Gem and Joy

The tiny twins walked by the river bank. The Earth blossomed golden under the rays of that big, orange, floating pump of light. The tinkling sound of the water flowing down the rocks unified with the giggles of the girls. Music.

Gem and Joy, both wore a plain cotton frock, purple in color, with pink tiny petals printed over it. Their curly locks often obscured their cute, little, chubby cheeks. The six year olds played with the water, with the trees, with the shadows, with God himself!

As they fluttered around like playful butterflies, from an island far away, came the boat. A shabby, wooden boat. A middle aged man sat rowing peacefully.
"Jump in" he said, trying to steady the boat that danced on the tunes of the waves.
Impulsively, Gem hopped into the boat. She looked at her sister and chuckled playfully. Joy returned the chuckle with equal enthusiasm. The boat rowed away from the river bank.

Gem shrieked aloud in excitement. Joy echoed. The boat rowed further. Gem stood in the boat facing Joy waving her experiences towards Joy. Joy was elated to watch her twin sister in that boat.

The boat rowed further. Gems smile withered. She looked at the man rowing the boat. This is just a game isn't it? Joys head was tilted towards the ground. Her face looked smaller when she grieved over something. She stood on the bank watching the boat go further down the river. Gem now knew this was really happening. She stood frozen, not taking her eyes off Joy. Joy didn't blink either! Joy stood by the river bank till Gem was only a small purple speck against the vast blue of the sky and the river together.

Lemme Go!

Tiny droplets of water trickled down her hair. A shiver ran down her spine. She smiled. She wore a simple green checked shirt coupled with a deep blue jeans. Wet from head to toe, she stood thrilled before the mirror. Minutes back she was standing in the house of God, under the black sky that seemed to bend down and kiss her gently. With arms wide open she allowed the rain drops to soak her with the rhythm that they magically weaved. Slowly she lost herself to the graceful motion from the heavens to earth and back to heaven! She blended with the droplets and her body flowed with the water that seeped through the craving Earth. She chose to surrender, she chose to lose herself.

Here she was now shivering in her tiny room that she shared with two friends. She looked at a droplet of water that slowly slipped itself down her cheek. She looked different. Her hair was a darker shade of black when wet. It looked more beautiful scattered than neatly tied. The kohl she applied had taken the freedom to cross its line and touch her soft skin. Her big eyes looked bigger as if they would swallow the entire planet. Every time she blinked her eyelashes swept the diameter of the Earth. It looked as if huge silk curtains had been dropped on a magic performance.

"Where is she?" she thought to herself. "Where is this girl I can see in the mirror? This girl who has nothing unreal to her, no boundaries, no inhibitions, no limits. Where did I leave her?"

"Are you crazy? You'll catch a cold!", her roomie walked towards her with a towel in her hand.
She smiled, accepted the towel and walked away with it.

Forever!

A whispered promise,
A good-bye kiss,
A warm tear,
An unknown fear,
A million things to say,
A million reasons to stay,
A separation,
Drowning in hesitation,
"Don't go",
"No?",
Hands pulled apart,
With the whistling start,
"Sweetie, I love you",
"Me Too!"

Hiding

She sat hiding in a dark corner. She looked down towards the floor. Maybe she was searching for something, maybe she didn't want to see who is coming towards her. Her cheekbones were prominently visible under her eyes and reminded me of the large rocks that stick out over the oceans. Her skin had lost its color. Her lips were pale like the dying smoke of a fire. Her eyes were contradicting the rest of the faded look. They were big. The were black, and they stared with a certain statement, a certain command. Those eyes would make you feel like behaving, feel like being good. One glimpse of her eyes and I said to myself "She's still alive!". Yes, she was still alive. She was still alive in those big eyes.
A flood of new emotions exploded in those eyes the moment she saw me. The rest of her face didn't flinch. I could see a flash of a million memories in them. I think she saw the same in my eyes. I tried to see myself the way she saw me. Goodness! I looked different. I looked alien to myself. Everything that I was once proud of was gone. I had started treasuring new feelings. I didn't know the worth of these new thoughts but I suddenly realized the worth of the ones I had lost! One thing, however, remained the same. My eyes.
I stretched out my hand to her. She hesitated. I waited. Tears had been rolling down my eyes and I hadn't even realized this!