The Ruined Rainbow

CHAPTER 12

Sometimes you need to be alone. Not to be lonely but to enjoy your free time alone.
-- Anonymous.

Ayesha.

I walked alone under the star-filled sky. I had no friends here and I spent a lot of time being alone.

I look up at the stars.

The sky is filled with stars but they don't seem to shine. They seemed to be lost in a world of theirs. Seemed to be thinking of something far.

They seem to mirror my emotions.

That's how I felt right now.
Lost. No brightness.

I looked down and walked away thinking.

I feel so sad right now and can't express myself.

I feel lost in this big world. Like a speck of dust in this great universe.

I looked up. There was a girl standing nearby. I smile as I pass near her. She looks at me and with a frightening
look runs away.

My heart shrank further.

Those days with Sahil was great. I felt happy. Truly happy and I had not felt like that in years. He was the only one who seemed to understand me and not judges me.

That is probably because he felt the same. We were two friends who understood each other, consoled each other, and stood by each other. He spoke to me about his family, his father.

Even though he is a successful star, a highly paid one, he is deeply shattered from inside. The flame of hope has dimmed.

I can feel that because I feel pretty much the same.

I remembered the days when I was happy, they seemed so long ago.

I walked as a flashback hit me.

4 years ago,

I walked down home with a smile on my face. A huge smile.

I held a paper close to my heart and walked homeward. I saw my phone and it's ringing. My dad.

I smiled to myself. I will surprise him. I read the letter again as I walked home making a plan.

We will have dinner, maybe some sweets and as usual, during our stargazing time, I will tell him. It's going to be perfect.

Tell him that I had finally done it. Cleared the exam. Had made it to MIT.

I was so happy.

My phone rings again. My dad.

"Patience, Dad " I whispered, laughing.
I didn't attend the call. I wanted to make it a surprise.

I reached home 20 minutes later.

The house was unusually quiet. The main door was open and the windows too. I looked at my house.

My mind is full of ifs and buts as I enter my house.

I remove my shoes, adjust my dupatta and call out

'Appa? Amma'

My voice rang out loud and clear in that quietness.

No answer.

I enter the hall. The first thing I see is my mother in the corner. She is crying. There are two women consoling her which I later realised as my aunt.