Depth of Love

"Miss Waters....... we can't hire you anymore. We are already at a loss and keeping you with us won't be any good for our firm" said the old lady, shuffling the pages of her account book, the framed glasses were almost at the tip of her nose which was another factor irritating Lana.

Lana took a deep breath trying her best controlling herself from bursting out. With the best smile she could afford right she said,

"Miss Pittsburgh please just give me some more time at least a month or two for me to get another job... please try to understand my point"

"Miss Waters this isn't any charity center its my boutique and you see with the emerging fashion industry anyone hardly comes to us.... Above that you're too costly for us, in your salary we can hire two designers" said Pittsburgh

That was enough for Lana tolerate and now the smile holding lips pulled into a tight line, she smacked her hands on the dark brown Teak table and furiously look into her eyes,

"Listen all and clearly.... I am done working with you old cricket and tolerating your shitty tantrums.... You know what the problem in this boutique is.... It's you!! Until you're here this boutique will always be a part of the flea market because all you do is eat away the profit earned by hard work done by designers like me.

Now I understand why you're alone at this stage... because of your greed! And yess if you're not giving me my part of the money then I will make sure you also don't get it" said Lana and looked at the wheel of the sewing machine which was disassembled.

She gave a wicked smile before picking up the heavy wheel and throwing it on a showcase of expensive artifacts such that not even a single piece was left presentable.

"Now it's compensated... yes" said Lana with her hands resting on her waist and eyes appreciating the power of her arms. Her satisfactory smile turned wicked as soon as her gaze settled on her ex boss.

Pittsburgh's spectacles were hanging on the tip of her nose, Lana's mind told her to remove her last bit of frustration. She smiled at Pittsburgh extra sweetly and leaned towards her and gently took her glasses. Without any mercy Lana put them beneath her feet and jumped on them merrily like a kid.

" Now it's perfect Pitts...." Said Lana

"Security¡¡¡" roared Pittsburgh

Before getting caught Lana picked her bag from chai and rushed out. On her way she saw the lousy guard - the only security of this boutique.

"Uncle Han.... Boss is having a medical emergency please call an ambulance" said Lana putting the fat old man in distraction and ran outside. She picked up her moped and drove away from there.

Temporarily she satisfied herself but was actually satisfied ¿ She confronted herself assuming it as her success but she deep within knew success is out of her approach, especially after what she did to her ex boss. In reality she put a cherry on the cake of her problems.

Sun was ready to bid a goodbye when Lana reached there. She walked to the sea shore watching the weakening sun rays as the sun was moving down. Her face was holding so much of pain and grimace to be hidden in the brightness of the sun.

She knew she can't run away from problems anyway but atleast sitting here for sometime would give her strength to face her problems. She sat there helplessly with empty mind and heart looking at the sun rays meeting the waves of sea.

Her eyes accepted those weak rays coming out of waves of water. She was feeling like those waves were calling her, in the depth beneath them there was someone watching over her. She may be weak but not a coward to accept her defeat. She would fight against everything till her last breath to get what belongs to her.

Something weird caught her attention, she saw something between waves.... Not something but someone, she immediately stood up and removed her shoes. She started running into the sea, and dived in blue water. To her surprise she saw a man struggling to reach the surface and she helped him to get back to shore.

When they reached shore she was embarrassed and shocked to see the man completely naked. First thing that came to her mind was to cover him. She looked around and saw clothes drying at the corner hut of the fisherman. She ran there and picked a pair of pants and a shirt. They weren't good but at least sufficient to cover him.

When she returned back to him she saw a huge cut on his back and a blue liquid coming out from it. She took out a napkin from her bag and cleaned it. She realized that the wound was no it wasn't shrinking, it was shrinking, it was healing. She moved her hands awayher hands away and looked at the guy with disbelief.

The man groaned in pain, Lana immediately moved away and looked away.

"Are you okay¿¿" she asked

"Where am I?" he asked, still struggling to sit.

"First, wear those clothes... " said Lana and threw the clothes towards him.

He ruffled the clothes studying them, then asked her again still not looking at her,

" how to wear them...¿"

" Like I am wearing mine.... See.." said Lana loudly and this time he looked at her and his eyes widened as he saw fair slender legs under her pink sundress.

"Ar.... Ar... are you..... are you a human¿" he asked

" Yes and you're saying this like you're not a human.... Irksome.." said Lana

He looked at his lower extremity to find similar pair of legs, he moved them and looked around the place.

" Is this land..¿¿"

"No this is sky..... idiot of course this is land" she said and turned to walk away leaving him alone on his own.

Does Lana found this naked man accidentally or was it planned in her life already¿

"Ar.... Ar... are you..... are you a human¿" he asked

" Yes and you're saying this like you're not a human.... Irksome.." said Lana

He looked at his lower extremity to find a similar pair of legs, he moved them and looked around the place.

