Silent Tears 11 - The End

CHAPTER 11:

It was raining again, mildly, gently.
Fanaa sat in the River Moon Cafe and waited for her Alian. He said he'd come to see her in the café where they had first met. It was the last day of his holiday. He was waiting to get back to his studio. There were a million words running through his mind. He had formed one last night which consisted of all that Fanaa's eyes had said in the past few days.
Sarah came over to Fanaa's table and said mischievously, "So?"
Fanaa said politely, "So what?"
Sarah laid the morning paper in front of her and said with a smile, "So it's you and Alian? Huh? Great going...."
Fanaa saw well wishes and doubt on that pretty face. Fanaa went through the paper. It was a snap of Alian and herself talking near the limo... in the mall. Ah yes! Someone had clicked a photo of them.... Fanaa glared at the photo and felt tears in her eyes. people would never let them live in peace. First Julian and the billionaire princess and now Alian and herself. It was so totally disgusting. She broke into a run and left the café as soon as she could. Never to return again, to leave Alian's life intact and move back before she could get a chance to let him know her more. On the way back she sent a message to her mother- 'I'm coming home. Need the air ticket.'

***
Alian came with a bunch of flowers, albeit small with a tag hanging- take care.
He was hoping to let her know that he had feelings for her and he wished to see where they were going. After the singing session she had with him in his house, they had toured the house and sat chatting for a couple of hours. Fanaa said she had to get back because her mum would want her on the video conference soon. So he had dropped her back to her house and left to discuss his next concert- revive with his manager. And at night they had chatted with each other, admired each other. Then he had asked her to come to the café where they had first met so he could tell her about his plans of new concerts.
Sighing, he parked his car and walked towards the café. Sarah the owner was standing there. Stunned if not upsettingly shocked. When he came into view she turned abruptly and bluttered, "Sir, Fanaa read this clipping and ran away. Sorry. I was the one who informed her about this. I ... I thought she would be happy."

By then Alian had gone through the clipping and was dismayed. Still, reigning in his mind, he said firmly, "Do not divulge any details about the happenings in your café. Please, for her sake. She's going through rough times, try not to make it harder for her. I promise I'll reward you very well for your help. Please...."
His eyes were pleading for her to understand and so she nodded affirmatively and grabbed the newspaper from the table to get back to her counter.
Alian checked her mobile. Sure enough, Fanaa had sent him a message. Relieved, he read it only to be scared that he was too late- 'Alian, please forgive me. I'm going back to my place. I don't know where I'll go from there. Hopefully not everyone knows about this. I'm sorry. U're in trouble because of me. Please understand. It was a pleasure knowing you. It'll not be revealed to anyone else I promise. I'm sorry. Goodbye.'

The bouquet he held in his hand toppled to a side as he sighed and raced back to his car without the flowers. He did not message her back. But instead raced to her house. His eyes searched her everywhere, his heart longed to see her again. But when he screeched to a halt in front of her house, it was locked.
Windows were curtained, the lock swung from the outside door. She had left very quickly indeed.
His heart racing, Alian rushed to the airport and asked for her. The receptionist said nervously, "Aren't you Alian?"
"Yeah! Please could you tell me if a girl, 5 feet and 6 inches, slim, brown hair left?"
"The girl in today's morning paper? The one who was standing with you?"
"Yeah," he muttered under his breath as she said in a dramatic way, "Oh my god! She's already gone. She took the first flight out. First class reservation. It was booked half an hour back."

He felt the news deflate him. He nodded and walked away. The rain was pouring now. Driving to the river bank he sat back in his car and tried to still himself. To think about something appropriate. Whatever the matter she would get it only after she would get off the flight. When she would be miles away from her.
Tears filled his eyes as he typed the message-
'Fanaa, my music, please come back. Don't leave me alone. I just got some inspiration into my life and you went away. Don't leave me. Please. I need you. My music is my world. Don't make my world so empty by your absence. I want u in it. Come back. I'll make everything alright. Please. There's nothing negative about it. Don't hurt yourself. Please Fanaa... come back to me.'

Wiping off the tears on his sleeves he headed for his home. He had to go to the studio tomorrow. And Fanaa won't be there for the tour he had planned of the studio. His dreams lay shattered somewhere. In a corner of his heart. How much it hurt to have her leave him. Why couldn't he have told her his feelings when he had the chance? 'Probably because I am a dumb ass...'
More negative thoughts and depressive emotions filled him as he reached home. He didn't even want to look at his house. Just yesterday he was showing Fanaa through the door and she was so happy to see his creativity. That was the first time he had been so close to a girl. The moments that had been so special- 'silk against silk' she had said. 'Had'. It became the past. History. He had lost her to the past to the paparazzi... who was to blame but he himself for not making her feel secure enough.
The car parked with a tiny bump but he was in no mood to inspect a bump when his heart was converting to a lifeless pulp.

