10/08/2024
KATE
The band was playing Slow Fox trot, the mood was exciting and the air was filled with romance.
The host was busy distributing snacks to guests, all sitting in a row in white plastic chairs. Some boys in their smart suits were standing around pretty young girls, in protective style, like their body-guards. They were making sure that their companions will not be taken for the next dance.
Robin was standing in a corner with the plate of snacks that the host had just put in his hands. He was intensely observing the pretty girl, dressed in a pink skirt and wide open neck white blouse, sitting right across the hall from where he was standing.
Robin was certain that the girl had noticed that he was staring at her, because her look was deeply fixed on him.
All the other boys and girls, some accompanied by their mothers, had already finished their snacks. But this girl, looking like an angel, was sitting without anything in her hands.
Robin was hesitating between “now” and “later” to walk towards her and invite her for the next dance. If he did not do it now, and right away, other boys would definitely rush for her and it would be too late for him. The window of opportunity was closing fast.
He took courage in both hands and walked across the hall to where she was sitting.
It was a normal practice in such wedding venues in small villages. Here, Robin was invited by his classmate to attend his elder brother’s wedding, celebrated in a small village in the North of Goa. Groom’s family and relatives and friends, as well as the Bride’s family and relatives and friends were invited to attend the marriage too.
The wedding venues were generally held and organized next to or close to the groom’s house, in a shack improvised in an open space.
The chairs were set all along the fence inside the shack, the stage set at one end of the hall, meant for a local band hired to play live music until five in the morning.
The hosts kept serving snacks frequently, every now and then, during the whole reception. The band would take short breaks to eat snacks themselves, and then keep playing the music all along.
The MC – Master of Ceremony, would announce when there is a break for snack and when the next piece of music would be played, so that the male partners can prepare to engage their female partners and bring them to the dancing floor for the next dance.
The MC would even announce the type of piece that would be played, if it’s a Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha-Cha and so forth.
If the female partner was accompanied by her mother, it was a polite practice to ask permission from her mother to dance with her daughter.
The MC had just announced the next dance, a Slow Waltz and Robin was looking around if he could see the girl’s mother, or any of her male partners in the vicinity. She seemed to be alone.
“Shall I have the pleasure of this dance with you?” he said politely bending his head towards her.
Without saying a word, she stood up instantly in front of him, tending her right arm towards him. He held her hand into his left hand and walked gently towards the dancing floor, letting her walk beside him holding his left arm.
The band was interpreting “The Last Waltz” by Engelbert Humperdinck.
A wedding reception would never be complete and end without playing that song. This was the most favorite piece of music to dance with your partner, and at the end the song if the two hearts did not miss a heartbeat during the dance, they were probably a brother-sister couple.
Robin’s sensitivity towards this dance partner was no different. He held her in his arms as close as the decency in such venues would allow him. But, he could have just enveloped her into his arms and let her feel the heartbeats that his heart was producing.
She was so light and smooth in her moves, following the rhythm and beats of the music; he felt her feather light weight just floating in the air with the flow of the music.
Robin had never experienced such feelings before. He was afraid to distract himself from the rhythm of the song and after a long hesitation he took courage again in both his hands and said: “You dance so well, it’s a real pleasure to have a partner like you. I am really enjoying every move of this dance. May I know your name?”
He stared into her eyes waiting for an answer, but all that he ever received was a smile. He was wandering if even an angel would have such a beautiful smile.
He waited till the end of music for an answer, but all that he ever got was a smile that would melt a hardest heart.
Usually the band plays three pieces before they mark a break. The second piece had already stopped playing and the third one
was just beginning. It was Twist “Let’s Twist Again” of Chubby Checker.
It looked like the twist was not a favorite dance of Robin. It certainly would not be appreciated by the delicate angel who was enjoying the slow and romantic moves of the previous pieces of music.
Robin asked the girl if she would like to walk outside the shack with him in order to get some fresh air. He would go and get two drinks from the bar and enjoy them in the open air under the moonlit sky.
The girl agreed and they slowly made their way to the other end of the shack.
Robin was a tall handsome boy in his late twenties. He had just graduated from College and was desperately hunting for a
job. He was not running after girls, but definitely knew how to treat a decent girl, respectfully.
His best friend and an old classmate had invited him to attend his elder brother’s wedding. As usual, Robin had prepared his best suit with light brown cashmere jacket. It was making him look even more handsome.
There were two other young couple a short distant from the huge mango tree, enjoying a puff with a glass in the other hand.
Robin decided to stay close to the tree, so that he could go inside again and get two drinks from the bar.
The girl seemed to feel a bit cold with the chilled air blowing from the river not so far from there. Robin took off his jacket and placed it on the delicate shoulders of the girl.
“I won’t be long. Just wait for me here. Is fresh lemonade ok with you?” Soda water with lemon juice, sugar and ice was very popular and generally served to the guests during wedding receptions.
