An FWA Story by Shazia Kurmoo and Nussaïbah Raja
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As a dark cloud hid the full moon, a single drop rolled down her cheeks… Her grey eyes gleaming in the gloom, she whispered in the quiet of the night “I miss you…” She let her fingers wander on the yellow pages, as if drinking in each word, each phrase her hands touched. “I miss you so,” she repeated in a breath, before bringing her knees to her chin and sinking her head on them. The sobs were shaking her body uncontrollably, and her hiccups were the only music in this night…
Born on the same day, at the same time, but not related by blood… Two beings Fate had decided to link by the Red String. As their cries broke the silence of the night of their birth, their journey together began.
-
“AYLA? AYLA? You listening? AYLA!” shouted Helya in a most exasperated voice, casting a glance at the black-haired beauty sitting beside her.
Helya couldn’t help a smile from reaching her lips as she saw Ayla’s half-closed eyes and her serious expression as she intently listened to some piece of classical music on her iPod.
“Of course, you aren’t listening,” Helya sighed. “As always engrossed in your music…” she continued more to herself than for Ayla’s ears.
“Hmm? Did you say anything, Helya?” a soft voice at last asked, looking up inquisitively.
Helya could never get used to those azure grey eyes. She knew her eyes were of almost the same hue, but Ayla’s seemed to hold some kind of magical enchantment in them, drawing in the ones who chanced to cross her gaze. They were like twin pools of icy liquid metal, whose depth seemed to reach out to your very soul. And Helya was far from being immune to that mysterious power, even after knowing Ayla for almost all her life…
“I have been trying to get your attention for the past 15 minutes, but the Missus, as usual, was too absorbed in her addiction to pay attention to her friend!” Helya finally uttered, in mock-remonstrance.
“I’m really sorry, Helya,” Ayla replied, voice full of apology, “It’s just I need to work on this particular piece for my next class, but till now, I can’t even understand the essence of the melody,” she continued, quite distressed.
“It’ll be alright Al,” Helya comforted her friend, using the old childhood nickname.
But Ayla just nodded absently, too tense about the musical piece to think of anything else.
Both Ayla and Helya were enrolled at the new academy for young artistic talents, Philyra Art Academy. The school’s curriculum was as dynamic as it was unusual. Indeed, the select students were allowed quite a lot of freedom to develop their special talent at their own pace. Conventional classes were replaced by small group workshops where the teachers monitored the students’ progress, offering advice and issuing them novel challenges in the form of assignments. The only strict requirements of the school were that the students needed to live on campus and should not miss those weekly workshops without any valid reason.
Ayla looked around herself, breathing in the fresh air, feeling the distress pouring out of her pores as her eyes took in the surrounding scenery. Helya and herself were seated under a big oak tree in the academy’s yard. Around them, several little groups were gathered similarly, working or relaxing or a bit of both. Laughter and serenity floated in the air. Philyra was like an Eden cut off from the world, a haven where Ayla could finally feel home.
“I love it here,” Helya whispered dreamily, as if reading Ayla’s mind, her gaze drifting off to the stone building at the far end of the yard. “It’s like I’ve finally found the place I belong, where I fit in. I’m sure you feel the same. I’m sure that no matter what, it’s gonna be fine if we are here, together,” she continued, reaching out to squeeze Ayla’s hand.
“Thanks, Lya,” Ayla murmured, the old nickname naturally coming to her lips.
They remained silent for some moments, watching the comings and goings of their fellow classmates, feeling so thankful to have been given the chance to devote themselves completely to their inner talents.
“Well, I better go,” Helya finally said, breaking the silence, and getting up, “or I’ll be late for my sculpture workshop. See you later, Ayla! Let’s meet at the cafeteria for lunch, okay? And yeah, cheer up, will you? That worried look doesn’t suit you,” she finished laughingly, making Ayla smile.
And with a final wave of the hand, Helya ran off towards the main building, leaving Ayla alone to ponder on her worries.
As Ayla watched the golden hair disappear among the trees and students, she couldn’t help but admire Helya’s optimism and her innate power to make people smile. Without Helya, she would always have doubted herself and would certainly have not taken the entrance exam to Philyra.
“You’re really amazing, Helya,” Ayla whispered, looking up at the sky.
Indeed, Helya was amongst the only students here at the academy to be enrolled in two specialized departments: painting and sculpture. Her workload was considerably heavier than her classmates, but Helya never did seem to mind, taking immense pleasure in each new challenge she faced.
