Paradise

By Kanaad Kanthe

Thump, Thump, Thump. The sound repeated in Shayne’s ears as he walked, gradually on a desolate road in the middle of a forest in Goa. It wasn’t long before he realized it was his own feet making the sound. He was terrified. The heavy rain was pouring down his shoulders, making all his clothes wet.

His house was 5 kilometers away and he’d just missed the bus. He was dumb enough to come to Goa in the monsoon, but his parents were insisting on him coming back to India. He was an Indian American; and you can imagine how tough it must be to be an Indian American with Shayne Sunil Joshi as a name.

If you’d ask him, it did sound a tad bit weird. You’d expect to hear something like Vishnu Gonsalves, or Madhuri Johnson as a name when you hear Indian American. But back to the storm.

Stupid rain. He thought, as he wiped his face with his arm. He would beat the Grinch in a frowning contest just about now. He wanted to hit the weather forecaster who told him that today was going to be a bright, sunny day, a perfect day to go to the beach.

He closed his eyes, foreshadowing the decisions he’d made this month. He wished the rain would go away. And to his surprise, it did! The black clouds were gone, the sound of the crickets died, the pings of the bats stopped.

He was standing in front of a beautiful waterfall, which rested peacefully on a gorgeous lake reflecting off the light of the sun. What in the name of God?! He thought, as he looked at the flummoxing meadow, he was standing in. He saw a herd of cows grazing in the distance. Deer were drinking from the lake, wonderful, lush green trees were behind him.

The hurricane he’d just been in, had turned into a stunning scenery. Shayne took a deep breath in. it wasn’t always you get transported magically to a wonderful dimension. He was just about to lay down, and appreciate what had just happened instead of worrying, when a tiny man, about half his size, appeared in front of him.

“Ack!” he shouted. The man had wrinkled cheeks and white hair that went down to his feet. He walked on his bare feet and was wearing a white dress that glowed wonderfully in the sunlight. “Hello there young man!” said the man. Shayne stood with his eyes wide open.

1

“Avi! You scared our guest!” A woman, looking just like the man, came from behind Shayne. “Ah!” shouted Shayne. He hadn’t exactly had a very ordinary day. “Oh, no need to be afraid! My name is Avia, and this is Avi.” Said the woman, sounding as if she was explaining to a neanderthal.

“I’m Shayne…” he said nervously. A billion questions were coexisting in Shayne’s head. “What is this place?” he asked, “Why am I here?”. “This is the Happy Place! It was created by the very architects of the universe!” explained Avia. Woah. Shayne thought. “Who were the architects of the universe?” he asked, curiously. “You think we’d just tell you that?” said Avi, obstinately.

“But why am I here?” Shayne asked. “The Happy Place was created to eradicate anxiety from human minds. We are the Millennials. The Happy Place has been our responsibility for 54 millennia; 9 centuries; 78 years; 9 months; 2 weeks; 5 days; 14 hours; 34 minutes and 48…49 seconds.” said Avi.

Now that’s what you call a detailed answer. He thought. “Now you, young sir must’ve experienced anxiety in some sort of way. That’s why you’re here.” Said Avi. “Fine. I guess we’ll fly then.” Avi said. “FLY!?” Shayne shouted. And at an alarming rate, they shot into the sky.

“AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!” Shayne screamed. He wanted to say every prayer of every God he knew. He watched, astonishingly as the waterfall, changed into a mountain range. They were standing on top of Mount Everest. And Shayne did not like that.

He stopped mid-scream. The view was amazing. He could see trees transitioning into cold, icy, snow. They could see clouds of various shapes. The sunlight gleamed onto the clouds, creating a wonderful outline on them. “You have to learn to appreciate these things.” Avia said. Avi was staring into the horizon, grinning.

“Not only all these beautiful views, but just once, when you’re going to work, stop at the signal and take in the world. Take in everything. There are 7 billion coexisting lives in this world, coexisting with you, alongside you. No matter what happens, good or bad, always remember that.” Avia said, wisely. Wow. Shayne had never thought of the world like that.

Avi stood up, and they shot into the sky again.

2

Shayne didn’t scream this time. He just took in the world, just like it was. He sighed as they landed, slowly touching the ground. They were in Munnar, Kerala. He knew because it was one of the most beautiful places he’d ever visited. They were standing in a valley, full of lush green trees, just like in the Happy Place. Shayne watched with his eyes wide open, as a cloud swiftly drifted over a mountain. Light fog surrounded them, making the scenery perfect.

“Never think about the future.” Avia said. “Or the past. It’s always the present that matters. Think of it as a gift, a present. Every moment is a gift given to us. So, make it a memory in your brain. Not a Facebook memory.” Avia grinned, so did Shayne. HOW DO THEY KNOW ABOUT FACEBOOK? Shayne thought. Avi chuckled, looking at some clouds drift over the mountains.

A few moments later they shot back up into the air. Shayne just closed his eyes, grinning. They were back in the Happy Place. It was night, he could see every single constellation in the sky. While it was a crescent moon on Earth. The Happy Place showed the crescent moon and the full moon. “The full moon never leaves here.” Avi said.

“I only have one more piece of advice for you, Shayne.” Avia said, gently. “Enjoy each day in your life. Be happy.” Avia said, smiling. “And no matter what” said Avi, “DO NOT tell ANYONE about this encounter.”

“Okay, okay, okay…” Shayne said laughing. “Close your eyes now.” Said Avi. Shayne knew he was going to leave, and he really didn’t want to. “Bye Avi, bye Avia. Thanks for everything.” They exchanged glances and chuckled to themselves. Shayne took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

He was going to miss them both. So much, in fact, that he might just have anxiety again. But he knew that’ll never happen. A few moments later, he was at his front door. The rain had stopped. The crescent moon was shining in the sky. He grinned, taking a deep breath, and closing his eyes.

“Oho, Shayne! Come inside! You must be soaking wet!” his mother Sonali came running with a towel to him. She took him inside. “Well, your day at the beach must’ve been ruined then…” his mother asked.

“No Mom.” He said. “I actually quite liked it”.

By Kanaad Kanthe