Lavender Love

 Short story by Jujus Pearls

God has bestowed us with a wonderful sensory system. All the five senses play a pivotal role in our lives and are connected with our emotions and certain situations, be it happy or sad. Sharon was a preterm baby. Her mother delivered her during her seventh month of pregnancy. She stayed in neonatal intensive care unit for two months and was discharged once she weighed two kilograms. She was born after a gap of twenty years of marriage. So, in this way she was a special child. Her mother was devoted and gave up her job to raise her. Her mother wore a particular lavender fragrance and Sharon used to find warmth and security in that smell. She felt her mother’s presence nearby. Gradually she gained strength and was at par with children of her age. After completing her schooling, she enrolled in a university across the other coast of country. After graduation and masters, she joined a Doctorate program. Contact with her parents decreased as she was riding uphill of success and her parents were treading downhill in the journey of life. 

Sharon started enjoying her life and gradually started drifted towards the ills of society. Once she was arrested for driving while drinking too. On her parents, golden jubilee anniversary celebrations, her parents, she celebrated with full enthusiasm, seeks forgiveness for her irresponsible behavior. With a promise to be in regular touch, she flies back. Her parents were overjoyed by her mere presence and did not disclose the terminal stage cancer her mother was fighting with. Her mother’s deteriorating health troubled her father and he called up Sharon. After unsuccessful attempts, he left a voice mail message to contact him immediately. His wait stretched into weeks and one day his wife got defeated in the fight with cancer. He was devastated and full of remorse. After so much difficulty, his wife had born Sharon, their only child and his wife died waiting for her. Honoring the promise with his wife, he sent message to Sharon to come home taking the very next flight.

His wife had taken the promise that her body would be buried only after Sharon arrives. The whole house should smell of her favorite lavender fragrance, no one should break this sad news to Sharon until she arrives and sees for herself. Sharon called back and informed about her travel plans. When she reached her hometown, she felt a feeling of anguish and sadness. The driver was waiting for her. With head bowed, he kept her luggage and silently drove towards home. Sharon’s attempts to break the silence failed. As she reached her Porsche, she saw swarm of people with sad expressions. Her heart pumped louder and louder. Slowly, she opened the main door; the same lavender fragrance hit her. This had a calming effect for she was relieved that her mother was nearby. She felt the same security and comfort as she gad felt in her childhood. Paving way amongst relatives, her eyes searched for her parents especially her father. Inwardly, she was feared the worst. Suddenly, she saw her father in a somber mood in one corner. She hugged him from behind and almost yelled, “Dad, where is mom?” Her father turned his face towards left side and pointed his index finger of right hand towards the lawn. Sharon rushed outside. The lawn scene swept the ground underneath her feet. She saw a glass chamber. A woman in bridal dress was inside in sleeping posture. Her feet seemed to stick to ground. With great effort she inched her foot one by one towards the coffin. There were lavender plants everywhere – English and French variety- her mothers favorite. Inside, she knew what she was going to see. She ran towards the chamber and slid the cover open. There, inside the chamber, her mother was lying in a peaceful poise with a piece of paper in her hand.

Suddenly, she felt a hand on her left shoulder; she turned and hugged her father. All the while she was running around in making a life for herself that she forgot her parents were growing old and they might need her. Feeling of remorse and bitterness engulfed her and she started weeping loudly. Her father comforted her and asked her to read the last letter by her mother. With trembling hands she opened it. Her mother had written a beautiful paragraph for her.

Dear Sharon,

We waited for twenty long years before God blessed us with you. With your birth, I felt complete and it gave me a purpose of life. Our lives revolved around you. We know you were embarrassed at times during your parent teachers meeting because we looked older than other young parents. We always wanted you to have a flight of your own and build a nest wherever you wanted to. In this process, I forgot to mention that when a bird flies away, she knows about her nest and where to come back. Your nest is in our arms, our house where you grew up. Each and every nook and corner has a story to tell. I stopped your father in letting you know about my cancer – terminal stage when you visited us on our Golden Jubilee anniversary. I always wanted to leave this world with you smiling face as my memory. Please forgive your father. He was honoring my promise. I got lavender plants planted in our lawn so that whenever you come home to visit your father, you should always feel me. Please forgive me for hiding my illness. I love you my darling daughter for you made my life worth living. God always bless you,

Love,

Mom.

