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The Encounter

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The Himalayan, Royal Enfield’s dream creation, built to give its rider a smooth ride over rugged rough terrain and other on-road and off-road shenanigans.

Off-road…that was the deal clincher. She sold all her gold to buy this latest 2-wheeled wonder; even the tiny little gold cross someone had given her eons ago…in another lifetime…when she believed. She’d never been a fan of the yellow metal, unlike the rest of her gender, but for once, she was grateful for the many precious bits and pieces collected and gifted over the years. It got her what she needed for her ‘off-road’ adventure, with a good bit left over after the purchase.

The ‘good bit’ was generously donated to an animal shelter. After today she was ‘persona non grata’ in Heaven, and money and gold crosses wouldn’t be needed anymore.

She ran a soft cloth carefully over the brand new handlebars…the chassis…tail-lights…head-lights. Her fingers trailed lightly over the grooves in the sturdy tyres, soon to be filled with asphalt, mud, grass…and the thrill of hard riding.

Gleaming metal and rubber; sheer granite magnificence.

The color of her new bike- Granite

The color of her thoughts- Granite

The color of her emotions- Granite

The color of her Life-Granite

She stood back and admired what she was about to destroy. A pang of almost-regret pierced her Soul. Nevertheless, she donned her helmet, and mounting the bike, kicked it into gear.

She sped through the city and hit the open road. The knots in her belly loosened, and spotting her destination in the far distance, she finally felt accomplished.

                                                       *****

“I want to learn.”

Patrick had looked up in surprise from his task beneath a vintage bike that was a restoration works-in-progress.

“When can you teach me and how long will it take to ride like a pro?” Her tone matter-of-fact as she stood in the doorway of Patrick’s garage.

“We can start today if you like, and the pro part really depends on you.”

She nodded. “Today then. Call me?”

Patrick stared after her as she walked away. He’d known her for years and had found her to be a rather strange but interesting person. When his long-term relationship with his girlfriend had ended on a bitter note, he’d asked her out. They’d had an enjoyable evening together. He asked her out again. She refused. He persisted for months. She refused. He never saw her again.

Until today.

No hellos. No niceties. Just a one-sided business transaction.

Yes, she was strange. Sometimes sociable, often not. Sometimes happy, often not. And always private, closed; in her own secret world where no one was allowed to visit.

She showed up on time. He sensed her uncertainty. Patrick was curious about her strange request but he asked no questions. That was how it was with her. No questions. No lies.

She impressed him with her tenacity. Overcoming her fear of riding a bike…a rugged ‘mans’ bike, had been a tumultuous uphill task, but unlike many things in her life, she didn’t walk away after the first bruising; practice, practice, practice…everyday, for three months she practiced.

A solemn moment as the proud teacher helped the battered student to pick out the bike.

“It has to be tough enough for really rough terrain.”

No questions. No lies.

They chose the Royal Enfield Himalayan. The matching helmet was a parting gift from him.

“Thank you,” her smile was grateful but her eyes were sad. “Goodbye.”

Patrick knew he’d never see her again.

                                                       *****

She paused at the foothill of the mountain and gazed up. It was steep, with raw unmarked paths, and thickly forested. The last three months had been spent learning to ride a motorbike, and researching this mountain. She had made the journey up just once, on foot. It wasn’t the easiest, and coming back down, even more lethal. The bike was imperative to her plan, and she wanted to see it through. She didn’t want to fail at this. Not this time.

Taking a deep breath, she switched gears and began the long arduous uphill journey.

Her helmet and thick leather jacket protected her from the thorny branches that clawed at her body as she rode through.

Nothing had protected her from the words and actions that gouged and scarred and maimed.

‘You’re a failure…can’t keep a job nor a relationship.’

Rrrrip!

‘All your friends have husbands, children, careers…a future. What do you have?’

Shreddd!

‘You meant and still mean a lot to me Baby, but I’m getting married today. To someone else.’

Tearrrr!

‘You’re just my trophy…what you do and where you live matters more than who you are.’

Gougggge!

‘You want to be a Writer? An impoverished one??? After spending shitloads on an expensive education? No returns…no love!’

Scrrrratch!

‘I love you…but I love her more.’

Wounddd!

‘You’re not getting any younger…go out and get a man…any man…or a job…a real job.’

