The man squeezed her wrist tight almost crushing the bone.
"Ahh" she cried in pain.
As he stared at her, his eyes got moist, and tears fell one after another.
He was crying. He buried his head in his arms and sobbed.
The sight was sad enough to arouse her grief.
Reeya had seen several people crying, wailing, even mourning all her life. Due to her profession she had become immune to people's grief .
For the first time in her life, a man's tears burned her.
Is it because his pain is like mine?
Is it was because I didn't cry and he is crying for both of us?
Today she found out that her boyfriend was already married. He build a family on his own.
Wife and a 4-year old kid!
Victor was with her for almost 6 years, and she had no idea.
"Marriage is just a formality for me. I never loved my wife. I only love you." He justified himself.
His family forced him to marry a girl of his religion. Victor belonged to a rich conservative Christian family. They would never accept a wild, non-religious girl of other caste like Reeya. He was pressured and couldn't refute them because he had to come back to her.
"Don't make me a cheap woman destroying someone else house."
She broke up every contact with Victor.
Reeya was already dumped from the beginning of the relationship. Always a third person.
A mistress?!
The thought was killing her. She felt dirty. Six years!
Reeya imagined that her great love would lead to their marriage. She found someone to spend a lifetime with. Alas, she got deceived.
His family was based in Europe. He was here initially for his studies and then a job. Together since college, she had absolute faith in this man. She never believed the rumors of his marriage and wife.
'His competitors are jealous of his achievements.' she defended him.
Only when a kid came to her with his mom did she believe the fact known to many.
He had married another in Europe when he visited there after getting a degree.
The woman came to her office and slammed her for destroying her home. She begged Reeya to leave Victor. A four-year girl was crying by her side. The entire time letting a bewildered Reeya resemble a sinner.
What did she do wrong?
She fell in love with a wrong man. Is that her sin?
Leaving her grief aside she starred at the man. "How can you cry while no tears form in my eyes even when I try so hard?"
She got no response. The man looked wasted.
Reeya looked through his pocket but they were empty. No mobile phone, not a single penny. She sighed.
She dragged him to a nearby cheap hotel. Reeya got a room and with the help of staff she threw him on the sofa. She ignored all the stares she got while she pulled the drunk heavy man to the hotel.
As she was setting up her bed to sleep she heard whispers from the direction of the sofa.
"Baby. Tell me.." he cried. His face was wrinkled.
She bent down and her fingers moved over his head straightening the folds.
Reeya got sheets from the bed and ducked him in.
What has the man gone through? Is your pain really like mine? or Is it worse?
She patted his head for a while till he ventured in deep sleep. She slept on the bed. Her gaze couldn't help but fell on the restless man. Soon sleep took over.
Welcoming the morning sun through the windows, they looked at each other. Reeya was standing beside the opened window.
"Morning." she smiled.
"Morning."
"The sun is beautiful," he said. The sunrays spilled over her figure making it more radiant. Her red hair now shined in the dim sun as fire. Her voice was so soft and delicate.
"How are you?" Reeya asked.
"Good. You?"
"Oh, okay,"
"Should we leave..." He was sensing the awkward atmosphere between them. Though nothing happened last night, a man and woman, strangers still spent a night together in a room.
Reeya came to him: "We are going to go back like that without a kiss." She tiptoed and peeked his lips.
She was straightforward.
Ashay felt of loss when she quickly left his lips. With an unknown sense of attraction, he stepped closer to her. Ashay pulled her waist and caught her lips. His lips plundered hers, moving to every inch of her neck.
Clothes faded. Fell on their feet.
He lifted her and placed her gently on the bed. His lips left a string of kisses everywhere on her body. He invaded her.
In bright light, a burst of cheerful laughter was heard. The laugh was so pleasant as there was never any pain in the world. It seemed as if withered flowers were blooming again.
Sex... It wasn't of love. Wasn't of pain. Wasn't also of mere lust.
Just an unknown sense of similarity and attraction...
A one night stand perhaps...
They didn't exchange each other's contact.
Didn't know anything about the other.
Didn't know their life story.
Didn't even know each other's name.
Taking others as a passerby in life, they left the hotel never to meet again.