Love Stories by Meghna Mainy (read the beginning after the end novel .txt) 📖

thought I’d match it with your chocolate drink”

Claire smiled shyly. Why was she giving in to this stranger? She put on a serious look again


Chapter 2

A Walk in the Rain

 

 

 
 
Larry was sipping on his coffee. He probably knew what was going on in Claire’s mind. Claire nervously glanced outside and said

“I don’t know. I think I’d better leave. It looks like it’s going to rain.”

It was true, as, lots of milky grey cotton was up in the sky. Claire quickly gathered her jacket and shot out of the café as quick as lightening.

Her umbrella was hardly opening as she stood under the shade outside, when she felt someone pull it away from behind her.

“May I?”said the deep voice of the tenacious gentleman. He opened the umbrella for her and briskly started walking beside her, outside the rim of the umbrella.

There was a bridge in front with silver water rippling beneath. The lady was so perplexed about what she should do next that she preferred to keep shut, and follow the course of the road. What a strange day, she thought!

“At this rate, You’re going to catch a cold.” She mumbled.

Pearls of pretty rain fell all around. As usual, Claire was wearing high heels and that was making it even more difficult to walk. But she was also worried about Mr. Charles, so willing to get drenched in the rain just to walk beside her. He wasn’t talking to her anymore, just walking, as if buying time to think. He was thinking really hard, thought Claire as she saw his well-chiselled face.

“Are you going to any particular place?” asked Larry.

“At least I intend to , yes. In fact I have to turn into this little lane here” She said pointing to a crooked little lane that emerged a few steps ahead of the bridge.

“Please don’t . Please come with me to that seat near the fountain over there.I’m new here. Maybe you can tell me something about your city. I don’t want to go back home just yet”

With this he turned towards Irene, with a deep gaze. Claire burned in its flame. This man was making her go mad.

“Here! You can share the umbrella with me”

But, unexpectedly enough, Claire and Larry were soon seated on Larry’s favourite perch next to a wonderful ly sparkly fountain.

For a moment Claire had forgotten all her troubles.Her modeling assignments. Her crazy makeupman who made fun of her sharply upturned nose. The two were hardly talking. But, all of a sudden, even sitting watching a beautiful fountain with a stranger was such a treat. Claire didn’t know if she’d ever meet this gentleman again, or why she was constantly giving in to his pleas. But, one thing was for certain.

It was truly an unforgettable day.


Chapter 3

 

 
Love’s failings

 

 

Claire, in her lovely champagne colored dress and her hurting ballerinas, was now really headed for home. She’d left the stranger behind. Yes, it was tough to do that, considering his persistence, and her strange and fast-growing liking for him. But, in the end, Claire just said “I’m sorry I can’t! I just have to go”

She never turned back to see the very hurt Mr Charles gape at her in exasperation. It was clear that this lady wanted no more of him. But Larry couldn’t make any more excuses to accompany her, as the sun was shining again, and it was time Larry headed home too for an important meeting.

Claire walked back home, all alone. She so liked walking, but, suddenly she felt lonely. Larry, with his amazingly strong presence and extremely magnetic personaliy, had definitely touched her heart. Was she in love? She barely knew.

On returning home, Claire smiled at the sweet scolding of her doting mother and retired to her room, only to find her cheeks unusually flushed and rosy that day. Afterwards,she spent a long time in front of the mirror just thinking about all that had passed. The singing fountain. The crooked road. The all-encompassing rain. She couldn’t get Larry off her mind.

The next day, at work, Claire was surprised to find Larry standing backstage with the dress designer. “How in the world did he get here?” thought Claire.

Claire was resolved to avoid being seen. She had had a very sleepless night and regretted having grossly puffy eyes. She wondered what the makeup guy would say. With her back turned towards the group she started taking out her stuff from her sequined tote bag. A golden comb. Lots of makeup removal wipes. A nail file.”Gosh!Who cares about paraphernalia”thought Claire.She couldn’t concentrate on anything.

“Hi!” came a familiar voice, obviously Larry’s,from behind her.”I’m surprised to find you here! Is this a chance meeting or did you manipulate my day’s plan so I could be with you again?”joked Larry.

Claire stared at him blankly. She didn’t know what to say, as she was quite surprised by his presence there herself.So he continued-“Well, uh, actually I’m designing for your show today. I mean, you’re wearing my jewellery today on the show.”

Suddenly, Claire was pushed away by the makeupman. The show was about to start. All the models were being seated quickly. Loads of mascara. Sprinkles of powder. Dainty Lipgloss. All fell into place like in a painter’s paradise. Claire glanced back to see Larry talk to one of the models, Jenna while still looking at Claire sometimes.

