The Diamond Ring

I thought he was dead, but at that moment, he was right, right in front of me on the street, smiling at me. I couldn’t believe my eyes, the smile was exactly same as charming as two days ago it was, when I last saw him. But it was impossible, I thought I was dreaming because I saw with my own eyes that he fell on the waterfall for saving me and there was no way that he could survive. From that day I couldn’t able to control the intense pain that was tearing every cell of my heart. My heart was sick, for the only love of my life, Xander. I couldn’t even get the chance to confess my love for him. The pain was so sharp it sent me into delirium. When would it end? I just wanted it to be over. For the last two days, I cried all my tears out. But yet when I saw him standing exactly in front of my balcony at the midnight, my eyes flooded with tears, I mumbled, “No no no, it is just a dream, like the last two nights. I will not open my eyes today. I don’t want to lose you again. Please don’t leave me like this.” He was the most handsome senior of St. Paul College. Every girl of the college was mad for him. His extremely handsome face with his usual devilish smirk dragged me to the reality from my reminiscence. He started walking towards me and soon I felt the presence of his tall muscular silhouette exactly next to me. Closing my eyes tightly, I again mumbled, “This dream feels so fucking real. Is he really here?” I pinched my hand, instantly I felt the sharp pain. I turned around to face him. He took few more steps for reducing the distance between us and finally whispered in his magnetic voice, “Rosy! Are you not happy, seeing me?” I mumbled, “Are you real? But how? I mean-” Though my name is Rosalind but Xander used to call me Rosy. I couldn’t control my emotion any more. I immediately ran towards him without completing the sentence and raised my hand to touch his cheek. I instantly felt the fair skin of his jaw, it was smooth and flawless. He was still smiling at me noticing my shocking reaction. Staring at me with his deep blue eyes, he whispered, “You can touch me as much as you want, I will not vanish, Silly girl. My luck was really good, so I survived in a miraculous way, that day.” After a little sigh, he continued, “I thought I will never see you again. So after reaching the city, I have ran to you.” I thought, “it can’t be a dream. He is real. He is alive and he is exactly in front of me.” I sighed in relief.

My eyes swam with tears of happiness and relaxation, so I immediately looked away to weep the running tears from my check. He grabbed my wrist and whispered in his low husky tone, “Silly girl! Why you are crying like this? I am here now with you, now please stop crying. I cannot see you like this, Rosy.” I couldn’t reply as my voice was blocked by the tears, I continued sobbing covering my face with one hand. He slowly turned around to face me, his hand still firmly around my wrist. He gently pulled me closer to him and wrapping his strong arms around my waist, he rested his chin on my head. His familiar manly scent wafted into my nostrils, I instantly buried my face into his broad chest and continued sobbing. While gently caressing the back of my head, he whispered, “Shh! don’t cry, love. It’s alright.”

His gentle touch was the only medicine in the world to reduce my heartache. Soon, I started feeling light-headed. I looked at his face and mumbled in my brittle tone, “I am sorry. You faced such a fatal fate only to save my life. I am really sorry. I had died in guilt and regret if anything would have happened to you.” He chuckled and whispered, tightening his arms around me, “Silly girl, How can I leave you like this? I have so many things to tell you still now. Do you want to go for a walk with me?” “Of course, from now I am ready to go anywhere with you” holding his hand firmly, I replied. He led me towards the empty road. It was almost midnight. There was no one at the road except us. Even there was no sign of any stray animals at that cold night of January. A cold breeze was blowing, hitting my red swollen face again and again. Our footsteps and our whisperings were the only sounds that was disturbing the mysterious silence of the night. 

 We were walking towards the lake side, holding each other’s hand. I replied him after a little pause, “You are the silly one. Why did you try to save me, endangering your life?” He murmured in his silvery tone, “Because none can hurt you in front of me, not even death. I want you to live a long life. I want you to live for me.” He winked at me teasingly. My cheeks turned into deep red immediately. He was really a flirtatious one. He was famous for his cheesy romantic lines. Though I used to avoid him at first but when I got to know the real Xander, I couldn’t resist him anymore. We both felt that we were more than friends but we never dared to reveal our true feelings. 

Soon we reached near the lake. Xander found a clean place and sat on the soft grass. Xander was little different at that moment. He was looking very calm and matured, his usual flirtatious immature attitude was missing. He was holding my hand firmly so I couldn’t flee as if I would flee. Breaking the silence, I murmured, “I have missed you so much for last two days. I cannot explain how happy I am seeing you healthy. Promise me, you will never repeat such a silly act again.” He replied with a smirk, “I promise. I have missed you more, Rosy. I have come here only for you.” After a little pause, he continued, looking at my eyes, “Actually on that day near waterfall I wanted to say you something but before I could get the opportunity, the mishap happened. So, I cannot wait anymore.” “Umm hmm. Then say. Who are stopping you?” I asked, rolling my eyes. He smiled again charmingly and whispered, "My drama queen!” I looked away pouting my lips, but when I turned my face again to face Xander, I saw an unexpected scene.

