Tales of the incredible Naina Talwar: Where art thou Romeo?

(All characters appearing in this collection are fictional. Any resemblance of anyone alive or dead is purely and truly coincidental)

Naina felt her phone vibrate. She was busy preparing her lessons for the rest of the day while listening to ‘feel this moment’ by Pitbull.

It was Bryan on Line.

“Spot on babe. Spot on. Did you see the horoscope for the year for us? At the rate we are going, you will be doing grad school and I will be off to New York end of the year.”

Naina had known Bryan for nearly ten years and their friendship was still going strong or it had to be, at the rate Bryan was messaging her. Even when he was overseas, he never failed to message her with regards to decisions on relationships and in life on the whole. The older they got, the closer they have become and Naina has only one thing to thank that for. The Universe. For some absurd reason they both have a love-hate relationship with the cosmological universe, a concept they have created to blame when things went terribly well or terribly bad. Nevertheless, Bryan was one of the important friends in her life that she was never ever sexually attracted to, because he was gay.

The bell rang and Naina decided to reply to his message when she came back from class.

Naina did a final check on the things she needed to bring to class and headed out of the common room. The hall was still jam packed with students trying to rush for their next class. Naina managed to find the class she was looking for.

“What’s Montague? It is nor hand nor foot, Nor arm nor face, nor any part belonging to man. O, be some other name. What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.”

“Good morning Jude”, Naina remarked with not the slightest glance at the actor who delivered Romeo’s speech. Naina placed her laptop on the table and switched on the projector.

“You are looking mighty fine Ms Naina. How was your holidays? Did you go on any exotic trips? Joined a cult lately? Got a new boyfriend? ”

Naina looked up. Jude was grinning from ear to ear, trying to look cool at the same time with his fringe covering his forehead.

“Nope. No exotic journeys nor cults nor boyfriend. But I see you had a great holiday. You brain is functioning once again and I like the new mop on your head”, she grinned back.

“Ms Naina!!! I am appalled. This is not a mop. It is an iconic symbol of a musician in the making. Even Mozart would agree to this new trend I am setting”

“Well, sadly he is not alive to comment. So let me do the honours and remind you that if it is not cut before the next lesson, I will assist you in becoming the next lady gaga by making you wear one of my ridiculous props on your head. Now go and sit down and let me start with my lessons.”

Jude made a small flick of his hair and snorted something about fashion sense under his breathe and made his way to join his less quirky friends for lesson.

The rest of the class was waiting for Naina to begin. “Good morning class and welcome back to school as graduating seniors this year. The road is going to be a tough one and some of you will be left behind if you don’t put in any effort in your work. I assume you have completed the holiday assignment I have given you and….”

The class was over in a blink of an eye. The students of graduating class Apollo were busy copying the last few slides of Act Two Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet while Naina counted the number of holiday assignments. There was one piece missing and she immediately knew who it was. She lifted the paper and stared at Jude who was anticipating the look from Naina, the moment she started counting the assignments.

"Ms Naina, it is not that I did not do your work. But after careful consideration, I decided not to burden you by handing up a sloppy inaccurate essay, I shall redo the essay and had  it up to you tomorrow."

"Oh how considerate of you Mr Jude. Tell you what, since you have been so considerate in ensuring a fantastic quality of work for me, why don't you also complete question (b) and hand it along with your holiday homework?"

"But Ms Naina..."

"Now, now Jude, you won't want to break the heart of someone who slowly, in the sand time of eternity, growing to trust you, would you?" said Naina in her honey dipped venomous tone.

Jude nodded, "Yes Ms Naina, I wouldn't want to do that". Jude's friends were sneering and sniggering behind his back.

"If that is all, I am going out of class and I will see you all on Thursday. Thank you class." The class greeted Naina and she made her way out of class.  Gosh, she had so much marking to do. And to make matters worse, some of the essays are so lengthy that she had to read at least a paragraph before she came to the point the student was trying to get at. At times it seems finding a way out of Bugis market on a crowded Saturday was much more easier.

