JiYa OS ll Nindiya Re...

She stood at the window of her room, staring at the night sky. Countless twinkling stars smiled down at her but her eyes were fixed on the round white orb of light. The full moon shined with its eternal glory which it showed once every month.

Sighing, she closed her eyes and pretended to disappear. She pretended that the light covering her body, making it glow will bit by bit make ever inch of her body vanish in the thin air, taking her to the escape she wanted. No...the escape that she needed.

The wind circled around her and played with her curly hair. The whoosh of the wind sounding like bells to her ears, the touch of the wind felt like the touch of a lover, the tinkling sensation on her body were like the kisses of the unknown soul-mate. The smell of the lonely night captivated her, mesmerized her, called her, invited her to the darkness of bliss.

She stood there living the most unreal moment of her life and forgot about everything that ever happened to her. It was just her and the night. With her eyes closed it felt like she was having some conversation with the night itself. The night was whispering the secrets of life in her ear and she was listening to them intently.

A strong gush of wind interrupted their conversation and she opened her eyes. Annoyance and confusion mixed on her face and gave it a fascinating color as she looked away from the moon and down towards the depth of the jungle. Ignoring the momentary interruption, she looked up to the sky but something made her look down again.

A group of fireflies had come together at the entrance of the jungle, illuminating the way and shining like bright yellow stars. Curiosity raised its head inside her as she stared at the little orbs which were moving here and there but not going any further inside the jungle. Maybe it was the curious sensation inside her or the result of the secrets which the night had shared with her, but she somehow knew that the fireflies were waiting for her.

Staring as if in a trance, she couldn't help her moving feet which had climbed the window and were now using the branch of the tree to help her go down and towards the awaiting fireflies. It was as if the entire nature was helping her go towards the light which guarded the darkness.

She closed her eyes because the darkness of her closed eyes seemed far more friendly than the one of her open eyes. The silence seemed to pierce through her body but she couldn't move. Fear was

Walking on the dry leaves, as she walked away step by step from her sanctuary she was feeling everything except regret and caution. The hope of finding the unknown was too overwhelming that it stopped any sort of fear from entering her heart. As reached the awaiting fireflies, they began to move further into the jungle. She followed them without a thought of the bright moon which looked suddenly saddened.

Leaving behind the brightness of the moon, she embraced the darkness as she walked under the cold shade of the trees. For a while, everything was alright. But then in a blink she was left all alone.

The fireflies, which were guiding her after reaching a spot, abandoned her and scattering everywhere until they were all lost in the darkness. As the last speck of light disappeared from her eyes, the flicker of fear appeared in her eyes. The darkness was overwhelming, the cold intimating.

Mustering up all the courage she had, she moved one step. And it was as if the nature was waiting for her make one step. Even though she was scared she had this feeling that she was protected. Opening her eyes, she moved deeper into the jungle. Even though she could've turned back towards the brightness of the moon, the darkness of the jungle was also a part of the night and she had to explore it as well.

Somewhere ahead of her, few streaks of white light were falling on the ground. Feeling as if this was the place which was calling out to her, she ran towards her. As she approached the spot, the brightness increased. It was a fascinating sight to see all the light surrounded by the darkness. But she felt like she had met her best friend...the one who was going to help her as she stood under the bright light of the moon.

Sighing happily, she ran a hand through her hair and put the hand on her chest, over her thumping heart. It was beating excitedly, happily as if it had found something it had always been looking for. A slight smile danced on her lips as she turned around and crashed into someone.

For a moment she couldn't see something because of the sudden crash but when her sight cleared, she saw a pair of lips smiling down at her.

"Can't sleep princess?" A familiar voice whispered in her ear and pierced the silence of the night. She gasped.

She knew that voice and that sarcastic tone. What was he doing here? Before she could say anything, he grabbed her hand and twisted them behind her back.

"Ouch!" She nearly shouted from pain but he put a finger on her lips. His touch sent sensations down her spine.

"Nuh uh princess, not another sound. Don't you know its rude to intrude into someone's private place?" His eyes were shining in the moonlight. She struggled to get free from his grip but he was just too strong.

His finger left her lips and trailed up her jaw. Her body froze under his touch, all the strength to struggled vanished from her body.

"Now, lets start this again. What are you doing here?" He asked in a gentle whisper as his thumb played on her cheek.

"I...couldn't...sleep..." She replied in a broken voice. His eyes smiled at her reply then a small laughter escape his lips as she confirmed his first accusation.

"Still, this gives you no reason to wander into jungle alone at the middle of the night." The grip of her hand loosened till she could free herself completely from him. When she did, she took a step back. He stared at her amused.

Fear was evident from her eyes. When he stood under the moonlight, he seemed different from his usual arrogant, flirty self. He felt like he was someone not belonging to this world. Because her image of him was always bad, like he was someone who could never do any good. Like a cold glacier who had no emotions. A selfish self who thought only of himself.

But right now, under the pure light of moon, she could concern in his eyes. Concern mixed with tenderness. Both the emotions for her. And it scared her...because it was different from what she thought of him. The gentleness was scaring her. Or was it the reality?

"You should go back now, it may sound a little cliched but it is dangerous to walk around in the jungle." He removed his gaze from her.

"Why do you care?" She asked, confused by his act of kindness.

"Why shouldn't I care?" A question for a question.

"You hate me."

"Get real." Vague reply for a vague reply.

"I would love to stay here chatting with you, but you should seriously go back." He sounded annoyed for the first time. But she shook her head.

"I told you, I can't sleep! And I want to stay here!" She said stubbornly and he sighed.

"Its when you act like a spoilt brat is when I force myself to hate you. I thought when you were following those fireflies mesmerized, that was real you." This comment surprised her.

"You were following me!" She almost shouted but the next second he came closer to her again and moved his fingers over her eyes. Her eyelids became heavy and she fainted right there.

Jay stared at her sleeping face as he supported her weight. It was so pure and childlike, so unlike her spoilt image she had put on herself. Carrying her in his arms, he walked effortlessly through the jungle and towards her house.

Easily he climbed the to her room and put her sleeping body on the bed. Before going out, he turned off the lights. The moonlight welcomed her back from the trip to the darkness and kissed her face.

He stared at her and sighed dejectedly. It was early...way too early for her. She wasn't strong enough to feel the feelings she was going to soon enough. For now, she should be sleeping. He couldn't drag her with him. For now, it was enough for her to hate him. He could live with the hate.

She had come too close to the reality and he couldn't risk it. It was better for her to live in the glitz and glamor. She wouldn't be able to handle the grey world he was living in. Right now the fake light was all that mattered to her.

Still, he walked towards her and kissed her sleeping forehead. At his touch, a small smile danced on her lips. Maybe she saw something pleasant in her dreams. A sad smile graced his lips as he left her in the light and rushed out to the darkness.

Embracing the darkness, he became a part of it.

And deep inside, the light shone brightly.