GLORIA lived her dreams...but.........................
Every morning GLORIA wakes up with a desire to do something productive and make her satisfied. Within the confines of a beautiful little room she has nurtured certain dreams and her visualization of her future is Being in the most wonderful place, meeting the best people and doing the best work is all she wants. Her life has been too simple and straight without any twists and turns. Everyone would want a life like hers ...simple, comfortable and lovely. However she simply loathes the ennui and a rage of monotonous lethargy.No one could gauge the extent of her obsession for success.
GLORIA: a beautiful girl with equally beautiful heart and soul...
Her room was like that of any other young girl with lot of colors and girly stuff. Teddies Barbie dolls the latest makeup accessories and posters of the most popular rock star. However on the top of the mirror, a note would instantly make one wonder- what’s this? The note read in bold letters “I CHERISH MY UNIQUE EXISTENCE “
And somewhat closer look would make one read further “this is me...and no one else is like me.” GLORIA valued herself and she was totally aware of her talent and capabilities. Each one of us is, GLORIA wanted to exploit her talent, and we seldom do.
She picked up all she needed and rushed out of her house...in a great hurry she reached out for her car and drove straight to the office. The queue was long and the list of talented and promising candidates for the job was huge too. Each aspirant was better than other... GLORIA stopped for a while and then shook her head and waited for her turn with lot of apprehensions in mind. “Will I get the job, will they choose me...she’s more trained, her communication is too strong, his technical background is better, she’s too good-looking...” she compared herself with everyone over there and found herself less deserving. After a while she was called in for interview, qualifying in initial tests gave her some confidence. She did her stuff with nice sincerity and if not best she was fine. She never claimed to be best however her ability to learn things fast and her keenness in improving often appealed to people and she manages to impress. She was selected for the final round...
Gloria entered the room of the director...she thought that inside the room would be sitting a middle aged man- mature and solemn ? She moved near and was asked to sit by a man who was facing the wall and GLORIA could see his face partially. “Hello Miss Stephanie we are glad to have u here, we’ve got many people and all of them are good but u’ve been selected cause you are too true to yourself, you mightcheat anybody but not yourself. We appreciate your zest and dedication we need practical people not emotional idiots.” She was bit surprised by the way the director addressed her, it didn’t seem to be professional. When the man turned his face GLORIA could easily recall that he was ASPEN Moore. She could not react instantly, her body froze and mind seized. ASPEN handed the appointment letter to GLORIA.The moment for which she waited desperately throughout her life was finally occurring she had been selected for her dream job, the most admirable position and the enviable salary. Now she would have everything luxury, respect and satisfaction. She would be complete. However on this much awaited moment she was shocked...ASPEN!!!!”
ASPEN didn’t say much, with a sardonic countenance and satirical expression in his voice he said ‘congrats’ and moved out.
ASPEN loved GLORIA more than he loved his success. He genuinely wanted to be a part of her life and make her blissful. His zest for his work and aspirations was not vague. But he considered life more than just work and profession. His pragmatic sensibilities were strong but not blind. GLORIA sat on the chair and lost in the mystified and gloomy reverie. She was laughing at herself and her own self seemed to mock at her. Her past stood in front of her. “ASPEN belonged to the days of her education and pure innocence. When her excitement and the spirits were high and she wanted to stand on cloud nine.She seemed to ignore and deny everyone’s feelings and claimed to be the most sensible lass. ASPEN was never after her, he never gave unnecessary importance to GLORIA and his sensibility was much realistic. ASPEN thought that GLORIA would change one day and realize that life is also about togetherness and belonging. One day when their best friends SONYA and TIM got married.....she was sitting next to ASPEN and ASPEN thought it was the right moment to let her know the fact that he loves her.
ASPEN:life’s not only about right and wrongs it’s not always about the career, success, practicality and living...it’s also about desires, dreams, soft and subtle feelings, togetherness, beauty and....”
GLORIA: and what ....the idiocy, inanity, what love?
Unless one is self dependent and successful love has no meaning, love cannot make you live, I cannot depend on anyone I cannot hurtanyone’s feelings by befooling him, I cannot love until I achieve something in life.
He realized GLORIA would never change she’d never believe in love but he knew she was not dishonest or heartless. She would not harm someone’s emotional strands or play with anyone’s feelings, she’d never take advantage of his soft feelings for her ...and that’s why he loved her.
Yet After zillion efforts he finally gave up...
