Bubbles And Fireflies

Since her childhood, she had been fascinated by fireflies. Some called them to glow worms! Her granny used to say they went in search of their little ones with a little lantern if they didn’t reach home once the sun had set! It fascinated her.

Lying awake now under a cloudy dark sky, she remembered Mom, Dad, and Nanny. It seemed so far away. Her childhood. Like a bubble, ethereal and fragile. Like the bubbles, she would blow with Dad. Particularly when they went to Juhu beach on Sunday mornings.

Shreya had come to Bhandardhara with Anmol, her buddy, her best friend. The famed walk through the woods to watch fireflies was on their ‘list of 100 things to do before you die’. On an impulse, they had jumped on to their bikes. It was a thrilling ride through the ghats. Zooming up the winding, hillsides, hugging steep slopes. Stopping only for breathtaking views of wildflowers, cliff tops, chai, and selfies. Not necessarily in that order. Several people had been drawn to this guest house for the famed fireflies. Soon a guide gathered them all in the patio, after briefing them about not separating from the group, not touching anything, not making a noise, nor taking any pics with a flash. Strictly no littering! They took off. Two local boys bringing up the rear, carrying water and a first aid box.

It was surreal. As they slowly edged forwards, through the dark forest, the formless dark sky took on a tinge of inky blue merging into Prussian. A sense of adventure and admiration silently blanketed the group eager to devour whatever lay ahead. You could feel the moistness of the breeze as it heralded the ‘ Monsoon’ and in the distance, twinkling fairy lights seemed to be lighting up a garden.

Shreya’s eyes widened, to adjust to the darkness as well as in wonder. These were not fairy lights …. They were fireflies! Hundreds, thousands, millions of them! On branches, bushes, trees! Some stationary and some flitting around. Twinkling in unison and at times not. The crickets joined the party, making music, as only they can. The enchanted forest drew her breath. Cautiously she made her way forward. Gasping in joy, as the unraveling view seemed more and more delicate and ethereal, till she stumbled on a root, perfectly placed to trip up unsuspecting dreamers like her. She couldn’t help screaming, only to find herself neatly caught by the strong, reassuring arms of Anmol. Already there to prevent her from falling. Brought back to earth, she held on to his hand. She had just been jolted into reality. As emotions racked through her and emerged slowly from her subconscious, one bubble at a time.

She would have to burst the other bubble. Her family was delighted, with an alliance proposed for her, from a software engineer from the USA. She would have to burst their bubble. Whether the fireflies found their mate or not, she sure had found hers!