As she stepped out of class, a familiar breeze engulfed her.  The whispering smell of fresh citrus fruit with a slight musk awakened her half dead cells, creating a tinkling feeling which ran from her neck to the edge of her spinal cord. The scent caressed every part of her body just like how Bach's Suite No 1 engulfed her soul and took her breath away each time she listened to it.  Time seemed to suddenly slow down and everything was moving slowly except for her. She knew that could only mean one thing, he was here.

Travis was looking stunning even in his work attire. Not much taller than herself, Travis was standing in the corridor surrounded by young teenage girls trying to get his attention. She could see how some of the skirts have suddenly become shorter while they were talking to him. Why wouldn't it be? Just look at him. His high cheek bones, strong jaws and hazel brown hair with a glaze of bronze that shines each time the sunlight hit that area. A petite guy but with broad shoulders that gave him a nice frame. The only thing that made him seem disproportionate is his skinny legs which he always covered by wearing long track pants. That is the advantage of being a PE teacher in school.

He reminded her of the less good looking version of  Jonathan Rhys Meyers. She continued to gaze at him and wondered if he would look better with streaks of white hair, he turned and their eyes met. Time stopped. Her breath had stopped. He was not just looking at her, he was looking into her soul.

"Naina, my dear Naina..." a low husky voice could be heard from a distance. Naina almost melted.

"Naina, oi Naina!!!" The voice got louder. Suddenly, the noise came back and Naina realised that she was still standing at the corridor. The voice however was not coming from the front but from the back. She turned and saw Mrs Kwang walking towards her. She was a big rounded woman and by the time she reached Naina, she was nearly breathless.

"Naina, there is a parent at the General office to see you", she huffed.

"Oh no, I forgot that I have arranged a meeting with Ryan's parents. Thanks Mrs Kwang!" And with that she turned around to see catch a glimpse of Travis but he was gone. Disappointed, she tapped Mrs Kwang's shoulder, thanking her again and hurried to the office. 

Tales of the incredible Naina Talwar: The case of the invisible student

(All characters appearing in this collection are fictional. Any resemblance of anyone alive or dead is purely and truly coincidental)

Naina took one last look at herself in the mirror. Gosh, she has changed within a year. The girl looking back was dressed in an elegant dress which she had bought from her recent vacation, exposing her curves and her sexy legs. She was a full-figured girl and proud of it. No longer did she aim to look skinny. She was taught over the vacation that being voluptuous with curves at the right places was well appreciated by good-looking men. But what really was striking about her was how stern and less patient she has become. It was as if she had evolved into Snow White's Stepmother.

"Naina are you ready? It is time to go for class".

It was Jenny, the assistant guardian of class Excellence. She was a pretty, young girl, fresh out from college and helping Naina out. Naina liked her at first glance and knew she would be great to work with. Naina took a final look at herself and picked up the class list and headed for class.

The corridors were jammed back with students rushing to get to class. "Good morning Ms Naina" cried some students who caught the sight of her and before she could reply, they had disappeared.

It seemed just like yesterday, that Naina had arrived at Josephine's International Academy. She had left her government high school teacher job to try her hands at an international school. She was tired of teaching at a local school and wanted a change.  And a change she got when she met the principal of Josephine's International Academy, Ms Michelle Ong, at a social event. She was a pleasant lady but with a class of her own. She was impressed with Naina and offered her a place in the school. Naina tired of working with local students jumped onto the band wagon. Hardly, did she realise that she was moving from hot water to boiling water.

"Naina, over here!" Jenny cried. Naina walked towards Jenny who was standing outside class Excellence waving her hand frantically. The bell rang as Naina entered the class.

She saw 35 pairs of eyes staring at her. She surveyed the class. It was like a box of chocolate eggs. There were students who were big and tall and there were really small ones. The class looked rather timid and Naina having taught one of the most notorious classes for two years, decided not to be fooled by their naive disguise.

