night riser 2: return to Prisma

chp 10 - last

CHAPTER 10

They roras grew easy on us. We freed ourselves and stood before the crowd. They were all looking at us. I said to Marsella, “You’ve got your wish Mars. It’s only ten minutes. We need to hurry up.” Marsella started speaking like she was giving a speech. “Hi everyone. We know what all of you think of people from earth. But that’s not true. Everyone is not like that. We don’t want to hurt you.” “Make it better Mars. We’ve tried this already, nobody believes us.” Arya spoke up “I’m gonna give you proof.” He quickly grabbed one of the lamors before it jumped away. The world was spinning. It abruptly came to a stop and I could see the wrecked shuttle, that we came here in. Arya continued, “I wished for all of us to reach the shuttle.” The shuttle was manually destroyed, partially. Arya quickly entered in the remains of the shuttle, and bought back Marsella and my cell phone. He told us, “You have videos of your friends on your memory card right? Show them. Show them the love.” We did as he said. Their expressions loosened a little but they still didn’t believe us.”

Ten minutes were about to get over. Grandma and grandpa still couldn’t believe what the Prismates had in mind. “Tell them humans aren’t bad grandma. Fiddle please tell them.” They didn’t utter a word. “Lune, they’re Prismates. Even they can’t speak till ten minutes get over.” Shoot! I’d completely forgotten about that. “There’s only one way then.” I turned towards the crowd. “I want you’ll to come with us to Earth. We want to show you ‘humanity, love and peace’ on earth. When you cry, you wipe each other’s tears. It is a gesture of showing concern. People on earth are also very caring but they have a different way of showing it. I want you’ll to see that.” Everyone including Marsella and Arya looked at me like I’d lost it. “Guys this is the only way.” I told them. “Once the ten-minute limit gets over they’ll get all furious again. Please support me here”. “Lune is right.” Arya said. His convincing power was much better than mine. “Tell us where you kidnapped the other guy in the shuttle. Take us from your shuttle, and we’ll show you what you need to see.”

Mitiksha stepped out of the crowd. She hated humans the most. “How do we know you will not kill us when we reach earth?” she asked rather accusingly. That means ten minutes were up. “Trust us Mitksha. Send your best, strongest people” Arya suggested. Grandpa added, “They’re right. I and my wife had been on earth for a really long time. There are many bad people and culprits out there. But the good caring people are hundred times more.” He said something else in Pris. His smile and the calm attitude of Prismates told us that they had agreed. It was a done deal. Grandpa told us that all the Orea leadres were gonna accompany us. And this was going to happen right now.

I started feeling homesick. I was going home! Finally! I was about to cry. All the leaders including Mitiksha were with us. They showed us their space shuttle. “It is very similar to ours” I said. “When Pikshtra invaded Prisma, he left one here as backup. We modified it.” Mitiksha informed us. No way! The fake story that we’d told Tony the other day was actually true! We took three shuttles. Even Rhodes-our payload specialist was bought here. He looked relieved too. We took our places and longed to reach earth. After a few days we the announcement was made. “We’re about to land”. I felt yearning to meet my family, Yen and Abhi so strong that I felt I was going to blast.

We landed on some sea shore. The Prismates first decided to visit my place. All of us went to my house. Seeing my city itself made me cry. It was about evening. As we entered my lane, my heart was pounding. I called out to my parents before entering the house. Everyone was home. They came running out just at the sound of my voice. They were crying and hugging all of us so much, it made me cry even more. I was so glad I met my parents and Bob. I was afraid I never would. We introduced the Prismates as people who saved us from Tony’s gang. That’s the story we’d chosen to tell everyone. The longing in my stomach stopped once I met my family. I felt like ‘yeah I can die now!’. Mom cordially invited all of them for dinner and they stayed. They studied how much my parents were doing to make them feel comfortable. The food, some clothes, the drinks and all. I told my parents we would leave to go to Marsella’s hostel and meet Abhi’s friends. They didn’t let me go alone. But it was essential that the Prismates met the nice people. My parents tagged along. That was the best part! I wasn’t ashamed to get my parents with my friends. I loved them so much.

The Prismates saw concern and love in each one’s eyes. One of Arya’s gang member saved a Prismate from a mad dog. They witnessed a mother saving her child’s life in a road accident. We took them to welfare communities and events. “Angel? Angel!” It was Yen! He knew we were here! Yen!! I didn’t think even once before going and hugging him in the middle of the road. Even Abhi was here with his family. “Where were you sweetheart?” “I’ll tell you everything Yen. For now, just know that I’m back, safe.” I couldn’t stop the happy smile that spread across my face on seeing him and Abhi. They were both almost in tears too. Both of them were hugging Marsella and Arya as well. And then came the time. Yen hugged Arya and asked him if he was fine. It was just a friendly hug. Although, it sent flumes of jealousy throughout my body. Arya smiled at me from the corner. I chose to ignore him at the moment.

In a few days time, seeing all the reunions and other welfare programs, the Prismates decided that they wanted to check the rest of the world as well. I considered this as a white flag. The next day they set off. Mitiksha said sorry to us, especially to Arya, before she left. Even grandma and grandpa left with them. Before they left, they told us “We’re going with the Prismates. And we want to go back to Prisma after we’re done here. We miss our home.” They were saying goodbye. I didn’t want them to go. I wouldn’t let them. If I were in their place, I would feel the same. This thought made me change my decision. We all were sad, at the same time happy for them. With a quick farewell, they all set to go. “Hey, grandma? Could you do me a favor?” I askd her. “Please say hi to Shikhar. Show him this memory.” She smiled and said, “sure thing Lune. Goodbye.” With that they left.

“Hey Yen?” I called. “Why did you mention the circus on that letter? It wasn’t funny.” He looked at me and smiled. “No baby, I know it’s not funny. I was serious. Come with me right now.” We reached the city circus and he took me to the room of mirrors. I could see a fat us, short us, slim us… “Is that what you want to show me? Different sizes of you and me?” “Just follow me Lune.” I followed him to a room inside the room. It had mirrors on all four sides. I could see unlimited reflections of us. Yen hugged me from behind and said, “Lune, I want our life to be like this. Only us everywhere. With unlimited love like these reflections. I love you angel” My heart was melting inside me. We had our first kiss imitated innumerable times in the mirror. Yen had chosen me, not Arya. I kept reminding myself. He’d finally proposed and I’d said yes.

We gave this news to everybody. All of them were happy except Arya. Well, there was a little secret between Mitiksha and me. I’d spoken to Mitiksha about Arya before she’d lost her trust in us. She liked him. Really, really like him. We all could see it except Arya. Mitiksha and I had a small conversation on the day they were supposed to leave. The more she’d known him, the more she loved him. She’d promised me she’ll come back for him. That she’d make him straight. Arya would enjoy more in Prisma, with her. It would happen soon. All in all, I was happy. Happy for reuniting with my loved ones. I missed my grandparents and also Shikhar. They called us on the day when they were going back. There was one thing that I’d learnt in the past few days. That life goes on, no matter what. I was going to use grandma’s advice more often now. I had plans for my life. I just didn’t know whether it would go as I planned. And that’s exactly what adds the spice to life…