Everything I know,
Everything I believe,
I made it up.

God or devil,
Love or hatred,
Success or failure,
Joy or misery,
Wonderful or dumb,
I made it up.

Light or darkness,
Truth or untruth,
Life or death,
I made it up.

What I failed to make?
Nothing.
All I know and believe,
I made it up.

Warmth of the Sun, wonder of the Moon,
The love of mother Earth,
Caress of breezing wind and
Soothing symphony of water,
I made it up.

In experiences of my life
In the canvas of my mind.

If I disrobed me
From what I made up
An unknown void remains
Which I do not know
How to make it up?

Once the epitome of exuberance,
Dancing with the strokes of the wind,
Showering in the tickles of rain,
Now, it has stilled.

Once a creator of a beautyscape,
Filler of the fragrance,
Absorber of the sun’s golden rays,
Now, a poignant shadow.

Once a giver of life,
Now severed from its own.

Some fell from the highest boughs,
Some from the lowest twig,
Some couldn’t withstand the wind and were dethroned,
While others danced gracefully, sacrificing themselves for the tree’s bloom.
Does it even matter?

Now, all of them—
Together,
Munched, crunched, kneaded
Into bits and pieces.
The eager Earth, impatient to dissolve them,
Unable to differentiate which once blossomed
Or which was dethroned.

If all are destined to dissolve,
What’s all the fuss about?
I asked the tree.

Imagine you’re waiting for a train at the station. You are full of stuff with one 25kg, one 10 kg luggage, a backpack, a ukulele, and a camera hanging around your neck. You have comfortably placed yourself on a bench near the platform, mostly busy with Instagram, intermittently checking the clock for the train.

Suddenly, you hear an alarm, and see some officials screaming “Run.. Run..Run.. Go outside the station” on top of his lungs. “There’s a gas leakage!”

What will you do in this situation? Ideally, you will try to take all your stuff and leave the station. But, imagine everyone is running furiously, which makes you even more nervous since you get a sense of some impending disaster. You also try to run, but those weights are dragging you down, and there is a staircase. You don’t want to leave your stuff there, and you managed somehow halfway up the stairs, while the officer is screaming at you. Leave it there, there’s a gas leakage! Frightened and nervous, you stumbled, and your 25 kg luggage rolled down the stairs. Finally, you decided to leave your luggage and run away. Breathing heavily, pounding heartbeat, exhausted, trying to run with a big bag, you managed to escape the station.

A few weeks ago, I encountered this situation at Amsterdam Sloterdijk train station on August 28, 2023. I was extremely nervous. After coming outside, under the anxious situation, unable to figure out what’s gonna happen, hopefully waiting for the situation to get under control, a few things came to mind. “Why in the first place did I try to run with all the baggage? I could have left them there and run. Are those things more important than life? The delay of a few minutes could have had serious repercussions.” It was fortunate enough that the alarm was false, and nothing happened. But the way I reacted to the initial evacuation instructions from an official was not rational. I learned valuable lessons that day and understood what to do during such an emergency.

Here are a few things I realised that day:

• While packing things, keep all the important documents and accessories in the backpack, which is easier to carry and does not hinder movement during the evacuation.

• Leave all the other baggage and things you need extra effort to carry at their position when there is an alarm. Just run towards the exit. Do not waste energy and exhaust yourself carrying those weights. No one will steal it. Even thieves love their lives.

The second day of our visit was planned for our adventure at the Islands of Adventure in Universal Studios. After a filling breakfast at 8 AM, we made our way to Universal Studios for an exhilarating experience. As we arrived and purchased our tickets, we were stunned by the steep price – a staggering 158 dollars.

Upon entering the park, the transformation was unbelievable. The thematic features of Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios were nothing short of spectacular. It was a place where reality seamlessly merged with fantasy. Despite not having seen the movies or read the books associated with these themes, my eyes were captivated by the imaginative scenes. The sounds of people screaming on the Marvel-themed The Incredible Hulk rollercoaster lured me, though my nerves were on edge.

