Before It Started!

I am suffering from a major writer's block therefore I thought to post this old story of mine, which I wrote for my creative writing class a long time ago. It never got graded since I switched schools and so I thought to share it with you all. This story is from an American's point of view so please don't think any of the views listed are mine :)

It was a bright sunny day, the sun was glowing, birds were chirping and Sarah was staring at the sky constantly, apathetic about the piercing sunrays. She was enchanted by the beautiful nice warm day, when her cell phone started ringing. In a really agitated mood she received the call; it was her friend on the other side. She said in a low voice, “Hello, how are you doing?” Her friend Julie replied in an enthusiastic tone ignoring her question, "Know what, I am going out with Hank, and I wonder if you would want to hang out with his friend Tom?"

Sarah was deep down in her imagination and not really inevitable to the disturbance caused by her friend, bluntly refused and hung up! All her thoughts diverted to her friends now, she was wondering that if all of them know she won't date then why do they always try to compel her into dating? It was such a mystery for her. She shrugged and flushed all the weird thoughts off. She bent down and picked the magazine from the freshly mowed grass and stood up to leave for her room.

She rotated the door knob and the door opened making a screeching noise which wasn't very pleasing to her ears. She threw the magazine on the bed and jumped on the soft mattress to spend some time in comfort as her day ahead would surely be hectic. She closed her eyes and thought about the past day, it certainly wasn’t a perfect day for her. The whole day she had worked in the kitchen and cleaned the house. She was still thinking when there was a knock on the door. Her Mom, Aisha, came in and told her to get ready as they were going shopping. She turned her face towards her mom and nodded in agreement. Her mom knew that she never liked to shop but it was her duty to bring her out of the shell she is living in and so she would always try to arrange shopping sprees and parties just to bring Sarah around the crowd.
Aisha picked her bag from the couch and look with fret at the clock, it was past 30 minutes and Sarah has still not showed up! She headed towards her room and in hurry bumped into Sarah. Sarah's loud voice echoed in the room, "Ouch". Aisha, "Oh, I am sorry dear”. Sarah replied, "No, it's okay. I should be more careful". In a moment both of them left for the shopping spree oblivious of how it was going to bring tense waves of change in Sarah’s future.

Sarah was looking for some nice sweaters as winter was on the other end. She picked out some nice warm sweaters in mere 30 minutes and was ready to leave whereas her mom was still looking for her clothes. It always irritated her that her mom takes a whole lot of time to shop.

After telling her mom that she is done with her shopping, she went to get herself some coffee. On her way back from the coffee shop she met her friend Shane. She never really liked him and they had arguments from their very first meeting but it was impossible to ignore him as they both were in the same department in the college. Unlike her, he came up to her and tried to initiate a conversation. Sarah felt that he was not being him, he was depressed but she didn’t give this a second thought. He looked at her gravely; the exchange of glances was indeed awkward. “Are you going to the college concert?” Sarah broke the awkward silence. He gave her a “DUH” look and replied, “Yes, are you?”
“No, I would prefer to stay home rather than going to that noisy crazy place”. Sarah answered in a soft tone. “You mean the whole college is crazy, who is going there?” Shane stared at her intensely. In a firm but nervous voice she used her rescue word, “WHATEVER”. Shane’s friends started calling him and he said farewell to her even though he was more than eager to spend the rest of his time at the mall with her.

Jacob shot the first question, who was she? Shane looked him in the eye and replied, “My college friend”. Jacob shot another question full of curiosity, “Just friends or?” Shane answered his question in a very polite but disturbed manner, “She is not even a friend, doesn’t even like to carry a conversation with me. Happy?” Jacob was sorry for him and so patted him on the shoulder and said, “Cheer up boy you have thousands like her in your line!” Shane started walking to the food court and so did Jacob. The rest of the time both of them were quiet.

Sarah grabbed the last pizza left on the pan and told her mother that she would be late from college and so she shouldn’t worry. Aisha inquired, “Why?” she replied, “Mom our senior project work is starting from tomorrow and I will be working on that”. Her mom nodded in response. “Good night mom”, she said while wiping off her lower lip from the napkin and headed towards her room.

After turning on her favorite classical music from 80’s she got inside the warm blanket. Before she stepped in the dark valley of sleep just once, Shane’s face flashed in her mind, which reminded her of their first conversation. He was being extremely frank and in her dictionary the word used is “vulgar” or “cheap”.

