no time came and took the child on her lap, and looked at me with a grateful eye.
A shiver went down my spine at a moment, and spread throughout the body.
Miyu !
I can't be wrong. Those emerald eyes, those shining golden hairs. I am not wrong.
Did she recognize me?
No, there's no sign. I've transformed a bit, and this beard changed my appearance a lot.
"Thank you! Thank you, Mister! You saved my child.."
I kept looking. How many days I haven't seen her? How many years? She has grown a bit flesh, a little more matured.. but. but it's her! God, it's Miyu, It's my Miyu !
"You shouldn't have left her hand in this crowd.. She is too little to understand risk.." Is it me speaking? What happened to my voice?
"Actually we came here for some affairs.. my husband said he'd come, but he got stuck in some meeting. For the worse, I forgot even my purse!"
"Mamma always forget!" the little girl said.
"Shhh!"
I could not help me laughing! She's still the same..
"If you don't mind, I can give you lift."
No! I won't! It would just add to the pain! I was better forgetting it all, why you showed up again, Miyu?
She accepted happily, "Thank God, You are an angel.."
I am not an angel Miyu. Look at my eyes, I am the devil who made you cry, who played with your emotions, just for his silly cause..
They got in, I started the engine. The journey started, gaping the bridge of twelve long long years. She was talking random, just as always. I half listened. I was listening to her tone, not the words. That tone I was so familiar with.
"What's your name?" I smiled at the child.
"Rumi.." she answered smiling back.
"Cute, and unusual.."
"That actually from her father's name.." Miyu answered.
"Oh really?" I said. What a strange feeling! She is daughter of the person I loved most in this world, but she is not my daughter..
"Yes, Mi for his father's name Mizuki, and Ru.." She stopped.
Ruu.. Wanya..You still remember them, huh?
Do I too come in your mind, even after all these?
Shut it, Kanata! you uprooted your love yourself. She HATES you.
I tried to divert the topic, "See! We didn't even exchange names! My name is Ka-Katsumo."
"Oh really, sorry!" she felt embarrassed, as I read from her expressions. "My name is Miyu, Yamamura Miyu."
Yamamura..
After dropping them and getting a numerous amount of blessings etc, I found myself already 15 minutes late than scheduled meeting time.
I suddenly got so angry. Over everyone, and mostly on Mizuki. Why did he at first left them like that? Whatever meeting it be, is that important than her? What if some bad would have happened? I always knew Mizuki to have crush on Miyu..
I parked my car. Entered the meeting hall like a convict.
Wait, who is giving the presentation there?
Mizuki !
After many years, I got this much drunk.
Don't drink and drive. and am doing.
The phone's ringing. Damn, I don't care. Heavy lightning in the sky.
In this night am driving away from the town.
The party after the meeting.
He recognized me.
"Kanata! Saionji! What a pleasant surprise." He said me sarcastically, "So coming back to Japan didn't go to vain! Did not know we are in same profession!"
The hatred was so much in his voice, "How's your wife? What was her name? Myuri? Yuka? whatever.."
"No, I am not married!" I said like an idiot.
"Oh, really. So sad. You ditched her, or she did? I hope it was her. Then you would have understood what she had to go through-"
"Mizuki, listen-"
"Oh I know, I know" he waived his right hand, "We shouldn't talk anything unofficial here. Nothing personal, no hatred, but" he lowered his voice, "She cried for one month, twice tried to suicide; and we know how we got her out of that! And yes, I would do my best to teach you a lesson for what you did to my wife, take that my word!"
Now, walking up the steps at Heiomachi temple, Everything is flashing through my mind. Hatred.. hatred. .. that's what I am only worth of. I myself started all these. Then how easily I forgot! And now, everybody is back. I am not allowed to die even. All I did, I have to pay for in this earthly world only.
Anyone, if were watching me, must think me a ghost now.
Thunders from the pitch black sky.
Earsplitting Cracks.
And a shadow stepping up to the top of an old temple, that's me.
There's the main gate.
There is the door.
I opened the locks, since dad is gone.. nobody is there to live here..
