WOMAN IN THE WATER(Aditya Johar) I used to frequent the river every alternate day. There was a feeling of calm attached to the distorted sound of water crashing against the rocks, infinitely producing a visual that touches the abyss in the soul. Living in the country had its perks, and ever since I'd moved back to my ancestral home, I never felt like returning to the city. Who asked the World to build polluted cities and dwellings of (so called) civilization?

Still, the main reason I loved the river bank was because a supple, young washer-girl used to come here for her laundry. I didn't know where she lived – it had only been two weeks since my arrival at the quaint village. But I was unmarried, and ever since my eyes set upon her I had felt like ending my self imposed bachelor life. She may have noticed me – life notices life in these quieter parts of the world. It's in the quiet you truly feel each breath infuse itself into your soul. But she never made any gesture to acknowledge my presence – and so, I kept visiting the riverside; someday, we would speak.

That morning, she was there before I was. I had carried a book to accompany me while I waited for her to bring forth her delightful self. But she was already there. I looked at her for some moments, maybe a few seconds too long, and I believe she noticed me looking – she seemed too innocent, too naive, or, I must've been in love and my mind was playing tricks. But there was a beauty about her that attracted me deeply, and not just vainly. I thought, today I must start a conversation. She was on the other side of the river, though.

I sat under a tree, acting like her presence was a mere botheration to me – I wanted to read and I could do without visuals of a beautiful woman. And so, I placed myself at an angle where I wouldn't face her everytime I looked up. But, by nature, every time I turned a page, my head would turn left and glance at her; initially, I felt guilt, but soon enough, guilt turned to a longing for acquaintance.

Now, I'm not a believer in female aggressiveness towards relationships. There may exist some women, somewhere, who take the lead in building a connection – maybe in some sleazy part of a big old city, like in the housing projects I had lived in as a young man, struggling to make ends meet. But here in the village ? It's just not possible.

A few pages later, I caught the sight of what would be imprinted in my mind forever; I had turned to look at the beautiful girl again, and she was in the water, fully in the nude, at least her bosom was. Half her body was blessing my sight, while her lower half blessed the underwater currents. Her breasts were firm and I could not look away. She was bathing, and I was staring. I was deeply drawn – I felt this girl was calling out to me. I must say though, I was a little taken aback, and for the first few minutes, I didn't know what to do. Somewhere inside me, a bubble that believed this woman to be the innocent love I had been searching for years burst as well. Maybe, she wasn't as innocent as I thought. Maybe she wanted the quick love that people in cities have agreed to forge these days.

Whatever it was, I stood up, took my book, and left the riverside. I was at a loss of action.

*

I got home that evening, cursing myself. I should've started a conversation with the girl, at least stood up and said a warm hello. But then again, she was topless. Was I going to go up to her and shake her hand? Stand across the river and shout my name while her breasts were covered in soap?Or maybe this was where she bathed everyday, and I had been an unwelcome guest. Maybe I hadn't noticed before. Maybe this was her way of telling me to not go there again. Or maybe this was her way of inviting me over. I didn't know.

All night, I thought of the girl. One of the beauties of living in the countryside is not much takes up your mind. You start thinking of the simple things, and realize – true beauty lies in simplicity. Humans have complicated lives by the virtue of competition – the best smartphone, the best tablet, the best computer – what about the best air? The best flower ? The best river? Is it because these things are produced freely in nature, we don't care about them? Life has become drag.

But just as soon as I started solving world problems, my mind went back to the girl.

Before I slept, I decided I would visit the river again the next day. Maybe I should just cross the river, and get to the side the girl would frequent. I would ask for her hand in marriage right away. Would her father agree ? Most importantly, would she agree ? It's not like I was some stupid fool chasing a girl.

