Fading Away...

“Want some tea?”, he called from the kitchen.

“Duh, no! I just had coffee!”, she replied disdainfully from the den.

“Oh, but she never asked me if I wanted some. Well...”, he muttered as he walked up the stairs to the snug room. Their relationship had been falling apart for the last few months, but he had been doing his best to keep it together. Strangely, he didn’t even know the cause of this deterioration, as nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Shaking his head to clear it of the dark forebodings, he entered the living room, sat his cup down on the table and walked up to his guitar. Picking up the case, he started unzipping it, wanting to sing her a song, and not just any song, mind you. He had GnR’s “November Rain” in mind, the one he had always dreamed of singing to her. However, just a glance at her frowning face was enough to make him put it down. “Maybe later”, he thought as he closed the case again, sighing just audibly as he slouched past her and settled in his comfy chair.

“So sweetheart, how was your day?”, he asked tentatively. “Did Mr. ‘Perks’ treat you well?”

“Hahaha, of course dear! He has been very nice and accommodating since I organized that soft skills workshop! He appreciated the innovative idea very much, almost too much! And the audience was so supportive”, she gushed as she recalled Open Week, the most successful in- house event of STEM n’ ROOTS, a consultancy and career counselling company they both worked for.

It was his idea, of course. All brilliant ones were his. They had planned to conduct this ‘refresher’ workshop for their respective departments simultaneously. However, his department head was a bit reluctant towards approving the event. “We’ve never had this sort of an event, and I’m afraid the department members won’t be interested. Furthermore, it’s not our job to keep them on the track.”, was what his supervisor had told him. Rather than risk postponing Open Week in both departments, he had asked her to go ahead with it in her department. Although he claimed it would serve to demonstrate the workshop’s importance to his head, but in fact, it was due to his ever-present desire to see her on top of things, and organizing a successful event for the first time would certainly take her a long way.

She had gone ahead and organized the event, forming a team on the way, but keeping him updated throughout the procedure. It proved to be a smashing hit, with the company employees turning up in throngs to attend the event. Despite the fact that it was his idea, and it was he who motivated her to manage the event, he didn’t even get an invitation. It had stung him like hell, but she claimed that since their departments didn’t have anything in common, so it would be useless for him if she asked him to come. “However, you can come if you really want to.”, had been her response.

“It doesn’t matter if it would help me or not. I’d love to come if someone cares to invite me” had been his final attempt to make her realize how much he wanted to be with her, and how much her willingness mattered to her. However, it didn’t change anything. Weekend came and went, with him back at his place, sleeping the Open Week out. No one missed him at the event. And she became a star overnight.

Now, as he sat opposite to her, he didn’t know how to ask her for the post-event report. He needed it to convince his supervisor that not only was the event worthy of being organized at STEM n’ ROOTS, it had already been organized once with very encouraging results. Mustering up his courage, he leaned forward a bit and spoke: “Hey, have you people composed a post event report? That sort of thing is really necessary, especially after a successful event”

“Uh-oh”, she nodded, her eyes glued to her laptop screen.

“Can I have it for a couple of days? I need to show it to my supervisor, to prove that Open Week isn’t a waste of time. That old man still lives in the ‘60s”, he said with a nervous chuckle, uncertain how she will respond. But as she closed her laptop’s lid and took off her glasses, he knew he had her undivided attention. Nevertheless, nothing could have prepared him for what came next.

Have you ever been in love with someone who wasn’t aware of, or at least pretended to be unaware of, how you felt towards them? Have you ever, dear reader, tried to have your actions speak of the inexplicable love you have for someone who wants to have nothing to do with you, except perhaps using your skills and connections for their own well- being? Have you, o handsome fellow, suffered the pangs of unrequited love, hoping the person in your dreams will come to realize how you feel and what you have for them is priceless, that they’ll be lucky to receive even half of that from any other human? If yes, then you might understand how our poor boy had been pushing on with his life, and what her response could’ve done to her.