Observing the long queue for the rollercoaster, we decided to join in. After impatiently waiting for 30 minutes, our turn finally arrived. As I approached the platform, my nervousness escalated. It was my first roller coaster ride, and the impending motion of the platform heightened my anxiety. The initial seconds, where it accelerated horizontally, dropped vertically, and then rose again before another vertical drop, were incredibly intimidating. Clinging to the safety bar, I screamed at the top of my lungs, gathering the courage to keep my eyes open and experience the ride. I realized that screaming actually helped counteract my nervousness. Gradually, as I adapted to the rises, falls, twists, and turns, the ride concluded. I wished for another go, but seeing the long queues, we decided to move on to the next adventure. It was undeniably the most thrilling experience of my life up until that point. Everyone seemed satisfied with the thrill, and we were even more determined to explore other attractions to the fullest.

Following the rollercoaster, we tried Doctor Doom’s Fearfall, also Marvel-themed. I approached this ride with more confidence, having overcome my nerves on the Hulk. However, as the ride abruptly went up defying gravity, I was terrified. When it suddenly dropped from the top at the same speed, I felt as though my heart remained at the top while my body rapidly descended downward. The sudden descent from the peak was breathtakingly intense, and I prayed for the ride to conclude. This experience turned out to be even more frightening than the previous one, especially its high-speed vertical drop.

Having savored the thrill of the first two Marvel-themed rides, our appetite for excitement was heightened. To quench this thirst, we embarked on the Jurassic Park VelociCoaster a dinosaur-themed ride. Swastik was repeatedly mentioning its as the most dangerous roller coaster. After a brief stroll filled with sightseeing and photoshoots, we reached the VelociCoaster, only to be disheartened by a waiting time of two and a half hours. As we watched others relishing the adventurous ride, we faced a dilemma. Should we invest the limited time we had (it was already noon, and we planned to leave at 2 pm to drop Swastik off at the airport by 4 pm) in a similar ride, or should we explore different attractions instead?

We unanimously opted for the latter and chose to board a dinosaur-themed Jurassic Park ride. This turned out to be a delightful experience, striking a perfect balance between thrilling moments and serene periods that allowed us to immerse ourselves in the simulated dinosaur world. Drifting on a boatlike platform, we were surrounded by roaring dinosaurs with their long, swaying tails. I found this ride more enjoyable than the previous ones, as it seamlessly blended moments of calmness with sudden thrills. The unpredictability of these thrilling episodes added to the excitement. All of us relished this ride and were tempted to experience it again. However, time was running short, and we aimed to diversify our adventures.

Following the mesmerizing world of dinosaurs, we decided to try Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, an animatronics-themed ride. This boat-like journey took place in a dimly lit ambiance, along a winding flume with water splashes and dips, culminating in a steep vertical drop. An incident arose that cost us precious time – in an effort to keep my shoes dry, I had placed them in a locker. To our surprise, riding barefoot was not allowed, necessitating a return to the locker, which was not loacated nearby, costing us an additional twenty minutes. Nonetheless, we did the ride. It was slightly less intense than the previous ones. The splash of water during the vertical fall left us thoroughly soaked, which was the best part of the ride. By this point, it was already 1:30, and we made the decision to depart even though we were aware that we only scratched surface of the numerous attractions available, missing out on many more exciting adventures. Along the way, we captured photos and briefly tried “Storm Force Accelerator,” which appeared thrilling but failed to live up to expectations. Eventually, around 2, we left the park, heading for lunch before dropping Swastik off at the airport.

Following a quick lunch at Subway, the time had come to bid farewell to Swastik. Meeting him after nearly a year, in a place we had once dreamed of being, amidst some unexpected events, was a incredibly gratifying experience. With a tinge of sadness, we said our goodbyes untill the next time. However, I felt “Next time, when and where?”, maybe he too. Who knows where the whims of fate may lead us.

An hour later, it was time for me to bid farewell to Prashant and Santosh dai. This was my first encounter with Santosh dai, and I felt thankful that he had joined us; without him driving the car, visiting these places would have been impossible. Saying goodbye to my Prashant weighed heavily on my heart. The last time I had met him was three years ago when I had bid him farewell from Nepal.

