Love: A Bond Or Freedom

Next day...

TAP TAP TAP..." Mother I am getting late..."

...."At least have juice sweetie"Mother said." No Mother ...I am already late...", " OK ok here , take this ...I packed your favourite chocolate cake ...", " Thank you Mother.." SWOOSH...." Good luck sweetie... May God bless you"

I hurried on my bicycle...across the valley...on the road...I don't know why but it seemed as if my dreams felt nearer. Soon I reached. Surprisingly I reached the institute half an hour earlier than the stipulated time. Actually that was the first time ever I was early. I am lazy you all know that by now...

Those 30 mins of life were passing like 30 light years in space. Somehow those minutes passed and finally the lady who hosted the whole competition came to receive me." Miss Bella...was it?" " Yes that's me Madam. Glad you remembered me." " Oh! how can I forget that beautiful deep voice coming from such a small body as yours. This way please. I will show you the way if you allow me". " Sure madam...the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e will be all mine". TAP TAP TAP ... we went through a number of valleys and then haulted in front of a large room..." Miss Bella this way please". I went inside. The whole room was so magnificent that it seemed I have entered a castle.Big chandeliers and the wooden furniture...I was a bit dazed for a moment until I saw Harry walking in.( Harry Weatherwoods who became the 51st contestant after defeating me). I smiled at him.... But he ignored me. Frankly speaking I felt like punching his face that time... those expressions he made were...ugh... intolerable. Then an elderly looking man somewhat in his 80s entered the room. My eyes widened with surprise... he was...he really was... James Cafier...the legendary James Cafier...people say his singing was the definition of divine itself." A very good morning ... I am greatly delighted to see a handsome man and a gorgeous lady . My day seems to be going good enough ..I suppose. So Monsieur Harry...is it?"...At that time a little tinge was felt in my heart. What if I have succeeded ? he might have known my name as well... I felt sad seeing Harry smiling . It was like he was telling me that see this is me and you are nothing. But then," and.. . Mademoiselle Bella ... I guess" I was so happy that he recognised me that unknowingly a huge smiled carved my face and with stuttering voice I said"Yes s s sir". " Ahh ! seeing that huge smile I suppose you know me too Mademoiselle Bella." ... " Sir I have grown up listening to your songs and now seeing you in front of me...I ...I really feel like I am dreaming". " Ah ! I am so glad to see a cute little fan of mine here... So coming to the point ... I guess you both don't know the reason you are here... but before moving on I would like to invite our guest of honour .." and then I saw the same stranger from before walking in.It seems like today my luck is not that good enough too...and then Mr James announced his name. " Monsieur Mathew Winston" what! did he just say Mathew Winston... the one who achieved legendary singing skills at the youngest age and is believed to be the next generation of singing...that Mathew Winston...for a split second of time my jaws dropped open in amus.e.m.e.nt... " Now ,I guess both of you already met him..."..." yes... but I ..I didn't know". "Nooooo! how can I meet him when I didn't know him until now" Harry interrupted me in the middle." oh is it Monsieur Harry Weatherwoods? Actually the two of you were seen as the best and deserving candidates among the other ten...but unfortunately one of you was already informed of the theme before the competition started...in simple terms one of you cheated ...and the one who made you cheat was ....Monsieur Mathew himself...". I just stood there gaping. So much to take in. I knew it wasn't me , then. ..it was. I could see cold sweat dripping from the face of Harry. Suddenly he spoke," I said I never net him. But Bella just said she did... so I ..I think it's obvious her...". " what! how can you say that?". " what proof do you have that you didn't cheat?". " if I had cheated I would never have lost to you". " Oh ...but as they say what you sow so you reap... it was obvious of you to be defeated even after you cheated...". " Wait! first of all show me proof of your innocence. Secondly, I have not done anything wrong and I know that. I don't need to explain this to anyone. I am under no obligation to do so. Especially not under you at least". " youuuuuu!"..... "stop it already!" a strong know voice snapped at us. It surely was Sir Mathew speaking.." I was the one who conducted the actual test and I will decide... I think it was not at all good Miss Bella....". I stood there in disbelief. I could feel Harry smirking again. But why me? I didn't...then suddenly he continued " to think so lowly of yourself. But at least I am really proud that it was not as bad as in the case of Sir Harry...Am I right Mr Harry?"....." what do you mean? are you telling I am the one who cheated?" Harry snapped." I never said you cheated. So you are accepting yourself...that's quite appreciable" Mathew went on. " but I ..I...". " what will you say about this Monsieur Harry" then suddenly the lights in the room went of and a projector started displaying a vedio. It was of Harry and Mathew talking about the theme..so it really was Harry. In the darkness Harry thought he could escape so he tried to run but in less than a minute was caught by the security. " I suppose our journey was only till here. I hope you will learn a lesson from this Mr Harry Weatherwoods . Up till then good bye" The lights were on again and the guards took him with them. I could see Mr Mathew and Sir James looking at me. Facing Mr Mathew I said, " sir! I don't know how to put it...but I really apologize for my behaviour earlier. I didn't know...". " what if you knew it was me.. would you had accepted my proposal?". " Hell no! oops sorry I mean obviously not...". " That's all I wanted to hear. It was really nice meeting a jolly , lovely person like you Miss Bella ... Sorry for my late introduction... you know who I am already now... I guess" he smiled at me. I could feel all the blood rush up to my face because of thinking what I said to him earlier and I answered abruptly, " Sure sir.Who dosen' t know you?" "well that's s good to hear" "ahem! Monsieur Mathew and Mademoiselle Bella I suppose the introductions are already over and congratulations on gaining what was already yours." a huge smile covered my face and I replied, " thank you sir. I won't t disappoint you". " I know that already my child... god bless you.... so today I suppose it was a big day for you. ... go home and remember to collect your things. From tomorrow you have to work hard for proving that I was right in choosing you.". " Sure sir. I promise I won't let you down...thank you so so much". " haha the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e' s all mine child. Now go and live your dreams up and always remember my child. A true lose is a thousand times better than a false win" SWOOSH and of I went gleaming and beaming with happiness. Thanking Christ .

After some time ..

" oh I suppose you got what's yours miss" the host lady said. I was going for collecting my materials and in the way I met her" sorry madam but can I hug you?". I could see the shock on her face but then she smiled merrily and said," oh my my why not? " and I literally jumped on her" madam you know what ... I got selected and I am so happy.... ". " my child you only got what you deserved" she gently stroked my hair with a motherly affection . " now now go collect your package , form and go home . Today's your day Miss Bella". " Yes !" and off I went ...

BACK AT HOME...

when I arrived home I didn't believe what I saw all my sisters as well as Mother standing at the church door. Stella going to and fro. Mother and Sugar were praying. Star was jumping.Rain was waiting patiently but even her legs were shaking in excitement. Seeing me all of them ran up to me and together they asked" What happened?!" and I simply said " I got selected ... WHOOP YAY HURRAY. all of them leapt in the air together. Stella was muffling my hair like anything. Star and Sugar were dancing together.Even Rain was clapping in excitement. And Mother ... she had tears in her eyes ... those were the most beautiful moments. All of us cutting out from our busy schedule talked, danced and sang all night. We all made the food together ...not to mention Stella' burnt egg flying in the air and I and Star running from an Angry Stella.Mother and everybody else laughing...

That time I felt as if I needed nothing but my family. Because it was the only thing I can truly and selfishly call mine....