Inhaling the dusts of my so well known birth place, gradually the things came to my mind. First I met Miyu today. And her child. Then Mizuki. He insulted me, as worst as possible.
All I could do was to listen.
Looking at the fireplace, I started to think again: Why, a 31 year old guy like me, is sitting here, mourning over the past? What a man am I? Don't I have any self esteem? Mizuki challenged me professionally. Can I not tackle that ? Do I fear him?
Nothing.
So why I came here? Hiding from what?
Kanata. You have won over death, why are you now caring anything else now?
Right. I shouldn't care. But.
But, it's the meeting with her that weakened me.
I knew a day might come like that. And she couldn't even identify me.
But that showed me, how lonely I am. I've none to talk with, about my feeling. No lap to keep my head on after a devastating day.
I heard the sound outside.
It's started to rain.
And am crying. After many years. For everything I've done, for everyone I've hurt. For myself.
Drank another bit from the bottle.
"Are you sure ?" Sara asked me once more.
"Yes Sara" I looked at the letter I typed for a last time, "I am going."
"But.. where?" she really seemed to be worried.
I looked at her face, and smiled, "The way of love!" She kept watching confusedly at me.
"So can you understand it?"
"Yes sensei !" they answered in chorus.
I smiled. "So for the next day your homework would be.."
The class ended, I came out.
The sky here is so clear, like Heiomachi.
Among the little Gods. The happiest place on world, away from all those people, away from everything.
I know rivalry exists everywhere. Even at this place I got many type of problems and difficulties. But like to tackle them. Problems are funny, hatred is funny, unless you yourself know you are guilty.
The only problem concerns me sometimes is the pain in tonsil, haha!
Everyone is running around me, across the picturesque path going towards the horizon.
I went to the other road, towards the beach. It's so secluded.
Near the Casuarina trees I sat down. A monastic feeling is growing in me as older I am getting. Inheritance ?
The tonsil is doing problem again, I must've got cold.
With closed eyes, I tried to concentrate. Minutes passed.
Ouch!
A ball!
A girl, seven to eight years old, came running.
"Sorry uncle.. "
"It's ok" I smiled at the blonde, and threw her the ball. She smiled heartily, and went away.
I stood up and came down, there I see that girl playing.. alone?
"Where are your parents?" I went o and asked her.
"Oh, they are exhausted, and went that side to have some rest.."
"Want a partner?" I took the ball.
She looked at me suspiciously. "What if you kidnap me?"
I could not hide my laugh. "Do I look like kidnapper?"
She looked at me for a long time, then concluded, "No."
"Good. So how do I look like?"
"Umm.. teacher."
"Wow, you guessed it right!" I was really astonished.
"I know. You have beard. So you must be a teacher or a monk or a poet."
"And why am I not a monk or poet?"
"They don't play football." Her reply was prompt.
I giggled again.
"Why are you laughing?" she got a bit angry, "Am I wrong?"
"No, no, not at all !" I said, "And I am not your teacher, you can say me your friend. "
"We can't. I don't know your name."
"Oh, sorry. My name is.. call me K."
"Why K? That's not a name!"
"Why not? Friends need not to call each other in full name." I said, it would be embarrassing if somehow she happens to call me i my name among my students.
"Good then. My name is R."
"That's good!" I smiled, and looked at the watch. Uh, I've to go back..
"OK, big friend, I have a work for you.."
"Huh?"
"You have to write a story for me."
"Story? What story?"
"A romantic story." she said expressionless.
"Huh? What would you do with that?"
"I'll show Hatumi!" she got angry, "That girl always show us great fascinating stories which she says she wrote! But that's not! She has an elder sister who is teacher, and a writer too. She writes those !"
"Well, very bad, very bad" I nodded, "But.."
"You are my friend?"
I nodded. I don't know why am getting so close to this little girl.
"You are a teacher?"
I nodded again.
"Then you should help me."
"Well, ok, I'll."
She got so happy, "Am going now.. mom will worry. And don't forget.. we'll meet again!"
We shall meet again.
Heard so many times.
Nobody keeps his word.
These meetings are only like stone chips on a road you go stepping. Moment's contact. None remembers.
She is still young, life will make her learn soon.
I headed to the path to return.
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