The bright sunlight filtering through the divided curtains filled the entire room with a crystalline glow. With his eyes still closed, Nick pulled the comfit over his face and wrapped his arms around Lisa, who had snuggled closer to him to avoid the morning rays.

“Wake up honey.” He gently kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, “I have to go.”

“Umm!” She looked at him with those soft brown eyes which always had a hypnotic effect on Nick. He found it hard to pull away from her whenever he looked into those gleaming windows to her soul. Crouched under the white satin sheet, her body shone almost like a pure dazzling pearl lying protected in an oyster.

Nick had met her the first time in one of the night clubs located a few miles from the city. She had been introduced to him by a close friend of Nick. The first time his eyes had met hers, he had felt like been sucked into the depth of her irresistible eyes. He had felt completely mesmerized by her appearance. She had stood there in front of him like a princess from a fairy tale; his childhood fantasies had seemed to come back to life. Spellbound by her charm, Nick had spent the next few hours with her alone, strolling in the lawn, away from the blaring music of the club. They had exchanged phone numbers that night and had decided to meet one more time. It had been six months since then…six months of complete happiness and bliss.

With Lisa around, Nick felt that he had nothing else to wish for; his life had seemed complete. He had pretty much decided to propose to her but before that he thought of breaking the news to his friends who had been his real buddies since his childhood days; he had spent a significant part of his life with them and as such they had a right to know about his decision before anyone else did. They had been always there for Nick and had helped him navigate through a difficult phase of his life when his first relationship had ended in a divorce and that incidentally had been a very bad break up. Apart from being subjected to acute mental trauma, he had ended up losing a considerable amount of money during divorce settlement proceedings. The fact that his wife had aborted her pregnancy without his consent had snapped the already-fragile-bond between the two. The incident had dragged their relationship to a point of no return.

It was close to evening when he drove from his work place to his friend Mark’s house. When he stepped in, he found his other two friends, Steve and Jason already waiting for him.

“What’s up man? What’s this all about?” Steve got up from his reclining chair and hugged Nick.

Nick dropped on the couch and helped himself with a glass of wine. He could almost feel that everyone was getting impatient to have the suspense unraveled.

“Ok Nick we are waiting. We know it has got be something big…” Jason couldn’t wait but before he finished Nick intervened.

“I’m getting married.” He finally said it.

“Oh my God! Anne, Mark’s wife almost shrieked in excitement. “Who is she? You never even told us…”

“Here’s to our dear friend…our brother Nick and his beautiful wife…” Nick could see everyone raising their wine glasses for a toast.

“Can we know something about her? Damn it…you didn’t even tell us who she is?” Jason’s wife chirped. She leaned forward and with her face cupped in her hands, she intently waited for Nick to unveil his dream woman.

“You know her.” Nick looked at Mark as he spoke.

“I know her?” “Who is she?”

“Lisa.” Nick said a bit reluctantly as if anticipating the response.

“Lisa…who Lisa? You mean that …girl…in the club?” Mark almost jumped up from his chair as if he had been electrocuted.

“Nick….please tell me I’m wrong.” His face had turned pale as if he had watched some kind of a horror movie.”

Nick watched Jason and Steven through the corner of his eye. He could see them staring at him wide eyed with an amazed look on their faces. They were finding it hard to believe perhaps.

“Damn it Nick….do you even know what you are doing? She is….she is a hooker.” Jason shouted at him.

“May be she was but she isn’t anymore. I love her.” Nick shouted back.

What followed was a painful silence. No one knew what to say. Taking a deep breath, he shifted his gaze from one person to the other as if, implicitly, trying to seek some kind of support but he knew he had to keep his expectations realistic.

“I am going in for this... with or without you guys. Choice is yours.” He pulled himself up heavily from his chair and put on his jacket. He felt completely drained out.

Everyone saw Nick stagerring towards the door and as he was about to step out, he turned around to face the staring and bewildered eyes of his dear friends. He didn’t feel intimidated anymore. Probably he had never been so sure in his life.

“I love her for the person she is. I love her for her pure soul and she deserves a second chance.” He stepped out and the door slammed shut.