BEHIND THE WALLS

Episode 7

"Yes, we use solar energy in this school. It's not that strong to burn up the place like this. And the commissioner said that the cause might be electricity. Something is off here. I think they are trying to hide something. And the 50 students, how can they just go missing like that. They couldn't have died in the fire right?" Annaya expressed her concerns to Carlos.

"Annaya, I don't care about all that right now. I just want to find Maliya and go home. The 50 students might have gone home with their parents. I wouldn't wait for a count if I had found Maliya safe and sound. So I guess they are all home right now. I'm going back to the hospital to look for Maya. You can go back home and rest. You look tired" he said his own and began walking away.

Annaya stood there for a while before rushing to him.

"I'll help you find Maliya and then we'll both rest. You look tired too" she said and smiled.

Carlos started the car but there was a very heavy traffic that night.

The road to the city hospital was crowded and congested.

Cars couldn't move further and the people even blocked the roads.

The traffic police couldn't even do anything.

"With all this congestion, we won't be able to find Maliya. Why don't we just move away, find a place to park and rest for the night? By morning, the congestion will be over and then we can find Maliya easily" she said

"You can rest Annaya. Everywhere is crowded, we can't even find a place to park. I'll wake you up when it's all done" he said

"Then I won't sleep. I'll stay awake with you" she said

"You are still so stubborn even after 3 years" he said and looked at her.

"You haven't changed much yourself" she said looking at him.

"Maybe on the part that you are still the girl in my heart even after 3 years" he said and she shyly looked away.

"So tell me, how has Maya been in school? When did you start teaching?" Carlos asked trying to change the topic.

"I started teaching immediately you left. Maya and I coincidentally joined the school at the same time and I became her teacher. We both had bitter hearts about our loved ones. Just that we didn't know it was because of the same person. She was always sad and didn't want to mix up with others and we ended up meeting behind the library every evening. That's how we got close and consoled each other" explained Annaya and sighed.

"She didn't tell you that she had a brother named Carlos? She was very proud of me during her primary school life. She kept mentioning me all over the school and whenever I came home, she made sure to show me off" Carlos said in a smile.

"Then what happened? Cause she never mentioned your name. She just said that it was painful for a loved one to just leave without a proper goodbye. And I was like 'exactly. He just decides to leave without a proper reason'. And we both sighed and then laughed at each other. I thought she was actually dating someone, so I advised her to focus on her studies. She then mentioned that it was his brother. I wanted to believe her, but later I heard students say that she was an only child. I thought maybe she felt embarrassed to say that she had a love affair so I just let it go" Annaya explained in a smile.

"Maya has never lied. She just doesn't force the truth. She says the truth will come out eventually, don't force" said Carlos

"Seems you two are pretty close. At first I thought Maya was your girlfriend" said Annaya

"And that's why you stopped me from calling you Naya? You even ignored me after knowing that you had feelings for me. Why didn't you directly ask for an explanation?" He ásked

"As who? I wasn't even your girlfriend back then. I couldn't ask for an explanation. I wouldn't have dated you if you never explained. You kept calling her 'my Maya' on the phone and even faught with her like couples do. Anyone would misunderstand" said Annaya and there was silence.

"You both mean alot to me and you both are very special to me. You both came in my life at moments when I needed you the most. I swear I didn't mean to leave, but I had to. It was best that I left at that moment. I didn't expect to be your neighbour after moving my family here. I guess we are destined, don't you think so?" He asked in a smile.

"You are a sweet talker but I really want to know why you left. Won't you atleast tell me now that we've opened up? We both know that money wasn't the real reason you left. So why? Why did you leave like that?" Asked Annaya

"Well, why did you want to join the army so badly? You never told me about it. You just said that you loved the army and serving your country. It might be true, but that wasn't the real reason. Can I get the real reason too?" Asked Carlos

"This is not about me Carlos. You are the one who left" Annaya said

"I know I did, but don't you think that some things are best left behind the walls? You can't say yours and I can't say mine. Let's just assume that what we said was the truth. We both couldn't be truthful like Maya but it's okay. I still love you regardless" he said and there was silence from them again.

"Did you move on?" He asked to break the silence.

"I think we should concentrate on looking for Maya" she said

"I guess you did. I asked because..." he said but she cut in.

"Because you saw me with Jonathan?" She asked

"So that's his name. Well, actually no. I asked because we might never get a chance to talk about this again. I just want to know if I still have a chance to fight for you after finding Maya" he explained

"You might have met many ladies at your department. Ladies that you can fight with side by side. Didn't you like any of them?" She asked but he just took off his seat belt and squat close to her and held her face in his arms.

"I have met many ladies Naya, very beautiful ladies, but this heart... this heart just chose Naya and it can't choose another. I know I said that I wanted a lady I can fight with side by side and that lady was you. You were there by my side Naya and you being here gives me hope of my choice. I know it's not the right time for this, but I want to keep you by my side forever. I can't say more, but you are partly the reason why I left. I'm not going to force you, but I just want to know. Do I still have a place in your heart?" He asked looking in her eyes and she was speechless.

The moment felt sealed and all the noise from the people died down in their ears.

All they could hear was their hearts beating.

The silence between them brought curiosity and the love for each other pushed them into an almost kiss which was distracted by a traffic officer knocking on their side window.