A Reverie

I was lying on fresh green grass on top of a small hill under a cherry blossom tree, I had my legs crossed, arms open. I felt the freshness of the grass on my skin, hair sprawled and eyes closed. A light breeze making  Tree branches dance in a rhythm. I can feel Beautiful soft petals of Sakura flowers falling on my face. I heard  a familiar melody , it was sweet and soft , it felt like someone was playing Claire de Lune by Debussy somewhere in  distance. It Made me feel like I was floating in the air , as if I was pushed in a  whole different world. It went on for a while and then suddenly It turned into a stream of unlikable tunes of Continuous tttt..ttt..tttt.. !!! making me fall on the ground with a loud painful thud ! making me realise it is time to wake up.  

   My roommate seemed less interested when I retold  her about my dream in details, she said I hear Claire de Lune because I hear it everyday before going to sleep which is true, she further suggested  me to hear Symphony no 5 and said:

"Now in today's dream you will find yourself walking in a foggy dark woods near a gothic castle." 

Can't believe she dragged Beethoven like that..sigh...!!

Anne and I are final year art Students living in a hostel room together. We were two introverts who happened to live in one room together. Anne was a fun and outspeoken person, she had this one habit;she used to play "Norwegian wood" every morning. As She was a fan of the Beatles.

As usual I was on my way to college when yellow and Orange leaves on both sides of the way reminded me it was Autumn season. Few squirrels were running there and the leaves made a crunching sound as I walked over them. There was a smell of Autumn in the air. I always prefered walking as I can admire the atmosphere on my way to college. I have known this path way to well that a slight change in surroundings can't slip my eyes. Today I was bit early than usual. I heard from Anne about this New book Cafe opened recently. I had enough time before my college so I went to this cafe first.

 Bell chimed as I opened the door. Sweet wiff of Different desserts and drinks they served along with books filled my nostrils. People were engulfed in reading and sipping their coffee. Cafe was quite big.Huge shelves stacked with many books from different authors, there were magazines also. Van Gogh's paintings increasing the  beauty of the walls. Slow classical music was playing. I admired the atmosphere for a while. I went near a shelf and soon My eyes fell on a tempting Red cover with big white letters on it,which said "Norwegian wood"  by Haruki Murakami. I heard the song with same title everyday so I naturally decided to read it,with coffee.

 I don't know since when but I had this habit of Writing my thoughts on any novel I read and placing it back in it. I read it for a while,  pulled my pen and small note out of my bag and started writing.

        I like how the narrator is a listener. Giving advice only when he is asked. We rarely find him talking. It is more like him listening to others talk.

 I placed the paper where I finished reading. I decided to continue reading It and visit this cafe tomorrow and I left for college. Next day I had this dream again as if it started living in my head rent free. It's not like I was annoyed, rather I thought about why I'm having this dream everyday? how strange!

Next Morning Anne talked about her dream over breakfast saying she was sliding on a rubber tube on a water slide and behind her was an evil clown cackling like a mad and there was Symphony no 5 playing. I told her it wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare she got because she mocked Beethoven yesterday. She couldn't help but agree as I planted this in her head like a nail on the wall. I couldn't help but laugh inwardly.

After breakfast we parted our ways.I skipped merrily on my way and soon my legs stopped as it  reached its destination and now my favourite place  Memorella cafe! I ordered my coffee and opened the book I was reading. I found a note where I left yesterday but with different handwriting. The words were:

         Listening is an art. Everyone needs a listener in their life. It is a good thing he is listening to what others have to say! 

 I was surprised to find this note. Maybe someone took the book after I left and found my note and answered it!  Who could it be? It felt awkward receiving a note like this but it also filled me with curiosity to an extent making me write another note. 

      I need to know who you are? before I agree with you!

I left the note and waited for the next day to visit the cafe again. And As I expected I found note on the other day:

    I'm a reader like you happened to read this book and found your note. I thought I should answer it, I never told you to agree with me though : ) 

And after reading it i found the discomfort in me slowly fading away and my pen becoming  less hesitant answering it:

  Well I kind of agree with you here. You are welcome to put your thoughts on this.

I read the novel further and then wrote a note:

 Naoko being selfish here telling him to wait for her and Toru letting her tear him like that ! I feel bad for Naoko's condition but also feel sad for Toru. 

And as expected I found note the next day:

Toru is sticking close to Naoko for her to get better. Naoko is like an ant clinging to a small stick in a river. Toru is that stick.