Naina started the class with strict rules and expectations followed by collection of administrative forms. Jenny on the other hand was taking attendance. In the midst of  collecting forms, Jenny came to Naina looking really puzzled.

"Naina, there are 35 students in the class. Two absent, so that should make 33 students right? Well, I have 33 students marked  in the attendance sheet but there are 34 students present in class."

"What? Wait let me count." Naina counted and Jenny was right. There were 34 bodies in class.

"Is there anyone whose name we have not called?" she asked. The class was quiet. "Jenny, read out the names again please and double check, while I collect the second form from them". 

Jenny started calling out names again and Naina called for students to submit their second form to the students sitting in the front.  

"Ms Naina..." A small petite boy approached the teacher's table. "I am sorry but my parents don't understand what is written in the form. Naina looked at the timid boy.

"You parents don't understand what is written in the form?" The boy shook his head. "Can your parents read English, can they understand English?" she asked.

"Yes, Ms Naina. But they don't understand what is in the form... No..no wait they have no time to read , so they don't understand" said the little boy.

"What's your name?"

" Iqbal" replied the boy. "They cannot sign if they don't understand"

Naina was trying to process what Iqbal was trying to say. "Of course they would not understand the form if they have not read it. Sigh..." she mumbled.

 "Listen Iqbal, I want you to ask your parents to read it and sign. Can you do that for me?" she asked. Iqbal shook his head. Naina wondered if he understood what she had told him. Naina turned around and saw students coming up to her to hand in the forms.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you...." Naina noticed a boy standing in front of her, staring at her. He somewhat reminded her of the hamster in Bedtime Stories. He had his button buttoned all the way to his collar and which made her imagine a hamster in a pastor attire.  

"Yes, can I help you? Is there something you want to ask me?" she asked him. He shook his head and continued to stare at her while she collected more forms.

"Hello, is there something you want to tell me?" she asked again. This time he pointed to the forms she was holding. "Forms" , he said

"Oh, you handed in the forms?" she asked. He nodded his head and continued to stare at her. 

"Then could you please kindly take your seat?"

He slowly turned and made his way to his seat and while he sat, he spoke to the boy beside him, still staring at her.

"Naina, we still have two absentees in the attendance list and 34 students present in class", Jenny said, still puzzled.

" Okay let's sort this out later, the student leaders are waiting for us to exit before they start their orientation programme with the freshies in school." Naina grabbed the forms and walked out of class with Jenny.

"I don't understand. No matter how many times I count, there is still one extra kid in class" sighed Jenny still counting the number of ticks in the attendance list."

"Wait a minute, let me see who the two absentees are." Naina scrolled her eyes down the list. Kun Seyong and Alexis were marked with a circle beside their names.

"Hang on a minute", said Naina and the next minute she was walking back to class. Jenny confused with Naina's reaction tailed her back to the class.

The student leaders were already conducting cheers in class when Naina appeared with Jenny trailing behind her.

"Sorry Jim for interrupting," she apologised to the student leader. Her eyes darted to the back of the class.

"Hey you, at the back..." she pointed at the child who reminded her of the hamster. "What's your name?" she yelled.

He looked at her with his big eyes and replied in an audible voice, "Alexis" .

Naina smiled and turned to thank the student leader and proceeded out to class where Jenny was looking furious. "That is your invisible student in class" she smirked.

"I called his name and he did not reply. Dame that kid! But Naina how did you know it was him?" she asked.

"Well Jenny, remember the email we got from the school counselor? She mentioned that one of the kids have difficulty with languages. I had a gut feeling the moment I caught him staring at me for a long time. A boy with that expression was sure to be the blur hamster in class."

"Wow, you are good Naina"

Naina sighed, "Nah, I am not good. It is just that I have evolved after two years of teaching special cases in this school. It is a whole new territory for you but nothing new for me. You will soon learn that you are not a teacher but a circus master. The faster you learn to communicate, the better you perform in the ring."

