Scarlet sun nestling into the arms of those enormous hills marked the arrival of a beautiful dusk. Coos echoed as an entire flight of doves flocked swiftly across the reddish sky. The day's weather was the most soothing one of this entire fall season. At the foot of one of those trees laden in the orchard where all the leaves had turned golden, sat a girl on a bench by the footpath. A pair of spectacles concealed the allure of her eyes. She had a book in her hand as usual which accompanied her in the solitude. The only thing surrounding her were the dead silence and fallen autumn leaves. While she was completely lost in her story, on another pair of benches, not so far from her was a group of teenagers busy chilling out.
Faris: Twenty…, twenty-one
Jason: Finally, it's your turn!
Faris: And I'm as less nervous as much as you're excited
Jason: We know well
Faris: My task?
Ronit: Look, over there
He looked
Ronit: That girl. You gotta kiss her
Faris looked back at him.
Milly: Lily!
Faris smiled
Faris: Not a big deal
Teena: Are you sure Faris?
Milly: Are you really gonna kiss Lily
Faris: I'm not afraid
Jumping off the backrest he stepped to approach his aim.
Roger: Do you think he would do that? He's a good friend of her.
Milly: Obviously he won't. I don't think he's ever gonna break her trust.
They all gave him a stare. His graceful steps directed him towards her. His expressions
retained no sign of nervousness or fear.
Jason: C'mon guys, he never gave up a dare. He's definitely gonna do that anyhow.
And he stopped at the bench.
Faris: Hey Lily, what's up?
"Hi," she replied.
He sat by her.
Faris: Is that a romantic novel?
Lily: To you, Sherlock Holmes seems a romantic novel?
Faris: I thought you were enjoying Fifty Shades.
She frowned
Faris: I was just kidding
Lily: Faris, you're pathetic.
She focused back into the book
Faris: I know
Lily: Anyways. I won't let you do whatever you came here for.
Faris: What do you mean?
Lily: I'm talking about the dare
Faris was amazed at this
Faris: How did you come to know?
Lily: What else could be the reason you came here leaving them.
She said without taking away her sight from the page.
Lily: You guys keep on playing that game. And I know your intentions aren't pretty good. So please, I request you to avoid doing anything disgusting.
Faris: A kiss ain't ever disgusting.
Lily: You're crazy!
"I guess you won't find it bad," he asked smiling in silly way.
"Then be ready for a slap too!" She said in her worst tone.
Now this was something that a boy can never expect from a person whom he considers a true friend. It just broke his heart shattering his smile. Afterall it was just a dare which he always took as nothing more than a game. And actually, it's the tone that matters. If she had let him complete his dare, she wouldn't have to let out this curse. But Faris did what he was supposed to do. He took off her spectacles and kept them aside.
Lily: What are you doing!
Forgetting all his ego he sat down on his knees, and began to unbuckle the strap of her sandal.
Lily: Wait! What's this.
Jason: [looking at this scene] What the hell is he trying to do?
He said nothing but did the same with the other one too. He removed the sandals. Looking into her eyes with all his reverence and affection, he gave her naked feet a fondle. Lily sat still and said nothing. Then he bended a little. Taking her ankle into his palm, and her feet close to his lips, he gently kissed her toes, upon which fell a teardrop and rolled down. As he looked up she saw a wet crease down his face which the droplet of love from his eye might had created. This act of him just left her open-mouthed. Faris was still on his knees.
Faris: Won't you slap me?
Lily shook her head.
Faris: See, a moment ago, you were ready for it.
He stood up.
Faris: That's not fair, Lily!
He took her hands, sat by her again and spoke- "Lily, listen carefully. It's not about the dare that I was ready to do this. If there had been someone else in your place, I would've changed my mind. But it was you. And I did it not because I was told to do so… But for this is what I wanted to convey to you."
Lily listened with all her attention. As he spoke, his every single word was touching her heart.
"And secondly, I've a request from you" after a pause he added "If you ever meet a person in your life, who actually cares about you more than he does for himself, someone who just wishes your welfare, please treat them with atleast a little courtesy. It's not only because they deserve it. But because you'll be... lucky to have them around you."
Leaving everything then and there he stood up.
"And sorry to interrupt you. Enjoy your book"
He left immediately, pacing up his steps. Approaching the guys, he wiped tears from over his face.
"The task was to kiss her, not to lip-kiss her, or to kiss her jaw or even neck particularly" he
spoke without stopping infront of them. And they all watched him leaving as he left with a
dejection, following the leaves-covered footpath, and eventually fading into those dwindling trees.
Jason: He's daredevil!
Milly: Such a bold man.
Lily sat still with her eyes shedding tears endlessly. She knew what kind of person Faris was. An ordinary boy; yet rather kind and courteous. And today she witnessed the extent of his goodness. It's limitless. She was aware it was the result of her bad mood. And now she regretted not listening to her heart.
* * *
Next day Faris got back home with a rather happy face. His smile wasn't fake. He was someone who always chose to be happy.
Faris: Hi mom
Mom: Hi Faris. You arrived late today. Your friend Lily had come to see you. I told her you ain't at home.
Faris was numb. He now had a mixed up feeling of bafflement, fear and slight excitement. And after a long pause he exclaimed- "WHAT!"
Mom: Woah! Did I do something wrong?
Faris: Why didn't you just call me?
Mom: I told her "I'll call him" but she said it wasn't needed.
Faris plonked himself onto couch with his head in his hands.
Mom: Are you alright Faris??
Faris: Yeah…
Mom: Well, she said she wanted to borrow your book so I let her in to your room.
Hearing this Faris was charged with energy.
Faris: [Whispered] we've no subject in common.
Mom: What did you just say?
Faris ran upstairs, smashing the door of his room he was in now. He saw his room exactly the same as before. Then a little card on his study table grabbed his attention. It had a crying face drawn over it. And it said-
'𝘚𝘖𝘙𝘙𝘠!'
Picking up the card he opened it up. Inside, it was written-
'𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑌𝑜𝑢...
𝐵𝑒 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑒'