After Life - Discovering the Depth of Darkness

It's because you're dead

As I stood at the designated meeting spot, I spotted Rani searching around for me. It was amusing to see her looking so intently, unaware that I was right in front of her. I decided to have a little fun and play along. I stayed still, watching her movements for a good 10 minutes, until finally, I couldn't contain my laughter any longer.

"Hey, Rani! I'm right here!" I called out, unable to hold back my amusement. She turned towards my voice, surprise evident on her face. "Oh my goodness, Sara! You've been here the whole time? I was searching all over," she exclaimed, a mix of relief and laughter in her voice.

I walked over to her, still chuckling. "Yes, right here in plain sight. You should have looked a little closer," I teased, giving her a playful nudge. Rani joined in the laughter, shaking her head. "You got me good, Sara. I guess I need to work on my observation skills." With our laughter echoing through the air, we continued on with our plans, ready to make the most of our day together. Sometimes, it's the little moments of light-heartedness and camaraderie that make life truly enjoyable.

We walked into the newly opened ice cream parlor, and the delightful aroma of freshly made waffle cones filled the air. Rani's excitement was contagious, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation as we approached the counter.

"I'll have a scoop of chocolate truffle, please," I requested, my mouth watering at the thought of the rich, creamy chocolate flavor. The server skillfully scooped out a generous portion and placed it on a freshly made cone.

Rani, on the other hand, opted for a scoop of vanilla, her go-to choice. I raised an eyebrow teasingly, "Still not a fan of chocolate, huh? You're missing out on the best flavor!" She chuckled, taking a bite of her vanilla ice cream. "I know, I know. I'm just not into sweets like you are. But hey, more chocolate for you, right?"

We found a cozy spot to sit, enjoying our ice cream as we chatted and caught up on each other's lives. The creamy sweetness of the chocolate truffle combined with the crunchy texture of the waffle cone was a pure delight.

As we savored each bite, I couldn't help but reflect on the mysteries of life. Some things, like Rani's aversion to sweets or the unexplained incidents that had happened earlier, seemed beyond logical explanation. But perhaps that's what makes life interesting, the little quirks, the unanswered questions, and the moments shared with loved ones over a simple ice cream treat. With each scoop, we created new memories, embracing the unknown and cherishing the friendship that had brought us together. And in those moments, everything felt just right.

"Hey, look over there on your right side, next to that gift store," she pointed out. I noticed a guy wearing jeans and a bright yellow polo shirt, but the color exaggerated his dark complexion, which didn't really suit him. "Nope, he's not my type," I shook my head. She then pointed her finger further behind that guy and said, "Behind him, the one who looks more like your type." I looked at the man she was referring to. He seemed familiar, but I could only see his side profile. Rani was right, though; he did have a look that appealed to me. He was wearing black jeans and a white shirt, which made him look cool. He was fully shaved, and his Indian complexion looked really good in the white shirt.

Rani pulled me towards the elevator, saying, "Let's go to Maxi." Maxi store was located on the 3rd floor, and it happened to be my favorite clothing shop. Due to my fear of heights, we decided to avoid the escalator. The escalators were designed in a criss-cross model, spanning across two floors from the left corridor to the right, without a stable base. Rani had already agreed to try clothing my way, so we made the decision to buy matching t-shirts for both of us. However, to our disappointment, the t-shirts that I liked didn't have sizes available for both of us, or they only had one piece left. Rani began searching for other items instead. I wanted to catch a glimpse of how the building looked from the balcony on the 3rd floor. As I reached there, I noticed numerous people going about their lives, enjoying themselves. Laughter filled the air as they shared joyful moments. Among them, I saw some children crying, probably because their parents didn't buy them the toys they had asked for.