The Magic Called Love

No fairy, compared to love, stands
Who says magics need wands?

 

 

 

 

Anna grew up with the stories of magic carpets, fairy godmothers, witches and angels. fascinated by the stories of the likes of Cinderella and Snow white, she always believed that it takes a wand and a fairy to create a magic. She opted out the witch because she hated them for being so evil. But never in her entire like she ever imagined that a mere man can create magic and that too without a wand. At least not until she met Nikumbh.

Anna was beheld by the imagination of a prince charming, like the ones in the stories her mother always told her. As she turned 16 her heart ached to fall in love with her prince. But there was just one problem, she has not yet laid her eyes on her prince. Her dreams and expectations were sky high and the very beautiful Anna wasn't ready to compromise. needless to say she never lacked suitors but her heart was set on her prince, a prince she has not yet found but was sure some day she will. She found her maturity even before she could find her prince charming. Stuck in her life and work, she buried all her fairytale dreams in some deep corner of her heart. One day when she reached her office there was a havoc.

"Oh God Anna, where in the hell have you been?" One of her colleagues said breathlessly.

"What's wrong in here? Whats happening?"

"Someone's coming to pay a visit from head office. I am not sure who, but boss is looking for you like a madman."

"Okay, I'll go see him."

"Anna." Just then her boss caught on with her.

"Yes sir, I was just coming to see you."

"Everything else later Anna. The Head HR Nikumbh Roy is about to pay us a visit. I want you to stay with him."

"Sir, me? But why?"

"Don't you dare why me Anna, not now. Show him around, fill him up with details, fetch him whatever he wants and just make sure nothing goes wrong. This office is depending on you."

Before she could say anything else, her boss flew away like a whirlwind. She moved her head in exasperation. She had a feeling that she was stuck. And so, she was.

She had been herself running around, taking care of everything. Checking and rechecking to make sure everything was in place before the wolf HR arrives. Crossing the corridor she collided with some one. She opened her mouth to say something but her voice was stuck in her throat with her heart.

His eyes held her for what felt like eternity. He has those mystic eyes, eyes that have hidden million stories in them. She saw his eyes were dark as night and it felt like magic when she saw them widening in utter surprise. Yes magic that was.

"Mr. Roy, I see you have already met the best from my staff, Anna Fernandis. "

And that's how the spell broke, the magical eyes turned businesslike. But her heart didn't stop fluttering. All those fairy tales that were graved in her heart now started floating on the surface. But she held on to herself. She extended a formal hand.

"I am sorry sir for mishap. It is a pleasure to meet you."

He held her hand in his palms and her entire life with his eyes. Oh, those night like mystic eyes.

The day went by in a trance for her. They bid him good bye with a relief, but Anna felt a sense of loss as his car drove off. She could not understand the feeling. There was still a lot to be done at the office which helped to take her mind off those eyes. It was already dark before she returned to her flat. She was glad both her girlfriends were out. Not that she did not enjoy their company, she loved them. But today she needed this peace. She made a mug of coffee and sat on the swing in her balcony. The night again reminded her of his eyes. She tried to remember how he looked, but she realized she hadn't seen anything else apart his eyes. She was so possessed. She felt disappointed.

Days and weeks passed by but those eyes stayed with her. Every now and then her mind would drift off to them, in between a meeting, or a review or a party. Irrespective of time and place she would start thinking of those eyes. It was one of those times when she was lost in the thought that her boss announced a party.

"Here, here, here. Everyone kindly pay attention. This quarter our performance have surpassed every other branch. So, we are the branch of the quarter. And needless to say this calls for a celebration. So, it's an off on Saturday because we are having a party."

A loud cheer went up and Anna was thankful for the distraction. She decided to get over those magical eyes and enjoy the party. Saturday came pretty soon. She was dressed in black gown, with minimal makeup. She never needed any makeup with a face like that. She was enjoying the party, collecting millions of compliments being thrown her way. She was enjoying the attention. Just then she stood face to face with a man in black suit. He looked devilishly good. She looked up and knew she should not have. Those eyes, that had been haunting her for weeks were staring right on her face.

