The Untold Story
The Voglio Bene Assaje
- B's PoV--
*Sternenlicht, Lake Geneva: 2003*
"B......." My eyes opened when I heard a voice calling to me. Such a soft, smooth sound.
"Darling... Have you slept? Did I wake you?" The sound was echoing back in the ear. At the same time, I saw someone walking closer to me.
Dreams......
Is our fight just a dream? Or am I dreaming now?
I blinked my eyes a few times. Sometimes I even rub it to make sure.
Nah! It's totally real. There was Aditya in front of me.
My eyes then moved. Both of them are now staring at all parts of my body. The feelings of uneasiness and the millions of doubts that once ruled now changed.
Without taking a long time, a feeling of relief re-encompassed my heart. The feeling came when I realized that I was asleep wearing the same dress since then, complete with shoes that were still attached to my feet. I may be too tired until the moment that consciousness is taken away, I do not remember exactly when it began and it becomes difficult to distinguish reality when awake.
"We... Where are we at the moment?" I asked Aditya while paying attention to his expression for the sake of making sure once again.
I hope to find the last expression in my memory or in my dreams. However, Aditya was so calm and looked mediocre. In the end, I was able to sigh full of relief from it. All of those events were apparently just flowers from my sleep.
"We are already in the waters of Geneva. Sleep back! Don't you want to stay at the yacht tonight?" Aditya took the shoes off my feet and placed them on the cabin floor.
There was really no commotion like what was plastered on my subconscious. Aditya's attitude is still the same, as well as the way he looks at me.
"All right." I responded while looking at him unbroken.
I immediately threw away the anxiety that had slipped and replaced it with a feeling of happiness. I imagined we would share the same bed after this. I can't wait to be in that man's arms especially after the nightmare I just had.
I was expecting him to lie next to me. However, when that hope hangs new as high as the ceiling of this yacht cabin, Aditya actually intends to continue his steps and move away from where I am.
"Where are you going?" I touched his arm. I really didn't want Aditya to leave me and make everything look the same as what was described in the dream.
"I'll lie down next to you..." Aditya smiled gently.
"However, first I want to let you hear a song" he said, taking my hand around his wrist. He gently kissed the back of my palm while closing his eyes for a moment before taking it off.
After that, Aditya walked to the place where a black disc and a turning device were placed, namely at the intersection of the cabin wall. Carefully he put the disc on and not how long the music went soft through it.
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Qui dove il mare luccica,
(Here, where the sea always shines)
E tyra forte il vento
(And the wind blows so hard)
A piece of the song's lyrics sounded soul-stirring. A female singer brought it with such emotion that at every beheading she chose, one by one, her roar and sighs sounded like they were slashing with her soul.
🎵🎶🎵🎶
The su una vecchia terrazza
(On an old terrace)
Davanti al golf in Surriento
(In front of Surriento Bay)
At the same time, the man again stepped closer to me. Slowly, he carried his body to the bed, where I laid my body. Without a doubt, he then grabbed me and brought me so attached to him. My current position is to turn his back on his body.
In an instant, my heart felt comfort. I can't imagine what if that dream was a reality. How do I live the rest of my day? How do I close my night by swallowing her anger?
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Uomo abbraccia una ragasza,
(A man holds a girl)
Dopo che aveva
(After the girl cried)
Poi si schiarisce la voce,
(Then he cleared his throat)
Ricomincia il canto.
(And start coming back)
"This song is called Caruso. The song was originally created and performed by Italian singer Lucio Dalla as a tribute to his senior Enrico Caruso." Aditya started telling stories while continuing to hold me.
"This song tells the story of Caruso's unhappy life and how he faced a fate that was not on his side." With a slow tempo and dynamic intonation, he tried to decipher one by one the meaning behind this song.
I wondered inside, why all of a sudden? Why did he need to explain to me about the song he chose?
However, I do not want to interrupt. I let him finish his story.
