The Special Flower

(Short Story)

written by AJ CrazyEyes

Ravi, 18 and Indira, 18 are walking and talking in a small public square during sunny afternoon.

Ravi says: "Come on, Indira. You know what I want.".

Indira: "No, I don't know, Ravi.".

"Yes, you know. I've been trying during months.".

"What do you want, Ravi?".

"I wanna talk with you...".

Indira is confused: "What are we doing?".

"No, no... not here...in a restaurant, just you and me. Tonight!".

Indira asks: "Like a date?".

"F-r-i-e-n-d-s in a d-a-te. Yes, yes, Indira.".

She laughs.

"I don't know, Ravi. My mind is not here and we are good friends.".

"We are friends for a long time. I like you, you like me. My family love you, your family like me. Your mother loves me. Please. Indira, please.... I'm totally in love with you and you know.".

"Yes, Ravi, I also like you very much, very much...but as I said my mind is not here today.".

"Give me a chance, my love. You know that I would do everything for you.".

"Everything?" Indira said.

"Well, well...practically.".

"You said everything, Ravi.".

"Okay, yes, everything, everything.".

Indira smiles.

"Okay, if you do one thing I accept.".

Ravi gets nervous.

"What is it?".

Indira says something in his ear.

Ravi is very tense, he says: "No, no...It's impossible, darling.".

"Okay, okay, darling, so, bye, bye. I see you tomorrow, Ravi.".

"Wait, wait a minute." Ravi said.

Indira takes a pen in her bag and writes some words in his hand.

Ravi looks to his own hand.

"Are you really serious?".

Ravi starts to laugh a lot.

"What's so funny, boy?".

"I'm nervous, this is a sad laugh, a nervous laugh. 30 minutes? Did you say 30 minutes? Are you sure, Indira?".

"Yes. The first word is the name of a flower... a very special flower. The second word is the place where you will find it. And you have 30 minutes. Only 30 minutes.".

"But, but, but... this place is in the other side of the city. And this is a giant city with millions of people.... Come on, girl...Are you really sure?".

"Get the flower to get the date.".

Ravi looks at his wristwatch. He is worried, very worried.

"If I had to go to the bathroom and go back I could not get in 30 minutes.".

"Are you giving up, my warrior?".

"No, no, darling. I just... It's too...I don't know if I... forget, forget. I love you...If I need to do this for you... It will be my pleasure.".

"In this garden there are the best flowers, special flowers. Take some of it and bring it to me. Please, It's important, Ravi.... I want to make sure you love me.".

Ravi takes a deep breath. He kisses Indira's face and tells her.

"Wait for me, darling.".

Ravi starts to run.

Indira smiles. She says: "Run, Ravi, run!".

Ravi runs. Ravi slips in a puddle. Ravi stands up slowly.

"I'm fine., I'm good.".

Ravi restarts to run.

Ravi, clumsy, runs. He bumps into a child who is with an ice cream. The ice cream falls. The child cries. The father of the child complains. Ravi keeps running.

"Idiot!" the father of the child said.

Ravi says: "I'm sorry, guys!".

Ravi is running. He stops. He is very tired. He is breathless. He looks at his wristwatch.

"Are you kidding me. 5 minutes and I'm dying.".

Ravi restarts to run, he runs for some seconds and stops.

He gets on a bus.

Ravi is worried. He touches his head.

He is exhausted, but the mental fatigue is greater than the physical fatigue. He knows he has to fulfill the objective, otherwise he will remain single.

He looks at his wristwatch again.

"10 minutes!".

The traffic is full. The bus is slow.

Ravi looks at his wristwatch again. He's obsessed.

"15 minutes! I'm late, I'm late!".

Ravi gets off the bus. He runs and suddenly he stops. He expects a cow to cross. He restarts to run.

Ravi is running, he bumps into two men. One of the men have a knife.

"I am sorry!" Ravi said.

The smallest man says: "Shut up, shut up, this is a robbery. Your watch and your money!".

Ravi gives the wristwatch and all his money.

"Here, take it.".

Ravi starts to run. But, suddenly, the tallest of men says: "Wait! Stop!".

Ravi says: "What is it?".

The tallest man says: "I liked your shoes. Give me it!".

"No, please...they are expensive!" Ravi said.

"Perfect! Give me it! Now!".

Ravi takes off his shoes. He gives his shoes to the man.

"What about now?".

"Now what? Get out of here!" the smallest man said.

But Ravi says: "Please, I'm running to get a girlfriend. I need the shoes.".

The smallest man looks at the tallest man. The men are confused.

The tallest man says: "Okay, take my shoes. They are cheap, but they are good.".

The tallest man takes off his shoes. He gives the shoes to Ravi.

The tallest man says: "Good luck with your girlfriend.".

The smallest man says: "Wait... take part of the money you gave me...you'll need it more than me. Good luck!".

Ravi gets part of the money. Ravi restarts to run, but after few minutes, he gets into a taxi.

Ravi is worried. He touches his head. He looks at taxi driver's watch.

"20 minutes!".

The taxi driver says: "What did you say?".

"Nothing. It's here, It's here. Wait for me, please. I'll come back soon." Ravi said.

"Pay attention, man... I'll wait 10 minutes and then I'll go, okay?".

"Okay, thank you very much. We have a deal!".

Ravi gets out of the taxi. Few seconds later when Ravi is far, but not too far, two women get in the taxi. The taxi goes.

Ravi walks through a large and beautiful garden. Ravi looks for the flower. He finds it. He takes the flower.

"I am late! I am late!".

Ravi gets in another taxi. But this taxi driver is very calm. Ravi is very worried.

Ravi looks at taxi driver's watch.

Ravi says: "Listen, buddy. I need 5 minutes. If you get there in 5 minutes, I'll pay 3 times more. What do you think?".

The taxi driver says: "No, I'm sorry... I am super honest!".

"Of all the taxi drivers, I got into the taxi of one who doesn't run and who is super honest." Ravi said.

"I'm sorry!".

"Please, I'm desperate, buddy!".

The taxi driver says, slowly: "It is not my problem!".

Ravi says: "Okay, so, stop here. Here is your money!".

The taxi driver says: "I am sorry again!".

Ravi says: "Okay!".

Ravi is running. He is carrying the special flower.

Indira is sitting on a bench in the square.

Ravi gets there. He is smiling.

He gives the flower to Indira.

Ravi says: "I'm here. I'm tired, I'm dying, but I am here.".

Indira looks at her watch. She is serious: "Thank you....40 minutes!".

"No, please, Indira! I tried.".

Indira smiles: "Wait... you are late, but you have my respect and my confidence...you've got word, Ravi!".

Ravi says: "Thank you. What did you think of the flower? Why It's so special?".

"Well, I liked it... but It's not for me?".

"Ravi is confused: "Sorry?".

"Come with me and keep the flower!".

She returns the flower to Ravi.

Indira's mother is lying on the bed into a hospital. Ravi and Indira are close to her. Ravi is carrying the flower.

Indira's mother says: "Hi, kids!".

Indira says: "Hi, mom. How are you, today?".

Indira's mother says: "I'm good. The doctor said tomorrow I'm going to be out of here...you know about it, I told you today, Indira!".

Indira says: "Yes, I know, mom!".

Indira's mother is confused: "So, why did you come again?".

Indira says: "Surprise! Ravi brought flowers for you!".

Indira's mother says: "Thank you, Ravi! This is my favorite flower!".

Ravi says: "You are welcome!".

Indira touches Ravi's hand. Ravi looks at Indira. They smile.

THE END.

.