We had our meals under the constant staring of Ms. Edina, as we sat on the dining table which was in the lobby. My eyes diverted from her to Dayligh. But he was still eating in a daze and was struggling to face the reality. To break the awkwardness I asked her a question again since my meal was almost finished. "Ms. Edina, why don't we have any trees outside," as all I could see are the capsules in rows.
"We do have trees outside", she replied and then stared outside. The land on the part we are residing in is not fertile and the only fertile land is far away from here where the special capsule homes are. You could see these small plants inside the capsule, these are our only source of oxygen but once you step out you have to wear cylinders and a mask or the best option is to go in an aircraft. She pointed at the small aircraft that were flying outside.
She turned towards Dayligh and offered him some juice. Dayligh half-heartedly took the juice and began drinking. "He was energetic before, I wonder what's wrong with him. Ms. Edina likes males with an energetic personality, so you better get your act together," she spoke which felt like a command.
"My miss always watches shows and documentaries that contain handsome and bold males. So, the probability of you getting selected Dayligh is more. With you, the offspring would definitely turn out to be amazing," she gave a rather fake smile while looking at me.
HAH! Is she already ridiculing me and asking me to back off. How can she be so emotionless and I hate the vibes I am getting from her. Wait! Do these people even have emotions? The f*CK is this place and why did I get trapped here with Dayligh of all people.
She still hasn't fully explained anything as if talking in circles and whatever she tells us incurs more curiosity. Am I going to be treated as an outcast in this world too? Maybe I got another life like another chance to make everything right. If I am right then I would surely make amendments to secure my place by Miss Elytra's side and find a way out to here then.
But my mind right now is already filled with enough and she keeps on making it worse. I hope she starts explaining the other things again soon, I thought to myself.
"So, you mean the place where the land is fertile is like a mini Earth," I expressed another curious question. "Even if you haven't got the looks, you got quite the intellect. That can also be a good feature and secure you points" she spoke bluntly.
"Points? Are we being graded for something," I asked the lady who just indirectly ridiculed me? With a gaze that restricted me to ask further questions she spoke, "I think that' enough for today, you both have a lot to process so rest for today. Your floor has all the basic necessities so feel free to use everything. The day is shorter on this planet as compared to yours so it will be evening soon. Rest well for today and let's meet tomorrow." She stood up and approached the lift, pressed the button to her floor, and was soon gone.
I saw her leaving and after she left the first thing I did was touch my collar. I checked it thoroughly for any button but all it had was my initials on it. There was no way to open it. So, I sluggishly trodded towards Dayligh.
He finished his meal and was now sitting on the couch. I sat beside him. "Today certainly was hectic and not to forget unusual," I laid my head as it drooped from one side and asked Dayligh while closing my eyes. He remained quiet and hence after a while I again initiated our talk.
"I know you don't like me at all and now you are stuck with me here on a weird planet and most of all in a capsule. But if we really are stuck here then we have to find a way out. Don't you think? And for that, you need to talk to me," I briefed him so that he would at least respond.
Then my mind traced back the memories and I thought that maybe he is angry at me for all the things I said. "Okay, look I'm sorry, I apologize for all the things I said but trust me I was not in my right mind at that time. I didn't know what happened and why I said all those things but I certainly do feel guilty," I comprehended while I clenched my hands and faced him directly.
His silence felt heavy but the awkwardness was more overbearing. Only I was the one talking and more I was apologizing. I know he hates me but still, a response or a single nod could have been fine too. I am also stuck here, hopeless and still bewildered about the whole situation but why is he the only one sulking.
Alright! if he doesn't want my apology then it's fine with me too. I also have no intention of talking to a rude person. I stood up and headed towards the transparent window pane. It was almost evening and the sky had two moons, one similar to ours and the other so-called red moon.
As I was gazing at the evening sky, Dayligh finally broke the silence. "If it's not a dream then it is all your fault, you were the one who pushed me down the hill. It's all your fault and I am not going to forgive you for that." His angry voice approached me while I turned my head to face him. As soon as I faced him, he grabbed me by the neck and I started choking. I already had a collar on my neck and his grip made me breathless.
"Day..dayligh stop, it hurts...."I spoke in a trembling voice as I tried to push him away. But his strong built was impossible to win against. I could see the aura he possessed at that time. His eyes looked like he was ready to kill anyone who came in his way right now. So, I changed my approach and grabbed his hands but to no use. Then, I finally used the last method and kicked his thing, and when he finally released me, I gasped for air. Dayligh crouched on the ground and groaned.
I, too, slid down and fell to the ground. I was angry but also scared. I had no idea that Dayligh was this pent up in just one day and the thing to worry about was that he still was not accepting reality. But I am not the one to back out. I remembered the basketball tournament from 2 years back where Dayligh missed his last pass and his team lost the match.
But still, they all went for dinner together and no one criticized Dayligh directly but it showed on their faces. They talked less with him and frustrated by that he went out for a smoke. I worked at that same cafe at that time so I remember the incident clearly. It was the first time that day that he actually talked to me. I went out to take the trash and there I saw Dayligh in the alley talking on the phone with someone, it was probably his mother because I saw him crying for the very first time.
Afraid of being caught, I hid behind the pole. And when he told about how he lost his match on phone he could no longer hold his tears. "It was a big chance for the team mom, we could have made it easily if only I was more capable, what if I lose my scholarship after that." He crouched on the ground and started weeping. His phone was on the ground but it was off and it seemed like no call had been made.
"Was he talking to himself? Maybe he was taking his frustration out? But to be honest my heart ached at that time seeing him in that position. I unintentionally approached him and sat beside him. He was flustered and backed off. Then he observed my cafe uniform but didn't realize that we were in the same college. I still remember that day vividly because it was the day he smiled at me with still tears in his eyes and thanked me for being by his side. He then also told me to keep it a secret.
"Hey, you work at the cafe right! Please just a single request, keep it a secret from my friends there." He held my hands and those earnest eyes were hypnotizing. I instantly nodded and we both gladly went inside. I may be the first and the last person to see him cry ever on campus and today again may be the first and the last person to see him this angry.
What if we really die here fighting among ourselves? What if we are never able to return back? I started having these thoughts the minute I started choking, I was damn sure that this was no dream. The touch of his hand and the feeling of breathlessness together combined were indeed real. I stood up panting and again like the same day when I pushed him down, I marched towards him and pushed his face.
tO bE cOnTiNuEd.....
Sneak peek to the next chapter...
As we both sat at our separate places, he soon lost interest and was fast asleep. I quietly tip-toed towards him before closing my book. It feels like a dream but a happy dream. I went inside the room brought a sheet to cover him. I stared at his face for some time and really hoped if we could have met in different situations then it would have been better.
But again I thought if we were on planet earth then we would have never been able to communicate like this and stay this close with each other in the same room. As I sat on the ground thinking about ourselves, the door of the lift to our floor opened, and there entered Ms. Edina.