Hello Fam :)

Happy Valentines day :P

So, I had written this for a prompt for the title as the topic. It was sitting in my draft. Thought of sharing it with you all. It's a bit fun and casual. So, don't expect anything serious.

Happy Reading...

Day - 1

Sam had finally given up. After a whole year of disappointments, failures, and being clueless about her own life, she decided she didn't have the strength to continue further. She couldn't bring herself to pass on another day questioning the purpose behind her existence. Ending her life felt like a better option and even though she didn't have quite the courage to do so before that day, she has been thinking about it for a while and at least wanted to try. The cuts she used to give herself weren't enough. The pain at least distracted her from reality but now she wanted to experience all the pain just one last time.

She glanced towards Veronica, who was eyeing her warily. Veronica didn't speak. Didn't stop even though she knew perfectly well what was going through her mind. Sam met Veronica a few months ago and felt an instant attraction towards her, maybe because of the slight similarity in their situation. Veronica has been through hell when she attempted to commit suicide and ashamed of herself, she drowned herself in worry. Even if it's a little late, she realized how beautiful the world is, in her words, not Sam's, if we reward ourselves with a bit of freedom. With her new devil-may-care attitude, she became the source of love. Sam felt Veronica cradling her fingers in her hair as soon as she laid her head on the latter's lap and life didn't seem really bad to give another attempt at survival. She closed her eyes feeling exhausted because she knew Veronica would be there in the morning to remind her that life really will go on after a bit of storm only if we allow ourselves to look for some rainbow.

Day - 8

It's been a week after Sam's not-so-brave thoughts about attempting suicide. When she entered her place that evening, she found Harry, her guy next door, with a cup of coffee and lost in his own thoughts. For a brief second, she thought Veronica might have told him something about her condition but then mentally slapped herself when she realized Harry doesn't know about the existence of Veronica.

"Hey, famous one", she exclaimed bringing him out of the stupor. "How many girls have lost their hearts to you since our last meet?"

The small grin that was appearing to form on his face on seeing her, turned into a glare but the slight red on his cheeks ruined his desired effect. As he seized his attempt to scare her and rubbed the back of his nape, Sam, like a countless number of times before, questioned herself on why she chose to push him away during her childhood, brushing him off as the too-cool-for-his-own-good guy. Her feelings didn't change as she grew up when every other girl seemed to have a crush on him. But suddenly one day when they had become friends, what started off as a trial-friendship from Sam's side turned into something really beautiful and special. Just in a short span of time, they became inseparable and she started finding him whenever she needed an escape from life.

Harry was a trouble magnet and every simple thing that he does somehow becomes an adventure. Once every few days, they sit down on the balcony of her room or curl up on her bed and he recites his stories to her. What makes him different from others as he doesn't question her about what she's going through because he knows she's confused and can't quite figure out herself. Instead, manages to take her mind off her life and lets her experience a rollercoaster ride of events through his brilliant narration until she falls asleep. Some of them were hilarious but some were dangerous and every time he described one such stint, she felt her heart constrict and she didn't want anything but to protect this brave, beautiful boy.

"Girls don't lose their hearts to me. Stop exaggerating", he protested, bringing her back to reality, after putting the tremendous task of controlling his blush.

He is the most oblivious guy she had ever met. "Everyone does, Harry. Try to notice the next time you are out with someone. Hardly anyone can resist falling in love with you." Including me, she wanted to add but didn't.

He fixed her with a final glare before settling down to explain about the recent trouble he got into. It was later into midnight when Harry wished her a good night to return, a realization dawned upon Sam. However busy they are with their respective lives, Harry would always be her home and she would find him whenever she needed the comfort of love, home, and belongingness.

Day - 30

It was suffocating her. Her old demons, her insecurities are coming back and it was not as intense to go find Veronica. Instead, Sam escaped for a vacation to Tibet. It's not a fun-filled holiday but the desperate need to keep her sanity in check. Shiv, her Tibetian friend was waiting for her. If Harry was home, Shiv was peace. A wave of unknown calmness washed over her as she smiled at him, who was preparing an herbal soup for her. They drank it in silence after which he took her to the backyard of his house. The snow-covered mountains and soft grass beneath them tempted her to lie down on her back and she did. Shiv followed her action.