Sharon read the letter umpteen times, sat with the plants, touched them with her finger. She felt connected as if her mother had left her mortal coil only. Her mother was everywhere in this fragrance

It was time to bury her mother. She walked with her father and laid her mother’s coffin to rest. With her father, they planted lavender plants near the grave with a message: ‘Laid to rest only in physical form, her fragrance spreads in all direction. love, Sharon and Dad.”

After the church ceremony, she went back to west coast. She shifted her base to her hometown and started living with her father. Having tea together in the lawn with lavender fragrance in the morning air entering their nose reminds her that her mother is nearby and giving them company.

"Do you love me !"

 Short story by Jujus Pearls



High school reunion – These three words cast a magic spell. It’s a moment of celebration, which many a hearts yearn for, and do preparations for the same. For few, it’s a happy trip down the memory lane. For some, it’s an occasion to be completely avoided. There is one class of middle benchers who are happy go lucky kind of souls who end up everywhere.

Steve was a healthy boy who was a favorite of his kindergarten teachers. He was good in academics and took part in all extra-curricular activities. He was popular in class. As puberty changes started, he developed a liking for girls and wanted to spend more time with them. Gradually he started withdrawing from his boys group. His keen interest in girl talks and their pubertal changes irked many of his class mates. A complaint was lodged with the class teacher. Steve was left with a strict warning and was ordered to stay with the boys of the class. From a happy, focused child, he became a withdrawn introvert. To take things in control, his parents changed his school. But his heart was in his old school. He took admission again in next session. This time he seemed confident and happy. He had long hair, just like pop stars and always smiled. Pubertal changes were missing in him, which normally happens in boys of his age. He had silky smooth facial skin and there was no sign of nay beard/ moustache. Everyone labels him as a case of delayed puberty and never bothered him. High school period came to an end. Everyone exchanged their slam books, and left with a promise to be in touch for the rest of their lives.

Fast forward, ten years. In some place is western world, a glamorous top model walks down the fashion show ramp with utmost grace and poise. The crowd is cheering madly and calling her name “Stevie”. Suddenly, the journalist (Alan) in the first row who is there to cover the fashion show wakes up from his trance. This name sounds familiar. He scratches his head and fails to remember and pin point the connection. The next model walks down the ramp and so on the show goes on. At the post show dinner, he meets with Stevie and is totally bestowed by her beauty. There is a sense of faint familiarity. Thinking it to be alcohol after effect, the journalist goes home. Before going home, he exchanges his mobile number with Stevie.

Next morning, Alan wakes up with a severe headache and is unable to get Stevie out of his mind. He prepares black coffee and sits on his working desk. Scrolling through internet, he is unable to procure information beyond ten years. This sets him thinking, that there was some mysterious past of Stevie. The more he tries to kick Stevie out of his mind; the thought comes back like a boomerang. He makes up his mind to dig out the past. He starts dating Stevie over coffee or movies. Somehow, Alan is unable to go beyond the dry good night. He is more determined and decides to check her apartment in her absence. On a routine coffee visit to her house, he manages to get her house keys impression and gets a duplicate key made. Once she is away on a weekend shoot to a distant place. Alan stealthily enters her house and begins his search. There is no record of her childhood/ school days. As he was about to abandon his search, an old album drops form the top shelf. Immediately, he recognizes it to be his school album. He glances through school class pictures. He is spellbound by what he sees. This was his class picture. He could recognize himself, but there was no face similar to Stevie. Alan takes out his magnifying glass and scans through all children faces. He finds a striking resemblance with Steve. Chain of thoughts cloud his mind, is she Steve’s twin sister or is she Steve himself?