Her heart was fluttering like a butterfly. She could feel it beneath her skin. Claire walked the ramp, rather furtively that day, wearing one of Larry’s crystal ensembles. There was applause , but, she was barely paying attention to it. As Claire packed for the day,and it was no longer day but almost midnight, she thought of the clinking,glasslike fashion jewellery that Larry had designed for the show. She didn’t particularly like it, but, that hardly mattered.

Suddenly, Jenna came up to her ,holding Larry’s hand and looking very happy.

“Meet my fiancée, Larry. Larry, this is Claire.”

They both exchanged perplexed glances. “Pleased to meet you.Uh…Jenna …I’m really sorry. I have to go now. I have an important business meeting tomorrow early morning”said Claire.

With this, Claire stormed out of the room, her eyes almost full, her bag falling off her shoulder, and she had begun to feel a strange headache take over her like a hurricane.

At home, Claire buried her face in a pillow crying until she fell asleep.


Chapter 4

Claire in Paris

Claire’s grandparents lived in Paris. So, she planned to spend a few days away from home not only to get her life right back again, but , also to avoid Larry. Granny had sent her a box of colorful French chocolate croissant. She gulped it down like it was a binge of emotional eating.

Mom knew something was wrong with Claire.

“It’s better to paint your toe nails than to take your anger out on food, honey”

Claire looked up, understanding what her mother meant and quickly went up to hug her dear mom.

“Oh! Mom..”she sobbed.

It’s strange how mothers can understand their children’s pain almost telepathically.

Then, Claire went out with her mom shopping for her trip. They bought little gifts for granny and granddad. They ate at the best pizza shop in town with windows that looked onto the river. Mother cracked silly jokes to make her young girl superhappy. She knew something was wrong with her girl. She didn’t ask, as Claire was a girl who liked thinking her own way out of problems. Mrs Scott was so proud of her good-hearted, self-reliant daughter.

Not long after, Claire had left for Paris. The plane was not late. She stepped onto French soil with a certain love she’d never felt before. On meeting her granny she was overjoyed. She drove home with her to her lovely taupe and gold mansion. On the way she noticed men and women cycling their way about the city. They were mostly dressed in black. They passed the tower and she saw couples cuddling on french park benches with curved legs. She couldn’t help thinking of Larry. She drew back and smiled at granny Louisa. She didn’t want to spoil Granny’s day by letting her guess something was wrong.

Once within the premises of her grandparents’ house, Claire forgot her troubles for a moment as she opened the window to let the crisp wind blow into her hair. There wasn’t any traffic there. Only vines, some pretty flowers, a fountain and a cute old round shed with hanging flower pots and carved pillars. She was enjoying the ride and it was a long way to the building. Soon, the car swept into the doorway of the magnificent Scott mansion. Claire hurried out of the car to scream at the top of her voice and hugg ed her darling grandpa who had been waving at her overjoyed to see his sweet little granddaughter.

It was almost a family reunion. In the evening, granny held a quiet family meal with her cousins Bettina , Leslie and Anne. They laughed so much the cook said she was shocked at the ladies’ lack of discipline, At which the young girls hugged nanny dearly for they knew that the only time Madame Charmont complained was when she needed lots and lots of attention.

The rest of the evening was spent listening to Mdme Dupont’s funny stories about her adventures in the beautiful French countryside. Cheese, wine and old-time fashion. Claire had a hearty conversation with the others and retired for the night, feeling a lot better.They had planned a whole day of activities together and, soon enough, Claire called her mom to tell her she was alright, kissed her granny goodnight and slid her feet into warm blankets. Very ruffled. Very soft. Very chic.


Chapter 5

Sweet Surprise

 

 

The next day was spent on buying extraordinary stuff with her cousins. Perfume for mom. Sweater for dad. And lovely sweater and cashmere dresses for themselves. As evening drew near and the sky was a deep crimson,Claire ran back from the grand shopping spree to get dressed for the party at granny’s place. Lots of family friends were coming in. Claire couldn’t help feeling excited and upset at the same time. She could still feel Larry’s face emerge in her mind occasionally, and sometimes she would just wipe this image off and bubbles of happy images would pop up in her head. They were having a party. Her family loved her so much. Her career wasn’t disappointing. Life was good!

Was this a transition? She hardly knew.

The piano was playing loud and the little group of guests were having a gala time in the lovely shed outside the mansion. There was soft pink and maroon tablecloth and dainty French cutlery on the table. One or two families that had come were french and said words like “Excusez-moi” and “enchante” that Claire had learnt in her previous visits to France. She loved the night lights twinkling in the hedges, and adored the lights in the mansion hall shining through the peach and grey curtains her granny had selected. Granny had such good taste, I can never be like her, thought Claire, while settling her sky blue satin dress. Not that she was badly dressed, for, Pierre, her childhood friend, could hardly take his eyes off her and was exceptionally gallant that day.

Soon , there was karaoke. First , Leslie sang. Then, it was time Pierre’s turn. He