Mysteries of the Mystics

Chapter 2 - The ICE Annual Cultural Fest

The next few weeks went by really fast. We all have been too busy with our performance: auditions, practice, sets, posters, costumes and on and on and on. I was the busiest as compared to anyone else.

Oh! I completely forgot to tell you. I am the president of ICE Dramatics Society. Too much work!

Random guy – Hey Stella! What play is the Dramatics Society doing this time? I couldn't contain myself when I heard that this time you are going to put up a great show. I had to come to you.

Yes! The play. We are going to do a drama. But that is not the problem. Problem is that we are doing a play on that incident. And moreover, it was my choice. Thinking about it sent a chill down my spine. I chose it because I wanted to face the reality. I am happy that Hawk and Musa respected my decision. I wanted to avoid this conversation of play with any person outside the play. But I obviously can't do it. I have a reputation to protect. So, I put a smile on my face and replied.

Stella – The posters will be up soon. Till then it is a secret.

Without waiting for a reply, I turned back and started walking towards the auditorium for practice.

* * *

Stella – So, how is the practice going?

Hawk – Stel, you should really come and see it. YOU are the president, not me and Musa. You have practice even once.

nd my answer is still the same. I will watch only the final performance. And I trust you guys to know what to do. What do you need more?

Hawk – But Stel....

Stella – No ifs and buts Hawk. Please. Now pass that red file over there.

The ICE Annual Cultural Fest, the day has arrived. I was at the backstage with Hawk and Musa. Everything was ready; we were just waiting for the play to start. I was curious to see my friends' hard work, I was anxious on how will the characters perform and what will be the audience's reaction, I was a bit worried also of something going wrong. But above everything I was scared, scared to see the horrifying past unfold in front of my eyes all over again. I didn't

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls! Welcome to the ICE Annual Cultural Fest!"

The shouting of the anchor brought me back to the world, out of my world.

"The first performance of this wonderful evening is a drama by the ICE Dramatics Society, directed by Hawk and Musa."

Musa – Hawk and Musa?

Stella – YOU guys did everything.

Emotions swept over us. Eyes glistened with tears of joy. We just hugged each other and then turned our attention towards the anchor.

"Put your hands together for the wonderful performance called 'The Unknown'."

As the play proceeded, my heartbeats were increasing. It became so fast that I feared my heart would break out of my rib cage. I couldn't take it anymore. Seeing everything in front of me, my emotions exploded. I ran out of there in seconds. Everything went blurry. I couldn't see where I was going; tears clogged my eyesight, I could hear muffled voices of my friends. But I couldn't stop. My emotions were overflowing. Every second spent in that place, that terrifying place was brought back to me. Until I tripped. Hawk and Musa were talking to me but I was too lost in my cries to hear a single word. The last few words of Musa terrified me.

Musa – There is no more time to waste. This matter is growing out of our hands. We have to solve this problem, it is now or never. We are leaving the first thing tomorrow morning and I am not going to take no for an answer. In fact, I don't need an answer. I have decided what to do.

Is it possible to love someone and hate someone at the same time?

Because that was what I was feeling at the moment for Musa.

Or maybe they aren't all that different.

To be continued...

Thank you for reading!

#AkshayaSajimon