During the journey from Orlando to West Palm, I found myself reflecting on the past two days. I felt happy and satisfied from the quality time we had spent together, and fortunate that everything concluded on a positive note.

One of the most anticipated events of the trip was meeting my brother-in-law, Prashant, and my friend, Swastik. We had everything planned out for two exciting weekend days, filled with few landmarks to visit and unique experiences. My brother-in-law, Prashant, accompanied by a brother, Santosh arrived at Sanford International Airport in Orlando on Friday evening. Swastik was scheduled to land around 6 am on Saturday. They would then head towards West Palm Beach early in the morning to pick me up, and we would enjoy the morning freshness of the beach underneath the infant sun rays for a few hours before returning to Orlando for the rest of our activities. Unfortunately, our initial plans to visit Miami and Tampa had to be canceled due to the long travel time involved.

But plans have a way of not going as planned.

When I woke up on Saturday morning, I saw a text from Swastik mentioning that his flight had been delayed by at least four hours. In response, I saw text of brother-in-law saying that they are coming to West Palm at the originally scheduled time to pick me up, in order to avoid wasting any more time. After reading those messages, I couldn’t help but think, “Swastik was looking forward to the beach, but he will miss out on the beautiful shores of West Palm”. However, I reassured myself that we could plan a visit to a beach near Orlando instead. After all, Swastik, who comes from Arizona, had yet to experience a beach in America since he arrived in January. With thoughts of the upcoming hours and the knowledge that they were already on the way, I was super-excited.

A few moments later, while I was still on the bed and procrastinating on the upcoming events of the day, my sister called me. I could clearly see the nervousness on her face as she spoke. Her words struck me with a mix of concern and relief as she said, “Dada, Jwai (brother-in-law in Nepali) had a car accident on the way.” That was the first thing I heard that morning, before I was even fully awake. My brain just froze. Heart pounding, no words — until she added, “But by the grace of God, they’re both completely fine.”

She kept talking, walking me through what had happened. I just listened, still processing. She wrapped up with, “They’re going back to the rental place to get another car and will still come pick you up.” She must have noticed I hadn’t said a word the whole time, because she offered a few reassuring words before hanging up.

After she hung up, I could not stop myself from contemplating various “what if” scenarios, and once again, I felt an immense gratitude towards God for sparing from another potential disaster. The thought that something worse could have happened, and that it would have been because of me, sat heavy. I felt a sense of relief when I called Prashant and confirmed that everything is okay. However, throughout the entire morning, I couldn’t avoid the thoughts of that event. I found myself continuously pondering how the plans unfolded so differently from what I had expected.

At around 10 AM, they informed me that it would take some time to get another car due to mandatory investigations after the accident. So, I made the decision to go to Orlando by myself. By that time, Swastik had also landed. Luckily, I managed to find a bus at 12 PM. I attempted to book an Uber to the bus station, but my debit card payment was declined. They helped me book the Uber, and I waited outside hotel hoping that Uber would locate me. Thankfully, I arrived at the bus station just a few minutes before the bus departed. Meanwhile, they rented another car, and came to pick me up at the bus station at around 2:30 PM. It was a lovely moment to see them after a long time, yet the incident in the morning had left me feeling grateful and filled with gratitude.

After exchanging greetings, we kicked off our visit by exploring Icon Park in Orlando. The park had an seemingly adventurous and exciting vibe, with its prominent features being a large Ferris wheel, a freefall tower, and a sea life aquarium. As we entered the aquarium, we were greeted by a wonderful display of sea creatures. It was fascinating to observe their movements inside the glass compartments, which were decorated with vibrant lighting, attempting to recreate the ambiance of the sea. While I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about seeing those things, there was still a sense of wonder in witnessing these new and unique creatures in their simulated underwater environment.

