Curtains. Curtains Defined His Life!
Though not only his life but they define all lives. In particular, it is because they share a similar property of translucence. Like curtains, life also filters out the awareness of things and doesn't let us have all of it, and that is what causes consciousness to exist. Since, if a person would become aware of everything then he will not be able to discriminate or differentiate. Like if, a pebble is kicked by a person and an elephant, then it'll get flown but it won't fear the elephant thinking he or she might crush and kill it or start hating that person thinking it can counter him/her, like a living being, a person, would, because it is aware of everything. Another example for understanding this concept deeply is actually by understanding 'The Opposition Paradox'. It strikes a question about, can something exactly/totally opposite of another thing even exist, without having even a single nature similar? Imagine, an object A and an object B. And consider that they share some similar properties like: X, a property of A is exactly the same as B's property T and B's feature U identical to A's property Y. While having these similarities with a score of 2:2, they also share an opposite property that is different from each other. For reference, let's say A's property Z is about killing people and B's property V is saving people. Here, they have these two features that are the opposite of each other. But what if I say, they are actually the same in nature??
That similarity, can you see it? No?... Huh!
—Is That They Are Actually Different!!
In precision, it is the property that that property is actually the opposite of the other one. Didn't get it?? Let me start over. The object A has a speciality here that is the opposite of the other one and the object B here also has a nature that is the opposite of the other one, and here that 'it's the opposite of the other one' is becoming the similarity. Yes, just like how we can consider any two things, X and Y, similar because they do the same task, it can also be counted, similarly, regarding two things because they share a speciality of difference from each other. Riveting, right?? And this is why it is a paradox claiming that nothing can actually stand totally in the opposition of something while it also questions whether that property was a similarity or difference, because this nature of difference is gonna continue to exist till the end of the world, no matter what.
And this is why not knowing everything actually causes consciousness to exist. Since without it, there'll be no good or bad, equality or hate, preference nor division, love nor lies, blood or beauty, birth or carnage, tosses nor guesses, higher dimensions or mazes, emotions or doubts, conquering nor regret, neither giving up or pleasure. While that act can easily be done by lying, ignoring, forgetting or simply by being not aware of everything…
As was being said, surprisingly to an extent, even dreams are also like that. Dreams, though they are our imagination, too like life, they filter out information. Which's why we don't remember all of it after waking up but they do it at a higher rate than life. They are like a lighter layer when compared to it. They can be vivid and ephemeral and also fade away quickly, leaving us with only fragments of our imagination, along with fascination, fear or sorrow depending on the viewer.
In the vast expense of a snow covered land. A young boy, no more than eleven years old, ran with a frantic urgency that belied his tender age. His breath formed wispy clouds in the frigid air, his face, flushed with exertion, was etched with worry, his eyes darting frantically from side to side, searching for something, someone, amidst that blinding whiteness.
Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a figure sitting motionless on the snow, a stark contrast against the pristine landscape. It was a girl, his age, her long lighter-dark hair flowing wildly in the biting wind. She wore a black tight jeans, her slender legs encased in sneakers, a white T-shirt, and a long overcoat, red that billowed around her like a fiery halo.
Despite the harsh cold that seeped into his bones, the boy felt a chill run down his spine as he approached the girl. Her face was pale, her eyes filled with a deep sorrow that seemed to weigh her down. Her left leg was bent beneath her other that was long outstretched, its knee inwards, her right thigh was rivering blood. She sat hunched, her hands clutching on it with all her might, trying to stop the flow, a crimson stain spreading beneath where she was sitting.
The image of the girl seared into his mind. The sight of the girl's injury jolted the boy out of his fear. He rushed towards her, his heart pounding in his chest. He knelt facing her, his voice was trembling as he asked, lifting up his arms, trying to help her, "What happened?"
The girl didn't look up at him, but tears were visible rolling down her quiet face.
"Nothing," her lips trembling as she whispered, "Don't worry, everything'll be alright, everything's gonna get okay."
Reada's eyes opened and the scenery of his ceiling in the darkness of his room, as he was lying in his bed, replaced the imagery from before.
…
April 13th is the global holiday for 'String festival', which is celebrated twice a year, on Earth. People get a long holiday for it, of around 5-7 days so it's quite a good news for someone like Reada, those who don't want to go to work or work.
"So, you're not going anywhere for the festival?" Alvish asked curiously.
