A belated love story, part 9 ... 
The day to return approaching near. I was going back to the city of hills and the rest of my family was returning to where my father was posted at that time. It was called the City of Battles.
When one evening Alice along with her mother came to visit us. I was a little surprised. I have not seen Alice for days. As soon as I saw her an old flame lit up in me.
I talked casually with Alice. Little did I know that now my father was convinced that I was having an affair with Alice. He asked Alice's mother about Alice's age, her studies, etc.
When her mother said, "She has just passed her XII grade, she was studying B. A. (Bachelor of Arts) when she got this job as a teacher..."
Well, then what made her so proud? Oh! It is that little money she earned. At least I am going to be an engineer and a Pilot. 1
I accompanied them up to their house when they left. I had a lot of packing to do, a lot of reconfigurations in my entire life needed to be made. I also thought of Alice... may be in time she would realize how rude she was. May be she will be the girl I once loved again. But these were just my thoughts.
******
I returned to the City of hills and woke up to a new reality. I had been living a in a dream world. I took a look at my mark sheets and I realized what a major fix I was in. a few days later, I received a letter from my sponsor stating that he wishes to terminate the contract to finance my Pilot training.2 Again I felt a mountain crashing down on me.
With a heavy heart I continued with my studies in Aeronautical engineering. I was able to clear almost all my subjects in the exams except for those three I failed in June 1997.
The separation from Alice was also taking its tool, I started slip into depression. But I must thank all my friends who stood by me and offered consolations.
Dr. Ritz said, "Boss! Why do you worry? She did not deserve you... You were out of sight for all these years and she left you out of her mind. Why don't you do the same?"
From december 1997 onwards I became an active member of a cultural organization. This provided the much needed distraction I needed from the harsh realities of life. My confidence in life it self grew and one day I took out my dairies full of letters to Alice. I never gave those to her due to her behavior.
I burnt each of the pages one by one. I was helped and accompanied by a group of trusted friends; which included Dr. Ritz.
I wanted to forget Alice totally.
Things seemed to slowly return to normal. I was gradually forgetting Alice; but I never knew that this was a lull before the storm.
I was at the peak of my popularity in the cultural organizations and was also able to build up a network of my own influential contacts.
Then the confusion made its master piece.
October 18th, 1998. My father suffered a major heart attack and on October 26th, 1998, just days after my father was taken ill; my mother passed away due an acute left ventricular failure.
By the time I reached the City of Battles, her funeral was already over. I never got the chance to see her for the last time.
And I am not going to forgive or forget any God for that. I wish the concept of God and religion is lost in due course of time.
I stayed home with my father and brother for several months till it as exam time again. I went back to the City of Hills, I knew the result before the exams. I failed yet again!
By the beginning of the year 1999, I was planning to quit sitting idle and earn some money. My friend Aaron was already working part time in a book shop. This shop was inside a five star hotel.
By February 1999; I found my self working with Aaron. This was a turning point in my life. After years and years of uncertainty and depression I was finally up to some thing no matter how trivial it appeared; it gave me a major boost and initiated my reorientation period.
Months after my mother's demise it was around October 1999, Alice rang the our accommodation in the city of hills 3.
I was out marketing for vegetables and snacks and when I came home; I learnt that Paul (another friend of mine) had received her phone call. She conveyed condolences. But why after so long?
My anger touched the seventh sky. Her phone call again seemed to be an unkind reminder of my mother's death. She was lucky it was not me who had received the call; had it been me. She would have got a piece of my mind. The girl who once was a princess of my heart had turned into an object of contempt. 4
My health improved tremendously. People found me smart and I made a good impression on both guests as well as the employees at the hotel.
It was Dr. Ritz again, he said, "Boss... where did you hide this hero?"
"What hero?"
"That one...", he pointed at my reflection the mirror. I was elated. That's what friends are for, right?
During this time i.e. year 1999- 2000, I started exploring the world of computers and the internet. Then one day when I was returned to the mess after great and humorous chat; I was reading the book named "Honor among thieves" by Jeffrey Archer. Where in I came across a part which mentioned an "eccentric collector"; it was serendipity; I assumed the title of H. E. Lord *~Anecentric for the internet world (the fifth dimension).
Every thing was fine and I spent better years; if not the best of my life till February 2002.
After that my father was not at all keeping well. He was a heart patient and my brother was still at school. He needed a more matured helping hand. So, I resigned my current job and I decided to relocate to the City of battles; at home with my father. I knew unlike City of Hills; the City of battles was not that advanced; after all the former is a cosmopolitan.
As if on queue, my grand mother passed away that month. Her death catalyzed my decision to move to the City of battles permanently .I had to accompany my father on a visit to Native land. He went there to perform the last rites after her funeral. 5
I was in the city of Native land where Alice lived. Her home was not far from our ancestral house. But this time I never felt any necessity to go and meet her.
She may have already been married. I was not even a shop manager as of then and my life was not yet settled. She may again taunt me for that, specially if she had been married.
The last time that I saw Alice was in the year 1997 and that was more than enough for me. We returned after all rites were performed. I did not know that I would hear from Alice within he next few months.
1. My dreams remains unfulfilled.
2. My repeated failures had finally got the better of him.
3. I have no explanation for her phone call. I do not know why she called.
4. The video below best describes my emotions.
Report a dead link/ video here
5. He was able to take leave from his office after a few days from the date of her death.
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