Ok.. i know this post is long overdue. For the next few days, or weeks, I shall be posting periodically each chapter from my Nanowrimo novel. I did consider at one stage to print out the hard copy and distribute it for a modest fee (on an ad hoc basis), but since this is my first attempt at Nanowrimo, I felt it best to publish the novel on my blog instead. Wil, I have to thank you for reminding me about this... so ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the fruit of my debut attempt at Nanowrimo-Shades of Grey.

Chapter 1: Memory of Fallen Petals

Walking down the path which seemed so familiar to him, Andrew walked towards the bus stop which would take him to Windham House, the building he had worked in for the past two years. For some strange reason, everything around him seemed to have a melancholy feel to it. He felt as if there was something amiss.

A gust of wind blew towards him, its icy cold tinge slapping him hard. Soft pink petals began to fall from the trees above, showering him with what seemed like a blanket of soft pink snow. It was romantic, but all he could feel, was a heartbreaking twist in his heart. He opened up his palm to catch the petals. The petals, as if they had a mind of their own, avoided his hand and fell to the ground, livelessly.

“ Aren’t these flowers pretty? They are so pretty. Look at them falling into my hand. Look at them! When we get married, I want my flower girls to shower me with these petals. We would feel as if we were in paradise. Isn’t it wonderful?”

Teresa’s voice rang in his ears. And he looked at his empty left hand which used to hold hers each time they took the same path together every morning.

Oh she was so beautiful, he thought to himself. A tear rolled down his eye. Was it  the wind which made his eyes sting? Or was it his broken heart?

At that moment, he wasn’t so sure.

Dragging his footsteps as if he had a thousand iron rods chained to his feet, he reluctantly made his way to the bus stop. It was all routine to him, but today he was alone. If he had the power to stop time, this would be the moment he wanted to preserve in his memory.

You see, only three weeks back, he had attended the funeral of Teresa. A young lady he had loved so much, whom he had wanted to marry, whom he had shared all his dreams with. But now she was gone. She was gone.

….

After what seemed like eternity, Bus No. 19 appears. And he proceeded to board the bus, knowing where it would take him, but not knowing whether he wanted to go to his destination anymore.

It was as if… all purpose for living had stopped that instant.

Looking at this shadow of a guy from afar, was Lynette. Her big, almond eyes tried to engulf the beautiful scenery around her.

“This must be the most romantic place anyone can ever be” she thought to herself. An aspiring first year student at university, majoring in music composition, she was determined to make a name for herself. She played the piano since she was 6, and was a confident girl. After all, she came from a family who were musicians. Her father was an acclaimed violinist whereas her mother was a soprano. With such musically gifted parents it was not surprising that Lynette too chose to pursue her further education in this field.

And she saw Andrew.

Those eyes were the saddest she had ever seen. It was a handsome face, no doubt, but he definitely needed to shave. There was stubble everywhere and he wore a green scarf with

an orange jacket.

“My goodness, we should call the fashion police man. What on earth does he think he is doing, wearing colours which clash with each other horribly? Does he think he is an elf or something? He must be freaking out of his mind” she thought.

“Not a bad looking face though, if he were my man, I’d make him look like a hunk. What a pity…”

And she boarded bus 19 after he did.

Surprisingly, the bus was packed. There were no empty seats except the one next to the freak-ish fashion criminal.

“Urrggh, I hope he’s not as freakish as his fashion sense” Lynette told herself. And she sat down next to him, trying hard not to laugh at his bizarre fashion sense. She also noticed that he wore mismatched socks.

Andrew in the meantime was a bit taken aback by Lynette’s move to sit next to him. He had grown so used to Teresa sitting on the seat, so used to it, that he suddenly lost his mind.

“Teresa”, he said, “Where have you been?” and he started to stroke Lynette’s hair.

*SLAP* *SLAP*

“What the heck is wrong with you!” screamed Lynette. Everybody in the bus was shocked.

Her tight slap sent Andrew back into reality. He apologized profusely, embarrassed at what he had just done… all eyes were on him.

The bus driver sensed something amiss, stopped the bus and went into the passenger seats.

“Whats the problem now folks?” he growled.

“He tried to molest her sir”, answered a young man sitting opposite Andrew.

“Andy?”

“Sorry Les. This lady.. I thought.. I thought she was Teresa.”

“Andy, come here.” Les gave him a hug. “I am so sorry for you, lad, but you need to get over her. I know its going to be hard. But life goes on. You need to move on too.”

“Ok folks, back to your seats now then.”

A fuming Lynette stood all the way to town. She swore to herself that she wasn’t going to stay in this neighbourhood anymore. Especially not one where people actually symphatise with a psychomaniac who just touched her hair and called her what? Teresa.

She made up her mind to find a room in the city.

“Save myself from all this stupid bus trips”

Andrew still looked dazed. He was not sure why he thought this lady could have been Teresa. He stole a look at her. Yes she was fresh faced, but she lacked a certain charisma which Teresa had. And she was bold enough to slap him.

Well she certainly has a very nice coat” he thought to himself.

And before they both realized it they had arrived at their destination.

Lynette left in a huff. Andrew walked slowly towards Windham building, unsure of what the day holds for him. Perhaps, it was going to be another long, mundane day ahead…