To The Place I Belong

ETHAN

Her eyes sparkled with the same coldness I recognised on the day of Inter-College drama, what is it that I cannot see underlying the cold layers, petrified and turned into a stony impenetrable sheath.
What is it that I cannot see?
Sylvia isn’t the kind of person to agree to a ‘fun-fair’ sort of thing. I almost thought she would say a bland –‘no’ when I winked at her. Besides, setting up Ben and Myra would be one of the last things she would want to do.
“I almost thought you would say no”
“Of course not” she ransacked her bag to check something and thought for a while and then presumed the walk towards Gettison Garden where they held the fair. We had to take a half an hour ride from college and then haunt down a suitable parking area. The whole area was so crowded with this ‘fair’ thing going on that we thought we wouldn’t be getting a parking lot and so we would have to return. But Sylvia insisted that we might get a parking lot on the rare end of the lane. Another anomaly.

“Can we buy some candy floss?” asked Isabel.
“Who else wants” asked George.
So we all got ourselves candy floss except Sylvia who said she doesn’t like candies of any kind.
Ben whispered behind me, “Bro, who on earth doesn’t like a thing like candy floss?”
I rolled my eyes and said, “You better concentrate on your main objective today or for the rest of your life you will have to cry and wail” I looked around to find Ben not listening to me but busy passing looks to Myra. “Ben! Are you even listening?”
“oh-yeah-absolutely!”
But I doubted he hadn’t heard me. The hullaballoo of the crowd in Gettison Garden drowned all our voices and we feared getting lost in the enormous area filled with the hubbub of buzzing people.
“Alright folks who wants to begin with the Giant Wheel?” asked Geroge rubbing his palms in excitement.

So there we were- Isabel next to George, I next to Sylvia, and Ben with Myra, seated and belted tightly. Ben was roaring with excitement even though the Giant wheel hadn’t begun spinning or something-(to be true this was my first time in years. Once when I was 9 years old the Giant Wheel had led to a giant chaos in our car, as I had vomited all the way back home). Ben’s main attraction for the day lay in impressing  Myra to the best extent.
As soon as the giant wheel began spinning( first in perfect circular motion and then in 360 ways possible), I had to clutch Sylvia’s hand while she ducked her head into my chest. To be true, I, myself, wasn’t feeling that brave but I didn’t want to act like an asshole in front of my best girl.
“Wooooohhhh…” roared the public but clearly Ben’s voice topped everybody else’s. Ben and Myra were in the seat behind ours and I couldn’t see a bit what was going on behind. Neither did I have the mind to see, as it spun along with the wheel.
After four lofty death-like rounds, the whole thing came to a hault. Isabel and George seemed sound as they could get out quite steadily while I and Sylvia took our time in getting out- holding on to this and that.
Myra’s condition was the most appalling. This time it wasn’t I who vomited, it was she, and Ben had to hold her hair back. She sat on one of the benches asking one of the stall vendors for cool drinking water. God, she seemed pathetically blown off. Sylvia, rubbed her back while she vomited and gradually after sometime took over Ben’s duty of holding her hair back.
“Feel any better?”
“Oh-yes-yes” she said with a faint squeak, “I do…”
“Guys! Do you mind if I and George go out to that ride?” Isabel remarked inhumanely and with dauntless spirit.
“But I don’t want to” protested George. I felt like sympathising with him but Isabel didn’t give a chance she dragged him ruthlessly to another ride.
“Oh shoot! You have to come along with me” she exclaimed.
“Ben and Ethan, you guys take care of Myra, I have to… I have to, go to the loo.”
“Alright” I said and sat beside Isabel. Sylvia looked quite pallid again. Her eyes retained their coldness.
“Do you want some burgers or something?” asked Ben. I couldn’t help but wonder if it were to satisfy his own hunger that he was asking.
“Oh I don’t feel like but if you insist I can have some biscuits.” Said Myra to Ben’s utter disappointment.
“Fine we’ll go to that shop” said Ben pointing out.
“Hey wait, let Sylvia come.” I said to them as they were beginning to move towards a shop.
“She will know where to go” replied Ben, “you come along with us…” and he winked. He breathed in the air- “I need you to be there by my side bro…this is the most difficult task I have ever done in my life.”
For a moment I was baffled. “What?” I tried to mumble and then I understood what he had been trying to say.
“Oh, yes, right! Go ahead!” I said and took a look around the huge area filled with crowd and kids and youngsters, “I’ll follow in a minute.”
But a minute went by and another three, but Sylvia didn’t arrive. Did she lose her way? Jeez this is driving me crazy! How can I leave her and go on with Ben, she will storm us.

Ben and Myra had been buying some biscuits from a shop and canned juice from the AVM. Myra drank thirstily and nimbled at the biscuits.
Ben took a quick look at me and I motioned him positively, to go on and say.
“So, you feel better now?”
“Yes, a little”
Ben was perspiring heavily and rubbed his forehead rapidly with his sleeves.
“Uh-I-was wondering about Eric…” he said.
“Hmm…what about him?” asked Myra looking around and sipping her juice.
“Hows the thing between you two-”
“Thing? What thing?”
“Your relation I mean-”
“OH!” she let it out quite dismissively, referring to no further talks about that.
“Well, I wanted to tell you something-I dunno how to say but-”
“Go on…” Myra intercepted.
“uh-oh-uh I -”
“Sorry ?”
“Uh-oh” Ben stammered repeatedly. It was then that I felt my bounden duty as a best friend to suggest- “You guys, why don’t you grab a seat at the Biggy Burgers? Meanwhile I will wait for Sylvia. Ben is hungry, I can tell by the look on his face, he just likes to act modest, that’s all.”
Ben glared at me but Myra said instantly, “Ok!” As she walked passed him towards the lane that  ended in Biggy Burgers, Ben put a hand over his heart.
“Dude, you will be fine! Just give yourselves some space” The last word seemed too attractive to him as he repeated it after me, “Space, right. We need space.” Then he gave me a brotherly hug and pursued Myra.

Meanwhile, I pushed my way through the crowd and wandered off aimlessly in search of Sylvia. After about halfa n hour I gave up my search and slouched on a bench.
Where the hell is she!
In the distance I could see George and Isabel, moving towards me with ice creams in their hand.
“Did someone just lick up my one on the way?” I asked them
“OH! Don’t be a kid, how were we supposed to know we will find you here. By the way where’s your moronic best friend?” said Isabel.
“Ben and Myra are at the Biggy Burgers, having some private conversations.” I laid special emphasis on the words private and conversation so that they would understand and not question my tired soul any further.
“Where’s Sylvia?” she asked again.
“I wish I knew. She went to pee and hasn’t showed up in the last one hour.”
“Ok don’t fret she will find her way back.” Said George and then added pointing to another ride, he said, “What about that ride Ethan?”
“If you want to then why don’t you-” I told him with an irritated look.
“Oh-no! I don’t want to, that’s why I am asking you…”
I was about to say what then my eyes fell on Isabel’s glittering eyes and the vibe it emitted, George continued “Am asking you to take Isabel to that ride and accompany her.”
“Oh no! Please!” I shouted but Isabel pulled my arms. I feared resistance would elad to my arms coming off so I acceded and said, “You guys are such assholes, damn it!”
“Right! Thanks” Isabel didn’t mind my unholy compliments as long as she got what she wanted.