Should I run away?

Run away from this embarrassment and crawl back inside my blanket?

Will they stop laughing then?

Thoughts were racing inside my head, their faces were blurring and I couldn't listen to anything except seeing that their heads were rolling back, their mouths were monster-like open and their eyes were closed.

'You must close your mouth before a fly makes an entrance and don't laugh so much, you might get choked.' Running away was not an option. How much they knew about me to laugh at me?

'Damn Scarlett! You have the nerve.' Rodriguez smiled and he absolutely looked like a clown.

'Someone has to.' This shut him up.

'Well, that's okay. That's her way of doing dance, it didn't have any beat and looked like a drunkard has been set free but it's her dance.' What was Steven trying to imply?

'Yeah, that's okay if you didn't have an eye for my dance BUT I wasn't dancing to impress anyone. I was dancing because I felt free.' I didn't even know why was I explaining to them?

Is dancing your heart out such a crime?

'Of course, Scarlett. Whatever you say.' Carol spoke and she looked pretty tired. 'Come on Steven, take me out of here.'

Rodriguez was whispering something in the girl's ear and they both headed towards the darker side of the place. Carol and Steven started walking in the direction of the parking lot.

Okay, Scarlett. Just find your way back to the hostel. Wrap up the night.

'Hey, can anyone tell where did James go?' I asked them before they could vanish in their perfect world.

'Yeah, to HELL. Come on Scarlett. He must be somewhere here only. Just search for him.' Rodriguez seemed pretty irritated.

Search among the thousands of crowd in the dark night in a vast area of land was what Rodriguez meant.

Should I comply with it? Well, I certainly didn't owe anything to him but no harm had ever been done in meeting a person and telling them 'YOU SUCK!' So, I just randomly moved in any direction.

There were food stalls everywhere. So, I stopped and enjoyed the rich ethnic taste of their cuisine. I was eating a burger wrap and one bite exploded the spiciness in my mouth and another bite of it balanced it with macron cheese.

I was eating like I hadn't eaten in days. 'This is so best.' My mouth was full so I gulped. 'What's the recipe?' I asked the owner of the stall.

The middle-aged woman named Margaret signalled me to come closer. So, I did.

She whispered, 'it's a secret.'

And I am pretty sure there will be no secret ingredient, even I have watched Kung Fu Panda.

I laughed wholeheartedly forgetting the fact that a few moments earlier someone was laughing at me.

Well, there was no point in destroying my appetite. I needed the energy to stand my ground.

But what am I even going to say when I will meet James? I have no idea.

I walked some more and found a big banyan tree. I felt like I saw a silhouette of someone over there so, I proceeded to move further.

But then I halted.

On reaching close, I saw James and Lucy making out like they were stranded in some Sahara desert and both were each other's droplet.

Well, what more I need to witness tonight?

But I didn't know and I couldn't control it when my heart dropped. I looked down at my hands that were once holding someone else's hands and was thinking that my heart fluttered for no reason.

After an eternity, Lucy made him stop since she saw me. James looked back, glanced in my direction and wasn't even surprised.

And why did that make me surprise?

'Hey Scarlett, lost your way?' He was tugging back his shirt and had an arm around Lucy's waist.

'No, I came here to tell you..'

I paused. Looked straight in his eyes and crossed my arms on my chest.

'That in the morning you made some tomato salad and those tomatoes were badly rotten and in no time you will get indigestion or have already gotten.' I again took a dramatic pause. 'Lucy didn't you notice that something in the air changed. I don't know why you didn't say anything?' I looked at them innocently.

'What the hell Scarlett, what are you talking about? That farting smell must be coming from somewhere else.' He was fuming.

'Chill man, no one even talked about "your farting smell". I wonder why you got so instigated and who have put this absurd idea in your head.'

Now face the real embarrassment.

Both were quite, though they had hilarious look on their faces as if their truth had come out.

'Anyways, if you are planning to stay statue tonight then by all means. Enjoy the rest of the night because I certainly did.' I waved at them and left them in their puzzling smelly mystery.

Angel had taught me that never ever let anyone else step over you. We all had to fight our own battles. People could hurt you as much as you let them hurt.

I happily walked out of Starry Night imbibing the scent of place's energy within me since it was my last day in Star Light city. I found a tree near the Kick In-Kick Out hostel, went near to it and tied a ribbon on its branch that read Remember My Presence. A new journey was about to start.

I packed my bags and gave my key to our darling Derek.

'I hope you enjoyed your stay here with no trouble.' The usual manager tone was laced. 

'Yes, I did. Thank you so much.'

Should I tell him about the troubles? 

Think, Think, Think. 

Naah, they are the melody of my journey. 

So, I smiled and left.

I boarded the train for my next destination to Oatsjunk City and I was more than ready for it.

The train was running at jogger pace and my whole journey from my home to Starlight City flashed in front of my eyes. I felt like I journeyed the whole world but I knew it was just the tip of the iceberg. I felt stupid for my fluttering heart for James.

But where was my fault in it when he hugged, asked for me, tiny viny protected me from binoculu-ra-ras man? I just got wired in thinking that he might be the one.

Funny and Stupid.

I took out one page from my writing pad and started to write.

Hey my old man,

Looking outside the train with a pen in my hand and so many emotions in my heart, it's puzzling me how to tell you how much I miss you. How much I miss your morning coffee and sweet little banter that we share. But please don't burden your eyes with tears rather be happy that your Scarlett is seeing the world.

My eyes are teary so I don't even know what I am writing but I wish my happy tears could convey this message to you that I thank you for taking me under your umbrella. But I know, thank you will not be enough for your love, I just wish that every daughter may get an Angel like you.

Now, I am heading towards Oatsjunk City and I heard that old single grannies of that place are looking for men. Should I give your number? I think I will.

Now smile and prepare yourself for dates.

Much love to you and counting down the days until I see you again.

Infinite Love

Scarlett.

I kept the letter inside the envelope and also a sunset postcard with a picture of an old man and a little girl inside the umbrella.

I took out my travelling diary and pasted a small flag of Starlight city and little other tokens of City in it and again grabbed the pen and wrote.

You never know the value of pain,

Until and unless you feel someone else's.

You never know the value of a smile,

Until and unless your actions light up someone's face.

You never know that same starry night of Starlight City will be,

Dark for some and Paradise for some.

You just never know.

I thought of writing more but sometimes incomplete picture gives more meaning and leaves us with unsettling questions and yet our curiosity wants to play with pandora box yearning for complete picture no matter what.

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Hey lovely people,

So, it was just the first destination of Scarlett's journey and much more turning events awaits for her. Can you guess what's stored for her in Oatsjunk City?

Pour your insightful thoughts in the comment sections, press that little star button and make it a colourful orange and share this story among your friends.

Next update will be on this coming Friday. 

Till then rock and roll guys.

Happy reading.