Blossomed beneath the setting sun

There was Sarah, a pretty little girl, who lived among the woods, with her dear family, who loved her to the core. It was her daily chore, to go to the strawberry fields, and collect their goods.1

Just like any other day, she left early that Friday with her bamboo basket. She wore a long skirt of light blue, with a white blouse and a cap with frills in blue, and gloves that as white as milk. Her satin stockings ran up her knees and she had eyes that were bright blue. 2

As she walked in those strawberry fields, any unaware child, would believe, she was the angel in the fairy tales. She walked as if, not to hurt the ground with pain.3

She would hold her skirt in one hand while her other, very beautifully carried the basket, as the breeze swayed in the fields. She loved nature and was totally contented with all she had, for she never wished for anything new.4

It was almost sunset when Sarah filled her basket and she remembered her mother's words, to get before it was too dark. But she walked a little further to carry a couple of flowers, which she knew her mother would love. As she climbed down the woods, heading towards her little home, she crossed a thorny log, which caught her skirt. That thorny log had always been there, ever since she was a kid. She had remembered seeing it, but also remembered to carefully avoid it, as she passed. But that particular day, she seemed to have forgot. She looked up and sighed at the setting sun. She struggled a little, to retrieve her skirt, off the log. There was a laughter from behind, an unusual visitor to the woods, thought Sarah, as she turned back. She saw a man, handsome he was, tall and fair, with bright blue eyes.5

For a moment, Sarah thought, the Prince Charming, whom Cinderella loved, might have resembled him. But soon, she realised and tried again, to get the skirt off the thorns, and she tried carefully, so as not to spoil the hem of her skirt. With her basket full, she could not succeed in her task. 6

The second time, she turned back, expecting a help from this unknown stranger. This handsome guy would run to her and help her skirt off, she dreamt, as she thought, it would be the case in any story, she would read. 7

But the laughter increased and he laughed and laughed, until he fell flat on the ground, roaring with laughter. Sarah sighed and with a little force, she pulled her skirt away and off she ran towards home, with a basket full of strawberries. All such scenes are dramatic, fit for novels alone, thought Sarah, as she climbed down the woods. 8

The next morning, the sun greeted her the usual way and when it was noon, Sarah went to tend to her routine work in the strawberry fields. She ran up joyfully, reminding herself, to avoid the log full of thorns. But as she strode up, she was almost shocked, to see the huge log missing from it usual place. She looked further beyond and saw the log, away, well away from the pathway. A moment of surprise and she proceeded on, as she wondered, who on earth could have done this. Her thoughts were for a moment arrested, as she saw the handsome man, the unknown stranger, standing amidst the woods. This time, there wasn't any laughter. He smiled at her.9

A brief smile, a pleasant smile, that haunted her, as she walked up along the mile.10

She thought about the gesture, as she walked in the strawberry fields. The sun was almost in a hurry to set, she felt. It was even before she filled half her basket, the sun had gone. She hurried and carelessly hopped, as she crossed the place, where the thorny log was there. She stopped a moment and looked back, to see the man, the very same man, clicking photographs of the setting sun and the strawberry fields.11

'What an act of caring gesture ?', she heard herself say. That thought stayed on, even when she set the food ready for dinner. Later, she did not think much about it. She had a perfect sleep, looking forward to greet the approaching dawn. 12

There was hardly any visitor to those woods and even those who passed by, would take the road along the strawberry fields. It was Sarah, who always walked through the woods, avoiding the road. This gesture was clearly meant for her, she knew.13

But she also knew, that it was just a gesture, an act of care and concern, from, and to anyone, just for the sake of humanity.14

The next day, it was well past noon and Sarah was still not ready to go to the woods. She took ample care to rearrange her hat and adjust her delicate skirt.15

Her mom's voice was disturbing. Her mom had asked her again, to be back before sunset. Sarah, quietly went, with neither dreams nor hope, nor any sort of romantic thoughts, all retained by characters in stories alone, she knew.16

And as she crossed, the place of the thorny log, she looked around, there wasn't anyone. She walked up, happily as ever, without neither thoughts nor dreams to interrupt her happy life. She walked through the strawberry fields and in half way, saw the same smart man, standing and admiring the strawberries. For a moment, she felt ever cell of her body linger with an unknown feeling of longing. He held her and that moment Sarah knew, his yesterday's act was just care, mere concern offerred for any human, but a care and concern, she had never seen in ages.17

She looked up at him. A feeling of guilt, her parent's face, flashed a second. But the next second, she knew, they would be the first to wish her good and there was nothing wrong and everything would be fine. 18

He did not whisper any great promise in her ears, nor did he tell her that he loved her. They shared no 'sweet nothings'. She knew not much about him, but just knew, that single minute, those few frozen minutes, he was true to her, wishing only the best for her. She knew, he would care for her, if not more, atleast as much, as he cared for his own self. She kept quite as he held her in his arms. They sat down, sat on the bare ground, near the strawberry fields.19

Now the sun had almost set. And still they sat and seldom spoke. They just sat, staring aimlessly at the endless sky. They continued to sit and stare at the setting sun, as they held each other, hand-in-hand. The stars were less in number, in the sky that night. Maybe, the stars were still not ready to appear, they said. They got up slowly, and together they walked a little, not ceasing to stare at the sheltering sky. For a moment, they both must have wished, that time stood still and never pass.20

Sincerely hoping, they could arrest time, if at all they ever could.21

" Just the two of us22

Beneath the setting sun,23

Staring aimlessly at the azure sky,24

Counting stars, in our talk,25

Destined nowhere, we proceed in our endless walk,26

Striving to never let the moment die;27

The golden bond shared with none28

But just the two of us "29

She withdrew her hand from his hold, as gently as she could. 30

She knew it was late and knew, she had duties to attend to. Her mom would expect her at home. Her dad would scold her, if she was late. She took her basket and hurried down, with a heavy heart. But a moment, she turned back to him, as he said, he was leaving. He was leaving, she knew, to his land, he would go. He was just a passer by, who would stop at the woods for a brief time, she knew. 31

It would not have taken her more than four minutes, to tell him, the words that were almost at her heart's door. But she knew, she would not. For the better of her, her parents and him. She let him go and strode back, in little speed. As she crossed the log, she saw, the day had been just as usual, but her empty basket held, neither strawberries nor flowers. She moved slowly, away from the strawberry fields, past the woods, away from the man she knew not, but for a few minutes, away from him, who held her in his arms. It would have been only a few minutes, but it revealed a lifetime's meaning. 32

Her basket was literally empty, she knew. She walked down, she knew she was already late. Her parents would wait for her, she knew. She could explain or tell some tale to her parents and they would believe, she knew. They trusted her, she knew. It was for that trust, that she returned empty handed that evening, she knew. 33

She walked down quietly, looking up at the azure sky. A little longer, the sun could have waited.. The sun should have set, a little later, she wished, for the first time in her life.