I had made enough money to last a lifetime in the country. I had farms that would bring me food and wine and I needed someone to share it with. Possibly, I was about 20 years older than the girl. But isn't that what life is? Men get old chasing money and dreams, and when they accomplish it all, they find the woman they can share their life with (who's usually a couple of decades younger). That's what I had thought of life as a young man. That's how I had lived my life, all while my peers and colleagues indulged in raunch and debauche that I never quite enjoyed, and stopped participating in years ago.

As I dreamed, I fell asleep.

*

I woke up early the next morning. It was around 5 AM I believe. I got up, felt the Sun's rays shower my wooden window, and decided to leave my cabin and head to the river. I was in love.

The path to the river took an hour to tread, and the only sign of life around were the chirping birds who started their day before anyone else. “The early bird catches the worm”, I thought. Wise old sayings have stood the test of time, I agreed, without a second thought.

I inched closer to the river, my heart beating faster with every step. Just as I arrived, I realized my sweetheart was already there. A pile of clothes lay by the river bank, but there was no sign of her. I was a little perplexed – what if some wild animal had attacked her ? Or what if she had been swept away by the water? It was all too taxing on me, and my mind raced – until I finally saw her.

Her long, waist length hair was floating on the water, making a halo around her body. Her hair was black, but in the water it turned brown. She was topless, and as much as I tried to romanticize the situation, a feeling of erotica overpowered my senses. This was the best start of a day I had ever had, and please, do not believe it to be vulgar in nature. Just as soon as she would come out of the water, I planned to talk to her. She didn't notice me looking at her, but if the heavens had witnessed her extravagant lips, hazelnut eyes and divine expressions, a few stars may have fallen that morning.

She got out of the water. To my surprise, she was fully nude. It soon became certain that the girl bathed in the river every morning, and somehow, fate had sent me to witness the serenity of this wilderness. As she wiped herself and put her towel on, I stood up, and went to my side of the river bank. I looked at her. She had her back to me, but she would soon turn to pick up the rest of her clothes. Something about her movement added innocence to her personality – she wasn't sure of her gestures.

She turned around, in her signature way. I called out to her - “Madam!”
She was startled. It seemed as if she didn't expect anyone to be there. She let out a shriek of anxiety, and then she screamed - “Who's there!”

I had to soften the situation. Her eyes were pacing everywhere around the riverbanks, but they didn't look at me. Maybe she was afraid of building an emotional connection – or, she was just too embarrassed. I yelled, “Don't worry. I didn't mean any embarrassment!”

“Did you see me bathing?”

I wanted to be honest. “You are the most beautiful being I have ever seen.”

“Please, go away.” Again, her eyes didn't make a glance. She rolled her head side to side, and I felt a little awkward in the situation. Why didn't she just look at me ?

“Look, just go away ! Or I'll call my father ! You are not supposed to be here !”

“Madam, I've just moved here from the city. I live in the farm just up the hill this side of the river. I want to talk to you ! Can I come to the other side? Do you mind?”

“Of course I mind! I'm not wearing any clothes ! Look mister, you are harassing me. Don't you know this part of the river is reserved for me ??”

“I'm sorry madam, I was not aware of that. But I'll be careful from now on. I promise”

She wasn't looking into my eyes – her gaze was every where. It was as if she was in jail and had become a spectacle to all the guards keeping watch.

“Please leave. I'm embarrassed enough.”

“I'm sorry if I've done so. You're just...so...beautiful.”

She looked towards the sky, and then into the river.

What I was realizing, slowly, but surely, I did not want to realize. But it was dawning upon me.

“Madam, where do you live? I'll come visit your father tonight. I have something to talk to him about. Is that OK?”

The girl was silent. She said no words. She quickly picked up her laundry, and in her own, signature style of movement, she walked away, back into the bushes where she had come from. She had to feel every step before she took it. I realized what made the girl this way. Her movement gave her away.

She was blind.

Still, I was in love.

That evening, I crossed the river, and found the girl's house. I had gone there with a bouquet of flowers, and a bottle of wine.

I guess that's the best way to impress your muse's father.

After all, love is blind.

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