A Morning of Memories and Mishaps

Nani paused for a moment, probably thinking I had fallen asleep.

"Then what happened, Nani? Did Veer ever come back?" I mumbled, my eyes still closed.

She laughed softly. "You're still awake? I thought you had drifted off." She took a sip of water before continuing.

"Saira waited. Every night, she lit the lantern. Days turned into months, months into years. People told her Veer wouldn't return, but she never stopped believing."

I felt a pang in my heart. 'She waited without expectations, just like a devotee waits for their god.'

Nani's voice softened as she continued. "One night, after many years, a storm hit the village. The winds were fierce, and Saira's lantern finally went out. She took it as a sign—it was time to let go."

I exhaled quietly. 'So she finally gave up…'

Nani's voice carried a hint of mystery. "The next morning, a traveler arrived at her door. His clothes were worn, his face covered in dust, but his eyes—his eyes were the same as before. It was Veer."

She paused again, letting the weight of her words settle.

"Nani, but why? Why did he come back after all these years?" I asked, a frown forming on my face.

She smiled, her eyes filled with wisdom. "Because when the storm covered the lantern, Veer panicked. He had been following its light every night from afar, believing he still had time. But the moment it disappeared, he realized he might have lost Saira forever."

My breath hitched as she spoke the final words of the tale.

"Saira smiled, tears in her eyes. 'You were lost long before the storm. But I am glad you found your way home.'"

Silence filled the air. The night felt heavier, the story lingering like an unfinished melody.

I turned slightly, gazing at Nani. "Did Saira forgive him?"

She sighed, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Some questions don't have simple answers, Aira"

As I lay there, the story refused to leave my mind. Was love meant to be painful? Or was it people who made it so?

Before I could find an answer, my eyes slowly closed, the wind carrying me into dreams woven with lanterns, storms, and the light that always finds its way home.

As i drifted into slumber, my dreams pulled me into the very tale that had consumed my thoughts.I found herself standing within its world, not as an outsider, but as a part of its essence—walking the same paths, breathing the same air, and living the moments as if they were my own.

Every detail was vivid—the scent of damp earth after the rain, the distant echoes of whispered conversations, the weight of emotions pressing against her chest. I spoke, I fought, I felt—completely immersed, as if the boundaries between fiction and reality had blurred into nothingness.

Time lost its meaning in this realm, and before Iknew it, the soft golden glow of dawn seeped through my window. The dream clung to me like an unspoken truth, and she awoke with a lingering sense of displacement, as though a part of her still belonged to that world.

_________________________________

"You're still sleeping? Look at the time!" My cousin exclaimed, hurriedly gathering her bedding in a rush. Her voice carried a mix of urgency and disbelief, as if she had already conquered half the day while I was still lost in dreams.

I blinked a few times, stretching lazily as a soft yawn escaped my lips. "Ugh… why did morning come so soon? It was such a wonderful dream," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes and rolling onto my side, unwilling to let go of the lingering warmth of my dreamworld.

Her curiosity piqued instantly. She abandoned her task and shuffled closer, eyes gleaming with interest. "Really? What was it about?" she asked, her voice laced with excitement, eager to hear the details.

I smirked, tilting my head slightly as if contemplating whether to share. Then, with a playful glint in my eyes, I dismissed her curiosity with a teasing remark. "Nothing… just the devil," I said, nudging her away before finally pulling myself out of bed and stepping into the routine of the day.

By evening, the weather began to shift, the sky darkening as thick, heavy clouds rolled in. A storm was brewing, and the air carried the scent of impending rain.

Sensing the change, I rushed upstairs to the terrace, my footsteps quick against the cool floor. The clothes I had left out to dry swayed restlessly in the growing wind. Just as I started gathering them, the first drops of rain fell—light at first, then suddenly turning into a downpour.

With the rain beating down, I hurried back inside, my clothes slightly damp from the sudden shower. The downpour grew fiercer, drumming against rooftops and streets. I peered outside, my gaze drawn to the road where a few children had gathered, their laughter echoing through the rain-soaked air as they floated paper boats along the rushing water.

I stood there in silence, mesmerized. The rhythmic sound of rain, the scent of wet earth, the innocence of childhood games—it all felt strangely soothing. Without realizing it, I found myself lost in the moment, simply watching the rain paint the world in its fleeting, melancholic beauty.

As I stood there, watching the rain weave its quiet symphony, an uninvited thought of Rei slipped into my heart. I had denied it countless times, convinced myself that I had moved on, yet somewhere, a part of me still lingered near him—unseen, unspoken, but undeniably present.

"Does he ever think of me?

Or is this, too, just another illusion of mine?

Is he just as lost in thoughts as I am?

Or have I never even crossed the boundaries of his mind?

Why does this heart refuse to quiet down?

Is there no other pain in the world?"

The questions echoed within me, unanswered, dissolving into the rhythm of the falling rain.

Lost in my thoughts, I hadn't even noticed when the rain had stopped. The rhythmic drumming against the rooftops had faded, replaced by a serene stillness. The air smelled fresh, washed clean by the downpour. Just then, my cousin stepped onto the terrace, her presence breaking the quiet.

"Everything looks so clean after the rain, doesn't it?" she said, her gaze drifting towards the distant mountains. "Look, even those faraway peaks are visible now."

She pointed toward them, her eyes filled with quiet wonder. The mountains, usually hidden behind layers of dust and haze, stood clear and majestic against the soft glow of the post-rain sky.