As she straightened up, he looked into her eyes, hoping that, for once, she’ll acknowledge what he has done, rather, has been doing for past couple of years. He longed for a glimpse of acceptance, either in her words or her actions. However, he was stunned when she finally spoke, her every word cutting her like a knife: “Open Week was a private event of my department”.

To say that he was dumbstruck would be a gross understatement. He saw the whole world spinning before him, felt a constriction in his throat that had nothing to do with thirst. He remembered the times they had shared together, resulting in some of his fondest memories. His past two years flashed before his eyes: his attempts at expressing his feelings to her, the happiness he always experienced when he saw her, the times he had spent staring at her pictures, the thrill he used to experience whenever he heard her voice, all came crashing down in his lap, along with the elusive truth: she wanted to have nothing to do with him. He was a tool, a means of climbing the ladder of life. Maybe she really trusted him, even considered a friend, but she had never been there when he needed her. His assumptions were fading away, as were his dreams. The pedestal had crumbled, bringing the goddess he worshipped to the ground.

Wordlessly, he stood up and left. He didn’t want to, even now, but he knew it was for his own good. But he knew he would never be able to forget her; the girl who meant so much to him.

Back in the den, she looked up as she heard the front door open, and close. Her expression was unfathomable as she sighed and put the documents away. Suddenly, she spotted the cup of tea he had made earlier. Steam was still rising from it...

The Day Miufa Had a Heroine

Long ago, there was a kitten called ‘Emm’: sweet and intelligent but also quite mischievous, often troubling folks in the way only a child can. She had a beautiful beige fur, of which she was very proud. Emm lived with her mother in a town called Miufa, half-lunar journey from King Cheshire’s palace. Now everyone knows that our world is a hexahedron, with each facet having a pentagonal island in the centre, surrounded by the Kari Sea, and little Emm lived on the island of Mewl, the realm of Unicorns.

So, it was Carnus day of the year of Panda, and Emm was returning from her school, whistling a tune. She would walk a few steps, then stop to play with her woollen ball. It was during one of these frolicking stops when she spotted Barsiv, a jabberjay who was also Cheshire’s vizier, flying high above. It looked as if he was headed for the Miufa’s town hall, an enormous hollow melon. Almost immediately, Barsiv spotted her, and dived towards her.

“Hello little one!”, he called in his characteristic singsong voice. “Where are you going?”

“Just walking home from school, Bar”, replied Emm while sticking out her tongue at him. He hated being called Bar and she, little one.

“You better get home soon, kid. We are about to be attacked!”, he said, while swooping her up and gently dropping her a yard away, while she hissed with mock anger. The truth was, Emm loved playing with Barsiv, and the fact that he loved her like a daughter made it even more enjoyable for her.

“Well, you just attacked me, and now I want my woolie ball back”, she said pompously as she strode towards it. There was a flutter of wings, and suddenly Emm was in Barsiv’s claws again, who was flying towards the town hall. This time when Emm hissed, it was real anger, for she loved her ‘woolie ball’ more than anything else.

“Hush little one, I’ll get you your ball. I ain’t kidding. We really are under attack. And this time, it looks as if Rinya has brought all her army!”. Barsiv had spoken the last bit quite indignantly, as if bringing one’s entire army for the offensive was somehow unfair.

“She the same Rinya who attacked us the day I was born? I hate her”, Emm said imperiously, as if her words had just settled an argument. Barsiv couldn’t resist laughing.

But alas, poor Barsiv’s scouts had underestimated the speed of Queen Rinya’s vanguard, and thus, their merriment was short-lived. Just as they entered the outskirts of Miufa, they heard a terrible scream behind them. Not just once, but thrice. By the third time, it sounded less like a scream, and more like a screech: Jubjub bird’s call. Jubjub birds were Queen Rinya’s elite guards, and their presence here was simply befuddling. Why had the queen sent her best after Barsiv, when they might be needed on the front, for Mewl’s Unicorns were ineffective against these airborne devils.

