Sophia's emotions continued to sway as she looked at Joe's eyes. She rested her face on her fist and looked straight into Joe's eyes while he was busy filling up his empty stomach. He continued to munch slowly in ecstasy on the momos with his eyes shut completely.
Suddenly a musician appeared from behind, with a guitar in his hand. He was a red-bearded man with a checked shirt and a beard the length of his chest. He was half the height of Joe, as was revealed by his roaming around them in a semicircle.
He continued to play a relaxing tune to soothe them as he wandered around them. This made Sophia dip into the world of romance, while Joe paid attention to nothing except his food.
After finishing his food, Joe wiped his hands with a handkerchief and turned his eyes to Sophia only to find her immobilised. She was gazing in love at him, with her eyes fixed on his charming blue eyes. Joe could enjoy the music and give a thumbs up to the musician.
Then turning over to him, he shook his hand frankly and said," Hey, Buddy! You bought my interest. It seems that my mistress is enchanted by the spell of your music. She is sitting still on the chair, uttering no words but displaying a quiet, lovely expression. How do you accomplish all this?"
Hearing the question, the musician continued to laugh unstoppable with a wide open mouth making his whole face go flushed. Then sitting on the chair and catching his senses, he answered " This is our business, sir. You see, we charm people with the power of our music. People are so delighted by our business that they create a whole new world in their imagination until music exists and lives in it till the music lowers its pitch and stops."
" Great! Will pay you a decent amount for it" Joe promised as he investigated his pocket.
" So mister, how long." Pronouncing the long word in a passionate tone, the musician raised his eyebrow and looked mischievously into Joe's eyes.
" Just a few minutes ago. But it's nothing of your business, mister. You better concentrate on your music and name the price. " Joe spoke in a neutral tone.
" Mmm, this is not so much as you see a gentleman." the musician began scratching his head. Then keeping his eyes fixed on the ground,e spoke ." As for now, I am satisfied with 50 dollars."
"But I have cash no less than a value of hundred at present. I usually do not keep 50 dollars, as it serves me no purpose." clarified Joe and looked at Sophia continuously, with brows in a furrow.
" Don't worry, gentleman, we will restore her to normalcy. I will lower my pitch and bring her back." promised the musician, raising his palm and assuring the gentleman standing behind him. The musician decreased his pitch to medium pitch, then a lower pitch, and halted.
Sophia's head slowly lifted itself from the fist and she began to tilt her head in several directions to find Joe. When she looked twenty feet away, she found Joe and the musician talking with each other. Sophia grabbed her bag, raised herself and paced her steps towards the two fellows.
While both were negotiating the payment, Sophia approached them and straightened her hand to show a paper currency of 50 dollars.
" Don't worry, I am offering 100 dollars to him. You keep this money with yourself, dear." In saying so, Joe pushed her hand slightly away, with his fingers.
"No, but the musician doesn't want 100 dollars as he already clarified it," exclaimed Sophia, to which the musician nodded in agreement. "Take this amount gentleman," told Sophia, placing 50 dollars in the musician's palm. The musician bowed to both of them in optimism and walked away.
" It was my one-day earning with which I had to buy food for myself today. You see, I earn 50 dollars a day only to support my stomach every day. Since I have my past savings with me, I will withdraw them to eat my dinner." confessed Sophia with a heavy heart and her eyes streaming with water, which she managed to control. But this couldn't be hidden from Joe, who stared at Sophia with pity.
" Take this and swear that you will keep it with yourself. Sophia as we are in a strong bond now, we will need to support each other in difficult times, even after marriage. So, don't repay me for it. Just spend it as you like." His words were as soft as a feather.
Sophia's eyes shed tears and suddenly her whole body stepped forward to erase the space between her and Joe. Immediately, her whole body hugged Joe. Tears from her eyes poured on Joe's shoulder and Joe surrounded Sophia's waist with his arms. As Sophia sniffed, Joe tightened his arms on her waist, fondling his hands on her waist to make her feel comfortable. "Don't worry, dear. I will soon take you away from this harsh condition. I will steal you away from thy aunt, and she would be able to ta no action against you, as all the claims against her would be declared by our lawyer."
This made Sophia breathe out her frustration and she halted her hugging with Joe. She blushed, gazing at Joe's eyes and confessed" those charming orbs could never lie. I like them." the last words were barely audible to Joe, as Sophia lowered her tone. But Joe understood what she said and immediately pinched her cheek in mischief," It seems like someone is in love with those blue orbs. I will always be by your side, and you can enjoy gazing at them, whenever you plead. My eyes are not running anywhere." whispered Joe sarcastically, in Sophia's delicate ears.
Sophia's cheeks flushed at what he said. She was about to speak something when suddenly her eyes moved on to a clock on a nearby wall. The clock exhibited 1:00 as both the sticks created a v-shape. Sophia's heart stopped for a while. She felt something trail on her body, and her goosebumps rose, and her eyes stared wide open in shock. Immediately, she had to leave that place and return to the institute lest her sisters find out about all this.
Instantly, she pushed her hand away from Joe's embrace. Joe smiled and furrowed his eyes at Sophia. " What happened Sophia, why did you..." he was about to complete his sentence when Sophia placed her palm on his lips.
" I have to leave this place immediately. I have to go, otherwise, my aunt will find out about it. Will meet some other day." saying so, she pulled her hand away from Joe's grasp and ran towards the gate.