He had consistently used swear words in front of her, the very first impression of him on her was that he doesn’t really count on respect! Later, she had observed him say other really mean things to people around; also, she had seen him beating some guys up in the college. That was the last thing she would ever want to see, violence. The heavy blanket of sleep gradually pushed all the thoughts back!

Mr. Austin was asking her some questions when she saw him coming in the class. Like always, she ignored him. After she was done with Mr. Austin, she turned around and slowly walked to her table. Mr. Austin announced the project pairs loud and her name coming with Shane was like a blast on her head. On the other hand Shane wasn’t able to thank his luck in words! He quickly turned around to see her expression and a wave of disappointment gushed in his body to see her face impassive.

After class, she was going to the library when she heard Shane calling her name from the back, she moved her head towards him, and he was waving. She stood there still; he came up to her and asked for her mobile number so that he could contact her. She was not at all willing to give her number to anybody in the college but she had to and so she did. Without saying another word she started walking towards library again. It irritated Shane for a moment but he began following her after a thought. He was asking her when he could call her and she said, “Whenever you want, I am going to be disturbed anyways”. He stopped but she didn’t. He didn’t shift his gaze from her until she disappeared in the library. Something had just broken (tch tch)…

She had thought that he would call her the same night but it had been a month and he hadn’t dared call her. In the past month she had realized that even though she doesn’t like him or as she used to say that she couldn’t stand him, something was pulling her towards him. She was unaware what that was but she knew that this feeling (love) was not meant for her. Her moving eyes suddenly stopped at the clock. She murmured, “Oh my God, it’s Amy’s birthday party. She would bury me alive if I would be late.” In a scuttle, she took a shower and changed clothes. The black halter top with grey pants and black glitzy earrings were elegant but she still didn’t look her best. Her face free of make-up still looked good; of course she wasn’t a beauty queen. She gave herself a quick glimpse at the mirror and grabbed her keys from the bed. She was half way through when her cell phone started ringing. The LCD of the cell phone showed Amy’s number. She received the call. “Where the fuck are you? We have been waiting for you for 45 minutes and you are still not here” Amy said. “I am almost here, parking the car”, she replied.

She almost ran from the parking lot to the ballroom where her birthday celebration was organized. She opened the door and her eyes were frozen for a while to see almost 500 people in the hall. She flushed off her thoughts and gave Amy her birthday gift. Amy put the gift with other presents and almost dragged her to the cake table. Amy cut the cake and the entire room smacked with birthday wishes and laughers.

She tried to avoid Shane during the party because she didn’t want to have any feelings for him. She didn’t want to tie a love knot in her life. Like always, she wanted guys just to notice the “Fuck off” note on her forehead, she wanted them to think that red-signal is all she has for boys but this time God had planned a different thing for her and so Shane approached her table and started talking about the project. She responded in yes and no. She felt out of this world when Shane whispered, “You look pretty today”. There was a lump in her throat, a big one. She said, “Thanks” and escaped from the spot.

It was raining terribly and the last thing she would expect was her car to breakdown. Her high self-esteem didn’t allow her to ask for a ride and she called her mom, unfortunately her mom told her to wait for two hours there because she was working. She stood there under a shelter lost in the beauty of rain; she was distracted with the shiver in her body. Her satin halter top was not able to rescue her from the wild weather. She hugged herself hard to fight from the cold but failed.

The shadow of Shane at the floor was dark; she quickly maintained a smile and a comfortable posture to show that she is doing just fine. He asked if she wants a ride but she refused. He insisted and explained the circumstances of staying back all alone in the rain at this fragment of the night. There was a shiver down her spine and she agreed to take a ride from him. It was not even in her worst nightmares that she would have to ride in SHANE’s car!

He turned on the heat after seeing her squeezing into a little ball. Her shivering lips were blue and the skin, which always glowed, had turned pale. He offered her his warm coat but as expected she refused and started looking outside from the window completely ignoring Shane as if he doesn’t exist!

