“Love is blind when it is true”; the story is based on this theme. Love is blind, Love is crazy, and Love is peace. Few lucky people still exist in this world who can feel the Love and get Love in the true sense, even in this 21st century.
In this 21st century, true Love seems like a daydream. All want to catch their dream in the form of money or materialistic pleasure, and there is no sense of Love anywhere. Now days even songs and poems also lose their sense of pleasure.
In the full of impurity of fog, I still try to catch the sense of Love.
“The One,” my upcoming novel, is inspired by true sense of Love. I originally write all my stories. This story is also inspired by the “sense of love theme,” where you can see the madness in Love.
Let’s begin the story –
Riya, a girl with a golden heart, is an orphan in terms of Love and a princess in terms of wealth. Hypocrisy people call her a girl full of sin; gold diggers call her a fortune girl; empathetic people call her Riya, a girl with a golden heart.
An enormous palace where she lived as queen, around by hypocrisy, gold diggers, and empathetic people. No one’s judgment, no one’s comments, or even no one’s behaviour ever harmed her, as her own life put her in that formula. She knows the best way to survive – smile and does her duty.
When she was only ten years old, her whole family died on the voyage while returning from England to India. Fortunately, the little princess -Riya, couldn’t travel with her family due to her health condition. Therefore she is the only survivor in the whole family and generation, except one – her father’s stepson – Brian, who is unknown to the world. Who is treated as her distant cousin’s brother? His mother was the owner of an NGO originally from Scotland, the NGO funded by Riya’s father organization.
Riya’s father’s ancestors were the renowned kings of their time. Riya’s father has a billion dollars manufacturing and medicine company. Riya’s father worked military for a few years as a part of honour to his family background.
Everyone waited for Riya to turn 25 to handle her family’s business. After she was born, her father made a bond with her family name; for her, he set the age of 25 to make the right decision on her own. As per that, after 25 years, she is eligible to sell her shares or invest or keep it as it is, as he feels 18 years still seems an immature age to take any right decision. By 25 years, Riya will learn her family values well, and accordingly, she can make decisions well for her future life.
Now the whole property is in her name—everyone’s eyes are on her property. On October 15th, she turned 18, a legal age for marriage to involve in business, but she can’t sell her property but can use it well.
To work in her business, she needs someone who can guide her and help her to grow the business. Since her parents died, Riya kept one promise to herself, one day, she would make her family proud.
She spread this news around every corner of the world. She met many people and finalized 10 for the next round. She invites them as guests and monitors their behaviour for a few days. One of them, one man named – Charles, who is from her mother’s place, Rome, won her heart with his handsome physique, sharp mind, smart behaviour and kind heart.
Charles is a man anyone can fall in Love, with a smiling face and gentle attitude. After seeing him, no one can dare to look around.
Riya finally finalized him as a secretary position for her business. He never leaves any chance to win Riya’s heart. From morning tea to evening dinner, they both are 24 hours together. He was more than just a secretary.
One day evening, both are sitting together in the garden.
Riya “Charles, do you think you are doing so much for me”
Charles smiles gently and then tells her
Charles “Riya, do you know, if someone spends his whole life in poverty, and when that person gets something beyond his imagination, he will always try to give his 100% so that no third person can snatch it from him. And I am that person.”
Riya smiles.
Riya “Charles, you know why I choose you, as you are different. I met many people after my parent’s death, but I never saw someone in my life like you except my granny ( caretaker). Thanks for joining in my life journey as my favourite part.”
Charles, “pleasure of mine.”
Riya and Charles both smile gently.
Two years have passed rapidly , and Riya’s health has degraded slowly. Day by day, she is feeling less energetic than previously; she initially thought it was due to her stress, so she ignored it.
Therefore Charles was handling the whole responsibility on his own then, in the evening, he report the daily activity to Riya. There was no change in Charles’s behaviour; nowadays, his caring and Love towards Riya can be felt in his eyes and tone.
Charles “Riya, don’t take any stress. I am here”, holding her hand with teary eyes.
Riya, no words, gentle smile with two drops of a tear falling from her eyes.
Charles “I invited two renowned doctors, Dr David, a general physician, and DR. Narayan from Neurology and Haematology. They will cure you for sure.”