Hurrrrttt!

‘You’re such a blessing to me…a real friend…you helped me when no one else would. But I’m embarrassed to reveal our friendship to my other friends.’

Punchhhh!

‘What! You have tattoos? More than one? And you like them? SLUT! Even worse, CONVICT!’

Kickkkk!

‘He molested you? You’re 9; you imagined it.’

Bleeeeed!

I’m so proud of you my darling…gorgeous, talented, creative, intelligent. Do you mind if we hang my mistress’s clothes in our wardrobe?’

Crushhh!

‘Funny story…we tried to abort you…ha ha ha…but you refused to die!’

Maimmm!

‘Sure, you gave us everything we wanted when you were rich. Now you’re not…no money, no honey, baby.’

Breakkkk!

‘He cheated on you? What did you do wrong?’

Stabbb!

‘Share your unique ideas with me. Let me promote them as mine and get rich.’

Chhhoke!

‘You’re exactly what we’re looking for…all the attributes our company needs. Now when can we sleep together?’

Crrryyy!

‘ This is a house for 3…no room for you. Not our fault your life didn’t work out and you came crawling back to us. Get out.’

Killlll!

Until there was nothing left but this insane desire to ride a motorcycle off a mountain and become one with misty clouds and raw dust.

                                                        *****

It was surreal up there at the top. A clear open space surrounded by a few flowering shrubs, grass and woody trees. Her footprints, now preserved in dried mud, were the only imprints on the ground. A solitary rock embraced the edge of the summit.

She walked slowly to where the Himalayan was parked near an ancient gnarled tree and wedged the helmet between the tree roots; she wanted to feel the last whisper of misty life against her naked face on her final ride into oblivion.

She kept the jacket on. In death she would be cool even if in life she wasn’t.

Three deep breaths…

Full throttle…

The Himalayan roared its assent as Biker and bike surged ahead.

She felt a familiar flutter of butterflies in the pit of her belly as the back wheel lifted off over the edge. She smiled in serene acceptance and her eyes closed over the final blurred images of rushing sky…trees…a forgotten childhood…lost innocence…

WHACK!

                                            *****

The branches of the ancient gnarled tree waved gently above her.

Wincing, she painfully disengaged herself from the roots and sat up, dazed and bewildered.

How could this be?

The Himalayan was propped on its stand in its original spot.

She frowned. Did she imagine herself flying through the air a few seconds ago? Albeit a struggling one, she was a Writer, and prone to frequent episodic imaginings.

She looked around and saw no one. No other sound except for her loud breathing and the faint whistle of wind at this high altitude.

She dusted her hands and mounted the bike.

Grimly gauging the distance to the edge, she kicked the bike into gear.

Once again, Biker and Bike roared in tandem over the edge, defying gravity, defying better sense, defying…

WHACK!

SMASH!

                                                 *****

“Nooooooo!”

She knelt over the crushed and twisted Himalayan. Tears rolled down her grimy face as she unsuccessfully tried to fix the broken pieces back together.

She walked angrily to the edge and glared at the open sky.

“Are You doing this?” she yelled, shaking her fist.

“Show yourself to me! Speak to me!”

The wind whistled louder and a sharp gust pushed her a few paces away from the edge.

“AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!”

Beyond anger, she sprinted ahead with a great burst of energy.

“You can’t stop me!” she yelled as she leapt over the edge and into the expansive Nothingness.

‘Yes, I can.’

The words whispered through her brain as she flew backwards through the air and landed once more against the tree.

She repeated her actions as if on autopilot.

This time she distinctly felt a large Force gently propelling her onto the rock where she lay winded, on the flat of her back, staring in despair at the swirling clouds.

“But why?” she pleaded, her body drained of strength.

‘Because I love you’

I’ve lost it, she thought to herself, I’m hearing voices.

“Are you God? Is this your voice?”

‘Yes to both questions. And no, you haven’t lost it. On the contrary, you are about to find something…something awesome.’

“Where were you God”, her voice dripped sarcasm, “for 37 years? I ached to hear your voice… to find that something awesome…and now, now when it’s too late, you speak to me? Taking a break from all the other lost souls?”

A gentle caressing breeze ruffled her hair and cooled her sweaty skin. She licked her parched lips and tasted sweet honey. She sat up.

