Chapter 2 Second Chapter

Indiana stood there, watching the car fade into the distance then he sighed and turned back home. Her thoughts filled his head and he kept on wondering where he failed her. When did he get it wrong? However he tried, he just could not seem to find the logic behind it all, his mind could never come up with an answer for their disastrous breakup by the river side. That day, she had given him an ultimatum, he could still hear her voice now as loud as ever.

"You have to decide if going to Yale is more important to you than being with me!"

"God Sophia, don't be ridiculous..."

"You're the ridiculous one", she had fired.

He walked into his parents home and saw the eagerness in their eyes as they stared at him. He sighed despondently, shaking his head, "she doesn't even want to speak to me".

* * *

Sophia could not stop crying even though she was telling herself to stop. How could her heart possibly break when it was not even whole to start with? Do hearts break twice?

She was in search of a town that had not yet heard her name, a town where no one knew who Sophia Matthews was or what she did.

Alimaj was miles away from Hadiraf town, it was a picturesque town and could only boast of a few necessities and Sophia thought it was just perfect. It did not even own a library so she was safe. She was going to find her muse and write again.

She drove into the town's service station and pulled up in front of the fuel attendant. "Hello," she greeted.

The guy looked at her and swallowed. He had curly dark hair that fell over his face in a handsome way and Sophia could bet all the money in her bank account that he was Indian. "You're new", he managed to say.

"Yep", she said in her brightest voice, "I'm looking for accommodation".

"I just may happen to know somewhere you could get a nice cottage for rent, it's owned by Mrs Brian. I'm Chopra Singh by the way".

"Sophia Matthews", she introduced. "You're Indian".

"Yes I am, now just drive straight and you'll see a large farm with a sign, 'Brian's Farm' hard to miss" he said with a large smile.

As Sophia drove away, she had a big smile, the fuel attendant had no idea who she was!

* * *

The name continued to ring in Chopra's ears like a never ending bell. If this was THE Sophia Matthews, then he had just spoken to one of his favorite authors and his best friend's ex-girlfriend. She was the one, no way could he have missed her white skin anywhere, and that dark hair. Damn! Damn! Damn! He quickly rushed into the changing room thankful that his shift was over.

Years ago his wife had left him because of Sophia. He had been stalking her on social media and it was no coincidence that he became friends with Indiana. When he bumped into him those days at Yale, he knew he couldn't let him go, they had to be friends. He could still hear his wife's voice, frustration and hurt coloring the edges as she told him she was leaving him but she would leave their daughter Esha behind. Esha had been only two years old then and he begged and begged but Rhea was not having any of it. He did not mind now though, he loved Esha with all his heart.

* * *

Sophia stepped out of the bathroom towelling her hair dry and then she slipped into her nightgown. She sat on the bed and unpacking her bag, she found her copy of her first book, "Angels of Tarirah", rubbing it's cover, she slowly opened it and read the dedication page, "for the Grade 9 students of Tarirah High School, Nasus". The inspiration had come from them alright. They were all a close knit family and were indeed angels. Sometimes, she wished she was still back there in the Girls Hostel washing her hair while the other girls admired it.

Right now, she needed that inspiration, the joy she got, motivation to write, to be creative and she wanted to write a book for God's sake! How hard could that be?

* * *

"Throes of..."

Sophia stopped. Throes of what? Did she really need a title first? Or was she to just write? How was this thing done really? She sighed and stood up walking outside the house. It was almost nightfall and the entire town was so peaceful. She walked through the green fields where cows and sheep grazed, and a dog sat curled nearby. There was a dairy situated at the extreme of the field and Sophia was shocked to see a little girl milking a cow.

"You're milking a cow?" She blurted.

The girl was startled and her head shot up. She was beautiful and had big brown eyes. "Yes, yes I am ma'am, is there a problem?"

Sophia was flustered. "Oh not at all, I'm just surprised. I mean you being little and all", she chuckled nervously.

There was an awkward silence and then Sophia extended her hand for a handshake. "My name's Sophia".

"I'm Esha Singh", the girl said.

"Singh? Is your dad Chopra?"

"Yes, Didi".

