Glow Up

By Caroline Sabitha

The tiny drizzle sprinkled the land bringing wetness instead of warmth when the day broke, though the sunbeams strived they couldn’t surpass the grey clouds. The moment mud meddled with the tiny drops, the origination of a soft medley and an enigmatic aroma are still our almighty's secret trick, that stirred many out of their deep slumber.

When a blithesome tantrums in the name of rain took place, under the shelter of lush green grasses unaffected small creatures were in their warm cocoons, awaiting its moment to emerge out. Gradually the clouds turned devilish, unleashing it’s merciless tempest. When the whole land was flooded with rain, how could the little ones hold its place of birth? The cocoons were swept off in a puddle of water, one among the cocoons swept off in a different path parting from it’s siblings and reached a pile of leaves.

Deserting every trace of moist the following morning started with bright Sun. Resuming the life from last night people started their routine. Milkman, paperboy and sweepers. As of sweeper, she didn’t know that she was altering a life sequence of an insect the instant she swept the pile of dried leaves, including the cocoon. Depositing them in a big mount of garbage the vehicle drove off, unaware of the gruesome action.

Out of the cocoon the larvae emerged slowly turned into a beetle, among many unknown beetles; who were foreign to it, also treated it foreign, called it ‘irk’.

Days turned months, baby beetle turned to a matured one; but Irk’s relationship with other beetles remained the same, detached. Irk stopped trying to mingle with them. While other beetles had their purpose of life, Irk couldn’t find it’s purpose of life, all it felt was loneliness, hated, neglected still it remained in the same group since it had none other them even to hate.

But nothing remains the same, do they? Summer season has come when many new insects arrived to its boundaries as migrants. Out of all, Irk found a beetle, she resembled him a lot; Yeah it was a girl and the moment it found her Irk felt something different towards her. She made her way to him and gave a buzzing sound, to start a conversation. Being too unfortunate many beetles being around them they couldn’t talk. They decided to meet at night.

As the dusk began to fall on, Irk really found it difficult to see things through the engulfing darkness. Unable to find her it turned home heartbroken. Same plan was made again since they got no privacy. But this time Irk made a demand to the Sun, to come at night time since the moonlight wasn’t enough.

But to its dismay it was a no moon day and Sun was no where to be seen. It got desperate to meet her, started to search for a piece of light around. At one point it got too tired and sat on a stone with a loud thud. As of a miracle it saw a glow at its bottom. Surprised Irk stood up and searched for the source and got frustrated when it couldn’t find it. Being too thirsty it went near the river and got panicked seeing that light comes from its bottom. It turned a bit and analyzed it’s butt, it indeed the light from its butt. “When I demanded the Sun, the Sun gave me it’s power.” Realisation hit Irk. “I am the Sun of night.” It stood with pride. “Wait!!! I am no more Irk. I am the descendant of fireball Sun, the firefly.” The moment it changed its name, it saw the similar glow from afar and it was her.

Automatically their light twinkled getting close to each other and that the two realized to be each other’s mates. Both the fireflies had its consummation starting a new happy journey. But Irk doesn’t know the fact that it was too late to glow until it saw its own babies glow even being inside the cocoons.

When your time comes, you will glow no matter how late it is or how dark the surrounding is.

By Caroline Sabitha