“Okay, gotta follow Helya’s example,” Ayla told herself as she got up, dusted herself, took her instrument and made for the music practice building where she had booked a practice room.
As she entered the familiar sound proof room, she felt the usual feeling of serenity overwhelm her. She opened her instrument bag and took out her cherished companion, her violin. Holding the sculpted instrument under her chin, she moved the bow along the strings, striking the first notes of Schubert’s Ave Maria. Midway through, she stopped abruptly, putting down the violin and bow.
“Something doesn’t feel quite right,” she murmured, pensive. She knew something was off, but what? She couldn’t quite put her finger on it. At that same time, the room’s intercom buzzed and an out of body voice called,
“Miss Ayla Rhoswen, please report to the director’s office.”
Puzzled, Ayla packed her instrument and got out of the room and the building, heading for the administrative block. Why was the director calling her? What could have happened?
She still hadn’t found answers to her questions as she knocked at the director’s door. She pushed opened the door as she heard the blunt “come in”. Ayla felt giddy with apprehension as she entered the austere office. She walked straight to the table where the director, Mr Signild was seated. However, today he was not alone. Standing by his right was Ayla’s violin tutor, Miss Finvarra.
“Good morning,” Ayla greeted, feeling her apprehension augmenting.
“Hello there, child,” Mr Signild said, smiling, “have a seat. We’ve got some news for you,” he finished with a glance towards Miss Finvarra.
Nodding, Ms. Finvarra declared, “Ayla, you’ve been chosen for a scholarship at a prestigious music school in Vienna.”
Ayla could not believe it... She, chosen to study abroad at one of Europe’s best music school? It was a dream come true. And in the following half hour, she listened to the details of the scholarship and the curriculum at her new school.
“But remember, you need to be there by the end of this month, and you won’t be back for at least two years, so think about it carefully ,” were the director’s last words.
Ayla went to the cafeteria where Helya was waiting for her, still mulling these words. Seeing the dark look on her friend’s face,
“What’s wrong, Ayla? What happened?” she enquired, worried.
“I’ve been given a scholarship to study in Vienna,” Ayla finally let out, subdued.
“That’s great! Congrats!!” Helya exclaimed, “Why aren’t you happier about it?”
“I am, but Lya, I need to be there by the end of this month... And I won’t be coming back for at least two years...”
Helya just stared at Ayla at those words, petrified. What was Ayla talking about? She felt Ayla squeeze her hands, bringing her back to reality. She tried not to look into those blue eyes for she knew she would just find herself drowned in their sadness, but she knew she had to, if she were to convince Ayla that she had to go. Mustering her courage and at the same time closing her heart to the only person who knew what it held, she smiled, hoping that her best friend would not realise what she was doing. She wouldn’t, she told herself, Al was too tormented to notice anything right now.
“Then, what are you waiting for? Accept it…,” she softly whispered, hoping that her calm voice would soothe Ayla’s worries.
“But…”
“No buts. Didn’t you want to become the very best and finally be able to write your own music?” Helya paused as she waited for the words to sink in. Ayla nodded, her perturbed expression never changing. It took a long time to finally convince her to accept the offer; it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and Helya was not about to let her ruin this for herself just because they would not be able to be together. Truly speaking, it was going to be difficult for none of them knew what it would be like without the other but Helya told Alya that it would be alright, wondering if she was trying to persuade her friend or herself.
The following days went by really quickly and the girls were as busy as ever. In between Helya’s heavy workload and Alya’s pre-departure seminars, they rarely got to see each other during the day but it did not stop them from going to each other’s rooms at night to stay up and talk endlessly, from the pettiest topics to the most serious ones.
It was finally time for each to go their separate ways until the day came for them to meet again. Helya thought that it was better than expected, for they had both imagined the worst possible scenarios for Alya’s departure. They smiled and hugged each other, made their usual jokes; it was as if they would be meeting the next day but both knew they wouldn’t. As Alya walked towards the check-in kiosk, Helya’s eyes started filling up; it had just sunk in, she wouldn’t be able to see her sister for a long time and she did not know how she would be able to handle that…
Things on Alya’s side were a little different, for the excitement she was feeling took over everything and she could not wait to be in Vienna. Still, in a small corner, she knew she would have to deal with those conflicted feelings soon, else she would not be able to concentrate on what she was going there to do. For now, true to the musician she was, she would just let the notes make up the melody of her new life.