"Didi?"

"Oh, it means sister in Hindi, not to worry I'll just call you Sophia-ji".

"Oh not at all", Sophia said quickly, "Sophia will do just fine".

"I see you've met my daughter", a deep masculine voice said from behind her.

Sophia turned to see Chopra. "Yes I have", she said clearing her throat, "where's your wife?"

"We're... we're divorced. It's just Esha and I".

"Oh I'm sorry for the faux pas", Sophia apologized. "Uhn...where do you live?"

Chopra pointed his hand at the cottage next to hers with a grin on his face and Sophia became speechless.

Finding her voice, she said, "uhm, I better go in, we'll talk some other time. Bye Esha".

"Need any help moving around town I'm your go to guy," Chopra shouted after her.

Sophia prayed she would not be needing his help. It was bad enough already that they were neighbors. The last thing she needed was a tall, handsome, Indian, stranger, male precisely, messing up her plans.

* * *

Miles away in Hadiraf, Indiana was sitting outside on the porch listening to country songs on the radio, a glass of wine in his hands, reminiscing, and feeling bad. He wondered where Sophia was and what she was doing at this exact minute. Oh, how his heart pined after her.

* * *

All the newspapers in Hadiraf had one heading in variations, "WHERE IS SOPHIA MATTHEWS?" "IS SOPHIA MATTHEWS RETIRED?"

Indiana could not deal with it all and he wondered what all the fuss was about. Sophia was some place alright, some place with space. He was standing next to his car saying goodbye to his parents.

"Do you really need to go?" His mom asked.

"Yeah mom, there's a job waiting for me in New York".

"Does this have to do with Sophia?" His dad asked.

"No," Indiana said and the lie shook his insides.

* * *

Sophia and Esha quickly bonded. Soon, Sophia was also milking a cow, spending time in and out of Mrs Brian's kitchen and eating Samosa which she learnt was an Indian delicacy. She was starting to worry less and less about Indiana and had finally found a title for her story. Everything was finally working out and hopefully, she would not let her agent down anymore.

"Do you like my dad?" Esha asked her abruptly one day when they were milking.

"Esha..."

"But he likes you, like really, really likes you. Dad's always talking about you, he says you're the most beautiful woman in the world..."

"Enough Esha!" She raised her head up to find her dad looking at her, a frown on his face, and his arms folded across his chest.

"But it's true", Esha protested, "you like her".

Sophia smiled widely, "I do like him too".

Esha shouted happily and began to dance in circles. "C'mon dad, invite her over for dinner".

* * *

Since he returned to the apartment he shared with Chopra in New York, Indiana had not set eyes on him and his number was not going through. He knew where he was anyway. Either Chopra was in the city or he was in Alimaj town with his daughter Esha. He did not want to bother him tonight but the memories were too strong. Memories of a time when he held Sophia in his arms and she would laugh so loudly like the world was her oyster, and it made him feel like nothing could ever be wrong with the world.

He started to call Chopra then stopped and he stood there by the window just looking at the bright lights of the city that never slept.

"Goodnight Sophia, I love you".

* * *

In Alimaj town that did sleep, Sophia was sitting next to Chopra star gazing. She was resting her head on his chest and they were whispering sweet nothings to each other. Sophia did not know if it was the wine but Chopra's face seemed to shine under the starry night sky and she wanted him. More than she had ever wanted anyone in her life.

"You're so beautiful Sophia", Chopra whispered.

She blushed and muttered a little thank you just before Chopra covered her lips with his. Dazed, Sophia kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck, her heartbeat racing. It had been a long time since she felt this kind of electric ripple down her body. She felt his palm feeling for her, rubbing and cupping her breast, her nipples stood erect in response and she began to feel a throbbing, down below.

She ached for him, moaning quietly, kissing his face, his ears, his neck. Chopra worked his way underneath her blouse, releasing her breasts from its hold in her bra and then he covered it with his mouth. Sophia gasped and began to dream of flowers.

He found his way home, searching in a slippery pool, her insides turning to mush, gliding with him, locked in a dance as old as time, the both of them drunk with each other, and finishing in breathless gasps.