He was an artist, he painted. And she was a dramatist. The National Cultural Workshop was where they first saw each other. After spending twenty-five fruitful days together, they had met with a beautiful accident called love. She always pestered him to make her portrait, but he always refused. She didn’t know why, and he wouldn’t tell. He was a caring and gentle man with less excitement and more generosity. She was enchanted by his innocence, and hadn’t seen a more considerate and patient man all her life. They truly loved each other until the day she felt like she had known another person altogether all these days. It was not at all him!!
She could not forget that night.
She had planned to give him a surprise, and she stealthily walked to the side of his window. There he was, with his painting wrapped safely in paper. There were two other men with him, and that was why she had decided to wait for some time so that she could have him all for herself. There were roses and orchids in her hand, smile on her lips. She had picked a gift for him from the stores he liked the most in the city.
The two men were harsh-looking and spoke loud enough for her to overhear.
“How do we believe you?” one man spoke.
“That’s left to you, but this is it. I’ve done it for you. Now take it and leave before I am noticed. Please.”
“That’s quite odd isn’t it?” the other man spoke, taking out a gun from his back pocket. “I want some proof Mr.Da Vinci. There are lots of pennies involved here.”
“Proof? You’ve gotta trust me. There are really no goof-ups here.” his voice was shaky.
“There better not be! Because you wouldn’t earn this much money if you worked all your life. Mind you!! And if something is fishy, start running right now!”
“That’s a duplicate for god’s sake! Now will you leave? I have friends here.” His voice sounded louder and more nervous this time.
“Fine!! But careful man! Save your butt.”
The other man replaced the gun into his pocket, placed a piece of paper, which looked like a check, on the table, and both men walked out.
She had seen it with her own eyes. She dropped everything from her hands. The scene kept replaying….
Duplicate….. Money…. Gun…. Threatening…..!!
She wasn’t a fool, and there was no other feasible explanation to what she had seen just now.
He was smuggling!! He was making duplicates of masterpieces and was smuggling them for money!!
You wouldn’t earn this much money if you worked all your life!!
It’s a duplicate for god’s sake…. Leave before I’m noticed here…!!
If something is fishy, start running right now!!
Everything kept echoing in her mind. It was unbelievable!!
“Hey….!! Honey, I didn’t see you. Why aren’t you at the door? What are you doing here?” he knew she had seen whatever just happened. He tried hard to look normal, as though nothing unusual had happened, but in vain.
“I saw everything. And I know everything. How long has this been going on? How long? Tell me how long?” she could not hide her tears, and her hysteria.
“Sweetheart, you are getting it all wrong. Please let me explain, please.”
“What’s left? What will you explain? I just saw it with my own eyes. And I am not a fool. Actions speak louder than words.” She tried hard to fight back her tears, took a deep breath and composed herself to avoid listening to herself shout.
“Not always.” He came closer and touched her by her shoulder, “ Please give me a chance. I love you. You trust me, don’t you?”
“I did!” she yanked herself from his hands and walked away, leaving him still calling out for her.
The night seemed too fresh to forget. It echoed over and over again, torturing her.
She stood up, walked towards the window. She knelt down, looking at the sky, and the moon, blankly. None of it made any sense to her now. All that came to her mind was his memories. Their memories. Who was he? He seemed like a complete stranger to her now. She didn’t know if his mistake was a big one. But she knew what he was doing was illegal. He was using his divine talent as bait to become rich. He was selling it! She sobbed. But it didn’t seem to help her much.
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