The Essence of Love: Fiction Romance Book

By Arshad Ali

The book was written to value the word 'love'. It is a story of an immature boy who falls in love and his love lead him to find the true value and importance of his life. The book is completely dedicated to the youth of today's generation, most of whom believe that the word 'love' is actually to be in a relationship.

The story starts with a girl who was struggling hard to manage her berth in a train to spend the night. She found a stranger in that train who seemed to be little bit complicated but interesting. The stranger asked her if she believed in love and she replied him that she was into relationship earlier but she never made it out. Then the stranger narrated his own story to her and when it came to an end she was left numb. His story made her feel and realize that love doesn't actually mean to be in a relationship. Love is eternal, which keeps every living being in this world attached to each other. It is actually a feeling that we are alive in this world; Alive for a REASON

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781304936578

Book preview

Prologue

Unfortunately, she was travelling for the first time from Guwahati to Kolkata in a train, all alone, to attend her best friend’s wedding. As soon as she entered the three tier AC coach, she found that she was going to spend the night on the side upper berth of the coach. No, she didn’t think she is going to climb up to sleep that night. She decided to ask the person who will be sitting on the lower berth to sleep on her berth. But where is that stranger? Will the stranger allow her to sleep in his or her own berth?

She started looking here and there to find that stranger. Only 15 minutes were left for the departure of the train, but the stranger was not in yet. She found herself with a Bengali family and one Assamese man inside the compartment. But they were settled on their own seats. The train started gathering its speed when the stranger entered the compartment, struggling to pull his luggage inside; holding a guitar on his back, and an earphone attached to his ears. When she saw him, she thought it would be easy for her to convince that guy if he was the stranger she was looking for, because he looked like to be of her own age. He was coming forward, holding his ticket, and moving his head to the beats of the music. Finally, he found his berth where she was sitting but, without noticing her, he kept his luggage and went towards the exit door. As he didn’t returned for a while, she turned back to see that he was standing near the door, enjoying the wind. After almost an hour, he returned and sat in front of her with those earphones still attached to his ears. She was finding it hard to bring the topic of exchanging the seat in front of him, as he was enjoying each beat of music with closed eyes. 

Seeing the Do not disturb board reflecting from the face of the stranger, she too decided to maintain the silence by reading a novel. She took out the novel, and they both maintained the silence for the next two hours. It was about 8.45 pm when the ticket taker came and asked the stranger for his ticket. The stranger came out from his world, and showed the ticket. By that time, everybody inside the compartment has already managed their berth to spend the night, except the stranger and her. She thought it’s time to ask him for the exchange, but he was busy taking out his guitar from its cover. So she decided not to leave the seat until and unless the stranger asked her to do that, and continued with her novel. But, soon she came out from her book, as she felt the music from the guitar inside her.  She closed her eyes to listen to the music, which was breaking the silence inside the compartment. Her eyes were closed, and a smile was reflecting from her face when the stranger noticed her.

So, you believe in Love? asked the stranger. No, not exactly; it was never my cup of tea, but you plugged those strings well. She replied. So, that means you have never been in love before. The stranger enquired. I have been into relationship, but never made it out. She replied with a smile.

The discussion continued while they both had their dinner. The stranger didn’t agree to her request of exchanging the seat, but he offered her to exchange the seat.

Anyway, tell me what you do? Are you a musician? She asked the stranger. With a smile, and a silence for a while, he replied, I am a storyteller. That word made her a little confused, and she asked, What kind of story do you have? Well, it actually depends upon the person who is listening to it he replied. So, what kind of story do you have if I would be your listener? she continued. In your case, I have my own story, but I think I should vacant my seat now for you to sleep, he replied, standing up to relocate his luggage. No, I will like to listen to your story if you are not feeling sleepy. Are you feeling sleepy? She enquired. No, I am not, he replied removing his shoes. Folding her legs, she asked again, So tell me, what is your story? Who are you?

Who am I?

Life has three big reasons to live: Past, Present and Future. Every person is born with a destiny, and I too was born with a destiny. But the problem is I don’t know what my destiny is. So, here it goes...

December 2005, I was all set to join my school as my winter vacations were about to end. Well, the truth is I was scared for the coming year inces I was promoted to the 10th Standard. Lots of pressure for the coming year and, very soon, I was going to find myself inside a pressure cooker. I didn’t have any other way to skip the coming year. And, when it comes to school, it was a different world for every person who faced school life. During those days of ours, we had some self made rules in our school, and the rules were as follows.

Girls and Boys – Tom and Jerry.

Good in studies – Very Good boy/girl.

Bad in studies – Useless creature.

Principal – Stay far away from the Principal.

Teachers – Pretend to be good in front of teachers.

Other staff members – Barking dogs seldom bite.

January 18, our school reopened. Everybody seemed to be very much excited as it was the first day of the school after the holidays. People were wishing each other Happy New Year but, for me, it was a sucking new year. New Year cards were shared, and I was so popular in my school that I didn’t even receive a single card. Oh! Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. During our school days, I fell into the third category of our rule book. But I never took myself as a useless person. Because, during those days, there were few things in which my performance was appreciated... but only by me. Highest annual punishment achiever; bunking classes by using fake signature of the class teacher, and infinite things similar to these were my speciality. Well, to discuss my character further, I would like to share an incident and, for that, I need to rewind my story little bit. When I was in 9th standard, there were two boys whom I always hated the most. One of them was our class captain, and the other was his friend. Both of them didn’t like each other but they always pretended to be good in front of each other. The reason was that both were