He Smiled At Last

Walking through the foggy night on the pebbled lane, withered shrubs on either sides, she felt a chill down her spine. As she neared the dark mansion, repentance dawned on her. Repentance: that she shouldn't have left her home on impulse, shouldn't have left her phone in the rush, should have checked the tires of her cycle, shouldn't have taken the shortcut...

First...Second...Third... The bell echoed thrice...no one answered....as expected. Loosing hope, she took a step back. Only to step on something which moved under her feet and with a shriek she closed her eyes knowing that she would fall.

She didn't touch the ground.

On opening her eyes she saw a silhouette of a man, with hair neatly set, the moon light partially showed a serious face. With a reddened cheek she rushed out of his arms and stood up straight. As she was about to thank him, he turned around and started walking.

" Go away! Its not safe here!!",warned a heavy voice.

"Please wait! I need help.. am sorry to bother you... But..." ,even before she could complete her sentence he vanished around the corner into the darkness.

She started to run after him to catch up and landed up in the front side of the mansion... It was huge...a Victorian structure...like those fairy tales she had read in her childhood. He had already vanished into the mansion,but she had to try.

Thud..thud..thud...with a shrill creek he opened the door...his grey eyes piercing her pale skin. She reddened yet again, " I need shelter for tonight...p-please.."

" I don't like guests!", he snapped.

"But, am not a guest...just a passer by..needing help...", she reasoned.

He thought for a while, and opened the door. She entered into the vastness. She felt safe inside yet the eerie silence disturbed her. She looked up at him to find his staring into her dark eyes...as if he was taking note of what she felt inside.

" I told you, its not safe here...I know the silence bothers you but that's the safest part...", he replied to her thoughts.

She was taken aback... but dared not to question why...

He took her to the couch and sat opposite her, the antique wooden center table was set up with a candle stand and two glasses of white wine, as if he knew she would be there. She looked up at him to question how..

" They told me you would come, I tried to turn you away but you stayed...so,welcome home... forever...", he smiled at last.

With love,

Sanjukta.