The End..

Music: Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams

The boy and the girl rested on a rock inside the Bedouin camp. A fire of wood crackled in front of them. The flame made beautiful, unpredictable patterns. A pot of tea simmered on the fire and spread an earthy aroma in the valley.

Red mountains rose high all around, looking down on them. A great sand dune lay leaning at the mountain in front. It felt like a traveler resting under the shade. The boy wondered how long had the dune stayed there. He was a traveler himself. His stay was nearing its end.

The Bedouin got up, offered him tea, and said - "I am the heir. I own these mountains, this valley and this desert." The boy gazed at the mountains for a while, then took a sip. The tea was unusually refreshing. He replied - "I own little. I may lose all I have soon." The heir paused, and looked all around like a prince. Then he announced - "I give you that land, there. Take it. It's yours, forever."

The boy smiled. He felt his spirits rise. He said to the girl - "I am a Bedouin. But I will always have something." The girl felt amused. She asked - "Do you know where your land is?" The boy said - "No. Maybe it's for the best."

He looked at the sand dune. It seemed as if the dune had shuffled its feet. The boy got up. He was ready for his journey back.

~ Ankur.