"Miss Fernandis, Glad to see you."\

"Mr. Roy, pleasure meeting you again." She gathered her senses.

"I see you are here all by yourself." 

"I just came to get a drink."

 Just the a thought stuck her mind. She had no idea if he was married. Imagining him married, she felt a knife stabbing her heart. She gathered her courage and asked,

"Mr. Roy, I don't see your wife anywhere?"

"What makes you think I am married?" He chuckled. 

She felt embarrassed and relieved at the same time. He didn't have the looks that she could count out of the world but there was something in him that always pulled her strongly.

"So, now that you know I am not married, may I have this dance with you?"

This brought her back from the different world she was in. His hands were stretched in anticipation. She gave him her hand. he took it tenderly and took her to the floor. His touch to her was a magic. She was in awe of him. The moment he wrapped his arms around her waist, the world seemed to stop existing. To her only two people exist, him and her and the romantic number that sang How deep is your love.

Everything was magic. It seemed like he cast a spell on everything he touched and everyone he met. Everything he said and did was nothing less than a magic. She was completely lost. She had no idea when the party got over, who said goodbye and how did she come home. Next day when she reached office, she was stunned to see him there. She was being told he was going to be working with them for few months. She knew she was in love with him and she just realized how bad. She knew she couldn't work in the same office as him without jeopardizing both of theirs reputation and work. She somehow finished the day in a mixed state of feelings. In the evening before she left, she talked to her boss, gave him some lame excuses and handed him her resignation.

It was midnight when her door bell rang. She washed her face to hide her teary eyes from her girlfriends, whom she was expecting back at this hour. She opened the door smiling and stopped dead in her track. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Nikumbh. Sorry, Mr. Roy."

"Nikumbh will do just fine. May I come in?"

"Oh sure." She moved aside and let him come in. "If I may ask what brings you here."

"You."

She stared at him dumbfound. He moved close to her, way too close for her comfort. She took two steps back and was stopped by the wall.

"Me?"

"Yes. Why did you resign?"

"I just couldn't work with you."

"And what makes you think so?"

"I just Know."

"So, you don't like me."

"I did not say so."

"So, you like me."

"Yes..No..Damn."

He moved closer to her.

"Anna," 

 He breathed her name and it sounded like the most magical words to her ears. She wanted him to keep saying it. She gulped and he carried on,

"You did not seemed like a girl who runs away from problem."

"I am not running away."

"Yes you are."

"I have my reasons."

"I am all ears."

"I am not telling you."

"I am not leaving until you do."

She sighed, she knew there is no escape now. She will have to let her heart now and bear the consequences.

"Nikumbh, ever since I first saw you, you have been a trouble to me. There is something about you that always takes my mind to you. You have been a man after my own heart since day one. When I was a child, my mother told me stories of princes and fairies and magics. And long after I grew up I still believed in them. I always hoped I will find my prince charming one day. Until reality had a good hit on me. I buried all my fairytale dreams in the deepest corner of my heart. And when I learned to live without them, you happened. You made them all resurface. I always thought that magic can only be created by fairies with their wands. But you, you did them without wands. You told me that a man could create magic like you did. Your eyes sparked magic, your presence is a magic, everything you say or do seems like a magic to me. And when you touched me.... Can't you see Nikumbh, you take away all the reality from me. You make my dreams seem real. And when this breaks, I don't think I can cope up with it."

He held her by shoulders and spun her around facing him.

"And so, you decided to run away. Did it ever occur to you that I might feel the same for you? Why do you think I decided to work here? And when I heard you have resigned, I almost died. I had to come and see you."

He looked in to her eyes intently.

"And I am glad I came."

And then he took her in her arms. Anna, finally found her prince and the magic, a magic that needed no fairies and no wands, just them.