On the last day of their togetherness in the college ASPEN told GLORIA that she would definitely be successful. But he doubts her satisfaction.
They separated and never met again till this strange encounter in absolutely changed circumstances.
Life had changed a lot after college...the struggle and the reality had shook her world of ethics and honesty. The chimera of the blissful world of morals and goodness demystified soon
She would often remember the days of flamboyance and fun in the college and also ponder over the various episodes when ASPEN tried to woo her.
The days of whims and fancy were over and her tryst with the reality had begun...
She realized that life demanded a lot of concern and care which she had deliberately shunned when it came her way.
Along with ASPEN she also remembered TIM who was her best friend since childhood her soul mate and someone on whom she can depend... TIM was a true friend and his sincerity towards his work was more intense than that of GLORIA. He emerged out as one of the most successful person from their gang and when he asked GLORIA to be his life mate she felt as if he was trying to sympathize and she didn’t want to be less than anyone if she would have married TIM she would always sob as her ego would never allow her to be happy until she is herself equally successful. TIM moved on with his life and when he met SONYA who was simple and extremely beautiful his love for GLORIA faded gradually. TIM and SONYA were happy, content and peaceful.
GLORIA was successful, famous, and independent still alone...she never remembered Tim’s conversation with her which happened on day of his wedding but today she recalled each and every word he said-“you don’t feel bad even when I’ve got married, you don’t value emotions. love would not knock at your door again and again, its commendable that you want to become something in life and find your identity but it doesn’t mean you wont need love in your life...you may be denying it today but some day you would surely realize . I’ll pray you realize before it’s too late.”GLORIA remembered a lot of things ...this strange encounter with ASPEN had disturbed her and she sailed in reverie the various incidents of her past.
ASPEN moved in the room again, He thought GLORIA would have left but he was bit shocked to see her there sitting tranquil and tears rolling down her cheek he had never seen her like this before, the strong and adamant girl he knew seemed to be too vulnerable and hurt. Before he could say anything she rushed out of the room, Ran towards her car and drove to a lonely place near the sea side. Her laptop was in her hands she wiped off her tears and quickly logged in her messenger id, to find her unknown innate friend “GLOW*****”. She smiled to find him online and started typing she told him how she felt and whatever happened. GLOW*** said “believe in yourself and remain as u are if u know u r true then no justifications are needed, you need not prove urself in front of anyone , so smile and cherish life...no one can make u realize what love is you’ll definitely know when you actually find true one.”
GLORIA knew she was true, only she knew she wasn’t heartless and immune to love only thing she despised was futility and deception that seems to be part of love. No one could understand her nor did ASPEN and TIM who claimed to love her. She didn’t regret her loneliness only thing that disturbed her was false allegation of being unfeeling and callous” But she was happy an unknown person, an unseen mate understood her and valued her for whatever she was.”
She realized that she loves this unknown mate cause he valued her and it didn’t matter to her whether he loves her or not, so before she could think anything else she asked GLOW***** to meet her... slowly she was immensely enticed by GLOW*** and wanted him deeply desperately and dearly. She had never seen GLOW***** so when she was waiting for GLOW***** in the restaurant she didn’t know who is going to walk in towards her. When she realized someone was there coming towards her she closed her eyes, she could not face the moment so easily, for her it was like wrecking her strong ethical beliefs and the rules which were part of her identity but this was the truth and she had to encounter it anyhow...when she looked up ASPEN was standing in front of her ...he said” hi GLORIA...she felt annoyed and asked him to leave cause she didn’t want her date with GLOW***** to be spoiled...
ASPEN left but GLOW*** didn’t come. Later she saw that ASPEN was waiting for her in the car he asked her to drop in...while GLORIA was again in to tears ASPEN asked her what the matter was and she said that his all complaint have finally been heard by god and because she didn’t value ASPEN’s love today someone has denied her love too and she started sobbing recklessly. ASPEN said she should be happy that today she has achieved everything she wanted and love this inanity was never a part of her priorities. He said love is definitely not the only thing in life but it’s definitely the most important one... And one can be successful, famous, and independent and still in love...one does not only love because one needs someone but also only because one loves. Love needs no reason.......there’s no reason why I love you and there is NO reason why you love GLOW*****....but one thing you don’t know that GLOW**** loves you too...
GLORIA was awe struck...she couldn’t understand anything for a while but then knew....
ASPEN reached for her and embraced her in his arms...