Notwithstanding that they were surrounded by at least a dozen of those ruthless birds, Barsiv’s only concern was that in her constant writhing, Emm might scratch herself against his sharp claws. However, his concerns soon deepened into full-fledged anxiety, when he spotted Queen Rinya, accompanied by her lieutenant, Roukh the Jabberwocky, soaring over Miufa’s town hall. Immediately he started thinking of a way to avoid her, and for any of his plans to work, Emm had to stay calm.

“Look Emm, it’s the twins below us. Why don’t you play face-make with them for a while? And make no sound, or you don’t get any points! We’ll land as soon as you win”. This was Barsiv’s best bet, because the only thing Emm loved more than playing with her woolie ball was to run around with the twins, frolicking and making faces at people. So, no sooner than he had uttered these words that Emm mewed, to gain the twin’s attention. Kids as all three were, the sight of each other was enough to make them forget the impending doom. Barsiv had stopped too, trying to draw Jubjubs closer, so that he can find a weak spot amongst their ranks and make his escape. At this point, Barsiv didn’t care about the town, or even the twins. He only wanted Emm to reach a safe place. Alas, the Jubjubs were too well-trained strategy to work. As soon as they saw their target stop moving, they rushed in, forming a tight sphere, blocking all exit points. Barsiv cursed under his breath. He was stupid to believe something as simple as this would work. They were Rinya’s elite, after all!

“Good Afternoon, Barseeiv!”, called Rinya mockingly, bringing him out of his reverie. “What a pleasant surprise! Wait, what’s that in your claws? A kitten?”

“It’s my lunch”, he answered, hoping it would keep them away from Emm.

“Aah, lunch!”, laughed Rinya. “Look everyone, the vizier is about to have lunch! Did we disturb you Barsiv? How rude of us...!”. The Jubjubs jeered, and Roukh roared with laughter. “How stupid you folk are, following him and his king: the world’s dumbest duo. One can’t stop grinning even when under attack, and the second looks for lunch while being followed by enemies!”, spat Rinya. Barsiv could have died of humiliation.

Emm, however, couldn’t understand what the commotion was about. She knew they were in danger, but who was this bossy lady? And why was such a terrifying bird in her company? Rinya’s next comment answered all her questions. “Listen up, citizens!”, she addressed the townsfolk who were gathered in the sheltered alleys around the town hall. “I, Queen Rinya, and my faithful Roukh have travelled several miles to liberate you from these incompetent rulers. Kneel before me, and I shall make you prosperous! Acknowledge me your queen, and you shall receive boons you have never even dreamt of!!”. If Rinya had been hoping that the people would buy it, she was very wrong. All around and under them, people starting hissing, booing, and cursing her, much to her embarrassment. Terbes the toad, sole teacher at the local school and Hemme the owl, the town drunk, went so far as to hurl their gin bottles at her, which Roukh deflected with a lazy flick of his enormous wings. However, the Jubjubs, who had never seen their queen humiliated (or even talked back to), swept towards the people, to discipline them, leaving the horizon open for Barsiv. Seizing the opportunity, he took off swiftly. He had flown only a yard or so when he found himself being hurled to the ground, his neck in someone’s sharp claws. He landed hard, and the force of it pried his claws open, sending Emm tumbling in Rinya’s direction. As her fear and dizziness subsided, Emm finally opened her eyes and took in the scene before her.

Before her stood the biggest kite she had ever seen. It had a silver beak, and all her feathers were white except those around her neck, which were golden, giving an impression that it was wearing a gold necklace. It had a smug expression on her face, and when it turned her head to look at Emm, the kitten felt her body go numb with fear. A bit to her left lay Barsiv, struggling against Roukh’s claws on his neck. As Emm stared, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, a Jubjub flew up to Rinya, bowing his head as he alighted at her feet. Opening his claws, he let Emm’s ‘woolie ball’ roll to a stop near Rinya. “We found it in the field, your majesty”, he spoke in his deep baritone and stepped aside, leaving Rinya to examine the artifact.

