Enchantress

When I picked her up from the highway, she appeared to be in a fagged out state, mentally and emotionally. She sat against the wooden railing gaping at the sky. There was innocence in her eyes  that looked untouched. She had no belongings. Who could have said she came from a princely background. However, the arrogance in her body language was fairly distinguished from what I’ve noticed in the women I’ve showed even one per cent interest. It was intriguing. I took a long time to understand when I offered help. She agreed like she had wanted it. I did what her eyes directed me to do. She never sat in the front seat beside me. She slipped herself on the backseat and just mouthed ‘go’. For once, I felt like her chauffeur and must I admit, I did not mind it. It seemed like a plan the way everything was moving. I drove home and on stopping, I realised she was asleep. What felt right to me was the next step – carrying her inside in my arms. The way my body responded at the touch of a woman was something unknown to me. I went closer to her, close enough to hear her breathe softly. I moved my face in the waves of her breath. Her smell filled me up with what is known as passion and wilderness. I felt the control snapping and the magical woman lay oblivious to it. Simple and clear as it may sound, I wanted to embrace her, kiss her and make her mine. But something stopped me. I realise it now what it was. Her face. Untouched. What was it about her that trapped me? It was like my entire life summed up in that one evening. While she slept in my bed, I sat on the floor in front of her watching her sleep peacefully. I felt I could do it all my life, guarding her, protecting her from the evil eye. All night long, I watched her. My room was filled with her fragrance and it travelled from my nostrils to my brain and a moment came when I was soaked in it. I was not me. I was someone she wanted me to be. I don’t think I blinked an eye while watching her. Last that I remember was her taking my name standing at my door. I woke up to see she was gone. Who was she? Why didn’t she wait for me to wake up? I stayed up guarding her. I have no answers to these questions that still come to my mind. I do not cross that highway any more.