Question:
Discuss about Of Some Broken and Mended Hearts?
Answer:
It is springtime. Love is in the air. Elena and Shane are having a good time together. Elena is a beautiful young girl who is in her mid-twenties. Shane, on the other hand, is a handsome, middle-aged man with determined looks. The weather is as warm as their love for each other. Their story is like any other utopian love story, a handsome, chivalrous man falling in love with a beautiful girl. It was love at first sight for Elena and Shane. They met in Paradise Cruises on the very first day. It has been a wonderful journey for them since then, as beautiful as paradise itself.
It is a morning. Elena and Shane are on the deck, watching the cranes, the birds, the winds, the cruises sail dreamily passing their time. They have been dating each other for nearly two months. In these two months, they have been sharing their grief, sorrows, and happiness with each other. Shane is on a business trip from London to Egypt. Elena is on a holiday.
“Oh dear! The weather is so romantic”, exclaimed Elena.
“The weather has become more romantic as I am sitting next to you. Sitting next to you and doing nothing is everything to me”, said he.
“Should not we get engaged?”
“It is too early”.
“Early? We have been dating for two months and I am so eager to see myself in a white gown on the altar, taking oath.”
“But still I think it is too early.”
Pauses for a while then continues..
“Enough of this stuff and rubbish. Let us get ready. Philippines Island is our next stop for lunch”.
“Shane, are you trying to avoid me?”
“No dear. Why should I?” whispered Shane.
Both of them are having their lunch. Elena’s parents arrive at the spot.
“Hello Son”, said Elena’s father, a stout man of about fifty with a lovely moustache and of course with the standing of a man. His attire reveals that he belongs to the aristocrats of London.
“Good Afternoon Sir. How do you do?”
“Better if only my girl hooks up with her Mr. Right.”
“Oh Tom!”
A female voice interrupts them. She is Elena’s mother, a gorgeous woman of around forty-five, dressed in a beautiful golden gown. She majestically seats herself next to her husband.
“Let us come to the point. We want both of you to be engaged as soon as we reach Egypt. You can finish off your business stuffs and we will be done with our holiday. Later on, we can visit St. Paul’s Cathedral for the nuptial ceremony.
“Yes Madam. I do not want to sound insulting. However, I desire that you give us some more time to know each other better.”
“But Shane.”
“Stop mother. I suggest we should go by his desires,” as she winked at Shane.
It is evening. Shane is standing against the railing of the deck, alone. Elena comes in.
“What are you doing here all alone? Counting the stars?”
“Look. I need to confess something.”
As Shane continued, tears rolled down her eyes. She could not bear it more. She escaped the situation.
It has been more than one week. The cruise has reached its destination.
They parted their ways. Two months of courtship, romance, love, ended in the blink of an eye.
Shane reaches a house and knocks at the door. A child opens the door and rushes into his arms with excitement.
“Daddy. You are back. I missed you. Mumma said you would never come back.”
A veiled woman arrives at the spot.
“It is hard to believe that you are back,” said the woman in broken English.
It is a bright Sunday morning. Shane is reclining on the couch, engrossed in his daily newspaper. He goes to a flashback. He recollects his last conversation with Elena. He had unveiled his truth to her. He is a married man, a father of a girl child. Shane had married Daneez fifteen years back. They had met in Gaza. They fell in love and got married against the wishes of their family. He brought her to Egypt and they had a happy life together until one day a letter broke them up. The letter was from Shane’s family. It said that Shane’s father would deprive him of the wealth of the family if he continued to live with Daneez. Shane went to London and promised that he would come back as soon as the disputes were settled.
She waited for seven long years, playing the role of a mother and a father to her child in the harsh environment of Egypt. Shane did come back only after breaking a girl’s heart, a hundred promises. Tears rolled down his cheek as he thought of Elena.
