Opulent Husks Called Shells

He stared blankly for a few second then answered.

“Its my pleasure.” 

“Good.” satisfied by his answer I took up his arm. “Let’s go to the beach then.” 

“Wait right now?”  

“Of course! You agreed to it didn’t you?” 

With not a single struggle I made him tag along to shore. The sun beams upon the waves, pushing back and forth once again just like any other. 

“May I ask? Have you strolled down here before?”

“I wouldn’t say I did, but I have slept-walk around these parts.” 

“Oh I get it.” I laughed pacing on the sand. It almost burns my feet from heat but it’s a good thing the ocean cools it.

 “Look at this!” I held up in my hands. 

“A conch!” He exclaimed in delight. 

“They say it’s an auspicious object in Hindu culture, I can see why now, it’s very beautiful.” Giggling with giddiness my hands placed it back onto the sand. He tilt his head as he spoke, “May I ask?” 

“Go ahead.” I gestured. “Why is it you wish for my company? Especially near the sea?” His tone was filled with curiosity, all the while tilting his head.

“To hide the body of course.” 

“Pause.” 

Breaking into laughter I held my stomach in joyful pain. “No, It’s quite embarrassing honestly.” Looking down on the ground with much  shame I admitted. 

“It’s the first time I dreamt of an ocean so calm.” 

“Really?” He followed. 

“Well yeah! It’s always so violent. It never stops!” 

He stared far off the sea and back to me. “And what does it have to do with me?” 

“You’re here when the ocean was calm, I thought it might be because of your presence.” He kept his gaze, what might he be searching for, my dishonesty? “You put on such a sad smile when the day here is so beautiful. Come I’ll show you something.” 

Thats surprising, I thought. 

He tugged on my wrist dragging me along the fine white sand. “Here.” He pointed towards the sand, 

“There’s nothing here.” 

“Oh well this spot in the beach is nice.” He sat on the warm floor and I followed, curious as to what’s so different about this area. “Its the same as the other areas in the beach!” His eyes smiled like that of an old man to a child, he explained tenderly, “It’s not quite as ordinary as it seems by day. Say you come here with me by night?” 

“It’ll seem more like nothing here when night arrives. Plus the dark and the sea is last place I’d wanna be in.” I picked on the sand hurling a few shells towards the water. 

“Oh don't worry we have plenty of light! We can set up a campfire, catch fireflies or look up the stars! It wont be as scary as you make it to be.”

 I was silenced! There’s no resisting in me now, he looked so nice reassuring me that there’s nothing to fear of the dark, plus firefly catching, bonfires, and stargazing sounds like a fun idea.

“Sure. I’ll see you to it.” I shook his hand causing a smile to rise up from the corners of his mouth. But it was time to wake up and the sun is already there waiting for me, I said my goodbyes and went away.