Jenny laughed, "You are funny Naina." Giving her a pat on the back, she walked back to her cubicle.

"Oh well, that comes as part of your training after a while," yelled Naina

"Welcome back Naina to another year of madness", she sighed to herself. 

Reasons why I like funerals (or why I am a Wednesday Adam's girl)

I received a What's App message from my meditation friend. One of my other friend's grandmother had passed away and she asked me if I wanted to go to the wake. I agreed and as I put the phone down, my heart pounded. It is a funeral!!! A certain amount of nostalgic warmness filled my heart. Don't get me wrong, I felt sad for my friend because she was one of the most sweetest thing around and I knew she loved her grandmother. But the idea of going to a funeral always excited me. Perhaps, because it represented a certain aspect of my childhood. After all, as a child I had attended more funerals than wedding, to a point that a wedding does not excite me as much as funerals. I have started planning for my mother's funeral, asking her what are some things she wanted for her funeral, whether I could cut up and preserve her body like the Egyptians did (my mother said that if I touched her body, she will come that night and give me a huge tight slap and knowing my mother, she will do that). I even planned my own funeral as a kid and used to write down rituals which I wanted to be conducted when I was dead. I know some of you can't phantom why I would do that. But listen, if you spend your childhood in a neighbourhood with people mysteriously dying, a growing aging population and not to mention a mortuary at a walking distance, why wouldn't you be interested in death? I remembered as a child, I used to sit and watch old people during their last moments of breathing. That explains why at one point I celebrated my birthday at the hospice and volunteered my time there. It felt like going back to my childhood days. Not to mention, the amazing superstitions surrounding my neighbourhood. I truly was a Addam's Family child, in particular Wednesday.

There are a couple of logical reasons why I appreciate funerals and look forward to attend them. Let me share them with you.

Reason 1: It is a mass gathering of extended family, friends and sometimes communities you have never seen before.

As a child, I was amazed at the turn out rate at funerals. I would discover in one event that I have so many cousins that I have never knew existed. So many familiar and unfamiliar faces. The best part is that they can miss a wedding but never a funeral. It seems like it is a taboo to miss a funeral. It is truly a great way to learn about your family tree, which I did each time there was a funeral.

Reason 2:  The entertainment and gossips

I am sure this applies not just to Hindu funerals. I remembered once I had to write a paper on funerals and I wrote about my observation of my extended family's funeral. It was really truly an eye-opener. My mother was the one who gave me a heads-up when I entered the funeral venue, "Take a look at the choir of old ladies and observe them carefully." It was actually quite entertaining to watch how each time they would hail and cry when someone enters the house. After a few minutes, they would stop and chat about the latest gossips. It happened some many times that I was actually enjoying it. Not to mention the whole gossip girls' moment as I try to eavesdrop with what is happening with who. It is very entertaining I must say.

Reason 3: The Dead

I truly respect the dead. And most of you know, even my students know this, I have always had a fantasy of becoming a mortician. It was an idea that popped up when I attended my secondary school's principal's funeral. I adored her and she had motivated me and shaped me to be empowered. But when I attended her funeral and saw her face, the first thing I wanted to do, was to slap the face of the mortician. Gosh, her make-up for horrible. She looked like a wayang woman. I stood gazing at her body. My friend thought I was really upset over her death and was missing her so much. I was upset, actually pissed. Boy, only if I could get my hands on the mortician (my friend thought I had snapped a brain vessel). The point is that I think the dead should be preserved the way they were in their life. I studied mummification and had taken into the idea of turning dead things into artifacts. For now, it is only dead hornets and flowers but maybe one day I may be able to preserve bodies, like what they did for Eva of Argentina. Legend has it that she was so well preserved that she looked like she was sleeping and someone actually stole her body and performed unspeakable deeds on her dead body (necrophilia I presume). I truly take pride in preserving the dead and somewhere in my heart, I believe that they usual stand and watch their own bodies and think about what they have achieved in their lives.