" Is this land..¿¿"

"No this is sky..... idiot of course this is land" she said and turned to walk away leaving him alone on his own. But before she could walk away, she stumbled and looked down then groaned out of frustration.

" What the hell is your problem??......... Why don't you wear the clothes? I can't look at you if you are gonna stay naked." Said Lana putting her hands on her.

" Okkk... I will, please don't leave me here alone.... Please wait" said the guy and wore the clothes not leaving Lana's leg in fear of leaving him alone.

"It's done... see I am having clothes on myself." Said the guy.

Lana looked down and saw him sitting on the ground holding her legs. She looked at him, his coral blue eyes holding her reflection as she looked deeply into them. Her hand automatically moved to his face, she gently placed her hand on his cheek and caressed his cheeks gently. She was seeing a different her in his eyes.... His eyes were holding the stories and myths of a difference as he looked into her eyes with the same intensity. She was the first human he met, her hand on his cheek made him feel at home on the land. He leaned into her touch and held her hand, taking the softness of her palm.

Lana realized she was crossing her lines with a stranger. She immediately moved her hand away and looked away.

"Please, stand back...." Said Lana moving.

He looked at her feet firmly, balancing her body as he stood on the ground. He then looked at himself, he slowly balanced himself on his feet and raised above to stand taking her support. His hand rested on her hips as he towered above with a beautiful height difference.

"I am Lana Waters... nice to meet you!" Said Lana formally and removed his hands from her. And turned around to leave. She thought she got rid of this weird stranger. As she walked away from the seashore towards the street where she parked her moped, she realized that the fishy smell was still there.

She smelled herself to confirm whether it was from her, she was clean. She turned around to get scared seeing him behind her like her own shadow,

" Why are you following me...." said Lana making distance between them as she realized he is the source of that fishy smell

" I don't know anyone else except you" he said, taking Lana's hand in his. He was loving the feeling of her hand in his.

"So what.... Go stand at the station you will know many other" she said taking her hand back.

" But they won't be as good as you.... Please take me with you" he said, almost clinging on to her like a lost child.

" Please move away, you're smelling like fishes..." she said, pushing him away.

" No, I will be with you.... Until you teach me about this place" he now pulled her in his embrace tightly like a treasure.

Lana was frustrated with his behavior and she looked at the sky and cried.

"Why God!..... wasn't the problems in my life enough that you send this irksome"

"No... I am not irksome.... I am Alon" said the guy pulling her head down to look into her eyes.

"Damn you! move away otherwise I will leave you right here" said Lana in a warning tone

" Sorry...... don't leave me please....." he took his hand but stood close to her.

"Where do you want to go...." Asked Lana

"I will go where you will go," said Alon innocently.

"I can't keep you with me....." said Lana raising her hand.

"Pleaseeee I don't know anyone else..... I am scared of people around here. I will do whatever you say and won't bother you much. Just for some time till I get acquainted with this place" said Alon.

"Aghh.... Fine, just a week then I will kick you out on my own" said Lana, and with her words Alon beamed a million dollar smile with a weird sound like glass a bell.

"What was that sound...??" Lana looked at him with doubt.

"What sound??" asked Alon, looking around.

"Nothing.... Come" said Lana looking at him with squinted eyes. She then helped him to ride behind her on her moped. She drove back to her home, it was a small house with one bedroom, a hall and kitchen with a common washroom shared between hall and bedroom. Even though it was small, it was very beautiful because she used her designing skills to make it beautiful.

As they walked inside Lana could still smell the fishy odor coming from Alon. She looked at him with disbelief and said,

"First of all, get a good bath.... Use plenty of soap, body wash and whatever you like just to get rid of this smell" said Lana pointing at the door of the washroom.

"Umm...What is bathing??" He asked shyly. Lana gave a pitiful smile to herself and took a few deep breaths controlling herself from kicking him out from her house.

"Come I will help...." With that Lana started another struggle. She taught him everything about how to use them, from tap yo shower and also to use soap and form a lather. When she about to come out she realized,

"When he doesn't know how to bath then he won't be knowing to wear clean clothes after bath and he don't have any"

"Alon.... When you're done.. don't come out just call me ok!!" Said Lana and walked to arrange clothes for him. She took out old bedsheets and curtains and started stitching a simple pull over shirt and a pair of pants from them.

She was just finishing the stitching of shirt when she heard his voice,

" Mira.... Mira..... it's done, should I come out??" he said from inside.

"Noo... no way stay there I am coming" said Lana and left the shirt there and picked the pant rushing towards the bathroom.

"Here wear this and come out" she gave him pant tightly closing her eyes.

She kept her eyes closed until she felt his presence next to her. She opened her eyes to see his broad well shaped muscular chest with small water droplets shining on it. She felt her cheeks burning out of embarrassment, she looked down and said

"Wait give me a minute I will complete your shirt" with that she ran away and hastily stitched the shirt and gave it to him.

