The Velvet touch

At War, At Peace

It was a beautiful morning with the sun shining bright, birds chirping, trees shedding leaves and clouds drifting here and there to complete the look. Winter was on its way and so autumn was living to its fullest. Even though the nature was serene, Marmara university was busy to the peak. Teachers were hurrying to their respective classes, students were busy preparing for exams and completing assignments, staffs were running with loads of things to keep in places, indeed the entire atmosphere seemed too busy to even breathe. At one corner of the big, wide field of Marmara, Leon was sitting quietly with a book of Tolstoy in one hand. Though the book was open, he was not reading it. Rather he was looking towards the boundary of the university as it seemed endless to him. 

'If you want to be happy, be', Hilal quoted Tolstoy slowly as she stood behind Leon. 

'It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness', quoted Leon back without turning towards her and gazing at the boundary wall.  Hilal came and sat in front of him smiling like a teenager. Gleeful and charming, she was looking more like a little red rose as the buttons of her red jacket shone with the sun. Leon couldn't think of anything other than look at the girl for whom he could do anything, break any rules, pass any boundaries, change the whole world. Hilal kept on smiling making sure her eyes do not meet Leon's as his eyes were deadly and she would drown easily. 

'Leon, I just came to thank you for helping me reach home that day. I just left in a hurry, couldn't even turn back to say goodbye properly,' Hilal was looking for the finest explanations to win an apology. 'Hold on, hold on. What's the fuss about Hilal? Don't you think you are being too formal? Please don't tell thank you and sorry and bla bla and all those that sound too formal,' Leon's voice was convincing and serious. 'Ok fine,' Hilal could not help but blush. Leon did not utter any other word but smiled back in the most unnatural way that desperately wanted to make her stay. He looked at the book he was holding. 

'Be the light in the dark, 

Be the calm in the storm and

Be at peace while at war' 

War and Peace drifted from Leon's voice to mesh with the autumn wind while Hilal listened with utmost peace as the war of love inside her slowly went on losing to her Greek prince Leon.