Reason 4: Superstitions and rituals

I am a ritualistic person so I am always interested in different cultural practices when it comes to funerals. I like observing and learning about the cultural aspect of it. Human beings have many ways to cope with the dying and death and there is always a need to keep in touch with the dead. It is beautiful to see how people respect the dead or how they fear the unknown. For instance, I still remember how after a month of my grandma's funeral, my mother gave food and sat down in front to talk to my grandma's photograph. I had no idea why at first. But I did notice how at first the photo which was a bit sulky had suddenly become much more brighter and was no longer sulking. I asked my mother what the content of her conversation was and she said she was telling my grandmother that it was time for her to move on and then being left behind as a ghost feeds no purpose. It is amazing how much we still assume after death, the connection and bond still continues. This bond is universal and humans' way of trying to cope with uncertainty and the lost of their love ones.

There are other reasons which I can state but the basic point I was getting at, is this; funerals help us cope with the cycle of life. I am not going to ask big questions, like what happens after I die or what have I done in my life. I just like observing people at funerals. It reminds me of how we human beings are different from most animals. We treasure and make connections with our loved one whether they are dead or alive.  

Someday I will know

Saturday afternoons have become somewhat special for me. I start my day with helping my mother a little and then heading down to the gym with my 'twin' ( our lives have been a roller coaster ever since we met 7 years ago. Gosh, I know this fabulous diva for such a long time). We started spending time together ever since I started hanging out near his place during the end-of-year exams where, I will be marking and he, applying for jobs. We would end the day watching Top Model and bitching about the models.

This two Saturdays, we have been going for gym classes together and then heading down to NUS, our alumni to do work. I am not going to say where we work, but the place is somewhat cozy and the moment we settle down, we are completely absorbed in our work. And then we would travel back together.

Yesterday, we did the same thing and on both days it rained. Somewhat we both enjoyed the fact it rained. It gave NUS a serenity which we both enjoy a lot. As we packed up and walked through the sheltered area to the bus station, my twin highlighted to me that this year, ten years ago, I got matriculated into NUS.  I could not believe that it has been so long since I was an undergraduate. As we walked through the area, it started to rain heavily. But it was not your usual rain, it looked like snow. My twin has this habit, he would play songs from the 90s as we walk and this added a sense of nostalgia to the whole atmosphere.

At one point, we stopped. The scene ahead of us was so beautiful (the picture above, my twin looking out) and what made it so magical was the song that was being played in his I-phone. It melted my heart. It was one of the moments that brought a huge sense of warmth to my heart. Someday we'll know from the movie, A walk to remember. As I watched Singapore's economy, its port showered by mother nature and listening to the song, I thought about my first love in NUS. He was a major part of my life then and until recently. I don't want to mention his name but he meant a lot to me. I remembered that I had never cried so much in my life but he literally made me shed pearly translucent blood. And yet, I loved him. I no longer have the same intense feelings and I have learnt that he came into my life because we were meant to be connected at that phase of our life. Although I don't understand why it never truly worked out between us, like the song, someday I will know why we were never meant to be.

I have fallen in love last year again just to have my heart broken. But ironical, even that experience was never as deep as my first love. It was more than love. It was a connection that I had with him because before I fell for him, he was my friend. I will always remember him and how much my life would be empty without him. My life in NUS was never this exciting because, most of my memories, consist of events I took part outside of NUS. But I suppose only he made NUS an icon in my life.

As we walked on, I always wonder, does he feel the same way I feel about him? Perhaps he does feel, but the experience was a different one. Just like how different NUS looks when the rain falls down like snow. Unspeakably beautiful.

This is how I feel after my meditation sessions

Catch phrase of the year

Two days into school and I feel like Jack from Lord of the flies when he went hunting for the wild boar. The blood fresh and hot flowing from my aorta into my brain that has significantly increased thanks to the new batch and returning students and colleagues in my life. Maybe that is why my hair has become maroon brown. Though my brother thinks it looks like a dead cockroach on my head and he never forgets to remind me everyday, to me, I think it is a red mane of a lion on a prowl.