He wore it and looked at her, she was still wet,

"Should I help you for a bath??" He said as he felt the moist hem of her dress.

"No... no... just go there and sit. I will be back in some time okk" she said and dashed inside the bathroom, and had a self talk,

"Godd..... do I really need to teach him everything about how to use the things and live here?? Already I am jobless and what I did with Pitts with that character anyone would hardly take me in their boutique.

Lana you can do it.... You're strong, yess!!" She motivated herself for a new start with a stranger on her side.

Lana came out of the bathroom in her Pj's and a tee. She walked towards the living searching for Alon. To her surprise he didn't create any problem and was sitting on the cold floor. He looked at her gave a smile,

"You're wearing clothes like mine...." He said looking at his and her clothes.

"Ummm.... Yess... you want to eat something" she asked humbly.

"Yes.... Yes.... I am hungry" he said with a cute face. This time Lana couldn't hold and ended up smiling, no matter how irritating this stranger was but he was handsome like anything and his smile had that power to make any girl fall.

He looks like a mystery, he doesn't know anything about day to day life and the way they meet made Lana more curious. The way his wound healed so fast made her realize he ain't a normal person. This was another reason she agreed to keep him with her. The world is really very cruel. God knows what would the people do to him if anyone would have seen this.

"Alon.... Come with me" said Lana and took him to the kitchen. She helped him to sit on the stool next to the counter.

"See I won't be always there to help you soo you need to learn living in this place. First thing necessary to live is food, this is kitchen here we cook food from raw vegetables and other things like animal products" said Lana

" ohkk.." said Alon, nodding like a good kid.

Lana made him acquainted with everything in her kitchen and taught him some basic things. He watched her with full concentration and learned everything she taught him. When Lana was stirring in the saucepan and making salad he watched her deeply. Just Like a kid who looks at a distant star with hopes of catching that star.

No sooner Lana served him spaghetti with salad. She sat opposite to him and started eating with a fork extremely slowly for Alon to register how to eat. She took two bites and realized Alon was staring at her blanking, so she offered him a bite on her fork to him. He looked at her with questioning look,

"Open your mouth ahhh..." she said and Alon followed her words and opened his mouth wide. Lana fed him and wiped the edge of his lips with a napkin.

"Now eat on your own..." said Lana and pushed his plate towards him.

Alon took a bite remembering the steps from Lana. Lana looked at him intently with expectations of any comment. But to her surprise again that glass bell like sound touched her ear drums, but this time her attention was drawn towards his hairs which became luminescent.

"Alon!! What is happening to your hair....??" She asked, getting scared.

"No... it's nothing. This is soo yummy... I love this" said Alon, digging into his plate. Lana sealed her mouth and quietly focused her eyes on his hairs. Was that her hallucination or in real light was radiating from his hairs??

"Alon.... While I clean this mess, go and sit there, not on the floor, on the couch ok??" Said Lana,

Alon walked there and sat on the couch. Lana after completing her work brought her laptop and sat next to Alon.

"Alon I don't know where you were before.... So tell me how much you know about this place? In that way I would teach you about how everything works here" said Lana

"Ummm.... The place from where I am there people used to say that the people here are cruel and selfish. That's all I know..." he said looking down at his feet.

"They are not wrong..... they said the truth.... This entire world is cruel and selfish but you know it's not as cruel as fate. Fate is the most cruel thing you would find in the entire world.... Once your fate becomes cruel, sympathy from the entire world also won't help. You would keep struggling and clearing up hurdles and it would keep on creating bigger hurdles..." said Lana and a lone drop of tear was ready to escape through her eyes.

The words cruel and selfish somewhat pushed her back into the lane of memories of those tough times she had been going through ever since she got a sense of her life. Alon frowned looking at her eyes pooling with tears, he took the warm liquid on his finger tip from the corner of her eyes. His expression

Lana was lost in her pains but when she heard the sound of glass shattering she looked around then at Alon who was looking at her with concern.

"Did you hear that sound?? Like some glassware is broken??" asked Lana

"No.... There was no sound" said Alon looking away.

"Whatever.... See I will teach you about basics of how this world works and what we need most importantly for our survival here and how to deal with some common problems" said Lana and started teaching him on the laptop.

She showed him world map, told him concept of currency and how to earn money and most importantly how to use them. She taught him about some life saving tricks to be used whenever he will be in problem. It wasn't that difficult as it appeared cause Alon had a good grasping power and took everything easily and nicely.

Later she was too tired such that she just picked her laptop and stood up,

"Good night Alon.... Have a good sleep" she said yawning loudly and stretching herself and walked back to her room and lied down flat on her stomach after putting laptop on its right place.

Alon was left alone with new word left by Lana - sleep. What's that?? And how to get it?? He looked around himself looking for a hint.

These were the two questions in his mind, to get his answers he went to her room but found her lying flat without any movement and eyes closed.