EPIPHANY

2.PHANTASMAGORIA

"Ha-ha, you're so crazy. I mean you really did that?" Alex chuckled.

"Oh yeah, we really jumped from the wall and escaped from the school," Sofia replied.

"And your mum, didn't she scold?" Alex asked and with an instant her face became gloomy. That sweet smile of her face was totally gone. He realised that he asked something wrong.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, actually..." "Nope, you didn't. I brought up to my uncle, though we don't have blood relation. I guess I'm an orphan, no I was actually till he adopted me," a thin smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

"Oh, that's ...so sad but wait what's that 'I guess' mean?"

"When he found me, I's injured. I lost my memory so... then I's seven. Uncle kept on to find my family but failed, neither found a clue from where I's. Then adopted me as his own child."

"That's so agonising. Your life is so pathetic." "Ah, why so serious?" She tried to got over herself.

"Alright, then take lemon smoothies..."

"For drenching me again!!!" and both chuckled. On the way to cafeteria they chatted on different topic. Then he asked, "So after this ceremony, our graduation day will be held on, what you'll do afterwards?"

"I want to take the instrumental side like a guitarist and as well as a song writer, and you?"

"I've already got a job through campus. After three month I can join that."

"Wow, that's great! For mine it'll take some time to settle."

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"Seems to be like someone forget us totally," Britney murmured just when Sofia enter in the room.

"What? I didn't. Alex asked me to meet and I can't deny so..."

"Soff doesn't make lame excuses. We trio were just waiting for this long, we planned so many things to do. Now you're with Alex but what 'bout last evening and night?"

Britney almost fell out in rage. Stella tried to manage it, Sofia stood still at the doorway.

"Brit, calm down. Listen Soff, we're waiting for you last night for play a singing game or pillow fight but you returned at late night when we're fallen asleep."

"Just stop El, I just give a f**k about that," Britney uttered outrageously. Sofia silently sat on the bed, facing towards her lap. Some water droplets drowned on her lap. She said in a strangled tone, "I know that both of you care the most. Last evening I assured him to meet, but I denied later. I was alone at the back side garden and suddenly I felt drowsy and lost in a dream. When I woke up, I found myself lying on the grass." Then she started to weep. Britney's rage slowly melted by her tears. Stella approached to Sofia and embraced her.

"Shoo, shoo. Nobody blamed you; even we knew that he wasn't with you yesterday."

Britney didn't allow Stella to continue started, "You misunderstood me. I don't have any problem with that guy or someone else. But the main problem is your behaviour. It feels like a repulsion working within us. So just spit it out what's your problem."

"We're really bothered. So please don't hide. Say..."Stella requested in a polite tone.

"Has ...any of your dreams made you deliberate 'bout it? Has it created empathy 'bout the characters? Have you adored them as your dearest person?"

"What're you talking 'bout? That's just a dream not-"

"No, but in case of mine that not just a silly dream. Because in my subconscious mind these dreams also come along. For always how much I can remember."

"Soon you'll recover Soff. We all are with you. I, Brit, Uncle Irwin, we all."

"I'll never. Even now I'm confused with these dreams and reality. Whenever I come here, it feels these all are the part of my psyche."

"Stop Soff, I can't bear with this all," Britney yelled and embraced her firmly. Tears rolling down from Britney's eyes and strangled moan erupted.

"Oh girls stop this now or I also can't hold back my tears," Stella muttered and also hugged them.

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"It's a story itself. Can't you remember a single name?" Stella asked resting her head on the sofa.

"Nope, but I always fight with that guy in my dreams," Sofia replied lying on the bed.

"It seems like a Japanese anime without English subtitle," Britney taunted.

"And here these problems increased in which level that these delusions seem to be real."

At the mean time Stella threw Sofia her cell phone and told her make a phone call to uncle Erwin. She knew that he's that person who could make her delighted. He's a man Stella had ever seen with nothing but a pretty smile. Also he's too enthusiastic and encouraging.

Afterwards, both the ladies took her attention all the time thus she won't go again in a reverie or slumber. But both were bothered about her obsessive condition.

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"I think you should meet with Alex," Britney suggested driving her eyes on the mobile screen.

"Hay wait. How could you know that I didn't meet with him at evening?" Both the ladies giggled.

"Well, we contacted with him on social networking site. He's a nice guy and such a gentle man. Unfortunately he falls for you."

"Just stop this rubbish, and say have you asked for the ball? Just two days are left."

(Each year Alex and Sofia's college together organise a farewell ceremony for the final year's students at the Albert wall as these two colleges are opposite direction of the road. After establishment both colleges have a good co-ordination and head authorities are in formal alliance. The hall and attached dormitories have been taken for five days. On the final day a ball is arranged and if students want they can select their ball dance partner by asking them for it.)

"Yeah, I've. I think Alex asked you already nah!" Britney grinned.

"No he didn't. And make it clear there's nothing between us."

"But Brit, who asked you?" Stella asked in suspicion.

"Well, that you mentioned...with whom my phone was swapped, whatever. Soff don't you like that guy Alex, I suspect that you do. Don't be shy towards us and confess."

"It's just been three days I know him. Even I don't know much 'bout and I believe that first sight love doesn't exist."

"Huh, so unromantic. You're not even in a relation before," Stella exhaled in dropped eyes.

"You need a long time to know a person, thus a nexus of relation builds up. You need understanding, faith and entirely know 'bout his or her life then adore will overwhelm both heart."

"That's so deep, seems to be like you're in a long term relationship."

Sofia didn't speak a single word. When it's all about love, she felt someone especial in her life already. She felt nostalgic for a time she never knew. She didn't know why those phantasmagorias were so close to her. Those persons, whom she never knew, made her feel so comfortable.