And this became a daily routine. We don't know each other but we met with words on a paper to present our thoughts on this novel. So many talks on classical music and other novels that the author mentioned.we were nearing the end of the Novel. On the last few pages the author gave tones of mentions of different pop, jazz singers  and Classical musicians. 

I left the note:

He mentioned so many great one but I was hoping he would mention chopin. 

Next day I received the note saying:

Maybe he saved Chopin for his other novels.You seem to know many classical musicians. Cafe owner is fan of Chopin though, he plays Prelude every evening.

Ahh..! So he comes here every evening!  And this was the first time this person asked me something which is not related to Novel and I felt like leaving a note. there were only three pages left to read.

 I like classic music. This is  the second reason besides the books why I  come here :)) you are right about owner,he plays Nochturn no 2 every morning! 

I never intended to ask it again  but today i felt like doing it, I was determined  to know this person more so I mustered up my courage and wrote: 

Who are you? if you don't mind me asking?

I decided to read the last three pages for tomorrow hoping to get an answer, I wondered what the note would say. I was Very curious to know who this person was who left the notes. Next day I was  interested in  what notes had to say more  than the ending of the novel.

Next day I found a ticket to an Opera hall along with a note saying:

Hey! my name is Dany,

 I wanted to take this book with me but the cafe owner told me I can't take the book with me. Besides, one girl is also reading this book, so you can come and read it after she leaves that way you both can read this book and next day I  found a note in it. I see you like Classical  music and that is why I sent you these tickets. there is an extra one if you want to bring someone.

If you want to know me then come to this opera hall, I'm going to perform there, I will have a red sapphire ring on my finger so you can recognise me, if you are coming then find another note on the second shelf on the left of the counter.  In that shelf search for P series and take out the book Pride and Prejudice you will find something.  

 I contemplated for a while then I went to the shelf  he mentioned and took Pride and prejudice out and there was a note along with a Handkerchief which said:

Wave this handkerchief after my performance and I will know where you are. It will make me happy if you come, hopping to see you There!

 On Handkerchief was a quote from Norwegian wood: 

"What happens when people open their hearts? they get better." 

 A small smile crept up to my lips. As I read the note again and again.

When I returned to the hostel I told Anne about the whole thing and asked if she wanted to tag along. Anne said she knew  I was up to something as everyday  she saw me stuffing the notes in my locker sheepishly. She said she would come as long as he doesn't play Symphony no 5 because that clown still haunts her and we both chuckled on her remark. 

Anne and I were sitting there.Big Velevt curtains touching the wooden surface of the huge stage.there was Piano shining on the stage under a spotlight. I heard from the people in the audience say it is a performance of final year students from Music school and Anne and I exchanged a knowing glance as the music school they were talking about was from our Art School. It is an annual performance by students who are going to graduate this year. They are having the theme of wearing masquerade mask while performing.

On a stage they had this big screen which gave This visual of cherry blossom trees on a green heel, Sakura flowers falling on the ground- same as my dream. I had this familiar feeling. I felt my dream coming true piece by piece. I had a handkerchief clutched tightly in my fist as I waited patiently for what would come next. 

A young boy came on the Stage, he had a mask on his face, he wore a black Tuxedo suit and sat with grace on a chair in front of the Piano. We couldn't see his face because of mask, the spotlight was on piano keys. And the rest was covered in darkness. As he started playing I noticed something red shine in light. He had Sapphire ring on third finger of his right hand.It is him I said to myself. His fingers danced  delicately on piano keys. My eyes widened in surprise as I recognised the tune he played, I saw Anne was observing my expressions with keen interest instead of paying attention to the performance. My heart was thumping ,I felt as if it would jump out of my chest any moment. He was Playing Claire de Lune by Debussy. It felt like a dream , I got this feeling of floating in the air.As he finished his performance everyone gave him standing ovation.I saw from corner of my eyes Anne coming close to me and whispering in my ears.

 "You know what, forget about becoming an artist. how about a fortune teller who can  interpret dreams!" 

I didn't pay much attention to her words as I was so immersed in his performance. 

I came to my senses when I heard the audience roaring and Applauding. It seemed like His eyes were searching someone in the crowd and I waved the handkerchief to grab his attention,our eyes met, I saw him smiling behind that mask as I noticed his eyes turning into Crescent moon shape. I couldn't tell  if it was a dream or reality.