Riya “Charles, you are the first person in my life whom I trust and love much after my parents and granny. Thanks again for doing everything for me.”
Charles “Please take rest; I need to go; I have many things to do.” with a painful tone.
Riya can sense Charles’s eyes seem like he is hiding something.
After leaving Riya’s room, Charles visited directly to the church, asking for forgiving whatever he has done for the sake of money and for his own family.
He decided to confess the real secret of his life in front of Riya once she becomes healthy.
Both physicians start her treatment; she is feeling better than before.
During Diwali, when everyone spends their time enjoying, Charles thinks of confessing his secret in front of Riya, which he hide inside his heart very long before.
Riya and Charles are both enjoying Diwali from Riya’s bedroom balcony.
Finally, Charles strengthens his heart to confess a bitter fact –
Charles “Riya, can I tell you something I have wanted to tell you since the beginning.”
Riya smiled, blushed, and said, ” Yeah, sure, go ahead.
Charles “I lost my father when I was born. I studied with hard work, my mother was very ill, and my elder sister, who is in her 30s still unmarried, and I did everything for money.
Riya cut his words in between
Riya “Charles, Can you please open my drawer and you can see a bank chequebook? Please bring that.”
Charles, ok, Riya
Riya, sign on a blank cheque and handed him,
Riya, “This is your Diwali gift from my end. Please use it as per your requirements. I trust you blindly.”
Charles can’t able stop his tear from his eyes as he can’t understand how he can show his gratitude towards her.
Riya hold Charles’s hand and told him, we both are here for each other. Can you keep this bonding forever?
Charles, without any second thought, said – Yes, I’ll b there for you for forever.
Diwali Night passed with good food and a good mood; the following day, when Charles entered Riya’s room with morning tea, he couldn’t believe his eyes; Riya was bleeding from her nose and mouth.
He called the doctor for an emergency.
Only Dr Narayan came as Dr David was out of the station. He suggested Charles take Riya to a different place. The more she is released from stress and spicy and oily food, the speed she will recover.
Doctor asked Riya in a smiling voice, “where do you want to visit to refresh.”
Riya smiled and said, “Rome, my mother’s home. I have never been there since I grew up; I want to visit there before my life ends.”
The doctor said with a confident voice, ” You will be ok, don’t worry about that.
Doctor asked Riya, how can you go alone? Do you know anyone who can give you company for this long journey?
Before Riya say anything. Charles interrupted in the middle and told the doctor; I am here; I’ll help Riya with that. While supporting Charles, Riya said in a smiling tone, Charles is my forever partner from business to take care of my health. No one can treat me better than Charles.
The very next day morning- Charles and Riya left for Rome. Riya could not walk properly; she needed wheelchair assistance to travel. Charles was doing everything for her.
Finally, they reach Rome, her mother’s place, where Riya was born; even though the house is too old and no one there as of now, the house still looks so beautiful and well maintained, and Riya feels different there. There she found her mother’s family photocopies and her childhood photos. It still seems like she is now living those days again. She still can sense her childhood days; she can remember his past days well, which she had forgotten very long before.
Flower branches and twigs on the window scented the home with its sweetest smell. The house seems heavenly, even if it is small.
Charles never compromises on his duty; he cleans the house and Riya’s bedroom well; how a princess lives in her Palace. Charles loves Riya limitlessly, but he knows his boundary so well.
In the evening, while Riya is taking a sip of tea, Charles turns on vintage retro Gramophone with old soulful music. He entertain her with salsa dance move with an empty hand. Riya couldn’t resist herself, even though she felt weak. She wanted to live those moments. She also joins Charles, both dancing to slow music with proper romance.
Riya can see and understand Charles’s Love towards her. Even Charles can feel Riya’s Love. Both are blind in Love for a few moments.
Riya and Charles smile and hug for the first time. They both wanted to shower their Love very long before. This is a moment they both want to live forever.
Riya felt tired after dancing for a while, and Charles felt bad for hugging her. So he immediately says, “I am sorry, I didn’t mean that. I know my boundary. My mother and sister never taught me to take advantage of any lady.”
