Love Stories - Meghna Mainy (books for 20 year olds TXT) 📗

in her head. Tom was a good friend. But he was too careless. Too carefree. He probably wanted to spend more time with her, but his father was unwell and he had to go back to Italy where his parents lived.
For the days that followed ,Gillian felt rather empty inside. He had only left a message on the answering machine….
“Hi..er…Gill…my dad’s sick…I’m flying to Italy in two hours. I don’t know when I’ll get to talk to you again…I have your number …I’ll call you…jus..just…er…take care…ok? Bye”
Gillian kept her stuff on the table and washed her face with ice cold water. Then, she went out for a walk in a nearby park. There were children in the park. How she wished she had a child like that. Her heart felt a little broken. It was almost fall and burnt orange leaves were falling all around her. There were amazing swans in the lake and the people were sitting and relaxing on the edge of the lake. Some looked so peaceful that Gillian was forced to wonder how very perplexing her life was. Just when she thought she liked someone God would take him away from her to test her patience and strength, and she would be all alone again. She had come to this park almost everyday in her life with a different feeling each time.
Back in Italy, Tom was writing an email to Anita
“Hi Anita,
You know how much I like Gillian, don’t’ you? But, I know if I ask her to visit me here, she would never agree. Can you ask her for me?
Your loving brother,
Tom”
5 days later, Gillian was boarding a plane to Italy in the hope of meeting someone she had met very recently but someone very amiable and full of life. Tom.
Chapter 6
Gondolas and Masks
Everything was arranged. Gillian had a reservation in a nice hotel in Venice. Tom wanted her to meet his parents, and invited her to lunch . Venice, with its pretty little pink houses and swirling waters, its endearing people and its old-world bridges, its impressive food shops and wonderful shops, everything was perfect.
It was on a gondola ride that Tom expressed his love for Gillian. It was the afternoon after the lunch at Tom’s lavish house. His parents were really sweet and friendly, and Gillian couldn’t have asked for more.
The afternoon sun was ready to dip down into the seas near Venice. It was strange how some people were carrying umbrellas on the boats. As Tom helped Gillian into the boat, for the first time she was so close to him she could feel the touch of his hands and the warm smile on his face. He was no longer a criticizing, grumpy man. They were seated next to each other and Gillian, in her lovely flowery skirt and lace hat looked as stunning as usual.
The glorious golden sun lay low. Molten gold was falling from the sky and. for some time, only, the sounds of oars plopping in the water could be heard. The venetian water, with its wicked green moss, was even more fascinating than water from a crystal clear lake. It was like the moon. Not flawless, but mysterious. Gillian wondered how many colorful slippery fish swam below, deep in the water as the boat glided gently swaying in the gorgeous, rippling waves.

 

Chapter 7

 

 

Tea time

 

 

About a month before easter, the mask festival took place. It was called the Carnival of Venice.
“I’ll take you to one of the shops. We can get a mask made for you. I’d like you to stay on until the carnival.Will you?”
“Why are you so sweet to me? Sometimes I forget I’ve known you for such little time”
“One day you’ll know. Maybe you’ll fall in love with me too.”
He stared at her for two continuous minutes, took her hand and kissed it. His touch was soothing, but, Gillian felt angry at his bluntness. Did he really love her? If he did, then why did he not express his love directly? Why did he always hint at it in a playful manner?
Was he playing with Gillian’s heart? Gillian saw a small tea shop on one side of the waterway and asked the boatman to stop. They hurried into the tea shop and took a seat near the edge so she could see the pretty venetian windows with flowers jutting out . It was like a picture from an old fairytale book…
It was common in Venice to have a midafternoon snack.
As the lady and the gentleman were biting on a hot cup of lemon tea and some beautiful tiramisu, Gillian turned towards the other tables and ,over Tom’s shoulder, saw Bryan, her ex boyfriend. She paid quickly and left with Tom and didn’t breathe a word about Bryan to him. She was so surprised!
When Gillian returned to her room, she found a bouquet of daisies on her pillow.
It said
“We meet tomorrow at 2 pm and I’ll take you to a mask shop”
The next afternoon, as Gillian entered the mask shop with Tom, she found Bryan there.
“uh…Can we go to another shop?”
“But why…you know we want to get masks made…”
But it was of no use, as Bryan had already spotted Gillian.
“I can’t believe it! I tried calling you so many times. But, you don’t take my calls…and what are you doing in Venice?”
“What are YOU doing in Venice?”
“Ah …after my divorce…”
“Divorce? I’m sorry..”
“Yeah, It’s a long story. Are you participating in the festival too. I know it’s silly , but…”he suddenly realized that Gillian was in the company of Tom.
“Uh..meet my friend Tom. Tom already knows about you”
Chapter 8
Burnt
It was about a week after the chance meeting. Bryan had started meeting often with Tom and Gillian. Gillian insisted that she did not want to meet Bryan, but, Tom joked, saying he knew she would fall for Bryan again, so, he wanted to confront it..and win her heart anyway.
But, Gillian didn’t know how it hurt him to see Bryan give her so much attention; nor did she know that Tom secretly wanted to kill Bryan everytime he touched her.
They met for teas and dinners and lunches and for walks. Gillian was working as a freelancer in a small office. This was only temporary, though.


