His words took time to sink in. Every bit of it was true. It was destiny that made us meet and it was destiny that made him come after me. Destiny planned our meeting by bringing me to Moscow, destiny had shown me the letter, the envelope which was going to change my life forever.

“But it’s not that easy, Dmitriy, there are other things to consider. You are a star and I am just no one. You belong to the elite of the society now. There are things you need to consider before you can accept me. This includes the respect and your position, this includes your status in the movie world and your career. Everything could be ruined if you are seen with me,” I gave him the warning.

“Roza, you are…truly my Roza…Oh! Roza…Roza…Roza” he smiled, and then gave a full throated laugh. Then he began shaking his head and smiling uncontrollably.

“What’s so funny,” I demanded. I was truly annoyed.

“Roza,” he explained, still shaking his head, “Do you think all that matters after what I have been though? After what we have suffered? None of that matters now. Out relationship is above all such material considerations. Nothing can make me lose you now. Nothing at all. If I choose to love you, I will marry you in spite of the whole world. I don’t care what others think. You of all people should know that.”

There was it, all the feelings in his heart, he brought them out for me and only me. But still I dithered. There was still an element of doubt.

“What about my parents? What about yours? If they don’t agree,” I suddenly remembered that. The romance between two high-schoolers was different. But that was different. It was the decision of two mature persons. That decision made a bond. That decision could change lives. That decision was not something to be taken lightly. It needed consent of both our parents.

“Rose, do you think you can solve all problems today itself? You can’t,” he said with an exasperated sigh, “These problems accumulated for five years. These are not something you can eradicate in one night. It needs time. We need to work then out together. A relationship needs understanding. To gain something you always have to make sacrifices. I promise you, if we are together, nothing can defeat us.”

“I guess you are right,” I said in a small voice, “We can do miracles together.”

“By the way,” he asked, “If you don’t mind, how exactly did you remember about me?”

I smiled, “It’s a long story and it begins here…”

I fumbled in my handbag and brought out the black and gold envelope.

He carefully took it from me and his yes shone with passion and excitement. He read the letter again and grinned, “These words seem so silly right? This letter is just so childish.”

“This letter is the thing that brought us together. This is what shaped our destiny,” I remarked and told him everything. He smiled and cried with me as I recollected all the pain and suffering, the insecurity, the hours spent at the hospital, the dreams, my nightmares, I narrated everything to him. He listened intently. Everything was as it should have been. I remembered old times, when I used to confide everything in him.

“I ran away by climbing down from the window,” I informed him.

“Never do that again,” there was seriousness in his voice.
“I will do it again for you,” I teased him playfully, but the expression on his face made me stop. He was strictly against my doing any type of rash act. But I was Rosella Lytton and risk was what defined my life.

“Roza…” he began, but stopped on seeing something. He stared at the windscreen and frowned.
“What,” I enquired trying to look in the direction his eyes were glued to. I saw nothing except a white jaguar approaching our vehicle.

“Trouble,” he said through his teeth and immediately started the car in back gear. But he braked suddenly almost throwing me off my seat.
“The paparazzi, damn,” he exclaimed.

I was blinded by flashes of light from the windscreen and the window. And before he could lock the door of the car, the reporters burst through the door, armed with microphones and cameras. We were literally dragged out of our car. I felt so uncomfortable, standing there being gawked at by the batter of press photographers. I huddled closer to him. Keeping me hidden and protected, he backed off towards the car.

“Dmitriy Ivanov, where are you going?”

“Dmitriy Ivanov, who is this girl?”

“Dmitriy, tell us about your girlfriend.”

“Mr. Ivanov, when are you getting married?”

“What does your mother say to this marriage? Where did you meet her?”

“How long have you been in a relationship?”

“Why did you hide her from the media?"

What, how when, where, we were drowning in a sea of questions. Dmitriy was searching for a way of escape. He avoided all there questions and tried to get into the car. The reporters pressed closer and he came in front of me to shield me from all prying eyes.

I was close to tears. My love and my life was my personal thing. It was nothing to be publicized. I was afraid, I was panic stricken, I couldn’t endure it anymore.

He was a star and I was no one, this is what I had feared. I was in no way suited to this life, a life in which there is no security, no privacy. This was a life where your relationship was something to be made public and flaunted.

I could see the horrified expression on Dmitriy’s face as he tried his best to avoid all the cameras and the microphones.
Someone caught me, “What do you want to say about your relationship?”

This was too much and I burst out crying. I jerked myself free from the unknown grip and began to back off. Jostling through the crowd and avoiding all eyes, pushing and pulling, I somehow broke through and started running through the streets of Moscow, not caring where I was going. I was not to be caught in all that mess. Never ever.

I heard his panic stricken cry, “ROZA!!!”

I looked back and saw him trying to free himself, but I didn’t stop.
My eyes were hazy with tears as I ran on without a destination. I was again in a jumble of emotions. I didn’t look where I was going. Without stopping, I turned back once and saw him in the distance, waving his hands wildly, signaling me to stop.

“No! I won’t,” I screamed and turned around just in time to realize that I, in my carelessness had come to the the middle of the road, and just in that split second, I saw the headlights of a speeding car, heading straight for me and the heartbreaking cry of “ROSE!!!”

Then the world plunged into an excruciating pain and a terrible darkness engulfed me.

A/N Thanks to all for reading. What will happen now? Well before you go on. One question. Does Roza wallop I'm self pity too much or is her mental condition really so fragile that she doesn't know where her emotions are. After all she went through a lot. Tell me please how you like this part, this story. Tell me if you like the characters and if yes why? I want feedback from my readers as I have really put my heart in writing this. I would like your honest opinions.

Happy New Year 2018 to you all. May this new year bring lots of love and happiness.

Thanks MaryFahey for being a guide. Thanks my friends teamhathaway Pipigrin wattpawormss joharateregeyo morema_m nana_gn meloheart
JWilliamsx98 DDALVES nicole_grey_25 DanshiHathaway KashishBelikov marthaeehathaway Shiningmoon09 mampty ShaileeBheda matt7133 jessinic95 TS__18 RozaDhampir ladypervell Thanks to all my friends who made this year special. Happy new year 2018 to all of you from.... Masquerade