Sunrise

It was that time of the day when we are usually dead to the world. And are missing the most glorious sights ever he could behold on good earth. Sunrise.

Forever and ever
The dark of the night
The bright of the dawn


But today was different. Because today I was awake and never felt so alive. We walked towards the edge of the cliff in silence, an unbroken faith that bound us to each other. Grass that sprouted in yesterday’s storm lined the path. Green and sparkling, with precious little silver droplets of dew that threatened to spill and break. Just like crystal vases. As beautiful and as precious. The wet red mud smelt of yesterday’s rain. Of Heaven. Or as much as that, coz I have never been to Heaven. This, I thought, was the closest I would ever be. Completely suffused in a beautifully amiable silence that shrouded us from the rest of the world, I stood close behind her. Her eyes were unfocussed gazing at the beautiful glorious orange that was spilling over the dark skies. Bathing the world in a spectacular sunrise signaling the start of a brand new day. There was something about the sight of those fluffy white clouds borne up on golden halos that brightened up one’s heart like nothing else did. And loosened the heart strings.

I looked at her, eyes closed, heaving chest that fell with deep relaxed breathes and a lazy dreamy smile playing around her lips. Man! My heart caught in my mouth. I could feel something shifty trying to work its way up my throat. And escape through my lips. The beats going into overdrive.

Forever and ever
I’ll stay here with you ’til the end of the storm


Her eyes flew open at that moment and caught me staring at her. I quickly looked away, and come up with a fake yawn, trying to stifle the same. I stretch and look noncommittal.

Sure, I did this everyday. Watch the sunrise with a very pretty girl. No big deal this, huh!


“Good morning S.”
I look back at her like I was noticing her for the first time.
Fill up fake boredom in voice. Go
“Hello! Top of the morning!”
“What you thinking?”
“Huh?”
“C’mon!” Damn you mind reading species!
“I like sunrises. I rarely ever see them.”
“Ahem...and?”
And what? Oh you dogged doggy on a juicy bone, have mercy will ye!

“And nothing A.”
“You were smiling. And thinking something!”
“Bungee jumping!

Sometimes my mouth shot off even before I started forming thought processes in mind. Bungee Jumping? For f**k’s sake! Why don’t you tell her you like her? That she’s so achingly beautiful that you sometimes forget to breathe? That you still smell her perfume lingering in the air hours after she’s left? That the first thing you miss in the morning when you wake up, is the way she crinkles up her nose and calls you a duffer? That…that…you’re probably head over heels in love with this angel.
Bungee Jumping? Can I just throw myself off this cliff?

I’m slipping into the lava
And I’m trying to keep from going under
Baby who turned the temperature hotter?
‘cause I’m burning up, burning up for you baby!

Her face twisted in a grimace, then she grinned, crinkling up her nose. “You duffer!”
That was the trigger. The stopper came off and now the words gushed out, on their own accord.

“Okay, well, the truth is I am glad am doing this with you. I have no idea why I find this the most amazing thing that am doing in a long time. And I’m feeling good about this. Pretty damn good. Like am drowning in a new feeling and yet I’ve never felt so free. Am glad we are friends, best of friends. Today though, I think its something new. I have felt this way before but never felt so sure. So good. A., no one gets to me like you do. I just wanted to tell you so you know. That I think, I am falling in love with you.”

It was perhaps the longest speech of my young life. My mind cleared of the hazy fog and cobwebs. I really wanted to bungee jump now. But come back! Crash into me, will you!
As the sun rays slowly spread over the world, waking up birds twittering like crazy all around us on the hills, I waited with bated breath. The longest pause in my life.

Her face was shrouded in the shadows as she stood against the light, but as the golden splendor sped across the hills, it lit up. A slow smile brightened her features. I could feel the sun on my face, warm and nice. And then she nodded slowly, as her hands slipped effortlessly into mine. Snug and warm. No words needed. It was as easy as that. I could not stop smiling. Now I really wanted to do that jump. But not alone. Not anymore buster. I was in love!
We both stood on top of the hill, back to the world, completely suffused and ensconced in a comfortable camaraderie, oblivious to everything else but the lovely morning and the new storm that I knew raged both our fragile mind-spaces.

I don’t care what you think, but I am ready for that plunge today. Are you?