The girl agreed with a large smile. Her skin looked so smooth and milky-white under the moonlight.
As Robin was about to take a turn on his hills, he heard an angelic voice next to him “Kate, that’s what my mom calls me, Kate”.
“I’ll be right back Kate”, Robin replied. His heart was pounding so loud, he hardly heard the scream of a small kid at the entrance when he almost crushed his feet and stumbled on him. He rushed straight to the bar.
Thoughts were reeling into his head. How lucky he was to have met her! He had never seen a beautiful girl like her. He was thanking God to have sent an angel to meet him. Life would be like living in Paradise with Kate. She had finally told him her name.
It was not so uncommon that young boys and girls made acquaintances during wedding reception like this one. In small Goan villages Ball rooms and Dance/night clubs were not very common. This was one of the ways for young boys and girls to entertain themselves, and sometimes seize the chance of meeting his or her soul mate.
The final arrangements for the marriage were, of course, done between the parents.
For Robin, this was surely a part of his destiny, to meet the soul-mate, the angel of his lifetime, to build his future family with. He knew that this girl was the chosen one for him. He surely needed to know more about her; what is her family name, where was she from, etc. He could then talk to his parents.
His parents would then make their own investigation about her and eventually decide to go and talk to Kate’s parents.
Robin was certain that his mother would be very happy and consenting to go ahead and make necessary arrangements for an eventual marriage.
A good job was almost secured. He would take his new post as branch manager in a local bank in a couple of weeks. He would only have to wait for a few months before starting a new life with this beautiful angel. God had planned his future so well!
He could have continued his dream if the barman had not brought him back to the real world, presenting two glasses of soda with lemon juice.
Robin grabbed the two glasses in his hands made his way as quickly as he could towards the mango tree just at the corner of the shack.
When arrived outside there was no body under the mango tree. The two couples that he had seen earlier were still there. He could hear their giggles and loud voices very clearly.
Robin looked at his watch. It was 10.25 p.m. He had been gone only seven minutes. Kate was supposed to be waiting for him there under the tree. He had so many things to ask her. She had just started to talk by telling him her name. She would definitely reveal more about herself, and know each other better.
He looked around the tree once again, but she was not in sight. Nobody else was in the vicinity besides the two couples. Did she go inside looking for him?
Robin rushed back into the shack and looked all over if he could spot her. His search was in vain. Why would Kate leave him like that and disappear. Did any of her parents or relatives come asking her to go home?
Robin started to get nervous and did not know if he was thinking straight.
If she left so suddenly, it’s obviously because her house is not very far from there. She must have just walked home.
But, which house? There were quite a few houses around. Could one of the couples he saw outside give him more details?
He left the two glasses at a table at the corner and decided to walk towards the couples outside. A few steps away from the mango tree, Robin could distinguish more clearly the voices of the boys and girls.
Approaching them, Robin said: “Good evening friends. Do any of you, by any chance, know where Kate’s house is?”
The girls seemed to be amazed by the question and repeated the question adding a light laughter to it “Kate’s house?”
“Well, Kate, the girl who was with me a while ago. I was standing there under the mango tree” Robin said pointing his finger towards the tree.
One of the boys said amusingly “hey, isn’t that blue house over there they call Kate’s house?”
The other three seemed to join the fun, and said “yah, yah, I remember now, the Kate’s house. I heard about it”.
“So, where is that house?” Robin asked impatiently.
One of the girls pointed out a church tower at the end of a small pathway and said “The second house after the church is Kate’s house. You can’t miss it. It’s painted in blue and has seven steps to walk up to the main door”.
Robin was more than obliged to the group, who had given him precious information. He could finally locate the house and see Kate again. He would at least recover his jacket and go back to join the wedding reception.
Robin thanked the two boys and two girls who had been so kind to provide the precious information to him.
There was no time to waste. Doubling his pace, Robin started walking towards the church tower which could be seen clearly even in the dark.
Probably after five minutes of walk, crossing the church yard, Robin had located the blue house. The lights in the house were still on. It was not yet 11.00 pm and it’s normal that Kate had just arrived back in the house and her parents would be still awake.
Exactly seven steps to climb to reach the front door. Without hesitating, Robin knocked at the door.
No response. Robin knocked again and waited patiently for a couple of minutes.
A woman probably in her fifties drowsily opened the door.
“Good evening Madame, I am so sorry to have disturbed you so late at night. I was wandering if I am at the right place. Is this Kate’s house?” Robin asked.
The lady was charming and replied with a large smile that reminded him of Kate’s smile “yes indeed. People usually call this Kate’s house. Is there anything I can do for you, young man?”
Robin seemed relieved by the answer.
“Did Kate arrive back home safely?” Robin asked.
The lady seemed a bit puzzled and returned only half smile to Robin.
He continued “I was just wandering if I could say good night to her and take my jacket back”.
The lady seemed even more puzzled and confused, and replied with a trembling voice “Is this some kind of a joke, young man?”
