"The kiss itself is immortal. It travels from lip to lip, century to century, from age to age.

Men and women garner these kisses, offer them to others and then die in turn." I was never really that into the love stories until Maupassant entered into my fifth standard textbook and pointed towards the deep feeling of affection for others. Recently, love has been taking many u-turns and unofficial twists. Starting from love triangles to murder consequences it has left no stone unturned. My experience was a bit typical and it created a great deal of suspicion within me. But I know its true for I was the one who witnessed it. Travelling is among the most boring things that I have done in my life. And when it happens to be in a lonely highway, it worsens things a little more. Anyway, I was riding my new Tata Manza down the Eastern express highway in search of some refreshment and trying to forget my weeks disaster in the office when I saw someone waving hands in search of a lift. Nearing a bit I saw it was a girl who with her scooty that apparently ditched her in the middle of the road adding to her worries. The first thing that came in my mind was to leave he r to her fate but somehow I couldnt and I stopped. She was wearing a sea green tops (which happens to be my best colour) and a navy blue jeans. Her long hair was covering a part of his face and I couldnt help notice the blue colour of her eyes (which was actually the colour of her contacts). Can I get a lift? I think theres a problem with my scooty, she asked softly. There was something in her that made me agree to it. The only other line she spoke in our short journey was Im Taniya, and you are...?

Our second meeting exceeded all levels of unusualness. I found her on the second floor of the South City mall near the vacant Mc Donalds. I stepped forward only to find her wiping her tears with a tissue. I said to myself ,`My god! She looks equally beautiful while crying. `What are you doing here? Watching me crying? she asked. `No. I think Im getting used to see you in distress. `Absolutely, I caught my boyfriend cheating on me and then its you who appeared on the scene. I said to myself, `this is the time man. Try yourself a bit closer to her. But I changed my mind. Girls dont like men who approach too quickly. `I think its better I leave. I said. `Dont you dare turn your back on me. Im in need of a friend and a good co mpany,she replied. I patted my back on my own. `Well done man! You are showing good progress I said to myself.

After three or four subsequent meetings, we decided to go on a long drive. This was a chance for me once in a blue moon and I didin t want to lose it. To my delight, she chose the same road that I mentioned at the beginning. `Do you think our relationship has much to do than mere friendship? she asked hastily. `Mmm...Mm...I..., I stammered a little. `What are you thinking? Are you still guessing ha? `No I mean ... `You don t mean anything. Just look at me I turned towards her. There was nothig new about her, cause she was as sparkling as ever. Then she did something unusual. She leaned towards me. For a moment, I forgot the road, the steering and everything else and followed my instincts. Wiithin seconds our lips mantained a distance of only a few centimeters. I didn t know wether it was I who took the innitiative or she. The only thing I realised was that while I was enjoying the initial moments of my first kiss a loud horn interrupted. For a moment, I looked forward and saw the two front lights of a truck rushing towards us. I pulled the steering hard and shouted to her, `Taniya, open the seat belt and jump! Saying this I opened the door. But she did something unusual. Instead of getting out, she opened my seat belt and virtually threw me out of the car. I fell on the road and looked back. There she was standing on the road and the truck hurried towards her. `Move back! I yelled. The truck came within inches and I witnessed something horrible. It took me some time to realise what happened. I rewinded the incident a few seconds back and then understood. The truck went straight through her body as if it was only a shadow. But she stood at the same place she was, her face bearing no expression that I could literally understand.