He stumbles, gets up and leaves the house. A notification icon on his mobile breaks his trance. There is a mail from High school Alumina group informing about the high school reunion in a week’s time, Alan is perplexed by the recent discovery. He texts Stevie, requesting her to be his date for the reunion. There is no reply. He impatiently waits for Stevie’s return. Unable to hold the suspense any longer, Alan goes to the airport arrival lounge to pick Stevie. She seems visibly impressed by his gesture and smiles. They drive to a nearby restaurant for lunch. Alan pops up the question about his high school reunion. She stops eating in the middle and excuses herself to go the restroom. She goes to her house. Alan patiently waits for half an hour at the lunch table. He requests the lady staff to check the ladies restroom. To his dismay, there is no one in the restroom. For the next few days, he is unable to contact Stevie as she had blocked him.

His fears seem to be coming true. He gathers all his courage and goes to see her at her house. After much perusal, she opens the main door. The sight Alan sees is heart rendering. Stevie is standing in front of him with swollen eyes, her eye makeup had smudged all over her cheek, her hair was unkempt and she was sobbing. His heart tore and he hugged her tightly in his embrace. Slowly she looks up and remarks, “Alan, I had a crush on you since kindergarten. Do you remember Steve? The boy who enjoyed Girl Company, changed school, returned back and became an introvert!”

 Alan was silently listening, waiting for her to continue and complete. She continued, “Alan I am Steve! Do you still love me?”The ground below Alan’s feet seemed to give way and he lost his balance. His eyes popped out in disbelief, “Stevie, you are the same old Steve, now a top model! Oh gosh! I fear this.”

There was a period of few minutes’ silence which seemed like eternity. Finally, Alan spoke, “So, that’s the reason you were avoiding the High school reunion? Now I understand your inhibition. Well, I respect this and promise that we will never let the past spoil our present. Will you be my date Stevie for the high school reunion? “

Stevie smiles shyly and gives an affirmative answer. Post dinner, she reveals about the difficulties she faced due to her inclination towards being a female. So, she left her hometown and settled in distant place. Got her required surgery and gave herself a new identity. Both of them locked their hands and looked up to God. High school reunion here we come, Alan with his date Stevie. Identity of Steve was left out and everyone enjoyed reunion. Alan was eager to show off his most beautiful date. Stevie never wanted to be recognized as Steve and enjoyed as his date.

The Emotional Rising

 Original Short story by Jujus Pearls

Just like a tsunami slashes and disrupts whatsoever, who sever comes its way; similarly, an insight into our past causes a blast in our present.

A dynamic, enthusiastic, young girl in her mid thirties is the new entrepreneur holding a high position in a multinational company. With head held high, looking up at the sky, she seems to skid on the ground. Lady luck is shining bright and on her side. After all, she worked really hard with grit and determination to be at the position she is in. Despite limited resources, she climbed up the ladder of success, much to astonishment of her colleagues. Soon, she was the new Vice President of the leading law firm.

One day she received a letter from an unknown source dated twenty years ago. Moments of suspense followed as she slowly opened the seal. There was a birth certificate from a government hospital in distant town. Her hands trembled as she slid out the certificate with a covering letter. She recognized her mother’s handwriting instantaneously. Her mother had addressed the letter to her. The letter read as,

Dear daughter,

If you are reading this letter, it means I have left for the heavenly abode. I pray to God that you must have achieved whatever you always wanted to achieve and must be riding the success wave. (Tears started rolling down her cheeks. She knelt down and started crying loudly. This Christmas, she had made plans to reunite with her mother and reconcile. Now this letter was like a direct hard slap on her face. Restoring her courage she continued reading).