I am a lion on a prowl. Why wouldn't I be? After two years I am teaching lower sec classes and my Express graduating classes.  I hate teaching lower sec classes. It is not them, it is me. After 2 years of teaching graduating classes, I am so used to nasty, bimbotic attitude and the continuous mind games I play with them. Words have an implied meaning to them. With lower secondary, I am like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Kindergarten cop. I have to install discipline in them and the worst is I forgot how their brains function.

Take the day before for instance, I was informing my thirteen year olds (who apparently went home and told their parents, how ferocious I am. Another reputation for the new year and apparently parents like me for that, what a sadist world we live in) important dates and things they have to bring to class next week. I had given out their organizers and it was carefully placed on their tables. As I spoke in a pace 2x slower than normal, I realised they were staring at me as if I was telling them a story.

"Hello children! You see the organizer on the table (I took the organizer), can you please turn to the date 6 Jan and now take a pen, you have a pen right  (lifted a pen)? Write down this on the box provided (I pointed to the board)." Suddenly, as if a light falling between a crack wall, my kids' eyes brighten and they opened the organizer and copied the information. I just realised I had to basically give specific instructions to the kids. It was not like my graduating class where even if I made a spelling mistake, they would copy it without thinking cause they are so busy copying. What a drastic change. I need to consciously remind myself to slow down.

On the hind side, I had a great time unleashing the grizzly bear to my current Secondary three Cadets in NPCC. Being a TO for them, I could not resist welcoming them to my territory. I was waiting for them to join the Upper secondary range which is now my territory. They had a shock when they suddenly saw Ms Lingehs, the cool, come- down to- check on them change into the a huge grizzly bear with a sore head. I had no intention at first to come down on them so hard. But yesterday I had to deal with two lower sec classes with no discipline and the evolution had already started and my sore in my head was growing. Not to mention coupling with meet -the-parents session and campfire last night which ended at 9.30pm. If you had to work for 14 hours plus, anyone who tries to be funny with you, must as well go and jump into a volcano. The pain is short. My cadets did not understand, the phrase 'at ease' and I had to unleash the grizzly bear. I had no idea what I was saying because my mouth was lecturing faster than my brains. And all I could see was their faces turning black. Like charcoal black. Well, someone had to tell them that the world does not revolve around them and they can't create havoc in school, not especially when I am around. I am the bitch in school and I am working towards being God-bitch (a term my ex- student coined two years ago). No one messes with Lucifer's daughter (a nickname that came about because one of my students thought I was a Satan worshipper).  

In the midst of all this nonsense, I discovered my catch phrase for the year. "Never piss me off". I found myself using it so many times, with my students in one day. Maybe, it is just because, I am tired. I have a lot of work and the last thing I want to deal with is idiosyncrasies in my classrooms and my CCA.  

Well, at the end of two days, I realised I am still evolving despite having 409 graduate (oh, they came back to see me last night in school) and this is something not in my control.

Dorothy's revolving wheel

Dorothy sat on her chair completely exhausted. Taking over her uncle's new culinary school was no joke. The man had started with a small farm and now that was gone and in its place was a culinary school. A dream of her uncle's and a plan to get her to put her culinary degree to good use. Poor girl has been on the frontline since she came back from her winter break.

"Winter...", she sighed.

It has only been a month since the unimaginable happened to her in Oz City. Why it happened was something she could never understand, no matter how much she tried to justify it.

She had left Oz City eleven years ago and had decided that it was time she paid a visit to it. From the last twitter she received from the Munchkins, things have changed drastically since she left. People have migrated and there were new residents occupying familiar grounds. It was a breeding ground of new immigrants and a melting pot of cultures. The only thing that remained the same was the pace. It has picked up, but people are still more relaxed compared to where she was.

