FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN

The Puzzle

Neel looked back once more to see if Manjari would step out of her bedroom. No such luck. He desperately wanted to see her before leaving. Last night a lot of things had changed for them and he did not wish to leave without speaking to her. He checked his watch again, he had a few minutes to spare. Maybe he should check on her....or not. It was clear to him that she was hiding...maybe grappling with the same emotions as him after last night. Last night. The events of the last night made Neel smile...if the events of the last night were any indicator, they would set the bed on fire with passion. Neel checked his watch again. He would have to leave now if he did not want his students to wait for him.

He wished he did not have to go today, but his supervisor was away on a conference and he was filling in for him. He could always meet Manjari in her office. He softly closed the front door and with hands in his pocket, slowly walked down to his class. The next few hours flew by.  Neel couldn't concentrate on anything at all. He wanted to speak to Manjari but her office had been locked. He contemplated going back home before his next class. He checked his watch and was about to leave when his supervisor, Prf. Donaldson walked in. He groaned. There was no way he would be able to leave now. He KNEW Prof.. Donaldson liked to talk. On any other day, he would have gladly joined his lively discussions but not today. He made a quick excuse and left.

He was just leaving the building when his phone pinged. he checked to see it was a message from Manjari. With trepidation, he opened her message and frowned.  It said:

Neel

(Because you love puzzles)

Come find me in the rain

With the teardrops falling down

Where the skies cry all the same

Come find me now, words are too fleeting

Come find me at the world's edge

With everything falling down

Where I'm waiting to fall too

Come find me now, the moments are fading

Come find me in a summer wind

With the leaves rustling in the wind

Where the wind teases my hair

Come find me now, I'm almost gone

Come find me in the ocean blue

With the waves that carry me in

Where the water slides over my skin

Come find me now, life's passing by

Neel stared at his mobile screen again. and again. Why had she sent him this poem? He scratched his head. What kind of a puzzle was this? What was she trying to tell him? He hurried home to find no one there. What was happening? He looked at her message again. She was trying to tell him something but what?

He read the poem again and again still nothing made sense to him. He threw his phone on the couch frustration as he ran his fingers through his hair. Suddenly his eyes fell on the painting on the wall of Lighthouse Point Park. It was a beautiful place that all the visiting fellows had visited as a part of a community project. Manjari had found the place extremely peaceful. He read the poem again and smiled. He knew where she was. But why had she asked him to come there? Only one way to find out. He rushed out of the house and then came back again. He had forgotten his phone.

Minutes later, he was back again. He would need a light jacket because it was bound to be cold.

And then back again because he had forgotten his wallet.