It was a long time after when she doubted him to have fallen asleep, turned to look at him. She found him, instead, staring at the sky with his hand under his head, a small smile played on his lips. It always did when he looks at the sky, probably imagining his dead wife in heaven was the reason behind but she didn't dare to tell him that. Her eyes trailed down to the side of his elbow. The scar, the battle scar, always stood out due to his fair complexion. And she was sure there were many adorning his body. He was a warrior. He was forced to be a warrior when he was thrown into the dirty politics of a foreign land. She could only imagine the trauma he went through when suddenly Shiv found himself among people who God-worshipped him. The thought of living among such people itself terrified her. Even after being betrayed by people he believed as his own, he still stood up for things he believed were right. Losing his wife in the process wasn't easy either.

Sam looked at herself. What was she doing? Running away from her problems but she wondered if things will ever be normal in her life?

"Do you think meditation will help me control my emotions and face my problems?", she teased referring to his long meditation hours.

He laughed off. The serene sound effectively decreased her raging heartbeats and a form of agitation inside her started evaporating on its own accord bringing a breeze of peace to her soul.

Day - 60

It's been a month after her trip to Tibet and Sam took up meditation classes in a local institute near her house. There weren't any drastic changes but she at least started feeling some positivity around her. Whenever something negative tried to knock on her brain, she called one of her friends and asked them to go on a date with her. These were plain, simple, and harmless dates and she often adorned a smile by the time she returned.

Today it was her doctor friend, John. John was a brilliant person if he stops indulging himself in life-threatening situations. He was a military doctor and had been part of his share of battles if not participated in as Shiv. Life took a completely opposite turn when he became friends with a private detective. A detective that somehow affected even her. Her train of thought was broken by the clink of the small bell attached to the door of the restaurant. There he was in a pair of formals but an alarming look on his face. It was always followed by a long explanation.

"Don't tell me that look on your face is what I am thinking about?", she said as a greeting. She gave him a ridiculous look when he managed to look sheepish.

"For once try concentrating on your medical practice, Dr. Watson. Instead of appearing at every crime scene of the city", tried to look stern.

"Not really possible with that friend of mine", he chuckled.

"Well, I get worried about you. This isn't even your profession and you don't need to put yourself at risk", Sam muttered picking the menu card to order some food.

"Sam, I don't go against my will. He's brilliant and I am drawn towards him. Just like you." She held his hand and ducked her head, why, she didn't know.

"Stop saying that aloud. Everything has ears, the walls, this table, people around us", her voice was a mere whisper but John burst out in laughter.

"Do you think he's sitting somewhere around spying on us? Maybe that old woman with ridiculous pink hat sitting two tables away from us?", he teased.

Only she could fall in love with someone even without personally meeting the person. The only thing Sam knew about his friend was whatever John had told her during their conversations. He ignored her glare and waved her hand off when she tried to get him to choose something for himself. He wasn't very picky about it and had whatever food people he was with chose.

"Sometimes, I really wish I could just meet him and take him on a date, even if it's a casual talk to get to know how that brilliant brain of his works but his aversion towards female homo sapiens is so strong that it can avert the direction of Earth around the sun,'' she huffed resignedly.

"Unless you get yourself stuck in some murder scandal and approach him to get you out of the mess. That's a fair chance", John advised.

Sam gaped him in horror before composing herself and leveling a stern look at him. "No, thanks. But I love my peace just fine."

Taking a bite off his sandwich, John gave a calculative look to Sam. When she raised an eyebrow, he leaned forward and whispered, "Do you know, we are leaving the town tomorrow for a case?"

Sam stayed silent. She didn't know if she ever will stop worrying about the person sitting in front of him or the one who is totally drowned in all this.

