The SUN - One shot

Found my lost

Have you ever seen a butterfly? What a silly question... Of course you have! Who doesn't have that painted picture of catching a butterfly and laughing as a kid?..

To be honest, I never had that picture when I was a kid... I was literally S-C-A-R-E-D of anything that had legs and wings.. Maybe scared wasn't the right word... I was wary of it... Despised it?Too strong...

But have you seen a snail turn into a butterfly? That delicate yet exhausting process which metamorphoses a delicate body into sturdy wings which can fly to freedom of their own!

Well, I didn't see it but I sure felt like it.

***
School was never the brightest part of my day. (Have I already mentioned​ this! Consider this *emphasis of matter* then .. so you really get what I mean)

But for the past few days it seemed like I could not remember any other part better.

Anay is not my friend.

I had been repeating the same sentence again and again in my head.

It had been a month now since I came to this city of non-exhausting energy. And a a few weeks since I started with school. But nonetheless the taciturn state still remained the song of my life as it had been before. That day was supposed to be no different. But who knew better!

I had been running late (which was usual) but what I usually never accounted for (being the oh-so-impolite manager of time) had to happen today. As I dashed towards the school bus after having yelled at it to wait, the damn thing started moving... like literally leaving me behind... what was that for???

So then I trudged rather rushed back home (because I forgot to keep cash on me *mentally facepalms*) and rushed right back to catch an Auto-rickshaw to school.

But my not-so-interesting story does not end with this... Adding to my list of amnesia is the fact that I yet again forgot something in this day! We had crafts project that day and everyone had to make a few items for display during the winter exhibition. And as we all knew, Mrs. Dixit was not a teacher who took anything (be that as simple as Fawkes-the-phoenix's feather) lightly. So you can totally imagine my panic when I realized this grave matter just before her lecture.

And then my dear fellas is what really led to this 'deeply thought - single chord struck - stuck like a broken record' thought. Anay is not my friend.

I knew I was in deep trouble if I didn't figure something out in like ... minutes from then.

Why can't I really get anything right today? I mentally cursed myself and let out a sigh.

"Hey Juhi do you think you can help me with this?" I heard a smooth voice talking to me.

Uhh... Come again? Did you say someone just talked to you on their own? Inner Voice No 1 retorted cheekily.

Stop acting dumb stupid. You need to reply. Voice 2 supplied helpfully. Though I must say I DO NOT like her connotations on my mental well being.

"Yes. What?" I asked stupidly. (I think I should stop listening to Voice No 2. Bad influence!)

"I don't think I can really handle all this craft & crazy artistic ideas. I have seen you play with your stationery earlier to make something meaningful out of it. Could you share some ideas here?" Anay asked politely.

"Me? I don't think..."

"Hey! I just want some idea on how to fix this thing? Oh & also, I got so much extra material with me. Don't know what to do with this. Why don't you use some?" he offered casually

"No I am fine" I instantly remark. " What do you need for your craft?"

"But it will all go to waste otherwise" he says with a sad smile & pout, "and its the least I can do for your help"

"But how am I supposed to help you. I don't think I have more idea..." I trail off, ready to dash & hid behind my desk and not crawl out until the class was over. This had already been the longest conversation by my standards. I didn't know if I could hold on to speaking any more English. Add to that the embarrassing fear of speaking out aloud my actual thoughts was terrifying!!!
(Yeah! So I had this irritating habit of sometimes saying aloud what I was thinking & the worst fact is that I don't even realise that it has happened until I watch the faces around.. Talk about talking again! *rolls eyes sadly*)

"Pleaseeeee!" he is not really pleading or anything but his tone is filled with such innocence and affirmation that I find myself nodding.

And here I had been, thinking that not getting my own craft was winning the title of the "worst that could happen" today.

***

An hour later, I had finished building my cute little cottage house and Anay had finished his banyan tree. He had been completely obsessed with the idea of making something huge and embracing... (his words, not mine).. He particularly described to me in as many words as below.. while I watched in shy diffidence and slowly increasing interest..

"So have you seen the sky... ?" he starts, "Don't answer.. That was a rhetoric question of course" "Not meant to receive an answer" he adds seeing a little confusion on my face. My face starts to redden in embarrassment knowing that he has understood my confusion but he just nods his head and simply smiles and starts talking again, without (& I repeat without) giving me any of those sad or weird expressions that people usually give me here as if I am ... dumb?? I guess that's what they think... And I guess I am overthinking here.. AGAIN!

"So as I was saying, the sky its so huge" he moves his hands animatedly as he talks, "it provides shelter to each & everyone. It takes us in yet remains afar. It looks after us. But a tree, its more intimate. It not only shelters, but also gives us food & clothing. And those wide branches they almost seem like they are reaching out to hug you. Those clear green glistening leaves, they sparkle and make you realise that not everything gold is only beautiful and somethings are more beautiful in their rightful place than with you..." he has a a bright twinkle in his eyes, which suddenly turn to me as he says "And I may be boring you here! But I totally love huge embracing trees. Can you help me build something like that. I think I know how it will look but I just don't know from where to start and what to use for which part."

So then I helped him to get started and he generously laid some stuff on my desk to help me get started with my project too.

When I finished my cottage, I sighed in happiness and a small smile dusted across my face as I saw my little output.

"It is beautiful Juhi!" he said with clear admiration in his eyes as he looked at the cottage, complete with winding path and fencing and a little field on the outside.

"Thank You!" I said slowly, realising that for the first time in days I indeed felt some pride in what I had done and my smile became more prominent. It felt like I had found a lost part of me after decades!

The bell rang then and we started packing our things.

"You could smile more often you know! It does not do to hide such sunshine" Anay said softly as he left and brightened my day with his own sunshine.

****

A/N

Yes Guys!

I AM BACK!

And BACK for SURE! Sorry for the huge delay since!

Btw, let me know if you have any idea on how you would want this story to go and lets see if I can incorporate a few here!

Would love to listen from you!

Keep Rocking! DFTBA!

Ohh! And just FYI... I will come to the "Anay is not my friend" in the next part! ;p