Words

 "Twinkle twinkle little star… along with the crescent moon look lovely. Pine trees surround me. They are my favorites. The breeze is bringing soft music from the camp. I am sitting in a lovely clearing at the edge of a small hill. Everything is so peaceful. I love it here. I am glad I came…"

Celine closed her diary and looked around. The cloudless sky was deep blue and accessoriesed with millions of diamonds and a moon. The black pine trees seemed to have acquired a silver crown. Far away, a glow was coming from the camp fire. Music from the camp displayed the magic of strings. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I miss you …where are you?” she whispered. Then she slowly closed her eyes and allowed her soul to get lost in the ecstasy of the night.

“She looks very nice. But she hardly takes part in the camp activities. She just sits there with her diary… Man... Would really like to speak to her…” “Hellooo, which world are you in?”

            Alex crashed onto the earth as his friend blew the bomb on this flight of thoughts. “Why did you stop playing?” demanded Patrick as Alex quickly looked around. All eyes were upon him. “Ah…umm… I was just thinking about playing ‘you’re beautiful’” he rushed glad to have found a reason. The campers around him looked doubtful but as he efficiently began to strum his guitar, nobody protested and immediately struck up the chorus of the song suggested. But in less than five minutes, Alex’s mind had climbed up the clearing of the mountain where the girl sat. Alex felt an attraction towards her but yet he felt so distant. As he was lost in his thoughts, he didn’t allow his hands to stop strumming the musical strings. He felt he could not stand anymore suspicious looks that evening.          

            

From where she was sitting she could see the campers leave the campfire for their tents. Only two boys stayed back, one of them holding the guitar. After sometime the other boy hi-fived his friend and left too. The boy with the guitar moved towards the hills so as to not disturb the sleeping campers and began to play his guitar. Tears welled up in her eyes as she recognized the song. This was the music she loved, she longed to hear. Only there was no voice singing the words, there was no trace of her beloved’s voice. She knew she wouldn’t hear that voice again but somehow believe it. Only the music seemed hollow to her, so she began to sing. The boy looked up once and resumed playing in complete harmony with Celine’s voice. As the two unknown souls combined in music, the breeze danced along the leaves of trees. The sky blinked her starry twinkling eyes and fell asleep along with the world with a broad, silvery crescent smile on her huge countenance.

            

As Patrick disappeared down his tent, Alex made his way towards the mountains. He sat down near the foot of one and began to play his favorite song. Suddenly after sometime, a beautiful voice singing the song reached his ears. The echo of the voice among the trees seemed heavenly. He looked to see the mysterious girl still sitting at the clearing. SHE was singing. Alex stopped mesmerized by the sensuous voice. Then he resumed playing, this time according to her voice. He could hear love, frustration, patience and hope in her voice. Her song was more like a request she was putting in front of nature’s audience. As Alex looked around, he felt sure nature had heard it.

            

“Who was singing after I left last night?” asked Patrick as Alex quietly stuffed down some breakfast. Sunlight had hidden the moon and the stars which were showing off their glory in the bygone night. It was a beautiful sunny morning but thoughts regarding the mysterious girl clouded Alex’s mind. Thus, Patrick’s question fell to deaf ears. It was only when Patrick thrashed his foot onto Alex’s did he turn around to listen. But that too, not for long. Alex had seen his silver lining. That girl!... She had just entered the food tent to get her breakfast. Even though she had a smile plastered across her face, her eyes were reflecting deep thoughts. Patrick stopped talking and followed Alex’s gaze. He recognized Celine at once. “She is one troubled soul. Leave her alone buddy!” said Patrick and went back to his breakfast. But Alex was in no mind to listen to him. He got up. “Don’t go Al” warned Pat but Alex was already out earshot. He went ahead and tapped on her shoulder.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

The girl stared bluntly at him and then slowly answered, “Celine”.

“Hi! I’m Alex.” He put out his hand for a shake.

Celine just turned her back towards him and continued her work.

“Man! You’re rude!” Alex retorted, hurt.