Her new life which was even more hectic than the previous one. She spent all her time either in her workshops or practicing her violin. Sometimes, she would even allow herself to play the tune that went on in her head and simply refused to go away, but she always made sure that nobody was around to listen to her. She was not ready yet for an audience, but she did dream of having people listen to her very own music someday. For now, it would just be Helya, who now instead of listening to the violonist live had to resort to the strings of technology to be able to listen to Alya’s music.
It wasn’t so bad, she said to herself, two years would go by quickly and soon, the two friends will be reunited again. But soon, reality started taking over when the emails started coming less frequently and she couldn’t talk to Alya as much as she wanted. She could understand for the budding artist she was knew how hard they had to work to be able to survive in the creative world. But still, it didn’t take long for the tiny demon of doubt to find a way to her heart and she began wondering whether the distance was putting a strain on their friendship as well.
Helya mentioned this once or twice on the phone while talking to Alya but the latter just shrugged it off, saying that it was just her imagination. True enough, she always felt like everything was just the same when they spoke but it was only when she was alone that her wild mind came up with such thoughts. She usually gave herself a little tap on the head when that did happen; it was as if she and Alya had exchanged personality for Alya had always been the worrisome type and she, the optimistic one.
But the gloomy days began when the emails and phone calls completely stopped. Alya found herself immersed in her music as she struggled to keep up with all her classes. Helya, on the other hand, immersed herself in her art to be able to forget everything around her. Without Alya, it was not the same; Alya had been the one who made sure she kept her sanity while dealing with the other students here. The genius that she was often kept others away; they were either afraid of talking to her or jealous of her.
As a result of her social fallout, her moods were becoming even darker, but on the bright side, the boost it gave to her art was considerable. She was losing herself in her paintings and sculpture, but somehow it made her bolder than she was and due to that, she was able to explore her endless limits as she drowned herself in them. The occasional emails of Ayla did make her feel better, but even that tiny feeling got lost as the routine of the Academy sank in.
Without them even realising, the two years went by, bringing changes to both of the girls as Helya became more absorbed with her art and Alya getting more confident about hers. But they both were looking forward to this reunion of theirs, or at least, they were before Helya received yet another shocking news from Alya…
Lya,
How are you? You won’t believe what just happened to me. I was approached by Julian Farahilde to come and study with him, you know, that world famous composer whose music I’m always listening to? God, I simply can’t get over that. It’s really like a dream come true. He was my tutor’s student and came to give a lecture. He heard me practice and bang, I’m now his student.
It seems it would take longer for me to come back home. Don’t miss me too much, k? I’ll keep you updated. I have to rush now, I have to start packing.
Love,
Al.
Helya reached for the little glass statue on her desk and traced the outlines. It was that of a girl playing violin; she had sculpted it as a welcome gift for Alya but it seems that she wouldn’t be able to give it to her now. Retaining her tears, she had a sudden urge to throw it against the wall but somehow she couldn’t. She opened her drawer and kept it there, thinking that nothing was going to be the same again.
-
5 years later
Helya started unpacking her stuffs in her new apartment. She was now the proud owner of the gallery found on the ground level, where her paintings and sculptures were exposed. She smiled as she thought how people could kill for her work; she had really come a long way. She continued her task, wondering where she had found the place to put all these in her old room at the Academy; the floor was cluttered with useless things which she should probably have thrown away. She was about to do so when she came across the little pink diary she thought she had lost.
As she opened it, memories flooded her but she refused to close it and throw it along with the other things she had found. As she traced the childish writings of an 8-year-old Alya, she could not fight the tears that came to her. She missed Alya, it was as simple as that.
However, the Helya that mingled with everyone at the opening of her gallery the next morning was far from the vulnerable one sobbing in her room the night before; she was the successful artist who had managed to make a name for herself as soon as she had started exposing her work and aye, she was proud of herself. She was talking to one of the collectors when one of her assistants came running to her.
“Helya, there’s someone who wants to buy that little statuette… I told her it wasn’t for sale but she simply wouldn’t listen.”
Helya tried to calm down her assistant and went to talk to the customer, to tell her that the chosen object wasn’t for sale for it was too important to her.
“Excuse me, ma’am? I’m Helya, the – “
As the concerned lady turned to her, Helya simply stood there, frozen as she stared at the woman. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing but those smiling blue eyes looking at her wouldn’t lie.
“Hey Lya. Long time, no see.”
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