Sarah, my daughter! Do you remember, I used to buy toys in twin sets? And you used to ask me the reason. Well darling, the truth is, I gave birth to twins. Yes, Sarah! You have a brother who also happens to be your twin. God had other plans for him. Sam, your twin brother was born with Down’s syndrome and needed special care. Your father was not willing to keep him and we had continuous fights over this issue. One fine day, when I was nursing you, my mere six months old angel, your father snatched you from my arms and stormed out of the house. I did not see him after that. Some common friends used to give me news about you. I was left all alone with Sam. Life had hit a rough patch and unwillingly, I had to give Sam in orphanage for children with special needs. I came to know that you always despised your mother for she left you when you were six months old. Sarah, my love, please remember your mother always thought about you every living second. I thought of explaining all this twenty years ago, when you were in High school. Do you remember my love? Your father once again intervened and you left without looking back. I had given this letter to your father. I know the letter never reached as you never contacted me.

I wrote another letter and kept it safe with my lawyer with instructions that it should reach you when I am no more. So, you see, I never did any wrong to you or your brother. Situation was difficult and this was best I could do as a teenage mother. My lawyer will get in touch with you to hand over my house (my sole possession) and my car keys to you. You will see a twin admirah in my room named Sarah and Sam. All the gifts for the last thirty years are there for both of you. This birth certificate will stand by my truth. You can ask your father too. He will explain the whole truth. Please forgive your mother and your brother Sam. I am writing down address of the Orphanage where Sam lives. Now he is the General Manager of that orphanage.

If you can forgive me in this lifetime, my darling, please arrange a prayer meet in the church after my funeral, so that I may rest in peace. Please bring Sam along, and your father too if he willingly drops his anger towrads me.

Please remember, mom always loves you, remembers you and is always proud of you every single moment.

Love,

Mrs. Smith (Your mother).

By now Sarah was unconsolable. She had always thought that her mother her left her for greener pastures. This story was told by her father since childhood and endorsed by her paternal grandparents. When her father was fighting for his life last year when he was diagnosed with brain tumor, he was often seen mumbling, “I am paying for my sins! God please forgive me. “He had stopped recognizing her, used to call her Sam. Gradually, he lost his speech coherence. Her last memory was of her father’s finger pointing towards the sky and seeking forgiveness with folded hands. Thereafter his soul left his body.

This letter was like an electric jolt Sarah. All these years she had hated her mother for leaving her as an infant. Now the truth was clear in front of her eyes. She could visualize the entire life her mother might have had to face, being a single parent and later being single. She wiped her tears, read the birth certificate. A feeling of bliss and happiness ran from head to toe. In this very moment she forgave her mother and father. Both had their own reasons and behavior responses.

She placed the letter and certificate inside the envelope carefully. She cancelled her meeting schedule for the whole next week and booked a flight to the city where the orphanage was. As soon her aircraft landed, her heart started pounding at the mere thought of meeting her won brother. This feeling of “I am not all alone ‘, gave her immense power. The airport taxi was waiting at the pickup counter. She settled and let the wheels of the car take charge. City roads gave way to countryside roads, lush green trees and bushes swayed with gentle wind as if playing. Sun rays played hide and seek. Slowly, the taxi maneuvered through the curvaceous path and she found herself right in front of the orphanage.

Gathering courage, she asked for way to General Manager’s room. The bell boy smiled and said, “We all knew you will come one day. Sorry to know about Mrs. Smith’s loss.” Sarah was taken aback. As she entered the room, the chair rotated and she felt as if she was in front of the mirror. Sam was an identical twin. Sam gave a confused expression. He exclaimed, “Sarah, my little sister, not so little now.”

Sarah felt an ocean of emotions and heaviness in her heart as if her chest would explode. She regained her calmpose and hugged her brother. She felt complete. What life could not do, death had done.

Bidding a farewell to Orphanage, she flew back with Sam. They rested their mother,s coffin near their father’s grave with a message, “Life kept them apart, united by death: Mr. & Mrs. Smith." The prayer meet was attended by family and friends. Sarah felt her mother smiling from the abode of Lord.

Sam went back to the Orphanage and she continued with her work in the city. Both look forward to celebrating Christmas at their mother’s house.

The mere act of opening of one letter from the past changed Sarah’s attitude and life in that present moment forever.