The car stopped with a shrieking voice, she moved her head towards him in a fluid motion, and her eyes were weary. Anger was apparent on Shane’s face. She said thanks to him in a very low voice. Only the two could hear it and then she got out of the car and started walking to her home. She stopped suddenly, his heartbeat clogged; she turned back, looked at him and without any evident expression went inside the house. She had pissed off all his senses and nerves today! They had been working together since so long and it was always he who greeted her or tried to talk. She was always least bothered. For a while, he thought of running to her, grabbing her from her arms and telling her what he feels, how he feels and how her ignorance hurts him but this wall of ritual stopped him from his wild intentions! His destiny was still far…


She had taken a quick shower to get rid of the smell of rain. It was cold out in the room; she turned on the heat and made some popcorn and coffee for herself. She sat on the chair sipping the delicious coffee and reading a book but it was difficult to put what had happened a while ago aside from her thoughts. Even though she didn’t want to but still she kept thinking about Shane and that disturbed look on his face. She remembered the first conversation with him and she didn’t like him because he sweared too much, he made fun out of others, he had cheap humor and now she thought that he sweared but he is familiar with respect too, the people he makes fun of enjoy it instead of despising it, his humor wasn’t cheap, actually she doesn’t possess any humor. It was not he who was wrong it was her who always confined herself to the little fantasy world of her own. She was the one who choose to die a VIRGIN! She never wanted to marry because she despised the touch. There was a massive traffic jam in her head. All the decisions she had taken for her in past started seeming wrong and off base. She couldn’t support any of her thoughts. She picked the phone from the side table, her hands still shivering and she called Shane. One ring, then another and there were several but he didn’t receive. She called him again but there was no response from his side. Tears stung her eyes; she pulled the covers up and tried to soothe the pain that had been gnawing at her. She had cried herself to sleep...

Her phone was ringing. The loud music ruined her sleep and she woke up. The name on the LCD evaporated her sleep. He glanced at the clock it was 4 in the morning, at this time why would Shane call her? She attended the call. A low voice emerged from the other side, “Did you call me?” Sarah replied, “Yes, just wanted to apologize for the rude behavior I maintained with you in the past two years of college. I was wrong.” Shane didn’t speak for a while and then murmured, “Is that all you want to say?” Sarah couldn’t speak; she knew what he was talking about. She wanted to shout and top of her voice and confess her love for him but all the decisions she had taken for herself stopped her from the affirmation of her first love. Finally she said, “I guess so that’s all.” Shane sighed and said, “I am outside your house, would you mind coming out?” Sarah froze for a second and then asked in a puzzled tenor, “Are you crazy? What the heck are you doing outside my house?” Shane said, “Damnit why do you think a guy would stay up till four in the morning outside a girl’s house who doesn’t even like him? Of course because I love you (cries), I love you a whole lot Sarah. More than the depth of any ocean, more than the width of the skies, more than your hatred for me, more than anything! I mean it Sarah you are everything to me. I love you intensely.” Sarah lost her voice because of his sudden attack; tears were streaming down her face. She realized how selfish and mean she had been to him who had always loved her deeply. He was not like those other guys who betted to flirt with her at the college, he never fired back any sarcasm in return when she treaded over his feelings. All those thoughts were stabbing her mind and her heart was already pierced with love...

After an eternity of silence she hung up but she didn’t stop. It was her turn to show him how she feels for him. She grabbed the shawl and her watch from the bed and ran towards the outside of the house. Breaking all her personal rules and just everything she was running for her love- the love of her life that had helped her explore herself only. She was in front of the driveway of her house. She could see him standing with a tired but cheerful face across the road from her. They were just one street across. The distance of not even half a mile and it should have taken a couple of minutes for her to embrace him and tell him how passionate her love is for him and how she has pushed back all the morals of her just for him but their fate had stored something completely different for them. Today, everything was in Shane’s favor except for his luck and Could we ever help luck?

Signal was green; Sarah exclaimed with happiness and moved her right foot for her first step on the road and then and there this drunk crazy driver who was unconsciously driving hit her as solid as he could. Sarah’s body flew in the air and first thumped the signal and rolled down the sidewalk. She was no more in her senses. Shane ran after the car but all in vain. The driver had already escaped; he yelled at the top of his voice for help but there was nobody at that time of night. He ran to Sarah and held her in his arms. Her charming face was all smeared with blood, her hair too, soaked in the same filthy liquid. Her breath was wobbly and broken. All her body was shivering in his hands and he was sweating. Sweating of? Of fear and trepidation to lose her before they actually were together! It was like living a horrible nightmare. She tried to reach his ear, he bent down slightly. She whispered, “I love you (whimper) I love you a whole lot Shane. More than the depth of any ocean, more than the width of the skies, more than your love for me, more than anything! I mean it Shane you are everything to me. I love you intensely”. *whines*

Shane hugged her as if he could give her some more life but it was meant to be like that and Sarah breathed the last volume of air in his embrace. Their love story was over before it started.