Following our aquarium exploration, we made our way to the towering Ferris wheel, anticipating a thrilling ride. However, to our surprise, the wheel moved at a slow pace similar to a turtle’s stroll. It turned out to be more of an observatory wheel, offering panoramic views of the Orlando cityscape. While the expansive city outlook didn’t evoke a resounding “wow” factor, it was still an enjoyable experience to take in the sprawling sights beyond our line of sight.

Slightly disappointed by the observatory wheel, we decided to skip the freefall tower, saving it for our visit to Universal Studios the next day. Instead, I suggested a trip to Cocoa Beach, as I had heard Professor Ioana speak highly of it during my recent visit to the NASA Space Center. The prospect of enjoying the beach enticed us all, and we unanimously agreed to make our way to Cocoa Beach.

After an hour-long drive, we finally arrived at Cocoa Beach. Stepping out of the car, we were immediately captivated by the breathtaking view. The transition from the bustling city to the serene seashore was truly mesmerizing, filling our hearts with surge of excitement. The refreshing sea breeze gently caressed our skin, while the scenes of graceful palm trees swaying in harmony with the soaring sound of the rolling sea waves was a sight to behold.

I can still vividly recall Swastik’s face lit up with excitement and happiness as he exclaimed, “I’ve never experienced anything like this. This place is incredibly beautiful!” We all shared the same sentiment. I also distinctly remember when we stood in the water, tidal waves approached us and flooded up to our knees. We felt the force of the waves pulling us towards the ocean, creating a sense of exhilaration. The sun slowly descending towards the horizon added a touch of supreme beauty to the vast ocean before us. It was a truly awesome beach experience. After enjoying the beach for about two hours, we decided to return to our hotel. Each one of us was extremely satisfied with the beach, and the serenity of the sea had a calming effect that washed away any lingering disappointment from the morning incident.

After our time at the beach, we made our way to an Indian restaurant for dinner, where we ordered a variety of typical Indian dishes and decided to try Panipuri as a dessert. However, after taking a few pieces, we quickly realized that the Panipuri was far below our expectations. We began complaining about it amongst ourselves, and to our surprise, we noticed a waitress nearby blushing as she overheard our conversation. This made us wonder if she was Nepali, as she seemed to understand what we were discussing. Curious to find out, Santosh dai called her over when she passed by our table. “Hello Didi!” he greeted her. She quickly turned around with a big smile on her face and confirmed, “Yes, I am Nepali.” She explained that she had been listening to our conversation and wanted to join in, but her boss preferred the staff to speak only English. We had a short conversation with her, and she kindly waived the price of Panipuri, understanding our disappointment. In gratitude, we thanked her with a generous tip before making our way back to the hotel.

It was incredible how things turned out that day: from how the day started to how it ended. Cocoa Beach was not even in our plans, yet it turned out to be the most memorable experience of the reunion.

As I was returning to my room after making plans for Saturday, Mattia asked me, “Tek, What’s your plan for this Sunday?” Taking a moment to ponder, I replied, “I haven’t made any plans yet! Do you have any?” I asked curiously, hoping to join him if he had something in mind. He enthusiastically responded, “Me, Hannah, and some other girls are going hiking at a national park.” The mention of hiking immediately caught my attention, and without even asking which national park, I eagerly requested to join them. Mattia warmly included me in the plan.

However, Sunday morning presented a challenge as the weather brought pouring rain and a high risk alert for tornadoes in West Palm Beach. Despite the adverse conditions, I remained hopeful as the weather forecast predicted warm and sunny conditions in the afternoon. I frequently glanced outside the window, observing the tumultuous rain and strong winds that reminded me the monsoon climate of my country. Impatiently, I awaited the weather to improve. Several hours later, the vibrant sun emerged in the sky with its scorching rays, and we made the decision to head to the national park around 2 pm.

I sat in the backseat with Hannah and Deborah, while Juliana drove the car with Mattia at front– Cata and Namrata in the middle. During the journey, Hannah showcased her impressive British accent, while Deborah and I struggled to spell “Bottle of water” correctly. Hannah also entertained us with the specific names given to different types of shoes and cars, of which I had no prior knowledge, adding a fun twist to our conversation. Like this after thirty-minute drive, we arrived at the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Reserve and inquired about the available activities.