“So? Do I get answers? Or do you abandon me for another 37 years? Where are you? I want to see you now!”

The wind blew her hair strongly against her face almost toppling her off the rock.

Gasping, she clung on for dear life.

The wind calmed down.

                                                       *****

‘I’m right here’, a gentle voice fanned her cheek, ‘where I’ve always been…with you. I’ve never abandoned you and I never will.’

A few minutes of deep silence hung low while she rested her head on her knee.

‘It’s never too late…I never take a break. Some Souls find me…and the Lost ones? I find them’

She began to cry.

A Warmth enveloped her and rocked her gently until her sobs subsided.

“I don’t want to live anymore”, her voice was thick with sorrow.

‘Maybe, but I want you to.’

“Why?”

‘Because you…we have work to do.’

“I’m tired!’ she wailed, ‘I want to die!”

‘You’ve rested enough…now begin your life. There’s much to do, no time to die. Drama Queen!’

The wind in the trees chuckled merrily.

“What do you know about my life?” She raised her voice in frustrated anger. “You weren’t there! I called out for You, but I heard nothing…I saw nothing! I’m tired and I want to die!”

She leaped from the rock and ran defiantly towards the edge.

The wind scooped her up and cradled her lovingly on the rock. She struggled against it and flailed her limbs, but it hugged her more until she gave up, exhausted.

‘I know every detail about your life, after you were born, and even before; I created you; your name is carved upon my flesh. Look’

A blinding light flashed in her brain. She squeezed her eyes tight against the sudden sharp pain and gasped at what she saw; letters carved in a bloodied, scarred palm.

N-E-I-S-H-A

She moaned and curled up on the rock.

His voice was gentle and sorrowed. ‘Yes, you called, and I answered. But you didn’t listen. You called and I was there, but you didn’t see. I stayed close to you. For every scar, every wound, every tear, every blow, I stayed close to you and took them upon myself.’

She wrapped her arms around her body and curled tighter. “Please let me die”, she begged desperately.

‘Not today…not now…not for a long time.’

She sat up.

“I can’t see you. Why can’t I see you?!?”

‘Be still…look…and you will see.’

She stayed still.

                                               *****

The clouds in the sky wove intricate patterns of love and hope.

The flowers nodded their pretty heads at her, each petal and stamen, uniform and purposeful.

A butterfly trailed glittery dust as it fluttered against her cheek; its feelers were long and curling, the whorls and swirls on its wings, clearly defined.

Sharp-eyed birds feasted on bugs and nectar from succulent fruit.

A bushy-tail squirrel clambered onto the rock and watched her curiously as it nibbled a kernel. An even, black furry stripe etched the length of its sleek grey body. It smiled and scampered up a tree.

Every gnarl and knot on the surrounding trees shared a wise ancient story.

‘Listen…and you will hear.’

The wind whistled and the trees whispered in response.

The birds echoed their melodious chorus

The squirrel chattered with its comrades about the strange girl on the rock.

And in what she saw and heard, she strongly felt His presence.

“I understand…You made all this…this is all yours”

‘I did. And it’s all yours now.’

She bowed her head in contemplation; this was a lot to digest.

“I still don’t know what it is that you want me to do.”

‘I’ve held the blueprint of your life for all of this time…waiting for you to be ready.’

“And am I?”

‘You are.’

“How do I know that I am?”

‘You are. Trust me…as I trust you.’

She nodded in humble supplication. She had run out of choices a long time ago, and now she was exhausted beyond exhaustion.

‘The journey will be long so prepare yourself.’

“How long?”

‘As long as it should be…but don’t worry…along the way, you will pick rich fruit that will strengthen you for the task ahead.’

“What must I take with me?”

‘Pack light...if your bags get heavy as we go along, I’ll carry them for you.’

“What is my task?”

‘You’ll find out when the time is right.’

“Will I be able to do it? I’ve failed at most things so far…”

‘Trust.’

‘Okay, but how do I know-‘

‘Trust. The only thing that you’ve failed at so far is to see the silver lining beneath every cloud, but that’s okay, I forgive you.’

‘Are you teasing me?’

‘Only a little.’

God has a sense of humour…who would’ve thought?

‘Yes I do…most times!’

