Friday, July 03, 2009
"But that is not the reason I had come for", I should have said to her then, but somehow I could not. When the opportunity arose next, like opportunities do unannounced, it was 'too late'.
"It's a set," the younger man on the counter had told me. "We cannot sell it as just the pair you want". I knew I would not be able to afford all three pieces, but these were perfect. Smoked grey Mikimoto pearls ensconced on a mountain of diamonds. I remembered an ad for De Beers - is two month's salary too much to pay for forever?- or some such tag line. This was just over that, and the man was not willing to sell.
That was until the senior person...an Uncle..father?... intervened.
"You sail? Do you visit this place often? Will you come back for completing the set?"
"Yes I hope I will be in a position to do that soon", I nod
"All right then, have the ear-rings now - but rafiq, make sure you get her to agree and are back for the other piece in two months time!". He pumped my hand vigorously, smiling all the while.
**********
" What sort of a person makes love to another woman and comes back to negotiate a dead relationship!" There was the crackle of heated acid in her voice, so attractive over any electronic medium otherwise. He trudged in consternated perturbation on the arid sands of the desert, the words failing him again. He would begin to grovel in a second, even as he listened in helpless distress to the hatred being spewed out in large, venomous doses. It is said a man who has nothing to lose has nothing to fear. He had never been so scared before.
"But that was NOT the reason I had come for...." he managed a whisper
" What?!" she barked at the other end of the line
"Nothing" he spluttered even as she disconnected.
"Make sure you come back for the ring", the man in the shop had said even as he eagerly fished out his card to pay for the gift.
" Yes Sir, I promise I will when I visit next! Thank you, thank you so much"
*********
This story was started a few years back, cut to the present and the dismal fact that for the first time in many years I am unsure how to end a tale well. I work in the same city now and cross that shop in the souk here quite often. Each time I do I am eager to go in and see what happened. Was that jewel ever sold? Should I try and regain some credibility by actually buying the ring? The ocean has swallowed a lot of tears - a few stones more would not add to her burden. Yet each time I am reminded of the promise to the shopkeeper - obviously a diehard romantic, who was naive enough to believe in happy endings. He might just turn around and ask me,"Kya hua tera vaada, rafiq?"....And I would have to tell him, 'some promises are meant to be broken'.
"It's a set," the younger man on the counter had told me. "We cannot sell it as just the pair you want". I knew I would not be able to afford all three pieces, but these were perfect. Smoked grey Mikimoto pearls ensconced on a mountain of diamonds. I remembered an ad for De Beers - is two month's salary too much to pay for forever?- or some such tag line. This was just over that, and the man was not willing to sell.
That was until the senior person...an Uncle..father?... intervened.
"You sail? Do you visit this place often? Will you come back for completing the set?"
"Yes I hope I will be in a position to do that soon", I nod
"All right then, have the ear-rings now - but rafiq, make sure you get her to agree and are back for the other piece in two months time!". He pumped my hand vigorously, smiling all the while.
**********
" What sort of a person makes love to another woman and comes back to negotiate a dead relationship!" There was the crackle of heated acid in her voice, so attractive over any electronic medium otherwise. He trudged in consternated perturbation on the arid sands of the desert, the words failing him again. He would begin to grovel in a second, even as he listened in helpless distress to the hatred being spewed out in large, venomous doses. It is said a man who has nothing to lose has nothing to fear. He had never been so scared before.
"But that was NOT the reason I had come for...." he managed a whisper
" What?!" she barked at the other end of the line
"Nothing" he spluttered even as she disconnected.
"Make sure you come back for the ring", the man in the shop had said even as he eagerly fished out his card to pay for the gift.
" Yes Sir, I promise I will when I visit next! Thank you, thank you so much"
*********
This story was started a few years back, cut to the present and the dismal fact that for the first time in many years I am unsure how to end a tale well. I work in the same city now and cross that shop in the souk here quite often. Each time I do I am eager to go in and see what happened. Was that jewel ever sold? Should I try and regain some credibility by actually buying the ring? The ocean has swallowed a lot of tears - a few stones more would not add to her burden. Yet each time I am reminded of the promise to the shopkeeper - obviously a diehard romantic, who was naive enough to believe in happy endings. He might just turn around and ask me,"Kya hua tera vaada, rafiq?"....And I would have to tell him, 'some promises are meant to be broken'.
Labels: Gift - found and lost
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