"No dear, unfortunately we can't. We were planning to, but you see some things occurred. Though we are going to celebrate here at home. What about you?"
"Same, sadly. Even though I really wanted to go somewhere. Papa didn't get his days off sooner and we couldn't. He said he was too tired as he had even gone to the office yesterday."
"I know how that feels, Alvish. Especially when you are really looking forward to it." Alie, while preparing a dough in a bowl, said.
"Indeed. By the way, where's Reada?"
"Oh, him. He should be in his room. Do you want me to call him?"
"No, it's fine. I'll make a call instead."
She then dialled his number. At first Reada, as anyone would expect, refused but after Alie told him, he was left with no other choice but to come out.
"What?" He asked in his common uninterested accent, as he entered the room. Today, too, his hair was messy and his eyes had that depth.
"Subh-Shangat."
"Yeah, Subh-Sangti."
"Aa- I was saying, today's the string festival, so why are you living behind the closed door like a vampire. Let's go out somewhere!"
"No!"
"Be a bit grateful. See, your dear friend has come here to invite you to hangout. Don't talk to her like that. Come on. And go, join her!"
"Dear friend? And her?? Mom, she's like those bedbugs that you only want to get rid off and they ain't pleasant to be with either!"
"And What Are You Then, A Mess, An Idiot?!"
"Whatever pleases you. But unlike you, I'm pleasant." Reada looked at Alvish and replied.
"Huh, sarcasm!"
"At least go get a haircut, your bangs are already getting way out of hands!"
"They're just fine, mom!"
She pressed her lips in bewilderment against each other. She turned to Alvish and said, "You know, Alvish? I really wanted a daughter while I was pregnant, sometimes he makes me think, if he's fulfilling that wish."
"Come on, mom. Don't make fun of me like that!"
"Go out then!"
"No! Like I said, just what type of pain is my hair giving to you?"
"Oh, my simple souled son, you'll look more handsome like that. Don't you want girls chasing after you?"
"My looks don't matter, at the end it's gonna be my dominance!!" Reada said while pushing his hair back, in from of elegance, invoking Alie's anger.
"You're Gonna See My Dominance If You Don't Get Out!!"
Seeing this scene of mother and son quarrelling, Alvish started laughing a little softly and in the end he didn't have any choice but to finally go out with her.
"Your hair's actually very soft and silky. Do you mind sharing your hair care routine?"
"I don't have one!" Reada said and slapped out her hand, it was checking his hair.
"For real? I'm so jealous of that!"
"Better, like it when people are jealous of me."
"At least tell me which shampoo do you use then?"
"Don't know, mom buys it."
As he took his first step outside, the sight that he saw, got him astonished.
"...Mars?" From his lips, whisperingly escaped.
"You know him?"
Behind the wall, in front of Alvish's home, there was a middle-aged man standing. He had brownish black hair.
"Oh, Reada. Merry-Bind!" That man casually greeted as Reada approached him curiously.
Alvish also followed behind but she was confused about how he already knew him, her father, Areo Alips, nicknamed Mars? To her knowledge, they had never met.
"Yeah yeah, uncle, Subh-Sambandh! But what're you doing here?"
"What do you mean what I'm doing here? It's my home, where else am I supposed to be?"
"You live here? You mean this annoying girl is your daughter??" Reada, stunned after hearing that, said, looking at Alvish, "She really has your irritative genes!"
"Hey, Excuse Me!!"
"Fuck off!"
Mars felt a bit awkward, hearing his response. He wasn't expecting those words out of him. Still, he pulled Alvish and while hugging her, shoulder to shoulder, said with a strange smile, "Yes, to my good luck, she's my dear daughter."
"Papa, you know him? When did you two meet?"
"Hm? From the time he was born. Oh, yeah! You don't know it, right Alvish? Actually he's the son of my friend, Victor Vela Harns. That is the reason why I shifted exactly here. I really wish to hang out with him sometimes. Though, I'm not getting the chances." His voice saddened as he finished, remembering the past times.
"What? That was surprising. Though that makes me think, what is your dad? Where is your dad? I've never seen him?"
"He's no more." Alvish heard.
"Oh… I'm sorry."
Reada and Mars couldn't stop, bursting out giggling.
"He-is-a-No-more, you idiot! And you say, you ganna be a lord!"
She was bitsrtuck after knowing that. Her face turned red, realising her stupidity.
"You mean, No-more, the scientists?"
"Yes."
