The Stars

No stars in the sky. How sad is that, child.

Oldman Sha muttered. His voice was gruff and deep. I waved him aside. I had heard this many times before.

You know I can’t feel with you. They disappeared even before I was born.

But you know them. You know the stars.

Oldman Sha took his gaze away from the dark sky and looked straight at me. I pouted a bit and fumbled with my fingers. His chocolate brown eyes were quite heavy.

I saw a picture during history class. That’s all.

Were they not beautiful?

They were just little white dots in the sky. Why are they important?

I looked up at the sky. Silvery blue all over, with a foggy circle in the middle. Th

at circle was probably called the moon. In science class I was told that it was related to the sea some way or the other. I knew there was a vast place filled with water, but I had never actually seen it with my own eyes.

Look at me, child.

Oldman Sha’s bony hands touched my face. His hands were wrinkled. He was wrinkled all over. His hair was white and he carried a walking stick. He was the last Oldman alive in our town. I looked at his cheek. It looked black under the sky, but I knew it was dark brown with a golden tinge.

Tell me your name.

You know my name.

I squirmed a bit. His grip was oddly strong today. It hurt a bit.

You need to say it with your own words.

Ashwin. Why do you ask?

Oldman Sha released me from his hands. I rubbed my jawbone with my hands.

Because you, my child, are a star.

What do you mean by that?

Your name. Ashwin is a star. A bright star that shines upon us and guides our way in the dark night. How can you not know the stars when you are one?

That’s just being old and stupid.

Oldman Sha looked sad. I felt guilty, but I couldn’t take my words back.

So you think, child. So you think.

Oldman Sha sighed. He didn’t say anything for a long time. I looked up at the sky again. I had first met him just like this. I was looking up at the sky after being scolded by my mother, and he just came and sat beside me.

Have I told you my full name, child?

Isn’t Sha your name?

Oldman Sha smiled a bit. I was relieved by that.

It is merely a nickname. After the Great Change, people somehow couldn’t pronounce my name anymore. So they started calling me Sha, then Oldman Sha.

What’s your name then?

Shashikiran.

Sha-what?

Shashikiran. It meant moonlight.

Moonlight? That thing had light?

I pointed my finger at the wispy circle. It wasn’t shining at all.

Yes, child. A warm, glowing light. A night with a full moon and thousands of stars was one of the most beautiful things you could see in your life.

Oldman Sha sighed again. I tried pronouncing his name. Shashikiran.

Oldman. That is a sad name to call a man. By that name people decided to forget the beauty of the past. It is old, it is gone, it is worthless, they say. It is not, my child. Starlight and moonshine filled our hearts with wonder, and the scent of dusk and the sea breeze made us calm and thankful. It should not be forgotten for just a word.

I couldn’t understand Oldman Sha’s words, but I listened carefully. They had a ring that I couldn’t explain, and it touched me softly.

Look, child.

Oldman Sha pointed, and I looked. I gasped out loud. Endless waves of light had filled the sky far away. They gave a thin yellow light.

What’s that?

Fireflies. My grandfather used to say that our ancestors became one and flew up to the sky to become stars.

So that’s what stars really looked like?

If not better, yes.

I stared. They were beautiful. I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

Remember that, Ashwin. Remember the stars.

Oldman Sha’s voice rang out softly. I turned my gaze around and looked at him.

Will I see them again? The fireflies, I mean.

You will. Even if they go up after the stars, you will see them again.

How?

Oldman Sha smiled. His smile seemed as far away as the fireflies.

You will remember. It will make you sad, but through your memories you will see more than you could see with your eyes.

I don’t get it.

I remember the stars, child. When I close my eyes, I see them.

But you can’t see when you close your eyes.

That is why I lament. The stars should be seen by everyone.

I still don’t get it.

You don’t have to try, my child. See the fireflies one more time before they depart.

I quickly turned my gaze. The fireflies turned into a shimmering mass of golden light, then scattered one by one. It made me sad for some reason.

Will you remember them, my child?

I think so.

Then please remember my words along with them. When I am long gone and you have your own grandchildren here, tell them about the stars. Tell them they looked like the fireflies. If the fireflies are gone, tell them about the fireflies.

Okay, but why?

Because everyone deserves the stars. You cannot give your grandchildren the stars, but you will be able to give them memories. Let them see the stars through those memories, child. Let them.

I didn’t know what he was trying to say, but I nodded. It felt important.

Close your eyes, my child.

Why?

Let us see the stars.

Oldman Sha faced the sky and closed his eyes. I closed my eyes, and thought about the stars.

Can you see them, Ashwin?

Faintly.

Are they not beautiful?

They are.

#sarahyoon #fiction