He was standing in front of the house border lining the jungle. The small remote town was surrounded by huge oak trees . .the air that he breathed was fresh with an underlying scent of the jungle.
A scent that reminded him of the soil getting wet by raindrops . .the scent that raises after a rainfall.
Fresh and soulful. .
But right now nothing was soulful. Nothing could be. .
In his world everything was dark and bleak. With no silver lining but he had to try . And try he will!
That's why he was here.
Elliot rubbed at his face , agitated.
Was what he doing. .the right thing? Was his direction right? His road right? Because technically he was going back against his fiance. .
Betraying her.
But really was it even called betrayal? Saving someone? Could it be labelled as betrayal?
All he knew was-
There comes a point in everyone's life where he / she has to choose. Choose between what's right and what's not. Is he / she courageous enough to take the right path? Bold enough to call upon the cruel?
He had read a religious scripture somewhere. .
Whomever among you sees a wrong, let him change it with his hand and if he is not able to do so then let him change it with his tongue and if he is not able to do so then with his heart.
He had no shame to accept that yes he had been weak in front of Darsana. He had protested silently with his heart . Knowing well what she had done caused an irreparable damage to two lives. Ripped apart two souls in love. A person who had changed for the better had relapsed and he was continuing . . spiralling down a dark vortex .
But Elliot knew what was happening. .
He knew it so well.
Recognizing the signs. .
Elliot heavied a sigh and lifted his hand to knock.
Knocking three times , he looked around ,glad no peering eyes were locked upon him. No one was on the road. The cold weather had forced people to stay at home-
The door creaked.
The sound of unlatching.
And then it opened.
Elliot fixed his face into a neutral expression. He was expecting a young girl but the face was of a middle aged woman with wispy hair and wrinkly skin .
Her gray eyes eyeing him warily.
"Yes?" Her curt voice asked. .not letting him in. Standing squarely on the threshold.
"Is this Sarah Darrow's house?" Elliot asked politely.
The gray eyes blinked rapidly.
Doubt creeping in them.
"Yes."
Elliot felt like she was a one word woman.
"I-I'm her friend. I was passing by . Thought to drop by. Is she home?" Elliot smiled , bringing out his glamour.
The old woman frowned and then glanced away from his face as if he was too much to bear and than-
"Are you. .him?" She asked quietly, looking at the road behind him.
Instantly Elliot knew who she was talking about.
Really, what was the point of acting like he had no idea what she just said. .no point at all.
"No. I'm not him. Just a friend."
This time she looked at him and then nodded. . looking kind of defeated as if she was waiting for him.
And definitely not Elliot.
She opened the door wide . Stepping back .
"Mrs Darrow are you letting me in?" He asked smiling slightly.
She narrowed her eyes.
"What else do you think I'm doing? I'm letting you in." She said sharply.
And Elliot had to hide his smile this time as he stepped in the house.
"Just making sure , Mrs Darrow."
If only she knew. .
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She had led him to the backyard and had disappeared somewhere in the house.
Probably in the kitchen.
He had to move fast if he didn't want to be served tea. He hated tea.
And judging by scent of this house. .they loved it here!
Slowly, Elliot pushed the door . . stepping out . .the fresh air hitting him and involuntarily he took a deep breath in. . .immediately spotting a delicate figure right on his right side.
Sitting on a wooden chair. .hair not even combed. .eyes staring at the jungle . .dark circles . .chapped lips. . everything screamed . .ruined.
Somehow. . his heart had ached at the woeful sight. Seeing her so. . .distant from her surroundings. .so disconnected. Like she didn't care if the sky would fall over her head.
And strangely she reminded her of him.
But his state was more devastating than hers.
Elliot cleared his throat .
But nothing happened.
Right. .Elliot walked towards her obnoxiously loud. Making sure his footsteps echoed-
And that caught her attention, for in a slow-mo she glanced at him . .and it hit him.
Hit his heart.
So this was Sarah Darrow?
The girl who flipped Damien's world upside down? She was such a contrast with Damien. All delicate and soft. .
She kept looking at him without saying anything until he occupied the chair next to her, making sure there was some decent space between them.
As he sat she looked away .
Back to staring at nothing.
And he decided to break the ice.
"Nice weather isn't it?" Elliot said softly.
It took her a few moments to reply.
"Yeah." A raspy reply was all he got.
He chuckled .
"You didn't ask me who I'm . Why I'm here etc." Elliot wondered.
"Does it matter?"
"Yes. .and no. But I would like to introduce myself . My name is Elliot and I come with nothing but good will."
Sarah glanced at him and Elliot thought. .
Such empty eyes. .
"Did he send you?" She asked so bluntly , so directly . . .Elliot wasn't ready.
He sat up straight.
"Yes-no. He didn't. "
"Then why are you here?" She asked , a rueful smile on her face.
"About that. .i had a rude awakening . But that's beside the point. I came to ask. .to request that you need to get back to him , Sarah. " he said softly. .his voice earnest.
Sarah shook her head lightly.
"I can't-"
"Why? Why Sarah? Why ever not? Don't you love him?"
Sarah looked at him , a bruised smile on her face.
"Love? Do you even know the meaning of it? Does love mean to be with that person even if it destroyes them? All I want to see is him moving with his life with his family with his royal lineage. .," Her voice turned bitter ," I can't make him chose between me and . .," She bit her lower lip. .her brown eyes tearing up.
Elliot fell silent.
Letting her take over her nerves. She sniffed , wiping her eyes fiercely enough to turn her skin red.
"I love him , Elliot. I love him with every cell of my being. I know nothing else but to love him . To pray for him. To ask God to heal him. To ask God to give my life to him. I-i know the road I took is less traveled but when it comes to him . .I can go to the end of the world."
Elliot laughed , a humorless laugh.
"End of the world? And what if. .what if he's not even alive to appreciate what you did ?"
Sarah's heart fell .
"What. .what do you mean?"
Elliot leaned in.
His eyes digging in hers.
"He's . .Damien is dying, Sarah. He's dying from a broken heart."
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