A Short Story :White Roses

A prostitue by profession,a beautiful young woman Raaziya was always sad.Her eyes were so sad that the mirror named her Sad Eyes. Nothing inspired her except the cold winds which blew away the sadness from her eyes as she stood looking out of the window.Born to a mother and grandmother of the same profession ,there was something different about her .As her mother died her world collapsed into nothingness and she was never entertained by the lavish gifts and adulations of her customers.Her beauty and her grace were enough to keep her employer satisfied ,and kept the money flowing in.Raaziya went every Thursday to a florist to buy armfuls of white roses to carry to her mothers grave.This routine broke her everyday routine and it made her feel free for a few hours.The fresh air ,the calm quite of the graveyard everything elevated her spirits .She spoke to her mother in whispers ,talking nothing in particular complaining about none ,but just talking for the sake of forming a bond with someone she could feel close to.As she entered the small flower shop today she noticed  a young man ,bearded ,jeans and t shirt humming something .Raaziya asked for 3 dozen white roses .As she handed him the money she glanced at his face unknowingly ,and was shocked to see a pair of brown laughing “Happy eyes”,and a smile on his face too.She looked down immideately.Raaziya couldn’t stop herself from coming to the florist regularly every Thursday.The young man was always happy and a pleasant sight for Sad Eyes.There was never much conversation or any kind of eye contact but shadows and glimpses of his happy twinkling brown eyes kept her life from turning into a sad depressed wasteland.Days passed turning into months divided by the four seasons .The rains seemed more beautiful this year to Raaziya She smiled unknowingly thinking of nothing in particular watching beautiful raindrops.The autumn days were golden and then winters seemed warm and comforting .It was long and yet they never talked .oneday she noticed that Happy eyes were not happy but sad …This shook her up .,but she did not have the courage to talk to him .She observed all the sadness in his body language ,but a woman who had males all over her all the time couldn’t gather the courage to ask this man why his Happy eyes no longer smiled .She returned home with a heavy heartbut she vowed to herself that she would ask him ,and so she went the next day again to buy flowers .But today before she could start talking the young man who unknowingly glanced at her shiny diamond ring ,said:” Madam ,can you help me out with some money” .”My mother is very very sick”.And to Raaziyas horror tears filled his warm sad eyes .It took her just a tiny second to remove her diamond ring and place it in his palm .again his eyes reflected many rainbows .Pain ,sorrow,surprise,adoration ,respect .And then his eyes smiled again .He said”Madam,I will return all your money one day” ,Yes I will!” 1

Raaziya soon fell in the habit of visiting the florist and surreptitiously handing him more money than was necessary for the white roses.The wonderful smiling brown eyes and a thank you from the young man was enough for her.There was always not much conversation.But this young man would shamelessly request her and she would immideately give him all the money he wanted.Days kept passing.Raaziya  found her happiness in giving ,but slowly her heart nurtured simple sweet desires.Desires of being loved,being wanted and having a life that was different from her existing one.Where there would be no customers but a human being who loved her.She couldn’t help but dream,Slowly her Sad eyes became dreamy ,drooping with desires and ,dreams,2

As time passed Raaziya started hoping that one day this young man will come and take her away from this place she disliked,Her hopes flourished day by day as she prayed vehemently .But one day she woke up with a very bad headache and within a span of fifteen days she was hospitalized with Aids  being the diagnosis,For a short while she couldn’t comprehend what was really happening to her ,but soon she realized how cruelly her life was shortened by one swift blow of fate,Still she did not do anything except think and wait.What could she have done anyways!Days kept meltin into lonely nights ,A few days she would stay home and be hospitalised again ,her thoughts drifted aimlessly towards the security of brown eyes that would come and take away her pain.Day after day Raaziya became weaker.Her employer was no longer interested in her as Raaziya was as good as a piece of flesh and an extra mouth to feed without any value to her.Raaziya often suffered long spells of intense illness,shivering infections ,respiratory problems alone.Oneday she shifted to a nearby hostel.Now there was no beauty ,no duty,just hours to be passed till death arrived.The sun and the moon kept her company as she lived in a delirium of pain.As her mind grew weaker and her body detiorated slowly she dreamt of warm honey filled brown eyes. Often she heard laughter in her loneliness.Laughter and love ,which made her feel sorry for her own wasted life ,then in these sweaty pungent days filled with the smell of awaiting death,Raaziya often craved for the brown eyes to come and take her away.Take her away to live because this wasn’t her time to die.it wasn’t her fault ,nor did she even live a life to die so soon ,In her conscious days she remembered that she was just 26 years old.Her lack of will made her condition detiorate faster and faster       As her vomiting increased some hostelmates admitted her to a nearby hospital.It was the last day of Raaziya lifes.That was what she herself felt .She knew everything today ,It was as ifshe knew she was going to die today .It was a beautiful day.White clouds were dancing in an intensely blue sky.Spring was around the corner.Raaziya was smiling ,She knew he would come today,She just knew it!    She was awaiting the one look of those happy brown eyes ,but who knows when he would come .She knew she had time till just the sunset .Slowly the seconds ticked by ,She prayed that he come and so that she could have a look at him and maybe her soul would leave her easily ,but it was almost noon .Then the day started moving towards night .Raaziya sighed .Yes he wouldn’t come.maybe not in time.soon Raaziya closed her eyes and started dreaming of her mother and father...      She could see herself in her childhood ,visualize herself as a beloved daughter ,it was almost sunset.God! she prayed silently and closed her eyes waiting to die .At around ten minutes past sunset ,the young man entered the hospital room ,Madam ,,,,madam look I have collected all the money I owed you ,Each rupee! Madam it took a long time ,I am late ,but I have it all here .I had a lot of difficulty searching for you,,,,Madam??? How are you ,Madam? Please ,Are you ok?,3