"I can't stop you from going. Take care, will you?"

"I will."

"And get me all the details later", she added guiltily. She couldn't resist even if all the murders played in her dreams, half scaring her. The methodology of the detective in question was too tempting to ignore him.

John gave her a knowing look but didn't comment. They resumed eating going into many diverse topics.

An hour later, when she returned home and when the time came to part ways, Sam gave a hundred precautions to be taken to her friend and wrapped her arms around him.

"Try to come back alive the both of you", she said. She couldn't shake off the feeling of death and danger. She blamed the increasing threat letters that the two were getting late. John nodded before disappearing into the dark alley.

Day - 120

Sam was furious. One of her classmates mocked her for not having a boyfriend, flaunting her own. How dare she who couldn't go a day without partying till she was drunk enough to forget the address of her own house? Sam knew she was being mean but she didn't bother to care. She was always looked down upon as shy and a boring girl by her classmates. Not really having any idea to calm herself down, she called Peter and fixed the date at the nearest coffee shop.

An instant smile appeared on her face as she thought about her meeting with Peter. Unlike Harry, Peter knew he was famous and used it to his advantage even though he pretends to be oblivious most of the time. The tall athlete was multitalented. Just when you think he couldn't be any more sweet, he would do something sweeter and leaves you gushing. Sam couldn't think of anyone else better than Peter to lighten her up at the moment.

She was sipping her hot chocolate and someone messed up her hair. She knew who it was and formed a well-practiced scowl on her face. He took a sip of her drink, clearly ignoring her.

"You can't ignore me, P", she said, "I'm trying to look bothered here."

"But you aren't because I am too good looking for it", he replied.

"And modest", she rolled her eyes before swatting his hand to stop him from finishing her drink completely. She would never understand his obsessions with various drinks.

"So, how's your girlfriend?"

Peter sighed. Sam understood. It was one of their break up phases.

"You know she will get back to you in no time, right?", she tried assuring him.

"I hope so. I don't know what I have done to drive her mad this time."

She felt a sharp pain in her chest listening to the resignation and helplessness in his voice. Interlocking her hands around his arm, she put her head on his shoulder.

"Things will fall back in place. It always did. Stop worrying", she muttered.

His smile was back in place. Peter could never let someone's mood down if he could help it. Behind that small arrogance, he was a caring boyfriend you would want to take home to meet your parents and he could effortlessly win their hearts in a single meeting. If not for the way he stands for people he loves or the way he wins fathers' trust in keeping their daughters safe, one would definitely fall in love with Peter for the half-dimple that appears when he smiles.

As Sam took a glance towards him, she knew, she would rather have an imaginary non-existent relationship with Peter than having a waiting-for-a-reason-to-break-up relationship with someone else. She even allowed herself to be a bit jealous of his girlfriend but the thought felt stupid as soon as it occurred. She wondered if it was possible to love someone this much and mentally cursed herself on her inability to keep herself from falling for every beautiful person she met.

That night when it was time to go to bed, she looked back at every person who helped her in picking herself back. Yes, she was in love. Yes, with different people all at once. But it doesn't harm them or her when they don't know about each other. She was now an expert at keeping her love lives from interlinking with each other. But instead of feeling cruel or ashamed, she felt relieved when she thought she could allow herself to love any one of them depending on her mood and needs. She got to choose, the privilege of which she treasured close to her heart.

Closing the door of her small library, she went to sleep. As she closed her eyes, she felt lucky to have experienced love in so many different ways. Unlike the world around her, her dates, crushes, and the people she fell in love with, again and again, didn't dictate her to live her life in a certain way. They took her to places, to forbidden lands, introduced magic, and taught the realms of life in gentle ways giving her time to grasp every inch of them. She was precious to them just like they were to her and that's the only love she knew. She drifted to sleep waiting for a new day to experience falling in love in a way she hasn't ever experienced before.

So how many books did you get? :P

Celebrating fiction. Of course, it didn't get selected but I had fun writing it.