After our discussion, we decided to start our exploration with kayaking before embarking on the hiking trail. However, upon reaching the kayaking spot, we discovered that it was already closed for the day. Even if it had been open, the gusty wind, which even snatched Juliana’s cap away, would have posed significant challenge for sailing. Nevertheless, nature had a delightful surprise for us. We witnessed alligators basking in the sun near the canal’s edge. It was my first time seeing these creatures up close, their seemingly calm demeanor blending perfectly with the waves of the water. I could distinctly see their two large eyes staring at me and long mouths.

We saw another alligator at another lake later that day when we traversed around the reserve. It was a little baby alligator presenting itself like a model posing for the picture.

At hiking trial, we were offered a different delight - the chance to immerse ourselves in the diverse wildlife. Under the intense sun, the tall trees cast gentle shadows, while the air resounded with the melodies of birds. It was a truly soothing environment. Witnessing the woodpecker’s rhythmic tap-tap-tap as it attempted to pierce the wood was a special sight to behold.

The intensity of the sun reminded me of a recent incident involving Nikola. “A few days ago, he spent four straight hours swimming at the beach without sunscreen and ended up with a severe sunburn, turning as red as a tomato.” In that exact moment, my eyes fell upon two fallen leaves—one green and one yellow—and somehow I draw a comparison between them and Nikola before and after going beach. When I shared this observation with the others, it brought about a burst of laughter.

We attempted to explore as much of the reserve as time and our energy permitted. All of us were keenly observing nature, becoming excited when birds flew near us and even when a lizard crawled across our path. Our enthusiasm extended to the sighting of insects like grasshoppers. One particular moment stood out when we encountered a red grasshopper, a species new to all of us. We were even able to hold it in our hands. At times, I found myself searching for Fibonacci numbers in fallen tree branches. These seemingly trivial moments enhanced the overall memorability of that day.

After more than four hours of continuous walking in the heat, we made the decision to head back. I was utterly exhausted, longing to reach the hotel and fall into a deep sleep. As we drove back, when I was was nearly falling asleep, the sudden jolt of the car forced me to awake. I realized we narrowly avoided an accident, and I was immensely grateful for Juliana’s composure that prevented the car from spiraling out of control.

Though the day turned out differently from what I initially expected when Mattia told me about the hiking plan (imagining walking upon rocky trails with steep ups and downs, enjoying panoramic views and taking refreshing breaths of fresh air when feel tired), it was still a unique experience to explore the protected wildlife in the subtropical heat of Florida with six fascinating people. Despite the unexpected twists and turns, the day was truly fantastic and definitely worth remembering.

On a restful Friday, we made plans to visit the NASA Kennedy Space Center on Saturday and explore the rockets and the United States’ space journey. I was filled with excitement for this upcoming visit, recalling the days when I memorized the fact that Neil Armstrong was the first person to step on the moon during school. Now, I had the opportunity to witness the holy place where these historical events were once planned and executed.

In the early morning, we embarked on our journey to the space center. I found myself in the car alongside professors and Srija. During the drive, Prof. Biswa asked me if I could sing a song. However, I mistakenly misheard the word “sing” as “single,” momentarily perplexed as to why he would ask such a question. Despite my confusion, I hesitantly replied, “Yes!” To my surprise, he followed up with a request for me to sing a song. It was at that moment that I realized my misunderstanding, and I promptly conveyed this to him. Laughter filled the car, and I couldn’t help but feel a tad embarrassed by my mishearing. This incident, however, steered the conversation towards love, marriage and the culture in our own country, leading to an engaging and unexpected discussion along the way.

We arrived at the space center a few hours later and purchased tickets. Upon passing through the gates, I was greeted by the iconic and picturesque NASA logo, with rockets displayed in the rocket garden for demonstrations. We decided to capture the moment by taking a group picture in front of the logo before embarking on a bus tour around the space center.

During the tour, I caught sight of the world’s largest single-storey vehicle assembly building from a distance. This impressive structure is where NASA assembles its rockets.

