Under The Clear Summer Sky

12 | his birthday on the beach

9 years ago.

Anu stood, her feet grounded to the wet mud. Her white dress fluttered with the wind. Strands of her hair had started to move astray from her neatly pinned braids, the wind being the primary cause of the revolt of the strands. The waves ashore retreated and pushed forward, as if playing a game. Sometimes they graced her feet with a light, playful touch. Most of the other times, they retreated very quickly.

Vineet was seated on the sand, elbows resting on his knees. He scoured the sand around him for seashells.

"Where is she?" Anu had started to grow impatient. "Maya said she'd be here on time."

Vineet shrugged.

Anu pouted a little and continued muttering to herself. She was not in a good mood. She hadn't been in a good mood ever since she learnt that Vineet was going to move to another city. Another City! It was one that was pretty far from Pulan, furthermore. She padded over to where Vineet was seated and plopped down. 

The grains of sand began attacking her thighs and legs. They started to fill in her shoes. It added to her melancholy.

Vineet watched her. "Why do you look so sad?"

Anu eyed him and returned her gaze to the ocean, pouting more.

"You're leaving in two days. Should I be happy?"

Vineet's hands tightened and then relaxed. He turned to her, with his signature grin. A grin that meant he was going to tease her.

"You'll miss me that much? If Anu is going to miss me that much, maybe I should consider staying, after all."

Anu found herself, a little bit flustered. 

"I changed my mind. Just hurry up and leave."

He laughed in response.

Anu craned her neck, staring up at the wide, vast expanse of blue. White cotton-like clouds were scattered about, giving an uncharacteristic summer feel in February.

"You're moving so far away." Anu whispered. There was a note of such sadness in her statement that Vineet's lips trembled. 

"I was going to have to move away for college, anyway. I'm just moving a little sooner."

"I know." She looked down, tracing a pattern amidst the sand. In the process, she found a unique heart shaped seashell.

She lifted it up. "That's cute." Vineet inspected the shell along with her. From a distance, it appeared as if the two were huddled together. This is what Maya thought as she brought the birthday cake with her. Grinning to herself, she padded closer. 

"Lovebirds, come on. We have a birthday to celebrate. Birthday boy, quick!"

"Coming." Vineet answered, getting up and dusting the sand off his pants. Anu, who had become a little flustered at 'Lovebirds' had a slower reaction.

The trio padded to a place with shade and slower breeze. The cake was unboxed. It was a chocolate cake with 'if u = 2m/s , a = 4m/s2 and t = 4s, what is the final velocity?" written on it with cream.

Maya grinned with pride. "What do you think, god of physics?"

Vineet laughed his heart out. "Perfect."

The candles were blown by the wind and the cake was cut. Once they had their fill, they trudged along the beach, looking for the perfect spot for photos.

Maya pointed at a spot and urged the two of them to stand.

"We can capture the view of the beach as well. Quick, pose there."

Vineet and Anu stood there, somewhat awkwardly. Maya rolled her eyes.

"Don't be so boring, guys. Make a pose. Come on, do a heart shape. Quick."

The two glanced at each other. Slowly they inched closer and made a heart shaped pose. Maya pulled two copies from her polaroid camera. 

"It was an awkward but cute pose." Maya commented.

Anu pocketed the picture in her purse and nagged at Maya to take more photos of the three of them. Meanwhile, Vineet stared at the picture for a while. The contours of his face softened. He carefully pocketed the picture in his pocket.

✿

word count: 767 words

[behind the scenes]

"The Journey Of The Beach Photo"

The photo was first framed and placed on his desk by Vineet. Later, it was taken out and placed in his wallet. When he moved back to Pulan, he again placed it in a frame and kept it by his bedside.