Elina

The night sky was a canvas of stars. The moon casted a gentle silvery glow, on the sky and painted a scene of enchantment. Gary and I were the sole witnesses of the nocturnal beauty that unfolded in front of us. From a distance the hoot of an owl echoed through the air. The cool breeze embraced our skin, reminding us of nature's tender embrace. As we sat together in the outskirts of the countryside, we enjoyed the cool sensation of the dew-dampened ground beneath our bare feet.

Gary looked towards me whose faced was illuminated by the bright moonlight, "Elina, let's go back to our farm house, it's getting cold now".

I glared at Gary and replied, "Not now Gary, I wanna enjoy the night sky a bit more. This serenity of the night is giving utmost comfort to my soul."

Gary looked at me in disbelief, "What's so much special about the night sky, bestie? You can see it every night."

I brought my knees closer to my chest and said, "Tbh, I myself don't know the answer to this question. It's just that... it gives me a type of comfort which nothing can ever give me."

"Gary and Elina, hurry up. Get inside, it's time for bed." Elina's mother called them. They immediately got up and made their way towards the farm house.

It was the last week of their session-break's vacation. Gary and Elina are childhood best friends so in order to celebrate the end of their scholastic year, their families decided to go for a vacation together. From tomorrow onward, both the kids have to start preparing for their new class.

"Elina, are you excited for our first year of High School?" Gary said climbing on his bed.

"I'm not excited, Gary because now we aren't bench mates. I wonder how my school days of class 9 will be." Elina said combing her hair.

Gary put his head on the pillow and chuckled. "Everything will turn out well. We can meet during the transition of 2 periods if the captain isn't strict. Now sleep okay, good-night".

Elina kept the comb on the dressing table and climbed on her bed still wondering about the sky.

****After a week****

"Elina, behave properly in the school. Don't fight with anyone. Be good and listen to your teachers." Elina's mother said while putting the tiffin box and water in Elina's bag.

"Mumma, don't worry. I'm getting late now, bye". Elina took the bag from her mom's hand, put the straps on her shoulder and ran out of her house. She crossed the road, where a sleepy Gary was waiting for her.

Gary yawned. "Good morning." Elina giggled. "I guess it's still night for you. Wake up dumbo. Did you sleep late at night?" Gary moved his hands in the air signaling a 'no' gesture.

Their walk to school was silent. No one spoke a single hand. As soon as they entered the school, Yuvraj who was the Middle School Captain last year, put his Middle School Captain cap on Elina's head. "Now, I'm free from my duties and I can goof around as much as I want". Yuvraj giggled at Elina's irritated face.

"But you still have to behave properly in order to get nominated as the High School Captain in class 12". Gary took the cap from her head and put it on Yuvraj's head.

"Do you think any teacher will nominate him if they get a glimpse of the monkey hidden inside him?" Elina said making a face.

"I don't want to be the High School Captain. It's tiring. Elina and Gary you both try your best. Maybe you both can get this auspicious opportunity." Yuvraj chuckled.

"Elina does have a chance, but she has only one drawback". Gary said looking at Elina's angelic face.

"What?" Elina replied blinking her eyes when she caught Gary staring at her.

"Only if you can prevent yourself from looking up towards the sky so frequently. Imagine Elina being MC of any School Program and looking up at the sky and getting lost during the middle of the program". Gary said laughingly which was followd by Yuvraj too.

"You guys will never gonna understand what the sky means to me". Saying this she swung her backpack and went towards her new class.

****Class time****

"Welcome to class 9 A students. I'm Ms. Nancy Dalmia, your class teacher. I hope you all will enjoy your High School life and teenage hood." Miss Nancy started teaching her lesson.

For some reasons Gary's eyes were glued to Elina who was looking outside the window towards the sky again. He quickly tore a page from his notebook, made a paper ball and threw at her. Elina finally got out of her dreamland.

*****Lunch break*****

"Elina, please tell me what's wrong with you. Why are you always looking at the sky these days?" Gary questioned her opening his lunch box. "Nothing is wrong with me Gary and can we please sit outside the building, under the open sky, on the open ground". Elina said looking around her.

"So, you're not gonna tell me, what's wrong with you, right? Fine, I'm leaving. If you can't share your problems with your best friend, then I don't think that I really deserve the position of your best friend. Make the sky your bestie. Congratulations on getting a new one". Gary closed his tiffin box and stood up to leave.

"Gary, please don't". Elina grabbed his arm. "I will tell you, but not now, a few days later, I've to confirm it first. Please calm down, I'm not hiding anything from you dear, just trust me."

"Let's meet at your home today at 9 o' clock." Gary said sitting down. Elina agreed while munching on her food.

After their beautiful first day of their high school lives both of them went to their home. Elina was however very anxious regarding what she would tell to Gary. He was quite good in catching liars, she could never lie in front of him. She rarely lied, she couldn't lie to him.

After pondering upon it for a good 30 mins, she finally decided what she would tell Gary. She didn't know how he would react to it. It was kind of a very dreamy dream for a teen according to everyone. However, Elina didn't care because she was determined to make this dream of her come true.