Planet of Extinct

Chapter-28

"I really didn't think you guys would make it", Mona mumbled.

"Purple, we would never miss this." 'I would never miss your amused smile. Your eyes lit up when you saw us just now.'

Sunaira stood in the centre of the stage reciting the poem which had everyone in the room enchanted. Her eyes met four proud smiles. And she smiled back at them. They were enthralled by the depth of her words. Sunaira did have the power to hold the attention of every last person in the room as long as she was talking. If she talks for 24 hours, people will listen to it for 24 hours. She just makes sense with whatever she says.

They couldn't be more proud than they were at that particular moment.

They clapped the loudest when she was done. She didn't need the prize or anyone's validation to stand on the top. She is the epitome of creativity.

"You were great!" The girls wrapped her into a hug. Sunaira giggled. 🫂

"You know what? I just got an offer to my dream art college. They want me to join them the second I am done with the boards. No entrance exam. Scouts were in the audience, and they said I did a good job, and they were impressed with my work" She did a happy little dance.

"OMG!" their hug tightened. They screamed in joy. Jumping in the hug. 

The boys just stood there, " Congratulations. We are happy for you."

Mona and Jesvi kissed Sunaira on her cheek. "You are incredible" Mona whispered.

"Yes, yes, yes" Jesvi hugged her again.

"I am too happy. I feel it's a dream. You have to tell me if it is. I don't want to wake up and find out it was just an imagination," Sunaira said eagerly.

Mona pinched her hand, hard.

"Ahh, it hurts"

"It's true then. Not a dream" Mona laughed at the glare she received. 🤪

They had their group hug. This time, boys scooped in, too.

But the moment Mona was alone, she again had the flashes of the dark cave. She keeps hearing her name and the purple light from the cave keeps brightening. 

She gets startled when she hears the door opening. "Who-" the person stopped abruptly.

"Mona. What are you doing in the dark?" Saish walked to her.

"I was checking the room. I will close it after."

"You do realize it's my block right?"

Mona looks around absent-mindedly. "Oh, sorry. I didn't know. You wrap up the checking then" She walked past him.

But he held her hand, keeping her in place. "What's wrong, Purple?" he enquired softly.

Her shoulders sagged in defeat. "The Silent Mountain. It keeps flashing through my mind every now and then and I don't know what's going on. It's scary how much I want to walk into it," she explains in a tiny voice.

"Is it trying to convey something?"

"I don't know"

"Should we go ask Zoe, Purple?"

"No! She was taken back when the news broke"

"Then let's go in. Check it ourselves" Saish sweetly smiled leaving her hand.

"No. You are not coming. It can be dangerous. I don't want you in danger"

"So.....you were planning to go there all by yourself ?" There was a little pause. "No way, Mona. You aren't going there alone. I prefer getting myself killed by that unknown beast than letting you go into its territory alone" his soft side turned stormy with every word, his eyes blazing, tone firm. Indicating there is no arguing with him and he wouldn't take 'No' for an answer.