“Sooth & Ilu” by R. S. Chintalapati

Sitting on a tree beside a stream on a sunny day, a parrot and a hen waited for one random couple just like every day. Beneath them were a few stones on which these couples rested while the parrot called Sooth & the hen was called Ilu listened to them.

Sooth:
I challenge you to show me a man at least today who would never let go of his lover and I shall give you every tasty fruit I will gather all my life. 

[Ilu stayed silent considering how she failed yesterday]

Sooth: 
I challenge in confidence because I know for a fact that even when the world is filled with happiness, these superior creations and their hearts are filled with discontent. They rejoice pain and sorrow while seeking revenge even when they know it doesn’t give them any satisfaction.
​
[After a moment of silence]

Sooth: 
But what more could be expected from a race in which the majority of them don’t even try to understand the difference between love and lust? 

Ilu:
I shall show you today a couple just beneath this tree who shall love dearly until their time and I shall snatch away all your tasty fruits. That’s the price you shall have to pay for your foolish remarks.

[While Sooth mocked Ilu by blinking his eyes]
​

Ilu: 
Your beliefs wouldn’t let you accept that not all men aren’t alike. Cursing an entire race based on a few misguided fools reveals your ignorance more than theirs.
​
[Meanwhile, a girl arrived to sit on a stone while staring at the greenery. She felt the vibrant sun while winds raced around her.] ​

​Paloma:
Oh mother nature, how blind I was, when I sought the materialistic beauty of a boy unable to rejoice in your ecstasy. For your love is unconditional and your graces are unparalleled. For in you is the mother I always have looked for and here I am today drowned in the ocean of sorrow, lost in the abyss. For the man I believed to be the love of my life had walked away.

[Meanwhile, a man walked near her and stood behind her. He heard her and then proceeded to sit beside her.] 

Picture Credit: Pankaj Tottada

Pallona:
Sorry about eavesdropping but my curiosity couldn’t let me stay away. I couldn’t help but listen especially when it’s a girl weeping and telling her agony to no one. Would there be another sight more painful rather than seeing a young woman driven by true love crying in vain as her soulmate walked away from her? Being a complete stranger it pains me noticing you. Anyone who doesn’t care alike is a stone-hearted man. By the way, I am Pallona, and I am very glad we met today. If you don’t mind, could you please tell me what happened?

Paloma:
Pleased to meet you Pallona for your words comfort me in my pain. All I ever wished for is my lover sharing a part of your wisdom for jewels aren’t precious for any girl lost in love. I am Paloma, a girl betrayed by a boy who I dearly loved and all that I ever wanted in return was a bit of trust. It was tough for him to offer me that as deep inside he was crooked and always had an evil suspicion that I was betraying him. For any girl who loved a boy with all her heart, is it too much to ask? Is it too much to truly love someone and expect trust in return?

Pallona:
I am so sorry to hear about it for some men are beautiful by looks but are ugly by heart and suspicion is the root cause for a man to collapse from within. You, my friend, have loved a man who was feeble within but I think you must always remember that life is full of possibilities and every moment is blissful. As the wise say only when we are lost in the darkness shall we embrace the light for nothing in this world is worthy unless it is rare and my friend, we live in a world where loving and being loved is rare but betraying and getting betrayed is bountiful.

Paloma:
From what I can understand for a boy of your age you speak too wise and if I am not wrong, you must have also had a terrible experience. If you would like to share, no one would be more curious to know who the unlucky girl is. As she missed a boy who could take such good care of her.

Pallona:
Yes. I did love a girl and I still recall every night about her just before I sleep. She will always be mine and forever I shall be hers but our fate did not wish for us to stay together and like your lover had a suspicion, my lover shared a liking for jewels. For her, nothing would match to gold and I was not at least near rich. God has blessed me with a good life for which I am grateful but didn’t give me any gold and one day she walked away writing me a letter mentioning that her father bought her a groom who happened to be a rich merchant. For months I was lost in pain and my days were the darkest.

Paloma:
I am sorry Pallona. For a few live in this world who don’t know the worth of anything until they never get it in life again and for their dumb choices, life shall teach them a lesson someday. They will understand that no mistake in life shall go unpunished.   

Pallona: [Smiling] 
I must say talking to you was delightful. Can we be friends? For a lonely man like me could care for nothing more than a friend. Your company is enthralling and I would be so glad to be with you as a friend forever. 

Paloma:
I would be pleased to have a friend of your wisdom with such huge respect for others’ opinions.

[Both of them stood up and left]

Sooth:
Look at them repeating the same mistake again. They have failed to learn that loving a stranger always leaves them in darkness and deep inside they are craving to be loved. They are so desperate that they wish to forge a relationship with complete strangers. I pity them. Since nothing is worse than begging to be loved and if either of them lied the other shall never ever trust another soul for a lifetime. 

Ilu:
I see it from a different perspective, dear. I believe they have learnt their lessons. As the boy shall trust her and the girl shall be his maybe initially as a friend but over time they would truly love. I know deep inside they will always be hurt but every time they will rebuild to become strong and someday they would even become an example. Don’t pity them as all of us make mistakes and it is always about how you learn from them to make yourself better. Anyway, don’t worry, I wish for no fruits as they will never be sweeter than that couple and dare not challenge me again!

Sooth:
​True love? Do you even hear yourself? There is no such thing as true love. There is just love!

Team

1. Contributor:
   R. S. Chintalapati
   
   
2. Editor:
   Rajiv R Nair
   
   
3. Photographer:
   Pankaj Tottada

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