A BURDEN ON MANKIND

ALEX's POV

I found it difficult to understand how someone could be so rude. I had just wanted to thank her. I was completely crushed and I felt my ears burn as I watched my savior get into the car without even blinking her eyes. She had no clue how her words had cut through my heart like a sword. My fantasy was shattered.

 I didn’t want to stand there even for a moment. I turned around to leave but accidentally stepped onto something hard. This made me stop dead in my tracks. Picking it up I realized that it was a mobile phone. I hit the home button hoping that it wasn’t broken. The screen lit up immediately and the name Eva Dixon flashed on the screen. I liked the name, Eva, short and sweet. My savior must have dropped it while getting into the car. I decided to go to her home and return her phone despite her arrogance. I couldn’t ignore the fact that she had saved me once.

 First, I had to find out where she lived. Aaron had lived in El Rosa since his childhood. Moreover he had explored the remotest places due to his adventurous streak. So, I immediately set off in search of Aaron.

I found him outside the basketball court. He was surrounded by a bevy of girls as usual. He was like a magnet. The girls gravitated toward him. He liked to flirt with everyone. He went out on dates but didn’t have a girlfriend. He had once said, “ I can have all the fun and avoid all the responsibilities by just dating girls. Wouldn’t I be crazy to keep a girlfriend? Moreover, I haven’t found anyone interesting. They all have such a limited mindset. I want to find my soulmate, Alex. Someone who loves sports as much as I do and is equally crazy about adventure.”

As much as I hated it, I had to weave through the girls and pull Aaron to a secluded place. The girls were shooting daggers at me but I ignored it.

“ What is so important that you dragged me from such a wonderful company, Alex.” He said in a sarcastic tone.

I was a bit taken aback. I hadn’t stopped to think that maybe Aaron didn’t want to be disturbed. I had become very carefree with regards to him but I didn’t want to be around him if he didn’t like it.

“ It’s okay, Aaron. Nothing important. I will ask someone else. Sorry for disturbing.” I said staring at my feet.

He instantly put an arm around my shoulders and said, “ Woah! Look at you. You became so serious. I was just kidding buddy. You must have understood my nature by now. On a serious note. You are more important than any of those bimbos. After all I can’t blackmail them into coming with me for mountain climbing, can I?”

That extracted a laugh from me. “ Do you know where Eva Dixon lives?”

“ Oh my Gosh! Don’t tell me you are crazy about her too. Right from the time she entered our college, all the boys have only one topic to talk about, Eva Dixon!!!” Aaron said exasperatedly.

“ Noooo way! On the contrary I think that she is the most arrogant girl in the world.”

He looked at me with arched eyebrows waiting for me to explain.

“ She dropped her phone while getting into her car. I just wanted to return it.” I said showing him the phone.

“ Wow! That is great. How did you get so lucky, Bro?” Aaron exclaimed clapping my back. I looked at him with a bewildered expression. I had no clue what he meant by it.

“This is such an amazing excuse to go to her home. She would be so grateful to you. You can befriend her and if you like her then maybe you can even date her.” Aaron teased.

I felt blood rush to my face. “ If you don’t want to give me the address it is okay. I will just hand it over to the lost and found section in the college.’

I felt flustered and I was about to leave but Aaron held my hand in an iron grip and gave me directions to her house. “ She lives in Dixonville. It is about a fifteen-minute drive from here. Just go straight and take the first left. It will lead straight to the cottage.”

“ Thanks for your help, Aaron. I should leave right away. It would take at least an hour by walk.” I started walking hurriedly towards the gate but Aaron called out, “ Wait a sec.”

He threw a bunch of keys towards me which I caught reflexively. “ Take my bike. I would have come with you but my father is returning home today. So I need to go back early.”

I nodded cheerfully and rushed towards his bike. I had driven bikes earlier but they were usually second hand. I looked at Aaron’s bike with admiration. It was RTR 180 with many unique features. I ran my hand across its seat and then climbed onto it. Unlike the previous ride with Aaron, I drove slowly taking in the surroundings. El Rosa was mesmerizing with tall mountains, green forests, and wildflowers stretching endlessly. Unfortunately I reached Dixonville before I could admire everything fully.