Robin was even more intrigued, but trying to keep his calm, replied “I am so sorry that my question sounded like a joke to you, but whatever made it sound like a joke to you, Madame”.
“Well, first of all Kate is my aunt’s name. This house is named “Kate” after she passed away. Secondly, you are asking for your jacket that you gave to her, apparently”.
“I was with her at the wedding less than an hour ago. I danced with her and as I left her for a while to get a glass of lemonade, I even gave my jacket because it was a bit cold outside. When I came back with the drinks, she was gone”.
“There must be an error or a misunderstanding. This is Kate’s house, but there is nobody by that name living here”.
While the lady was talking to him, Robin was desperately trying to find a clue to convince her that he was really with Kate at the wedding reception less than an hour ago. He noticed through the door, half open, a portrait hanging on the wall at the end of the hallway. He could swear it was Kate. Her face was already imprinted into his memory even after a short encounter.
“That’s Kate on the portrait over there, right?” Robin said pointing the finger towards the picture inside.
The lady immediately replied without hesitation “Yes of course, it’s Kate”.
“Then, why are you trying to derail my question. I only want to recover my jacket, Madame. It’s ok if you do not want me to see Kate again”.
“But, are you sure that the girl that was with you at the wedding reception, is indeed the same Kate in the picture?”
“Yes Madame, I am sure. How can I forget so quickly the face of an angel that I danced with, and almost fell in love with her”.
“It is impossible that Kate was at the wedding reception, dancing with you. If that is the person you see on the portrait that you are talking about, she is my mother’s sister passed away about thirty years ago”.
“You must be having a daughter or a relative that looks just like her. I do not understand why you are trying to hide her from me”.
At this point Robin was almost in tears and did not have any more strength to hide his emotions.
He started telling the lady his story in all its details; from the moment he saw Kate until the moment she disappeared.
The lady listened carefully Robin’s story, shedding a few tears herself.
She decided to tell Robin the true story of Kate.
“The portrait that you see hanging in the hallway is that of my mother’s younger sister, Kate. She passed away exactly thirty years ago. Today is her death anniversary. She was the prettiest girl in Goa, when she was a young girl.
I myself was a young lady, same as your age, when she passed away. Kate was still a student when she passed away in an accident. My grandparents left us when I was very young. After Kate passed away, the family decided to name this house after her but determined never to re-use that name, Kate, again to any child in the family.
Many people today know this house as Kate’s house”.
“It’s a very touching story Madame. But I cannot believe that Kate is not the one who was with me a few moments ago”.
“Tomorrow morning if you have time, I’ll show you her tomb in the cemetery that is just a few meters behind the church” the lady said in a seemingly convincing tone.
“I would love to do that. My mind won’t rest at peace until I see her tomb with my own eyes”, Robin said.
“If you wish, pass by here tomorrow at about 9 o’clock. I shall accompany you to the cemetery. Good night young man. I shall wait for your visit tomorrow”. The lady turned to enter the house and close the door behind, when she heard the tearful voice of Robin.
“Good night, Madame, and thank you for your kindness”.
The following morning it was already past 9.00 and the lady from Kate’s house waited in vain for Robin.
Probably Robin decided to go there all by himself. After all it was not so difficult to find the cemetery. Kate’s tomb stone, in white marble was right at the entrance. The name was engraved on it in big characters. No one could miss it when you enter the cemetery.
The lady decided to go there, anyway, and make sure the young man was convinced of the story.
The cemetery gates were open and no one seemed to be around. She walked in and turned right towards Kate’s tomb stone.
She could not believe her eyes. A brown color jacket was lying on the tomb, as if placed there to cover the grave.
Did Robin come to the cemetery, already? Then why did he not take his jacket? The lady thought to herself.
Robin might come later and pick up his jacket. But the cemetery is now open and any other visitor would be able to take this nice jacket. She thought that it would be safer if she took it home with her and wait for Robin to pass by and collect it.
So, she picked up the jacket and stepped back to read the epitaph once again:
KATE
Died: April 10, 1994
Age: 20
THE ONLY LOVE OF YOU
I ALWAYS WAITED FOR
A few days passed and Robin did not show-up. Worried about this young boy, she decided to go to the young groom’s brother and tell him about the jacket.
To her utter surprise, neither the groom nor his brother seemed to know anyone by the name Robin. The groom’s brother did not even remember having invited Robin to the wedding.
Disappointed by the results of this first enquiry, she decided to ask some of the guests who had attended the wedding if they remembered the boy with brown jacket and dancing with a young girl dressed in white.
Nobody seemed to remember having seen Robin.
The lady was shocked to realize that probably Robin never even existed.
The moral of the story:
Do not be fooled by appearances.
What you see may not be what it is.
If you liked this short story, continue reading many more Fantastic short stories in my book "A HANDFUL OF FANTASTIC STORIES"
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