Eventually, the bus dropped us off at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, where we learned about the remarkable journey of how humans conquered the moon, despite facing numerous failures.

The story of the Apollo missions stirred overwhelming emotions within me. I learned about the tragic loss of three astronauts during a pre-flight test for the Apollo 1 mission. Their sacrifice, alongside the dedication of countless others involved in scientific exploration, left me with a profound sense of admiration and respect. Despite facing immense challenges, Apollo 8 became the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon. Although it didn’t achieve its original goal of landing on the moon due to technical issues, the astronauts were able to capture breathtaking views of the lunar surface, including the iconic photograph known as the “Earthrise.”

Amidst the triumphs and setbacks of the Apollo missions, the resounding words of President John F. Kennedy in his famous speech, “We choose to go to the moon…,” deeply touched my heart. These words exemplify the determination and courage that fueled the Apollo program and propelled humanity’s exploration of the infinity. Building upon this inspiration, the legendary Apollo 11 mission stands as a testament to human achievement. It represented the pinnacle of years of rigorous training and technological advancements. Witnessing the simulation of the Apollo 11 mission from the actual control room, including Neil Armstrong’s historic step onto the lunar surface and his proclamation, “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” left me in awe.

I couldn’t help but marvel at the incredible imagination of the scientists who accomplished such complex calculations and designs and executed the project during a time when the internet and modern computers did not exist. As I gazed upon the massive rockets and space shuttle on display, which had once flown to space and returned intact, I found myself overwhelmed with childlike curiosity, unable to comprehend how they accomplished such extraordinary feats. The entire experience at the center left me captivated and filled with a sense of wonder.

Later, I shared this overwhelming experience with my friend Nikola, and he expressed the same sentiments. Seeking some rest, we sat down and discussed our experience, highlighting the vastness of the universe and contemplating our insignificance on a cosmic scale. A few moments later, a friendly woman who had been listening to our conversation, unknown to us, approached and asked, “Do you guys work here?” With a hint of wonder on our faces, we replied, “No, we are just visitors here.” “The things you were talking about were going over my head, so I thought you work here”, she humorously responded. We introduced ourselves and explained the purpose of our visit. We had a pleasant and brief chat with her, during which she mentioned that her husband had once worked at the space center.

During the exploration, we couldn’t resist the temptation of pretending to be kids and took a playful picture with the astronaut outfits.

There were numerous things to see and experience within the center, and we made an effort to cover as much as possible. However, a single day was not sufficient to explore everything. Before leaving the Apollo/Saturn V center, I purchased a zero-gravity pen and a key holder as souvenirs of the visit.

At the end of the day, we gathered at the NASA logo as instructed by Prof. Biswa and took a final group picture before heading back to the hotel.

A few years ago, when my friend Swastik and I first came across the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship, we began searching for a program that matched our interests. That’s when we discovered Flood Risk Management (FRM). Not only did it align perfectly with our interests, but also the prospect of traveling to four different countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Slovenia) each semester and a two-week field trip to Florida, United States, made it even more exciting. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, I went on a trip to Florida with my colleagues and two professors. The trip was filled with countless memories and valuable learning experiences. One of the highlights of the journey was a reunion with my friend, Swastik, in Orlando.

On April 27th, we had a flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Atlanta at 10:30 am. We departed from Delft early in the morning at 5 am. The anticipation for the trip was palpable, especially since it was the first time for many of us to visit the mighty United States. Despite the excitement buzzing through the chilly morning air, drowsiness from interrupted sleep overtook us, and we all drifted off during the slightly over one-hour bus journey from Delft to Amsterdam.

After reaching the airport and completing the check-in process, our class representative, Namrata, asked a friendly stranger to capture the moment before embarking on our exciting journey.

Long flights are typically exhausting and boring, but this time, I found it a bit easier, perhaps because I was traveling during the day. Moreover, I had the pleasure of encountering a kind middle-aged American woman who was returning from a business trip in France. We engaged in conversation, especially when we grew bored of watching movies on the screens in front of us. I distinctly remember a moment during turbulence when I felt slightly anxious, and she shared her own story of experiencing turbulence while traveling in Ireland to ease my mind.