Xander was standing on the soft grass bed, facing me then he whispered in his low sexy voice, “Rosy, Can you please stand up?” I obediently stood from the ground and looked at him astonishingly. He then bent down on his knees and took out a small box wrapped with red velvet cloth. Winking at me, he asked with the most charming smile in the world in his thin lips, “Dear Rosy, I love you. I cannot imagine my life without you. I swear even death cannot make me stop, loving you. Rosy, I will wait for you even after my death. I can wait for you for eternity. Rosy, will you be mine forever?” I replied instantly, “Definitely, I love you more. Oh! I can’t even believe my ears. I- I..” Tears of joy flooded my eyes and I couldn’t even complete my sentence as my voice was choking. He pulled my right hand then placed a shining gold ring with a medium size diamond in the middle of the ring. The diamond was shining like the stars above the sky. There was none to witness the moment except the pitch black sky which was adorned with numerous stars and the crescent moon. The water of the lake was glistering brightly and the faint silvery moonlight was enough to enlighten the whole surroundings. It was mysterious yet romantic atmosphere. Two lovers were confessing their love under the naïve pure beauty of nature like the first love story of Adam and Eve.

Seeing my tears, he stood up and pulled me into a warm hug. His chin was resting on my head. I mumbled, “Xander, I love you a lot. I was waiting for a long time only to hear you.” He whispered near my ear, “Sorry for making you wait so long.” We held steel, listening to our heartbeats. It was the only sound which was breaking the pin drop silence of the silvery starry night.

He cupping my face looked at my eyes, then his gaze shifted on my quivering lips. I looked up and saw an achingly tender expression on his face. The passion in his eyes was strong and unwavering. I nervously, bit my lower lip. He grinned and leaned forward to press his lips against mine. I felt a rush of adrenaline as I felt the taste of him. My body was shaking in anticipation for his touch and I felt that special electric spark all over my body. We lied on the bed of grass. Holding me tight to his broad chest, our bodies met with each other in a fire. I felt like fire crackers were exploding insight me. We reached to the moment of ultimate pleasure with a rhythmic deep kiss. There was no hunger or vulgarity in our intimacy rather it was passionate, gentle and full of love. I laid beside him, burring my face on his chest and his sweet scent wafted into my nostrils. I was still panting heavily.

He whispered in his magnetic breathy voice, “Rosy, will you always love me like this? Forever?” “Yes, forever,” I murmured. He chuckled and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. He was staring at me and gently caressing my cheeks and hairs. He was staring at me in a strange way as if he was trying to capture me within him. I started feeling sleepy. Though I didn’t want to sleep but the tiredness was making my eyelids heavy. Just before falling asleep, I could hear his magnetic tone. He was a great singer and he was singing my favorite song like before in his low charming voice. 

‘Love can touch us one time 

And last for lifetime 

And never let go till we’re gone…’

Then I lost in the world of the darkness and dream. 

My loud ringtone broke my sleep and without thinking anything else I picked up the phone and answered in my sleepy tone, “Hello.” Martha replied in her wobbly tone, while crying, “Rosy, come at the college ground now. Please.” Before I could ask anything she already disconnected the phone. Jumping out of my bed, I immediately ran to her as I thought she might be in danger. 

When I reached at the college, I saw it was overcrowded. After searching a little I found Martha and my other friends, standing at the frontline with their teary eyes. I immediately ran towards them but before I could ask anything, I saw the handsome boy exactly middle of the crowd, lying like a stone sculpture, while wrapped in a white shroud. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was Xander, my Xander. I fell on the ground, I couldn’t able to ask, speak, shout or cry. I was rubbing my eyes again and again as if I was trying to wake myself. But it was the truth, I was not dreaming. Then what was last night? Was that a dream only? My heart was bleeding and my heart was hurt with every slow beat. I hadn’t known until then how fitting the heartache was. I heard Martha’s wobbly voice, “Today, early morning, Police has found his body.” She was explaining many more details but I was not in the stage of listening at all.

Suddenly I saw a table nearby which was filled with some stuffs like wrist watch, a gents bracelet and many thing. But my eyes were fixed at the familiar red box and then instinctively I looked at my ring finger. A diamond ring was shining brightly there. My vision started blurring. I was gasping for air and my cheeks were wet with the stream of my tears. I was drowning in darkness. Noticing my condition, Martha immediately sat beside me and asking me to breath. But, I couldn’t hear her consoling words anymore. The only voice that was ringing at that moment was Xander’s, his last words.

‘We’ll stay forever this way

You are safe in my heart and 

My heart will go on and on.’