I sat down like a fool recalling previous moments. Eish, love! I hated it. As a spelling – so short, as a concept – full of mystery. I took a glass of wine and walked outside to catch fresh air. I bumped into the neighbours’ car. I was more jealous of them since I was just recovering from a bitter break-up. Every gesture of love annoyed me. I couldn’t imagine what type of love the two shared. Was it the same spelling, L-O-V-E?

I watched them stepping out of their car, a gift on their wedding day. The husband lifted his wife and disappeared into the house. I stretched my legs comfortably. Five minutes later I saw the just-wed couple coming out of their house.

“Who the hell do they think they are? Romeo and Juliet?” I mumbled while turning away.

I could not bear watching them so I rushed into my quarters, but still I could hear them laughing. I checked the window – oh, they were embracing like star-crossed lovers in a movie. I closed the door and the curtains.

The next morning was very cold and I detested waking up so early. Suddenly I heard a shocking banging sound on the roof. I almost froze with fear.

“What’s that?”

I moved from the bed to the window.

The moment I looked outside, I saw the love-crazed couple playing. The ball they were playing with had got stuck on my roof and they were throwing stones.

“Morning, neighbour, we are exercising. Come on, join us,” Andrew invited.

“Go ahead, thanks,” I furiously turned down the offer.

Brenda, Andrew’s wife, waved and I closed down the window. Nonsense!

“These idiots are not my type. I have had enough of it,” I murmured.

Honestly those two lovers irked me with their love gestures.

“They should not behave like they are the first people to fall in love,” I told a colleague sometime.

I saw Andrew leaving for work.

“At last, he has driven to the office – finally I will have a peaceful morning,” I sighed.
How deep is their love? I paced out as I welcomed the morning sunrays. The mystery of love and its unsolvable equations dogged my mind. I wished I was in that deep kind of love. But I thought that type of love was dangerous. May be yes, maybe no, maybe both.

***

“Open, Brenda! Brenda! Open the door!” Sweat dropped of my face as I ran out of breath.

I banged the door repeatedly.

She opened.

“Neighbor, what is it?”

“No time to explain further…it’s an accident!

“Oh my God, an accident, but where, who is involved? What are you trying to say…?”

“Oh…it’s your husband Andrew, he’s dead!”

I could sense that the young lady’s heart was torn in pieces. She jumped high like a ball. The news came as hard as a thunderstorm. She moved from one place to another frantically like a mad person. How deep was her love for Andrew? I thought to myself. Just as I was about to unfold the news to her, something macabre happened! She went straight to the floor with force, like a bag falling down steps. I thought it was just normal but the idea died quickly as I saw her motionless body.

I moved close. “Brenda! Brenda! Wake up! What is it? Wake up! I was just joking, please don’t do this to me, please!” Fresh drops of tears trickled from my eyes. The body was nothing but still as a wall. In no time I heard a door opening.

“Honey, surprise, I’m home…” Andrew walked in.

His mouth froze the moment his eyes fell on cold Brenda. He let go of his briefcase. He hurried to where I was. “Brenda! What happened?” he asked me with a thunderous shout.

I just shook my head!

“Brenda, no! Don’t do this to me…” Andrew wept.

Soon Andrew had difficulties in breathing. He blacked out.

“Andrew! Andrew! Are you OK?” I shouted.

Then I saw him falling to the floor. He hit his head on the cement and went cold. I was so afraid. It was too late. Andrew had also died. How deep was their love? Who was to blame, was it me or their besotted love? I quizzed myself as the love horror unfolded in front of me

***

Tell us: What or who do you think is to blame for their deaths?