I had been very eager to come here and return Eva’s phone but now I suddenly felt awkward. I knew she wouldn’t be happy to see me but she should be happy about getting her phone back right? I felt doubtful but since I was here It would be such a waste to go back without returning the phone. So I parked my bike and walked towards the door. I rang the bell. My heart throbbed in anticipation.

I hoped that her parents would open the door. Then I would not have to face Eva. Surprisingly, I felt disappointed at that thought. A small part of me wanted to see her.

In that instant I felt my nostrils fill with that heavenly fragrance again. I knew that Eva was going to open the door. Despite being prepared I was rendered speechless when she opened the door.

“ I think I made myself pretty clear at the college. I don’t want you to be around me. Just looking at you irritates me.”

“ But I …I….” I couldn’t get out a single coherent word.

“ Speak up you idiot!! If you don’t have anything to say just get lost.” She started closing the door. “ I came to return your phone. You had dropped it while getting into the car.” I said hastily producing the phone. I hoped that she would now see that I never intended to bother her.

She took out a handkerchief from her pocket and used it to take the phone from my hands ensuring that she didn’t touch it.

“ What made you think that I would want to take back something that has been touched by you?” She said coldly.

I watched in horror as she flung the phone into the fireplace. How could she do that? It was a brand new phone and must have cost an arm and a leg but she didn’t even bat an eyelid. Her face was cold and expressionless.

“ Are you wondering why you didn’t keep the phone for yourself? After all you must not have even seen such a phone in your life.” She commented watching the expression of horror on my face.

Her words sliced through my heart. I managed to regain some composure and tried to explain it again.

“ I sincerely thought I was helping you. I wanted to return your favor as you had saved my life that day.”

“ Huh! The mistakes I make sometimes. I had involuntarily caught you. I still wish I hadn’t. you are just a burden to mankind. What benefit can the society derive from the existence of a waif-like you.” I backed away as she started taking slow deliberate steps towards me. I staggered as I was forced to climb down the stairs backward. When we had finally reached the courtyard she started going around me in circles. I looked down, embarrassed by her discerning stare.

“ I understand your need for attention, Alex. You have been so unwanted all your life. So unwanted that even your parents abandoned you. I pity you for that but that is all you can get from me sympathy. You can never be a part of my world.”

I felt as if she had poured hot oil into my ears. She continued to sprinkle salt on my wounds mercilessly. I had never thought that someone could be capable of spewing so much venom.

I could tolerate her arrogance, irritation, and even anger but the way she treated me like a beggar was too much for me. All my insecurities, worries, and buried misery started resurfacing. I felt numb and stood there frozen like a rock. Her words kept resonating in my ears again and again. I lost track of time. God knows how long I must have stood there like a statue.

I felt somebody’s hands on my shoulder. This broke through my reverie. Turning around I saw Aaron in front of me. Something snapped within me. I threw my arms around him and I cried as I had eleven years ago when Mother Lily had lifted me in my hands the first time. I cried as though my world had shattered.

Aaron didn’t speak a word. He didn’t ask me why I was crying? He didn’t advise me to stop crying and be strong like men. He just held me quietly as Mother Lily had done. In that instant I sensed his acceptance. Aaron didn’t sympathize with me. He truly considered me to be his friend. I would walk through the fires of hell for him if needed.

After I was completely spent he led me to his bike and drove me to the hostel. He even escorted me to my room. Before leaving he said, “ I won’t put you in a sticky situation by interrogating the cause behind your condition tonight but if you want to talk about it I am there for you. You can call me even in the middle of the night. I will meet you in the morning, Alex”

Then he left without another word. I was relieved that he left. I didn’t know how to face him after the tirade. I sat beside the window watching the beautiful moon. I wondered why Eva’s words had affected me so much. I could recall numerous incidents when I was insulted. After all insults are a part and parcel of an orphan’s life. I had always handled them confidently, with grace.

I decided not to let a stranger dictate the terms of my life. I knew that sleep would stay miles away from me, given my state of mind. So I plunged myself into my new project. We had to write a report on the properties of ‘yttrium’ and give probable applications for it with our analysis.

I fired my computer and got to work. My passion for science kept the demons of despair at bay. I was almost done with my project by the time the first rays of the sun streamed in through the window.