'It Just Happened...'

The car sped on. The pleasant weather, green meadows and flowery shrubs on both sides of the road presented a heartwarming scenario. The long straight road ran right through the middle of widely spread green grassy land, like the parting of the hair on a woman's head. Colorful butterflies hovered over the multi-colored flowers as though they were happy to be butterflies - free to select a flower of their choice, every time, to land upon and suck the nectar.

Rebecca looked at the butterflies through her car window. They were flying freely up and down. She appreciated the luck of the butterflies - `God has made them so lucky, they can choose the type and the color of flower to bestow their love upon. Could not HE have made me a butterfly - or - at least given me the luck of a butterfly. Instead, he chose to give me the luck of a wild flower - a lonely flower of the barren woods - to bloom and befog in the wilderness.'

She turned her eyes away from the butterflies and rested her head on the headrest. However, she could not restrain her heart from murmuring -“Oh GOD! If nothing more then send, at least, one butterfly for me.”

The car was rushing through the meadows but mentally Rebecca was being left behind - engrossed in her thoughts. Virtually though, she was still in the lawns of Faxon and Lubna's wedding. She took a deep breath and pushed herself deeper into the cushions of the car seat. She closed her eyes to shut out the butterflies from her mind but the butterflies now seemed to have started fluttering in her stomach.

She delved deeper into thoughts of the past - twenty two years back - when she was a young girl of twenty years and Michael Hansen had just ventured into her life. She cursed herself for not accepting the proposal of Mike that very day. He was appointed the Vice-President operations of Royal Automobiles Inc. by her father Ralph Valois. A hunk of a man, Michael was handsome like a model normally seen in the magazines displaying the men's wear. He had attracted the attention of practically every woman working in the office the day he joined.

That day, Rebecca entered the office of Royal Automobiles at two in the afternoon. As she opened the door, she saw a handsome man standing in the hall. He was busy reading some document.

On seeing a beautiful girl entering the door, the man stopped reading and extended his courtesy, “Could I be of any help to you?”

"How do I know?” Rebecca said. She could make out that he was unaware of her status in the organization.

"Yes, of course, but you would know it once you tell me the reason of your visit to this office.” The man seemed determined to help her.

"Reason? I do not look for reasons to visit this office.” She felt amused at the questions and the answers. “It happens like this monsieur - when I reach this office, the staff here invents the reason for my visit to be successful as well as useful for them.”

"Look Miss, your statements are too confusing to reason out. I'm Michael Hansen, Vice President Operations in this office.” The man introduced himself, “I am sure I'd be able to help you if you are clear about the aim of your visit.”

"Mr. Hansen, my name is Rebecca Valois. My father Ralph Valois owns this company. I'm sure now you must have understood the reason of my visit.”

"Oh! Miss Valois. I am sorry. I should have known that before. In fact, I have joined this office only yesterday. I'm still getting acquainted with the staff here.” He tried to justify his ignorance.

"It's fine with me Mr. Hansen. Actually, I was away on a visit to our Hong Kong office. I am coming directly from the airport. Call me Rebecca, everyone here does that.”

Together, they entered the office corridors. While walking, he spoke about his induction into the company. But all the words that he spoke, seemed to be falling down on the floor behind them.

She was not listening.

She was thinking about what she could do with this man - he was infectiously handsome.

Next day, Rebecca reached the office an hour earlier than the usual office time. She looked at her table - some files were laid down there for her attention. Without looking at them she pushed the files aside, got up and went to the powder room of her chamber. She stood there facing the mirror, looking at herself. She pulled the waistband of her round neck pullover downwards. The mirror, which had many a times attested the arresting looks she possessed, again confirmed today that she was the owner of a seductive bosom and a perfect figure. A stray lock of her hair was bent upon eclipsing a portion of her right eye. She did not touch the strand of hair and let it do what it was doing - enhancing the appearance of her beautifully chiseled features. She stretched down the pullover once more thus highlighting the crests and troughs of her bosom. Impressed with the effect, she walked back to her chair.

The unexpected and untimely buzz of the intercom at the table of Mrs. Briganza, the secretary to Rebecca, startled her so much that she almost spilled the coffee from the cup which she was holding.

"Yes ma'am?” She answered in the phone.

"Get me the personal file of Mr. Michael Hansen.” The curt voice of Rebecca sounded on the phone.

"Sure ma'am - in a moment.” Briganza said. Quickly, she fished out the file from the cabinet tagged `Personal Files' and went to Rebecca's chamber. Rebecca dismissed her with a flick of her finger and opened the file. She read the bio-data quickly, until she reached the heading `Personal Details'.

He was a bachelor.

Rest of the details was un-important for her. She closed the file. Unknowingly caressing the folder, she mumbled, `You are very intelligent Dad - you have done a good job in the interest of the company. He would surely be a good company.'

*****