He can hear my thoughts?

‘Yes I can…every time.’

She took a deep breath, and slid down from the rock.

“Well, what do I do first?”

‘First, get down from this mountain’

“Get down?”

‘Yes.’

“Can’t You do that ‘Wind-carry-me-down’ thing? Won’t it be quicker?”

The trees shake and rustle with mirth.

‘No I can’t.’

“But you’re God! You can do anything!”

‘Okay, let’s try this again. I can but I don’t want to. We’ll start your new journey once you’re down the mountain. You’ve done it once, you can do it again…this time with a brand new destination.’

“It’s a long rough way down without my bike”, she glanced sadly at the smashed beyond repair bike. “Can you at least fix it?”

For a few long moments she heard nothing but the birds, trees and wind.

She panicked. “God! Are you…are you still here?”

‘Take your helmet with you…you’ll need it when you reach the bottom.’

“Helmet?” She was relieved that she wasn’t alone.

‘And mind the thorns as you scramble downhill…would be a shame to destroy that expensive jacket as well.’

She picked up the helmet and began her descent.

The sky clouded over.

                                                  *****

No one ever came this way, at least, not during the monsoon. Dangerous, slippery terrain. Would take her a few hours to reach the city outskirts. And then what? She had no clue about ‘then what’. Would she hear Him again? Or see Him?

All she knew was that her journey down from the mountain had been smooth and easy. A clear path had suddenly opened up before her; she hadn’t noticed it before. The trees weren’t as thick as before, and no thorny brambles hurt her, no stones tripped her up.

Trust.

Believe.

Act.

It was as simple as that.

Fat drops of rain speckled the dusty path.

She slipped the helmet on; at least her head would be dry.

“Hey! Do you need a ride into town?”

A Harley Davidson had pulled up beside her; it’s rider encased in black biker gear and face invisible behind his helmet.

She hesitated. She hadn’t even heard the bike approach. What if-

“It’s coming down fast. Hop on. I’m going your way.”

She clambered up behind him.

“Hold tight”, he instructed.

She wrapped her arms around him.

As they zipped through the heavy downpour, she thought briefly about a book she had once read- God On A Harley. Could this be Him? Would her journey be like the protagonist in the book? If this was God, then, Oh my God! She was riding on a Harley with God!

‘It isn’t Me’, an amused voice penetrated her thoughts.

She smiled. She wasn’t worried any more. She wasn’t alone. She knew that now for sure.

‘You’re learning fast.’ A Warmth hugged her tight.

They pulled up outside her house.

The rain was now a light drizzle.

She took off her helmet, reluctant to say goodbye yet.

He took off his and stretched his hand towards her.

Her hand trembled slightly as she slipped it into his. She’d never seen a more beautiful man…creature…person. His black shoulder length hair was tied back in a ponytail, and his bronzed chiseled face was the perfect frame for sea-green eyes that twinkled into hers.

“I’m Gabe”, he shook her hand firmly.

“Gabe?” she muttered. Visions of heavenly cherubs strumming harps, and long- haired angels astride majestic clouds filled her brain.

Gabe grinned and slipping the helmet in the crook of his arm, kicked the Harley into gear.

“Good luck Neisha. See you again someday.”

And just like that, he was gone, melting into the starry night.

Her journey had begun.

                                                   THE END


6 Launchers recommend this story
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launchora_imgAlicia Grace
7 years ago
Its a good story... Very spiritual... I was actually expecting a very different supernatural encounter... but again it surprised me..
launchora_imgAgni .
7 years ago
//screaming This was great Neisha! I'm glad He found you
launchora_imgLisette Reeves
7 years ago
I loved this! I felt every emotion and chuckled a bit. I was anxious to see if it was Peter on the Harley, but what you described was better lol Your writing is exceptional in every way possible, emotion, imagery, mystery and a great message attached. it can't get better then that...
launchora_imgLisette Reeves
7 years ago
Also...  “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings” (Luke 1:19). Interestingly, this shows that Gabriel holds a position of high honor—he “stands in the presence of God.” This is the third explicit account of Gabriel delivering a message.
launchora_imgSamia Mehraj
7 years ago
Gold!
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The Encounter

458 Launches

Part of the Fantasy collection

Published on May 04, 2016

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