After approximately 10 hours in the sky, we landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States. A few moments before landing, as I glanced outside through the plane window, I was astounded by the sheer number of cars in the city. When plane finally landed, I felt excited as I realized the “American Dream” had come true and gazed in awe at the immense size and splendor of the airport, a sight I had never seen before.

However, the excitement was short-lived, as physical exhaustion from the long flight and a subsequent long wait (approximately 4 hours) for the next flight to West Palm Beach, Florida, began to take its toll. We arrived at our hotel at midnight, and Professor Biswa and Ioana canceled all the morning activities to allow us sufficient time to recover. The following day, around noon, MaryBeth, our host, warmly welcomed us and provided us with the itinerary for the trip.

A naïve young boy stood in front of the vast North Sea for the first time in his life, wondering at its infiniteness. Mesmerized by its vastness and tickled by the waves on the shores, with surging serotonin pulled by the moon, his hand carved her name in the sand, declaring his infant affection. The moment he finished writing it and took a few steps back to see the beautiful name against the oceanic background, he was in euphoria. Meanwhile, a big, excited wave approached him and, in the blink of an eye, turned sand into a blank canvas again, as if nothing had existed before. With a mixture of tad disappointment and awe, he was perplexed.

“Did my finger hesitate to dive inside the sand? Did the golden sand granules offer resistance to the fingers? Then, why do the relentless waves come to erase everything?” he pondered, lost in thought.

Boy (speaking to the sand): “You know, I wrote her name over you to make my love for her eternal. But it didn’t stay even for a single minute. Did you sense any lack in my affection towards her when I dipped my fingers in you?”

Sand (whispers in the breeze): “Hey, young boy! You are not the first to try to eternalize love through me. Your finger did not hesitate, nor did I resist your soft touch. I always welcome the weight of the words and try to hold the imprinted emotions as far as I can with open granules.”

Boy (with curiosity): “Then, why did you call those relentless waves to erase the beautiful sight irreversibly?”

Water (with soaring voice): “Ahh, young boy! You misunderstood me. He did not call me. Nature eternally connected us, and my role is to cleanse up the canvas of sand, preparing it for new stories, new emotions, and new imprints.”

Boy (with amusement in his voice): “So, you mean to say that nothing lasts forever on his canvas? All the efforts I made to come here, riding 15 km by bicycle to make a mark, leave a footprint, don’t matter? Everything is destined to be washed away, or what?”

Water (with a soothing voice): “Not only his canvas, everything in life is transient. Every beginning implicitly bears a predetermined ending. Yet, the memories of those fleeting moments, the emotions they evoke, they live in the hearts of those who experienced them. That is the true essence of eternity.”

Sand (with affirmation): “True! And also, note that the impermanence of physical forms does not diminish their significance. Likewise, the erased name from my canvas does not mean your expression of affection is flawed and will go unnoticed.”

Boy (with contemplation): “Ahh, I see. So, it is not about creating something that lasts forever; it is about embracing the fleeting beauty with acceptance of impermanence, right?”

Water (with affirmation): “Yes, young boy, you got it. Impermanence is the beauty of life: a constant vibration between pleasant and unpleasant; a constant bounce between low and high, like my tides; that’s life.”

Boy (with a bright smile): “Thank you, sand and water, for your invaluable wisdom. Even though I couldn’t carve her name permanently in your canvas, I will always cherish the feeling of doing so and the feeling that triggered me to do so.”

Sand and water (in unison): “That is all we ever desire—to be a part of the memories that make life rich and meaningful. Be a part of fleeting moments. Goodbye!”

All this conversation was heard by the Sun over the horizon, which was about to set. The yellowish rays summoned the boy to look at the setting sun and made him realize that even the source of everything rises and sets. The boy felt that his earlier desire to leave a permanent mark was nothing short of delusion. Since that day, the boy has been in love with the beauty and serenity of the sunset, as it reminds him of the inherent beauty found within the impermanence of life’s experiences.