"You mean, you are the son of one of the most brilliant minds in this universe?"
"Yes."
No more, a special organization of scientists and analysts that mainly work assisting the lords and the world government with their weaponry and tools. Their strange name comes from their slogan: to know more until there's no more left. Originally the term was called 'Know more' but later was influenced. It's a typical thing to be smart to be a No-more, because their work primarily bases on shades/huology.
"Alvish?" Suddenly her mother came out and called.
But she didn't hear it. She was still trying to process and accept that reality she had just heard. For her, it was a very big thing.
"Alvish!"
"Alvish!!"
"SOPHIA!!"
"Come on, mom. How many times have I told you not to call me that!"
"I did! But you weren't listening! Now, come in and help me out!"
Alvish for a moment, again looked at Reada, for the last time before going in.
"Sophie…" he said teasingly, receiving that information.
"Hey, you too. Don't give me your weird nicknames. My name, Alvish, is just fine. I have already abandoned it, I don't think it suits me!!"
"Means wisdom, surely it doesn't!"
"Shut up!!"
Alvish, along with her mother, went away at the end after saying that. And the boys were left alone.
"It seems you two really get along." Mars commented what he thought.
"Yes, even though I don't wish to!"
"So, how are things going, Reada?"
"Wikkity-wackity."
"Oh… by the way, focus more on your studies, I'm seeing, you're becoming dumber and disrespectful as you're growing, you were quite smart when you're little! You couldn't even answer a simple question that day!!"
"You're still on that. That day when you gave me that query, I had my smartphone, internet with me. Your daughter was with me too. And you weren't even there to check on me. Do you really think I couldn't have answered it if I really wished to. Wait- why don't you let me ask you a question then? It'll simply answer everything. Tell me, were you, for real, testing my IQ or showing yours? Because I would rather be considered a fool than be judged by a fool's such foolish method."
This time he understood all his sarcasm. Though, Reada was right on his point, Mars wasn't much of a philosophical guy. His anger reached its peak as he shouted in outrage, "I'M NEVER GONNA LET YOU HAVE MY DAUGHTER!!"
"Your daughter's already sucking my blood by being beside me, I don't want her to suck anything else of mine either!!"
...
In the evening, everyone was celebrating the festival, decorating their surroundings, sharing sweets, wearing new clothes, the string festival is a festival to be mainly celebrated at night. Reada was sitting on his doorway, outside and was eating his favourite sweets, chum-chum. On the other hand, Alie was lighting fireworks, Arial Sparklers, while placing them on their boundary wall. She was wearing a lovely green saree tonight. She had always been quite playful and so was being tonight too.
"Mannerless, Freak, Scumbag! I would've beat the shit out of him, just those circumstances!!" Mars continuously cursed as he set the diyas(clay lamps) on their wall. Treditionaly stable light sources are used in this festival, so no long candles.
"Just what are you so concerned about??" Hina, his wife, Alvish's mother, asked worriedly. Glem also looked up with interest. He was sitting down, playing with the crackers with her sister.
"He has changed, Hina. I had never thought he would talk to me like that. In such a way. The bright kid I had told you about has changed!" He cried out his emotions. Not literally.
"What has he become now then? What even happened? Who are you talking about?"
"Who else, but him!" He pointed across the road. "He called my question stupid!"
"What?? Does that mean he wasn't always a mess?" Alvish looked up, astounded. "What was he like then, before?"
"He was innocent, the simplest sou—"
"Shut up! Do you really think it's a good manner, tattling about others? What will the kid's learn?"
"Come on, mom, this much's fine!"
"No! Also, Mars, what's so mannerless about that? It must've been stupid. Stop acting like a child!"
"He was talking to me disrespectfully too, he's a mannerless psychopath!"
"Oh, really? Then why does he talk just fine with me? He's the most obedient, mannered kid I have yet seen."
"No, you just don't get it, Hina. But, don't worry, I'm gonna bury him, 6 feet deep, down the Earth…"
"NOOOO!!" Glem shouted hastily. He stood up, went to his dad. "Never say that again, dad! It would be our greatest mistake. We are gonna burn him!"
"Really, you two? And you were calling him, psychopath?"
"Yeah, I too think it's too much!" Alvish said, also stood up. "Even though I call him a mess and an idiot, I think he's bearable. I gotta accept, he's smart too!"
"Though he looks like a mess, he's quite a catcher!" Both dumbstruck, hearing that bullshit according to them, said.