— November, 2012

      
      If a beaming light defers the meaning of a new start, then a shadow emerged defying the gravity of darkness. It's been a few days now, Nathan is off to the city again. This time Elan feels a sense of realism. Everything is falling into the right place, maybe?

       She realised life doesn't have to be roses to be defined as perfect. Her mom—yes, she had grudges but today she has different thoughts while gazing at the noon sky. Perhaps she's bound with fate too.

      Before endorsing her father with new start, Nathan says—

      "Don't sour upon the past. You have a life to explore with thrilling adventures."

      Yes, life's too short to have grudges. May you get old, the pod never fills.

      Suddenly, a clattering sound broke her inner monologue. She looks at a tiny stone glimmering with the afternoon rays. To look for the intruder, she found—Evan is standing on the roadside beside her house. She averted her gaze to decipher the yearning after so many days.

       They didn't talk after the little disagreement around two months ago. Now, officially their finals are over too. Why is Evan here? God knows.

      She's about to go back to her room, while a note wrapped with a stone falls back on the balcony. She hastily takes it and sees, "Please come down. We need to talk."

     Evan mouthed the words with a sober expression when she looked back after readily going through the note.

      Elan comes down with her blue skateboard, if they're gonna talk—they better do it with the sidewalk on the roadside then. While she's ready to start, she notices Evan's black one too. "Great!" Elan thinks with amusement.

      They both are dashing on the road, the roadside is free now. The orange rays are kissing on their cheekbones. Elan feels a rush of excitement.

     "I'm sorry, Elan. I shouldn't have behaved like that day—" Evan says while trudging with his skateboard.

     "What for? I don't remember you to do any such things to apologise," Elan replies while she sees some kids are running on the park beside the grey footpath.

      "I know, you're upset—

       "Evan, let's forget about it. Life's too short with ifs and buts!" She exclaimed while balancing on the board. It goes very well with life, if you know how to balance—you're well with riding yet some speed breakers are needed too, for halting.

    "Where have you been all my life?"

   
     "On the other side!" Elan says with a duh tone, the corner of her lips quirk up.

     Finally they stop at a barn. It's a rare side maybe for city life, not for the countryside. This is the best part of this place. Elan beams brightly, taking Evan's hands to go there.

      She sits down on the muddying earth, Evan mimics her. After a brief silence he says, "I've finally talked with my parents about my ambition. I don't want to be a doctor. Yes, it's hard to digest the first time but I guess we're fine now."

      Elan notices Evan's calm posture —his shoulders aren't stiff anymore with the baggage of unnecessary things. She knew that feeling and how they crush you.

      For the first time ever, he looks contented.

      "I've talked with my grandparents too— " she trails off.

      "And—" He prompted her to continue.

       "I'm going to stay. Since I knew I always wanted to be a doctor and this place holds serenity. A tiny bit while I can take care of my grandparents too."

        "I'm proud of you!"

         "So am I!"

         "Although I should add that I might've needed counselling considering my previous mental health," Evan says, stretching his head.

      Elan tilted her head to see his face now, "Go for it. There's no shame calling out for help. I have seen my mom suffering to get better."

      "Yeah, right."

      As the sun is finally settling to drown out and the flaming is bursting out with colours as if emerging the trailing notions to conjugate at one point. They knew there's more ahead for them.

      "Everything will be okay, right?" Evan says while gazing at her awe-striking face.

      "It will be okay," Elan says with the mesmerising beauty in the sky.

     Evan pulls her for a hug. For a few seconds, the hastily movement put her into a daze. Finally after clenching her fists, she relaxed in his arms and put her arm around him.

       Before the blissful moment can last forever, Elan punched jokingly in his shoulder and sprints off there to ease the situation.

      "You, little imp! Come back before I yank you back to mother earth!" Evan says with imbecility.

      Now, their laughter echoes in the air!

      Life can't be too perfect, can it be?

━━━━━━━━━━━