Sky Lanterns Fog and Me

It was a foggy evening when I was with her in that hilly forest. I was looking at her, "Money does not bring light! If it did, our country would have bought the sun!"

  
She looked at me, "But our country can't buy the sun!"

At that time we were standing in a small valley. Suddenly the sun rose in that valley as if someone had lit a bright light from the sky, and it looked at us as if smiling jokingly.

Then that light again started slowly fading away the next minute. The weather again became hazy and gloomy.

She asked again, "Why are you so angry with our country?"

"Everyone is angry with their country!" I gave a careless reply, but she became silent, the same way as most Indian girls become silent when they don't want to give a strong reply.

Image mine

The wind was harsh and becoming more difficult to bear in the open valley. Her open hair was flying. Small waves of warmth and fragrance would emanate from them and be lost in the cold air. Fog had started falling all around.

We had to return through forests. After all, how long can one stay in an open valley? She had said something that was stuck in my subconscious.

At that moment I smelt a dew-soaked grass in her, or was it a faint smell of dry autumn leaves?

On that rock where we both stood and watched the sunset and after walking around the valley the whole day and getting tired, we both were returning. I don't think there was much that bothered me, but whatever it was, she told me without any excuse.

Then, like an ordinary girl who loved nature and its fascinating myth, she said, "I think what we say standing on a rock… it has some meaning."

"I don't understand!"

"I cannot promise you anything."

"I did not ask for any promise!" I looked at her in surprise.

"Yep, you didn't ask for it, but your mind is ready to ask for it... so it is better I should warn you beforehand so that you don't feel bad!"

I knew now there was nothing between her and me.
Although there was a deep desire in me to pursue her, or at least we could talk about it like friends.

We both had come to this beautiful little valley, passing through the riverbank, walking on a carpet of yellow and red leaves falling from the trees in the fog.

I did not know what was going on in her mind.

Slowly we descended from the hilltop and into the valley.

While coming down the hill, I asked her, "What does your heart say now?"

She replied, "I will think about it."

I was a bit disappointed, "Don't disturb yourself so much."

I thought it was a personal matter, but her answer and smile left me speechless, "Have you left any choice for me, you won?"

She again became silent like an ordinary Indian girl, and we returned to the hotel, walking almost silently all the way.

It was getting evening, and the fog was getting thicker, making the atmosphere darker and mysterious. But her answer was so surprising, I could see sky lanterns flying everywhere.

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