A shadow of melancholy crossed her face as she sighed. "The weather isn't the same as before. There was a time when these mountains were always visible… but now, they only shine like this after the rain." Her voice carried a hint of sadness, as if mourning something irretrievably lost.

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting her words sink in before whispering,

"The rain comes, and even the mountains reveal themselves again.

But I remain buried beneath layers of sorrow.

If only there were a rain for grief,

Maybe then… I could see myself too."

The words hung in the air, heavy yet poetic, carrying the weight of an unspoken longing.

She turned to me, a smile breaking through her previous gloom. "You're really good at poetry," she giggled, admiration shining in her eyes.

We both burst into laughter, the heaviness of the moment dissolving like mist after the rain. The silence that had lingered before was now replaced by a lighthearted warmth.

"So, are we planning to spend the entire night here?" I teased, stretching my arms as the cool breeze brushed against my skin.

She chuckled, shaking her head, and without another word, we started making our way downstairs. Our footsteps echoed softly against the damp terrace floor, the scent of rain still lingering in the air.

Just as I reached the last step, an inexplicable pull made me pause. I turned back, my eyes drawn once again to the distant mountains—those silent, steadfast witnesses of time and change. For a fleeting moment, I stood there, as if trying to imprint their image in my mind, holding onto something intangible.

Then, without another glance, I turned away and walked down, leaving the night and its quiet musings behind

___________________________________

I had just returned from my village, and today was the first day of school after the holidays. The morning felt a little different—like the start of something familiar yet slightly distant after the break.

As I was getting ready, my phone rang, and Nami's name flashed on the screen. I answered, putting it on speaker while I continued with my routine.

"You're coming, right?" she asked, her voice carrying a mix of excitement and urgency.

"Yeah, I'm just having breakfast," I replied, speaking around a bite of bread. Standing in front of the mirror, I was fixing my hair with one hand while holding the half-eaten slice in the other. The phone lay on the dresser, its speaker amplifying Nami's voice into the quiet of my room.

"Alright then, I'm leaving now. See you at school!" she said cheerfully.

"Okay, see you," I replied, quickly hanging up.

Wasting no time, I hurriedly finished styling my hair. Just as I secured the last strand in place, the distant honk of the school bus reached my ears. It was already here.

"Mumma, I'm leaving! Bye!" I called out, slinging my bag over my shoulder in one swift motion.

Without waiting for a reply, I rushed out, stepping into the fresh morning air as the familiar yellow bus waited at the end of the lane, ready to take me back to the routine I had momentarily left behind.

As soon as I stepped onto the school bus, I quickly made my way to my usual seat, slipping into the familiar comfort of routine. With a sigh, I pulled out my earphones and placed them in my ears, letting the music drown out the chatter around me. The bus was filled with the usual morning energy—students talking, laughing, and sharing stories about their vacation. But I simply leaned against the window, watching as the city blurred past, lost in my own little world.

When we finally arrived at school, an undeniable excitement filled the air. After the long break, the campus was buzzing with life again. Friends reunited with enthusiastic hugs, laughter echoed through the corridors, and everyone seemed eager to catch up on everything they had missed. There was something special about these post-holiday reunions—the joy of being back with familiar faces, sharing stories, and stepping back into the rhythm of school life.

As I walked toward the assembly area, a sudden realization struck me. "Oh no, I forgot to wear my ribbons!" I whispered in alarm, glancing at Nami and Suhina for help.

Nami gave me a pointed look and sighed. "At least today, you should've remembered."

I turned slightly to check the line behind us. The teacher was already making her way through the rows, inspecting every student. My heart sank. "What do I do now?" I asked, putting on my best innocent expression, hoping for a miracle.

Suhina, unimpressed, rolled her eyes. "What else? Get scolded, obviously." Her voice carried a teasing sharpness, but I could tell she found the situation amusing.

She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Was showing off your fashion more important than following the rules?"

I frowned. "It's not like I did it on purpose! It just slipped my mind."

Nami chuckled, nudging Suhina slightly. "Ignore her, she just loves to rant."

Before I could say anything else, I felt a presence behind me. The teacher had reached our line.

"Where are your ribbons?" she asked, her voice stern.

I opened my mouth to explain, but she didn't wait for an answer. Instead, she grabbed my wrist and started leading me away.

"Come with me. Let's see what the principal has to say about this."

I felt my stomach twist as dread settled in. "Oh no… the principal is going to murder me," I thought to myself, my footsteps growing heavier as we neared the office.

The moment we entered, the principal wasted no time. She folded her arms and gave me a sharp look before launching into a scolding.

"You know the school rules, don't you? After so many reminders, how could you still forget? This is not the kind of discipline we expect from our students. If everyone started ignoring the dress code, would this still be a school or a fashion show?"

"Sorry." That was the only word I could muster. Every time she spoke, I repeated it like a broken record, hoping it would lessen her wrath. But she wasn't done.

Just then, the door opened, and PT sir walked in, dragging a few boys behind him. "These students arrived late," he announced.

The principal, already fuming, turned to them with even more frustration. "Come here!" she snapped, her voice echoing through the office.

Among them were two boys from my class—Rian and Arin. Rian looked unfazed, almost as if he was used to being in trouble. But Arin… he stood there quietly, his innocent face making it seem like he had been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The lecture continued for a few more minutes before the principal finally dismissed us. I let out a quiet sigh of relief as we stepped out of the office and made our way back to class. "Well, that could've been worse," I muttered under my breath, feeling grateful that the morning's ordeal was finally over.