BECOMING SUPRA

Chapter 29: Graduation

Parents from all regions of the globe descended upon the jungle town for senior Graduation. Raë's parents flew from New York, Sakura's from Tokyo and Shazia's from Saudi Arabia. The ceremony was held with fanfare. Many choosing to wear their national outfits. There were saris and suits, kaftans and kilts, ao dais, drindls and dresses. Cheers and tears filled the air. They didn't know it then but some would never meet again. The excitement was palpable, all eager to experience what the future had in store for them.

Raë packed years of living into large trunks and had them shipped to her home in New York. She was leaving the next day. She said a teary goodbye to all her dorm parents from the time she had joined and specifically to her History and Biology teachers, who were her favorites. To the kitchen staff, she gave away her electronics. Her old clothes she distributed to the orphanage.

Her virtual game was complete and she had an appointment with the developer a week after she landed in New York.

In couple of hours, Æsh and his grandmother were to join a contingent of students on a shuttle to the closest airport, from where they were taking hopping flights out to Bali. He said his farewell to Ramu and Reema. All loose ends neatly tied up. His luggage packed and already checked in. Just one thing pending, he was yet to meet Raë, one last time.

He searched for her on campus. She was neither at Lab nor at Snack Attack. He was crossing the sloping greens outside the Library, passing by Lover's Lane, when Neel called out his name.

"Æsh!"

Æsh took a step back. From the dark end of the cul-de-sac, Neel appeared languorously pulling on a joint.

"Are you looking for Raë?" he asked.

"I am."

"She's at that glass wave in the forest."

"When are you leaving?" Æsh asked Neel.

"Tomorrow."

"Where to?"

"The Bay Area mostly likely."

"I hope we cross paths," said Æsh.

"That we will. We have Raë between us."

Æsh nodded to leave. "As a fellow passenger on spaceship Earth," said Neel. "I feel I need to warn you."

"About?" asked Æsh pausing.

"Raë."

"What about her?"

"You don't know her like I do."

"That, I don't doubt," he said, smiling.

"There will come a time in your relationship when you'll be out of your depths and the only recourse you'll have left ... is to run!"

"To run?" asked Æsh.

"Yes, to bounce ... to vamoose ... to run away as fast as you can. I'm letting you know in advance, you have my nod, you have my consent. It's either that or getting pulled into her whirlpool, her wild cycles, she'll pull you in deep and have you spinning so fast you'll not know your elbow from your ass. She'll have you in such a tight twist that your tonsil's will be scratching your nuts."

Æsh broke out laughing.

"It's no laughing matter," said Neel in wide eyed seriousness. "Not especially when you're squeezed into the shape of a pretzel.".

Æsh, laughing, pushed off the wall to make his leave.

"One more thing, Æsh ... the dream we experienced in the secret forest, do you remember the entirety of it?"

"I think so."

"At first, I remembered only bits and bobs but one day while walking to school it came to me in a flash. Raë, the fire-breathing dragon - who had set the world on fire, you becoming water ... it took the strength of the oceans to subdue her."

"I remember."

"You are always going to have to be the water to her fire. She'll demand that of you."

"I know."

"Also know, Raë will have the last volley. The last word. The final act will belong to her."

Æsh nodded, accepting it came easily.

"And though the gesture is appreciated, you becoming an element to balance her and what not - just make sure you don't completely douse her fire," said Neel, blowing a ring of smoke out of his lips.

Æsh drummed his fingers, twelve successive taps and Neel's words percolated in.

Just-make-sure-you-don't-completely-douse-her-fire.

"I will," Æsh nodded. "You stay safe."

Then Æsh left the campus and went out in search of Raë.