“Interesting!”, muttered Rinya, half-open beak resembling a sneer. “What do you do with these things, Barsiv?” she continued with her mocking Cheshire’s vizier. “Is it here for tying me up? Or is there a firebird inside it?”. Firebirds were Jubjubs’ mortal enemies, now almost extinct. Jubjubs laughed heartily at the joke. Emm, however, was befuddled. Sure, this bad lady was threatening Barsiv, but what did she want? What could Emm do to help? Realizing she would be as helpful as the rose shrub beside her, she lowered her head, almost missing Rinya scooping the woolie ball up as she said: “This time’s souvenir isn’t like the last one, but I’ll keep it nonetheless. As for you all, . . .” Her speech was cut short as Emm let out a loud hiss and crouched, ready to attack Rinya if need arose. For she had just seen the evil lady envelope her woolie ball in her claws, and as everyone in Miufa knew, Emm would rather die than lose it. She felt her anger deepen when Rinya began laughing. “Goodness me! Do you think you can even stand against me? Go back to playing, kid. We’re not here for your kind. Not yet anyway.” Rinya walked away as Barsiv chuckled. Suddenly she turned back. “Why did you get so worked up anyway?”, she demanded of Emm.

“You have my woolie ball!”, Emm growled. “It’s mine only and I want it back!”

“Bravo!”, Rinya mocked as she applauded. “Barsiv has made sure to pass his theatrics on to you too! Look around you. My people are everywhere. Do you, any of you, think that you can make us do anything we don’t want to?” She sighed before continuing. “You lot are slow l earners. A demonstration is in order then. Roukh!”, she called over her shoulder. “What do you think?” “Whenever you’re ready, your majesty!”, replied Roukh with a sneer. After a moment’s wait, Rinya raised a wing. Then it seemed to Emm that everything was happening in slow motion. Roukh slitting Barsiv’s throat, the smug expression on Rinya’s face, the townspeople’s uproar, everything seemed surreal. And suddenly Emm was recalling a memory half-forgotten: Rinya attacking Miufa when she was only a day old and her dad leading town’s defence and getting killed in the process. She felt her blood boil. She was no longer a little kitten. Suddenly she was a vengeful soul merely trapped in a small body. With boiling anger inside her, she leapt at Rinya, much to latter’s surprise. However, she swept her wing majestically, brushing Emm aside as if she was a fly. Emm landed o n her feet, softly, and jumped again. This time, Rinya was ready. With a laugh, she flew sideways, avoiding the angry kitten. Again and again Emm tried to reach Rinya, but was thwarted every time.

All the townspeople were fighting Jubjubs by now, including Hemme, but glancing at Rinya and Emm, he felt pity for the latter, his best friend’s daughter. He knew he wasn’t strong enough, but he also knew it didn’t matter. What mattered was, whether he did something or not. He had never fought in his entire life, you see. But suddenly, he took off, aiming straight for Rinya. Roukh intercepted him, pinning him to the ground like he did to Barsiv. The commotion, however, had distracted Rinya. She took a backward step, and by sheer misfortune, tripped over Rinya’s woolie ball, unfurling it. Emm noticed it, and with an excited chatter, leapt at the ball and rolled it away from the haughty queen. The few moments Rinya took to grasp what was happening cost her everything, as Emm tightened the loose strands around Rinya’s claws and captured the evil queen.

I won’t bother you about how Cheshire arrived with a company of firebirds, winning the day. How Roukh, sensing his impending doom, fled the scene. How Rinya’s thrashing caused her claw to pierce little Emm’s stomach. But I WILL tell you how Miufa still remembers its slain daughter. She’s a legend, a symbol of hope and courage. The first to defy a tyrant, even though she was nothing more than a kid. For she knew sacrifices have to be made to achieve something, that ultimately, it is courage that matters...

Dedicated to MJ, once a friend. Wherever you are now, I hope you're happy.