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Te voglio bene assaje,
(I love you so much)
Tanto bene sai
(Very much love you, you know)
with catena ormai,
(Now, it's like a shackle)
Che scioglie il sangue dint’ ‘e ‘vvene sai.
(as if blood melts are fused in a vein, you know)
"As a popular singer, Caruso has met many women. They were present alternately in his life. However, not once did he feel love, until a young girl appeared as his disciple. He taught the girl to sing." Aditya sighed for a moment and then resumed his words.
"It's strange that a girl twenty years younger than him leaves a different taste." Aditya peeked at the top of my head.
🎵🎶🎵🎶
(He looked at the light in the middle of the sea)
Pensa alle notti la America
(He thought of his nights in America)
Ma erano solo le lampare
(But it's just the light from the mesh)
Nella bianca scia in un’elica
(Behind the white propeller)
"However... Whether time is not on their side, or the way of love that does not support the story, Caruso.... He's dying." Aditya paused for a moment. Instantly the atmosphere inside the cabin turns gray due to the conflict of the story told by Aditya.
🎵🎶🎵🎶
The il dolore nella musica,
(He felt pain in music)
The alzo dal pianoforte
(He woke up from his piano)
Ma quando vide la luna uscire da una nuvola
(But when he saw the moon emerging from behind the clouds)
Gli sembrigento dolce anche la morte
(Even death looks sweeter to him)
"The sea is soon to come and he can only live in the hope of his love for the girl, for the sake of a sweet death." I turned my body to face Aditya. It's so stifling the love story of the opera maestro.
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Negli occhi la ragasza,
(He looked into the girl's eyes)
Quelli occhi verdi come il mare
(The eyes are as green as the color of the ocean)
Poi all’improvviso uscin una lacrima,
(Suddenly a tear fell)
Lui credette in affogare
(And he thought that he was drowning)
"On those silent nights between life and death, the shadow of her maiden appearance always appears and accompanies her. The shadow about the girl's face, along with the many nights they had spent together. The shadow that left behind a feeling of joyous homesickness amidst such domineering pain. The shadow that had made the maestro shed tears without ever being able to define the meaning of his lament." Aditya looked at me deeply.
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Te voglio bene assaje,
(I love you so much)
Tanto bene sai
(Very much love you, you know)
with catena ormai,
(Now, it's like a shackle)
Che scioglie il sangue dint’ ‘e ‘vvene sai.
(as if blood melts are fused in a vein, you know)
"Te voglio bene assaje ma tanto bene sai. I love you so much, very-very much, you know!" Aditya greeted me with a kiss on my lips after saying those words.
"Had Caruso had a longer time to say that sentence to the girl.. However, fate still makes him die in grief that he tries to pat alone on the remains of his life...." Both my eyes immediately glazed over. The eye bags that originally contained him could no longer stem this sadness. The corner of my eye then let my guard down and gave a gap, until forced to pass the circle for the sake of the tear.
"Why are you telling me this story?" I spoke with a sobbing sobbing that sounded so soft.
Many thoughts ran through my mind. I really need an answer.
"I just want to let you know that not all love stories end beautifully as we do." The look in Aditya's eyes implies sadness. Is he talking to himself?
"But... If there is little opportunity to make our loved ones know how we feel, whether it be by word or by action in the name of love, then we must convey it," aditya replied while looking at me deeply.
I shed more tears. Now I understand.... That's why Aditya took me this far. He wanted to give me a chance to tell the man I love, what I look like and how I love him. And at the same time, he was telling me what and how he loved me.
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Te voglio bene assaje,
(I love you so much)
Tanto bene sai
(Very much love you, you know)
with catena ormai,
(Now, it's like a shackle)
Che scioglie il sangue dint’ ‘e ‘vvene sai.
(as if blood melts are fused in a vein, you know)
 -------------------
Happy reading!
Caruso, this song can be listened to by friends readers via youtube. I recommend the Lara Fabian version, released in 2003, to be more easy listening. Enjoyable!