Chapter 9

 

Carnival

 

 

It was time for the carnival. That morning Gillian dressed in the most exquisite silver gown and looked like a doll. Her mask reflected her real features and she looked beautiful even in a mask.
Tom, who was dressed in a classic venetian suit looked handsome and they spent a good deal of time laughing and walking like fellow italians together.
All of the town’s streets were full of masked faces and graceful gait. It was like a dream.
Tom slid his hands in hers. It was comforting.
It was her last day in Venice.
Bryan was there too. He had brought his friend Anne along.
Suddenly , Tom asked Anne to accompany him for a walk. He wanted to show her the city around.
So, Gillian was left with Bryan, who, was the happiest man in the world. He led Gillian to the center of the city where the carnival was taking place. He took Gillian by the arm, put his arms around her waist and kissed her hair. Gillian couldn’t take it any longer. She turned to Bryan
“I’m..I’m sorry I have to go!”
She ran. She ran so fast she’d never run in her entire life. Thoughts of Tom going around the city with Anne burned her heart. Tears fell on her lovely dress. She ran back to the hotel and to the utter amazement of the hotel staff had packed in half an hour and checked out.
When Tom called her, there was no return. No one in the hotel could tell him how she’d left, which flight she’d taken and what time. Tom went back to his house, took out his laptop and wrote to his best friend…
Chapter 10
Lovesick
“Gillian…when you read this email, I will already be on my way to your place. Remember, I still love you. I was just trying to make you jealous”
That’s how the email read.
But Gillian had switched off her phone and had stopped using the internet. She was back to work and was working as hard as she could to forget all the pain.
She couldn’t eat. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t watch TV. The only thing that helped was to work.
She heard a knock on the door.
Tom came in. Without any warning, he picked Gillian in his arms…She screamed.
“Stop. I know you love me. You were jealous of Anne coz I took her out. Girl, you love me more than I love you. But, my love for you will grow forever and ever”
Then he carried her downstairs, seated her in his car and drove her to the shops to help her choose her wedding dress.
In the evening she got a gift from him. On opening the wrap she found a little bracelet that said…
Marry…
And a ring that said…
Me…


Book 2


Love you Larry


Contents

1 Catwalk and Coffee

2 A Walk in the Rain

3 Love’s Failings

4 Claire in Paris

5 Sweet surprise

6 Confessions in the moonlight

7 Kissing Tears Away…


Chapter 1

Catwalk and Coffee

 

 

Claire couldn’t help feeling dizzy. She’d walked the whole night for Lana’s exclusive line of clothing. Pretty as she was, she had no problems getting modeling contracts from the best names in town.

Well, that is not all. Claire was also a shopaholic and a persistent walker. The doctor had asked her to avoid walking too much for it could cause more injury to her legs. But, in keeping up with the fashion industry,she had forgotten that she was also human. Being doll-like was just not enough.

In the morning, as the 27 year old, was sitting in a café drinking hot chocolate, she noticed a man, probably in his thirties staring at her continuously.

Claire felt uncomfortable. She swiftly got up and changed position , so she could sit with her back towards the gentleman, but in vain. Soon enough, The strange man was standing right in front of her.

“May I sit down? I’ve got something interesting to tell you!” said the man.

Claire had had enough experience in the professional world to be able to speak to a stranger without feeling awkward. So she replied

“Yes, if you wish to. Is it something important?”

“Uh, yes, I like to think that way” said the man, while quickly taking a seat in front of her.

Claire took another sip of the chocolate, while still feeling shy

“Would you like to take a cup of coffee or something? I mean, I don’t know what you prefer”

“uh, yes, I’ll go order something and bring it back . You can read my card ‘til then”

He handed over his card to her in a very business-like way. With this, he went away to the counter, and Claire could see him pointing at the menu board and talking animatedly with the owner.

Claire smiled and glanced at the card. This is how it read …

“Larry Charles

Jewellery Designer with a boutique called Pretty Heart

12 Bentinck Street, Pretty Heart Boutique….”

In a moment, Larry was back. He smiled warmly at Claire.

“So what did you order?”

“Coffee with chocolate. I