Oz was a new experience but what was unexpected was meeting Domarchi. He was the new Head researcher for the Oz enterprise. The Wizard was now a more humorous predictor of the future, thanks to the Head researcher, who seem to be a techno wiz with a sense of humour. Dorothy remembered him as the eighteen-year-old, non existence character when she was in the limelight at that same age. Now, he looked different. He was huge but once could still recognize him in his smile. He was more bubblier than usual when they met.

"Dame, it all had to start with the kiss... that perfect kiss..." she cursed under the breathe. It was something she could never understand. The romantic dejavu played in front of her eyes. The feelings were real and so was his towards her. She missed him, though they communicated almost daily, she did most of the talking.

"You've got mail" rang her phone. She glanced across and saw the familiar name from What's App. It was Leo. She sighed again.

Leo was unexpected. A friend of the coward lion whom she happened to be introduced to. She did not have the chance to meet him while in OZ but he somewhat seemed very much attracted to her. And she could not believe how he looked. He was one of the most handsome lions she have met. Nonetheless, he was very down to earth. He reminded her of herself. He was chatty and that made her really comfortable. Being chatty herself she loved the interactive aspect. He was making her self-conscious and very aware of what she was capable of. She liked his company and not to mention his dancing and acting skills. What was even surprising, was he appeared after she made a wish list of what she wanted in a spouse.

Dorothy could have just answered the message but at this point, she was too busy at her computer. She had managed to clear her emails except for one. And this one is something she needed to do. It was more important than her current job, especially when the reply was something she had not expected. It was no ordinary email. It was an email from her beloved tin man, Ein.

It was only six months ago, that her long lost friend, the tin man, Ein emailed her. He had finally managed to track her down after he took his sabbatical to search for his own identity. Dorothy never understood why he wanted to leave until recently, where she has being questioning her own destiny. Ein had lost the heart awarded to him 3 years ago, thanks to another female companion who he was travelling with. It took him a year to get back on track and now working in a pharmaceutical company, he finally contacted her. He had no heart and despite that, he seemed to be the only person she left emotively intellectually connected. His language was horrible but he did get the message through.

" How am I going to reply to your mail? " she pondered. But the real question was, how was she to make sense of all three men in her life. Dorothy was stuck and yet amazed at what she was feeling and what she had created.

She had feelings for Dormachi but he was in an open relationship. She was thinking with her heart (which was never a good idea with men). She felt feelings for him but the uncertainty of the status of her relationship with him and the safety net he had, troubled her. She continued to explore but with uncertainty.

Leo was just like her. The comfort level was great. In fact, it was really comfortable and she felt that he was at a stage of her life she has been through. He liked her for who she was. He was corky and bantered with her. He shared a lot about himself with her. He even wanted to help her create little Dorothies. But was it possible for a lion and a human to get married? Just not really possible. Unlike Dormachi, he did not make her heart pound.

Ein was a confusing case. His language barrier had made Dorothy think about the way she acted with men and the things she said to them. Ein craved for a heart but yet he knew the prize of getting one again. Dorothy had never saw Ein in that light, but the emotive intelligence had made her feel connected to him. He understood her and made her think. Ein had to resist falling for her and this gave a new insight to the meaning of love.

Dorothy stared at her half written response. There were three men in her life. One she who had a chemistry which she could never explain. But it was the same connection that was pushing her further from him. The second was a metaphor of her phase of life, something she could relate to, but no heart pounding experience. The last one was an unspeakable connection. A sense of understanding that she could never figure out.

All she knew was that all three were different aspects of love and they were all in faraway lands with their own complexity.

Dorothy continued to stare at the screen, but her mind was playing her favourite anime song and she wondered if there were more to her and them than she thought. After all the story may have just started for her and the end is yet far away.

"The more people we meet, the more dramatic it become,

Will the day come where we will find,

Our broken treasures again?

The scars will not fade

We each must go to where we belong"