Riya smiled, hold his hand, and told him, “Can we be together forever? I don’t know where you are from and who are your ancestors ? I know you, and I am in Love with you only. And that’s what matters to me. Will you be interested in being mine”
Charles gave a gentle kiss on her lip and told her, I am, and I’ll be forever yours.
They both had a wonderful evening.
The next morning, like every day, Charles served her morning tea, then looked for food for her, took care of her, and even changed her dress every day. Then in the afternoon, they watch a movie together. They both live the best days of their life. Riya’s health degraded daily, but their Love became more deep as the day passed. Charles follows the everyday routine, and he takes care of Riya, even cleaning the house and gardening daily. Riya loves scented flowers, so he changes the flowers in the flower vase daily. He did everything that Riya loves. Riya can not do anything but her presence to keep him alive in his lonely life. They both detach from the external world for a very long time.
Charles threw all clocks and calendars as it makes him anxious about the time. He wanted to live his life with Riya forever as per his promise.
After a long time, a few government attorneys visited their house; Charles opened the door with a smiling face.
Charles “May I know who you are and why you come here ?”
Indian Government attorney “We need to talk with Riya regarding her property.”
Charles “ok, sure, comin, don’t mind keeping your shoes outside as I am here alone to keep the house clean, as my wife, Riya, is ill, so I don’t want to give her trouble in cleaning.”
Indian government attorney “can we meet Riya now? As it’s urgent.”
Charles “Can you please wait here for a while? Let me give her tea first, and then you may come inside. As I told you, she is ill and often doesn’t want to meet anyone. So I need to convince her first. If you meet her without acknowledging her, she is gentle lady, so she will behave with you well for sure but will make my life hell, she will not talk with me for the whole day. This is how all wives take revenge on their husbands.”
Indian given attorney gave him a strange look and told him, please make it quick.
Charles took 15 minutes, and when he didn’t come, an Indian government attorney entered Riya’s room without permission.
They couldn’t believe their eyes what they saw.
They leave the house immediately after seeing something extraordinary.
They call the local roman police, and the police enter the house then arrest Charles for Riya’s death. Police arrest Charles for keeping Riya’s dead body inside her room and on the bed, talking to her, and giving food to the dead body. They arrest him on either criminal or madness grounds.
Charles was trying to convince the police that Riya was not dead; she was alive; she could not walk now as she was fragile due to her health. He elaborates on his daily schedule with Riya after listing that police thought Charles was mentally ill.
The Roman police collaborate with the Indian police to find out the real truth behind Riya’s health and Charles’s background.
Finally, the biggest secret, which hides from everyone, comes into the spotlight.
Charles is based out of Scotland, Riya’s distant cousin’s brother’s place. Brian (Riya’s cousin’s brother) wanted to capture the whole property. Therefore, he sent Charles to handle Riya with Love and become her business partner, giving her slow poison to damage her body parts slowly. Thus he served her morning tea.
When Charles learns its effect, he stops giving her that medicine and breaks his contract with Brain. Charles wanted to keep Riya safe and healthy, even though he knew she was on the death bed. Still, he was in hoped to bring her back from the deathbed. Therefore he requested Dr Narayan prescribe them to visit a different place where no impurity could harm Riya, where he could take care of her much better with Love and affection.
With that hope, he brought Riya to Rome; even Dr Narayan told Charles the chances of her cure were only 5%. Still, he wanted to try his best with that 5% hope.
Even the police notice Charles’s gentle behavior, but he always talks to himself. He smiles and serves food to someone, they can’t see anyone near Charles, but his behavior seems very strange. So they decided to send him to a mental hospital; his behavior was too good for other patients, so the hospital discharged him in just three months. After he was released, he returned to his lovely Rome home, where Riya waited for her. He was excited to live again like before with his wife in that heavenly home.
Charles knocked on the door, and Riya opened the door with a gentle smile on her face. Charles’s eyes filled with tears, and suddenly he shouted: “I can not believe my eyes; you can walk; can we have a dance, my Princess.”
Charles and Riya live like other married couples, but they have something special – their life is filled with Love, laughter, and enjoyment without worrying about the future or money. All were there with them. Now also, when people look at that house, it still seems like someone is living there as the house is clean and the garden is always filled with fresh flowers, as their Love is heavenly and no impurities.