SwaRon OS: The Greener Side.

The Greener Side

I couldn't choose what was better, lying here under the scorching sun, or lying under the sun with my obnoxious brother beside me. I let his presence drift off as I melted in the heat like the ice cream placed in the hand of a five year old. My farmhouse fence peered at me, challenging me to thrust myself over the jagged wooden planks and leap towards the ultimate freedom. I scoffed. No force could detach me from the seat till the word came from my mother. In my 18 year old long life (the first two of which had been spent drooling and tossing around) I had to never tweak my mother's temper, never. The consequences were hellish. For me surely, but for my good for nothing brother? Perhaps not. I hadn't realised a few drops of alcohol I had taken under my brother's coaxing would upset mother so much.

My thoughts were disturbed by a lock of hair which appeared over the fence. It was black and it bobbled before rising a bit, revealing a black fringe on a forehead and a pair of greenish eyes, very familiar greenish eyes. I felt my brother rise up in his seat beside me and I shuddered in distaste. That is precisely what he needed. On sight of a woman and his insides would jump like deranged monkeys. The head rose a bit more to reveal a face, a very beautiful one I could say, to us. Her lips were curved into an alluring smile and she raised an eyebrow at us, or perhaps just me. She didn't seem to notice my brother.

"No problem, hop in."

She jumped over the fence and walked towards me, her eyes sparkly and her demeanour, cheerful. My brain tried to remember her from my past memories but failed miserably. Maybe she wasn't familiar at all.

"Do you remember me?" I gaped at her, stunned by the warmth her voice radiated "We used to play Prince and Princess ages ago." Her cheeks coloured at the end and so did mine. I did remember her, it was surprising I didn't recognize the lovely woman earlier.

"Sharon Rai Prakash. How can I forget?" I whispered and she beamed at me.

"Reyaansh Shekawat." a drawling voice came from beside me. "Pleased to see you, Sharon."

"Right." Sharon said, regarding him coolly "The spoilt Shekawat brat aren't you?"

I let out a snort as I heard Sharon's answer. Rey looked as if he had been slapped and ordered to clean the stable. I felt a surge of emotions to the girl standing in front of me. Now that I knew who she was, my brain could search for memories of her. And I realised that I had liked the tiny, slightly chubby girl in two plaits back then just as I did the tall and lean woman with flowing dark hair now. Sharon had changed, she ought to have though, it had been more than 10 years since we last saw each other. She was tall, almost nearing my height. She was petite but she emanated strength much to my liking. Her face was sharp and her hair long and side parted. One thing which I believed had not changed was her eyes; esoteric.

I realised she was studying me too and I flushed. Me, I was just a tall and nearly malnourished 18 year old guy, with longish hair and a barely there self esteem. No, I am just kidding, I had a very high opinion of myself, even if people rarely shared it. Her eyes locked with mine and she winked at me playfully, causing me to grin awkwardly. She laughed.

"You haven't changed at all."

"I guess I haven't." I replied sheepishly. "I am glad you haven't" she added softly. I smiled in response. It seemed to me somewhere that the Prince and Princess had not died. I heard Rey get down from his seat and excuse himself bitterly, apparently disgusted by our from a perspective, 'cheesy' talks. Good for us. Grabbing the opportunity, Sharon occupied the bench beside me and we stared at the green pastures beyond the fence of my farmhouse, the sun less scorching than before.

"So, you are going to stay here for a while?"

I nodded. "I guess so. And I might remain stuck to this bench if my mother doesn't invite me back inside." Sharon laughed. "I won't ask why you are punished though, I was at the party yesterday. Mrs. Shekawat was sure to punish you. " She winked at me. "You were?" I asked, incredulously. I wonder how I didn't notice her. "I was. The reason I didn't come up to you was because I wasn't sure it was you. I didn't want to trap myself in the company of a drunk teenager." Sharon stuck her tongue out at me.

"I'm sure you meant well. It would have been embarassing otherwise." I tilted my head meekly.

"Swayam! Reyaansh! Come on in. I think its enough for you both for the day." My mum's voice resonated loud and clear in the backyard.

"And that's my cue to leave." Sharon sprang to her seat. "Hope to see you around soon, Swayam." she smiled at me endearingly before jumping over the fence. I smiled on hearing her say my name. I was surely going to see her soon. I couldn't help but appreciate how green the grass outside the farmhouse was, as Sharon walked over it, her hair flying with the wind.