“Nobody likes girls….who like to beat the gentlemen,” she said, streaks of tears streaming down her cheeks.
“And who told you so?”
“Do you have to speak such things out loud?” she asked, wiping her nose violently as if not conscious.
“What must I deduce of these fine tears of yours?”
“Anything you wish to.”
“So the young man who talked about stars, dreams and your favorite blue rabbit did not speak to you tonight?” “Am I right?”
She nodded.
“Look at the stars.”
“Do the stars have the answer?” “I must have done something stupid or looked less prettier than…”
“Why does it always have to be about yourself?” he asked.
She remained stunned.
“Do you come to mock my situation?”
“I do not. Who chooses to stay and who leaves does not make you any less of who you are.” “Look at the stars.”
She bent her neck and stared at the sky. It was not filled with the finest stars, but it wasn’t empty either.
“Will they not shine because you don’t go out and gaze at their beauty?”
“No.”
“Then why shouldn’t you?”
“Look,” she pointed. “Here they come.”
“So he’s walking with her…Wait, isn’t she your..”
“Friend. Sakhi.”
“Ah, she’s a good girl, isn’t she?”
“Why does that matter?”
“Do you like him?”
“Not that I know off.”
“Then why do you fume so bad?”
“I..I must be scared.”
“Scared that he wouldn’t talk to you about the blue rabbit you read last week?”
She did not reply.
“This is not the time for rabbits, Arki.” “When it will be time for rabbits, he will come to you with the thick black book.”
“And what if he doesn’t?” “Sakhi reads about rabbits too, you know.”
He did not reply. Arki turned around, but he had vanished. “What if he likes Sakhi’s rabbit story than mine?” “What if!” “Where are you?” “Where have you disappeared to!”
Arki turned left and right. But he was no where to be seen.
“Know that your rabbits are better,” he said in her ears. Arki froze.
“At least you should,” he whispered again. “Just the rabbits, mind you.”
Arki tried to grab him. But her hands remained empty. He had vanished again.
“Just the rabbits,” she said to herself.
The Wordcastle 