He walked towards his memory filled house, head bowed with guilt. When he neared the five ornate steps leading to the door, someone was sitting on them. Someone with platforms. Someone who couldn't hear him coming. Someone who sat there, head on her knees- asleep. Alian fell to his knees in front of her and shook her awake. The moment she saw him, they were hugging each other and crying and talking at the same time.
Finally when things had relatively calmed down, they went inside and talked over a cup of coffee.
"Fanaa, why did you do this to me?"
"I... I was afraid I had hurt you... that because of me the media would trouble you..."
He sighed and took a deep breath and said, "why do you think I've a manager and a publicity unit? They know how to handle it. I wanted to make you happy by showing you what you've done for me. By telling you how grateful I am to you..."
Fanaa nodded and sipped from her coffee mug. She smiled at him and said- "I was texting my mum when I realized that if I went back I would be doing the same thing I had done before. Running away. I wanted to be brave enough to face this."
"I'm with you. You should know that."
She nodded.
"I think I'm falling in love with you. You should know that..." he waited for a response.
She nodded again.

***
Alian had gone through with the first performance of Revive and it was a huge success. Fanaa was not there. Because she felt it would be awkward. He understood her reasons and let it be. Things had changed between them. That day, Alian had confessed his love for her. But Fanaa told him that she would be taking her own sweet time in doing that. Content in their positions, they let the matter remain as a confession.
Fanaa had moved back to her place. She was currently working on a script for an African documentary. Julian was avoided like crazy and she always used to brag about Alian in front of him. Brag about him as a popstar. Not as her best friend. They chatted every night. A video conference in two weeks and hadn't met since. But they both missed each other terribly.
They had planned for him to meet her parents in the coming weeks. Her mother had finally started trusting her daughter's decisions. Fanaa was a happier person than ever before.

***
The national ball was round the corner.
Fanaa messaged Alian after the end of his concerts and performances. He was planning to take a small break from the concerts to visit her.
'dad had been invited to the ball, in which Julian wanted me to go. Are you free?'
Alian's excited reply had been, 'I was waiting for that'
Fanaa sent- 'just wanted to spend some time with you. The ball would be great.... So?'
'When is it? When should I come?'
Fanaa took some time to reply- 'come two days before so u can meet mum and dad. They're pretty impressed by ur performance but still. We'll roam around the next day and the third day we'll attend the ball. Ok?'
Alian's message filled her heart with joy- 'As u wish princess'

***
Fanaa's mum piled her hair into a beautiful heap and left a strand dangling on the left. She was very enthusiastic about her daughter attending anything public and the boy was also not bad. Very sweet. He really cared for Fanaa. Fanaa twirled around as her mother made the corrections in the get up of the dress. She wore a night blue flowing dress that went off her shoulders and exposed her polished shoulders. Sensually beautiful was the only word which could describe her.
"Hurry up! I'm not going to be late because of couple of females!" her father joked as he settled in his car. Fanaa and her mum came rushing and her mum chided him, "Those females happen to be your wife and your daughter?"
"I'm sorry.... Sorry...."
The banter continued as Fanaa waited expectantly for Alian to show up.
When they reached, Fanaa stayed back in the reception to wait for him. Some of the very well-known people came inside as she continued waiting.
Alian came dressed in a handsome over coat and a white shirt tucked into his black jeans. Julian had been waiting for someone too, his dad. And he was watching the very beautiful girl in front of him from sometime, though she did not know it.
Alian swept her off her feet and hugged her. Still in the air Fanaa said lovingly, "Thank you for coming...."

He said looking into her eyes, "No! Thank you for listening to my silent tears that evening.... Thank you."
They enjoyed the evening in each other's company chattering and enjoying the silence of the night. Alian asked her softly before they were going to the dinner hall, "Are you happy?"
"Very happy."
"Have you decided to answer me yet?"
"Umm... not yet. But pretty soon I will...."
A mischievous smile flitted across her face as she tugged at his hand to lead him to the dining hall.
The next morning Alian had to return and Fanaa had her deadlines to watch.
Before the take off, a message came to her- "When?"
She replied quickly- "Very very soon"

***
ONE AND A HALF YEARS LATER:-
Fanaa walked into the river moon café with her hand bag. The day to answer his question had come. She had taken permission from her parents to visit him alone. They had allowed her to go.
He sat on the same table they had shared on the first day. He stood there with the wind blowing across the open café, some readers engrossed in their books and yet others on ipod's.
He pulled out her chair and said, "Why did you call me here today?"
"I think you should be knowing that.... Wouldn't you like to ask me something?"
Alian smiled knowingly and said, "Very well. Anyway it's high time I gave Mrs. Sarah the reward I had promised for keeping our privacy."
He scooted to the counter and talked to Sarah who was immensely pleased about whatever he had said.

He returned and sat on one knee beside her in clear view of everybody there. Fanaa waited there expectantly, he was trying to make it special for her. How sweet. Her stomach was churning. There were butterflies or were they dragon flies in her stomach. Finally a dream would come true, finally she would tell him how much she loved him... and how much more she needed him.
"Fanaa, my love, will you marry me?"
There was hooting from all around as Sarah who had been the only one to be informed about the proposal clicked a single photo. To Fanaa it was just the two of them around, no noises no sounds no distractions in the most blissful moment of her life till that day. A simple answer would say all she had wanted to say. Her eyes brimmed with tears of happiness as the dragon flies in her stomach raged and her heart soared, "Yes, I will."
Alian stood up, and twirled her around lifting her off her feet for a whole of three to four minutes.

Finally the two lonely hearts would become one. And there would be no more tears, not silent or hidden ones at least!!! : )
***
Alian went on to become a superstar ad a pop star. His beautiful wife meanwhile developed her skills as a script writer- cum- director and started doing bigger projects. They are blessed with two children- identical twin girls. Who are now six years old.
***
THE END