Mayu

Advent of springtime in Galacia country and the beautiful city of Divol was literally gorgeous. The splendid natural panorama and the entire atmosphere came alive in vernal splendor. On the high trees blossomed the flowers of deep colors—crimson, yellow, violet and blue, spraying the sky with floral tints dazzling in the bright sunlight. Streams of the Xian and its tributaries reflected the prismatic colors of flowers blooming on the trees on the banks. People in Galacia country, as it were, went in to ecstasy of vernal madness. Everywhere they danced in the beats of drums and the music of the flutes. They sang both traditional and innovative folk songs. It was the time of vernal equinox when festivities were publicly held and sweets and eats were made in every home. People in the countryside and towns put on their best dresses and danced and sang in euphoric ecstasy. During this time many young boys and girls, while dancing together, get engaged and wedded. It was the greatest annual festival.
Students of Divol College decided, as in every year, to participate in the vernal celebration organized and held at the general playground of Divol city, known as Juegos del rey or the King’s playground.
One morning, before the spring festival, Mayu’s classmate Benedicto, popularly known as Benito, brought a paper box to the college and offered it to Mayu. She wondered what could be in the box. Benito whispered with a smile, “A small gift, you would need for the dance.” Embarrassed, Mayu opened the box and found in it a full set of silken dress for the dance. Mayu hesitated to accept the gift. Benito asserted in a firm tone,
“You cannot refuse me. You have to accept it.”
Mayu never expected such commanding tone from Benito….
The area behind the stage was comparatively darker and quieter. Suddenly, she discovered Benito leaning against his motorbike. She couldn’t avoid him. He gave her a smile and said you looked beautiful on the stage. I was admiring you from a distance. He asked her to get into the rear part of the seat of his motorbike as he put the vehicle on start. Mayu told him that her parents must be in the crowd. She must find them out and go home together with them.
“Forget,” said Benito, adding, “They have already left in an autorikshaw. I’ll reach you home. Please don’t make any fuss here before so many people. Just get on to the seat. I have seen them,” meaning Mayu’s parents, “going back home in an autorikshaw. They didn’t come together with you? They came only to see your dance and left the place after the dance was over. I don’t think they had asked you to wait for them. Did they?”
“Of course, they didn’t tell me to wait for them,” replied Mayu.
She could not tell him a lie. It was true that her parents didn’t tell her to wait for them to go home together. She also thought it probable that they had left after her dance. Besides, she thought that Benito must have seen them going back in an autorikshaw when he said so. He wouldn’t lie to her, she thought.
For a moment, Mayu didn’t know what to do. Benito was what he was. He might create a scene if she refused. And again she was afraid that Benito might take advantage of the situation. She was hesitating. She didn’t know what to tell him. She only murmured “I have to go home; I cannot go with you.”
“I know what you’re thinking,” said Benito adding, “I will take you to no other place. I will only reach you home; Trust me and just get on the back seat.” Like a spell bound being Mayu climbed up to the rear seat of the motorbike not knowing if she was doing the right thing. As Benito’s motorbike moved she was scared that she might fall down. She held him tightly from behind.
Benito did not betray Mayu’s trust. He drove her to Trachy; Mayu guided him to her home. Immediately after she got down from the motorbike, Benito once again said. “You look beautiful…” and then drove off before she could thank him or tell him anything else. He did not utter any other word and drove off. For a while Mayu stood still on the dimly lit road, trying to comprehend Benito’s exotic behavior. She wanted to thank him for the ride and desired a more cordial parting. Was he offended for some reason or the other? But there was no reason for him to be offended, thought Mayu.
She lost everything and everyone she loved and cared for.
Mayu decided to record the confessional statements herself. Mayu got her life’s shock when she looked to the prisoner. It was Benito, Benito looked directly to Mayu’s eyes and said, “I love you.”
Moments later, sentries at her residence brought a man with a backpack with an open-back banjo tucked to it. The policeman was holding him by his collar. Mayu sprinted towards the man, hugged him tightly as tears burst out from her eyes.
It was a disillusioned Aaron, who came back from the US searching for Mayu and seeking to be united with her.