“Sorry”, Celine said facing him once more, “but there was something I was holding. Here, nice to meet you”, she said extending her hand. Alex took it and apologized. “I’m used to it”, she smiled.

           

“Don’t go any further, you will fall”, Celine called loudly. Dan just laughed.

“At least you’ll miss me”, he called back.

“Fine”, she squatted on the ground, “but at least look where you’re going!” she called again as Dan backed towards the cliff looking at her.

“Scared? Bet you cant gather enough courage to join me here”, Daniel called.

Celine took the challenge immediately. She got up and ran towards him. She had almost reached when she tripped. “Move” she screamed as she fell towards the cliff… Dan didn’t move. He caught her and pushed her back…a scream and then silence. Celine looked up aghast.

Dan was not with her.

           

“DAN!” she sat up in her bed, breathing fast. The incident had haunted her long enough. Dan had saved her but could not balance himself. He had fallen. She closed her eyes again and tried to push the thought out of her mind but it didn’t help. Instead Dan’s body materialized in front of her. Celine was being asked to identify the body. She jerked her eyes open. Alex was standing at the tent entrance. He looked concerned. Celine began to cry.

“Go” she sobbed.

Alex didn’t move.

“Midday nap time is up” ha said trying to make her smile.

“Go” Celine repeated crying harder, “leave me alone.”

            Pat’s words flashed in Alex’s mind. Though he did not want to, he had to accept Celine was a troubled soul. She sat on her bed shivering and crying for unknown reason. Alex had been drawn towards her tent due to her scream. She had screamed for some Dan. She had even asked Alex to leave her but he did not; “what happened?” Alex insisted.

“Just leave” she screamed, howling by then.

Alex stood watching her for sometime and then around to leave. He was hurt. He did not feel like going back to the camp. So, he made his way towards the hills again.

        

Celine cried. She cried like never before. One month had gone. She hadn't heard his laugh. He had not called her. He hadn't even come to meet. What was worse, she was at war with herself. Her mind accepted that Dan was no more. He had died saving her. But she still hoped that one fine morning, he was going to jump out of nowhere and laugh and say, “Hey! I was just kidding!” She felt suffocating in the tent and decided to go for a walk. She also made a mental note to apologize to Alex for her rude behavior.

          

On reaching the hills she saw her place was preoccupied. Alex looked at her like an angry child. Celine had to laugh. “I’m sorry. I was just upset”, she explained.

“I’m your friend isn't it?” Alex asked adamant. Celine thought for a moment and nodded.

“Then may I please know why you were so upset?” Alex insisted. She did not answer.

“I can’t say” she confessed.

“What is it that keeps you so much in trouble?” Alex pressed on. “Who is Dan?”

Celine widened her eyes. Then she sighed, “Dan was the person for whom I’m alive today. The person whom I loved. A person who had died for me.” Her voice began to tremble. These words struck Alex like lightning bolts.

“I am sorry”, Alex said not knowing what else to say. Celine sat down beside him. Alex gave a small sigh. He had always wanted to know her but now that he did, he felt ignorance was better. They sat there for a long time but there was not a word spoken between them. They both let silence do her work.

           

“When I asked her who Dan was, I had no idea what the answer would be. I always told you I wanted to meet her but never in my dreams did I think of a meeting similar to this,” Alex sighed. “Miss you bro, really,” he said and kept down the photograph he had in hand. Then he sadly smiled. “Nice gal you got,” ha said and laughed at the photograph. Dan’s face smiled at him from the frame.

           

Celine sat waiting in the bus. Her baggage was already in its place. The camp was over. Everyone was heading home. The bus was waiting for the last few campers to occupy the empty seats. Just then Celine’s eyes fell on Alex who had just got up. He saw her too and came and sat beside her. Their conversation throughout the journey was filled with long pauses. Soon it was Alex’s turn to get off the bus. He extended his hand towards Celine.

“I never told you my full name” he said. “My name is Alex Sanders.”  Celine’s eyes widened in shock. Saying so, he got his bag and descended from the bus. Celine watched him disappear down the street. Fresh memories of Daniel Sanders brought tears to her eyes.