A Short Story: Mermaid and Mortal

Long back, I wrote a small story.......

--------------- THE STORY: Mermaid & Mortal ----------------------------
Once upon a time, in a small town lived a simple man, a mortal.

Content that he was from life, always grateful for all he had in his life. Often, when he had time, he would wander, on the shore of the nearby sea, kicking sand brooding over de-shaped pebbles, created by the fury of waves, sometime collecting shells or counting waves or simply humming an old song lying on sand.

Often he wisphered to himself, "All I need is a mermaid to live happily" and followed by a laughter, "there are no mermads, you fool!". Then brooding again,"Are there mermaids in the sea?". Then he would say laudly to crabs nearby, "Hey, there are no mermaid, dont believe those stories. Those are false!"

then he would throw a stone into the sea, ..... and walk away ... slowely... shoulder drooping....listlessly.

Days passed by.
And one fine evening, when he was wisphering to himself with no one nearby, he heard a sweet melodious voice....
Hey how are you?
He laughed without opening his eyes... said laudly to himself again, "O man!Am I turning insane".
Is age catching up with me?
Dont you want to look at me, demanded the same melodious voice.
Stunned at sight, he rubbed his eyes, pinched hiself... but She was there!
Years of belief shattered, Courage left him nervous and numb. Palm sweated.
And all he could blurt out was, "Who are you".

"Your mermaid", she said.

Life was never same again.The mortal impatiently waited whole day for the evening and ran to the beach to meet the mermaid. They walked and talked... Sailed on full moon nights... Often, he sang and danced.. and mermaid watched him very affectionately.

One day the mortal asked the mermaid, "Can I hold your hand."

No, She said sternly, "No mortal can tuch us, it is forbidden. If you touch me you would never meet me again. Do not even think of that". I love your company.

Disappointed and dejected, he smiled ackwerdly. He had no choice! Every night we would dream holding her hand and walking in the sand. He would get up sad, helpless and restless. Is life worth living, he would brood. But by evening, he would run to beach again to be with his mermaid.
Days passed by. The spring arrived. Flowrs blossomed. Winds brought freshness and fragrence. Birds sang songs of Love.
The mortal suddenly hugged the mermaid and very gently held her. She smiled at him. And disappeared.
Baffled, disoriented, mortal ran along the beach looking for the mermaid. He shouted and cried and sank to his knees. Sobbed and slapped himself. He jumped into the sea to drown himslef then swam back to the beach. Started crying laudly. Then covered his face with palms.

A crab walked slowely to him and said,"Do you think you are the only one who lost a mermaid".

------------------------------------- The End--------------------------------------------------