Page 58 - You Only Live Once [BooksLD]

and ambitious. He smokes all day long, I suppose, except for when he
sleeps. The only thing I admire about him is that he is supportive and
encouraging of me.

The girl turns to look at me now. ‘Alara. My name is Alara,’ she says and
continues, ‘Sure, Ricky! All thanks to Parvathi for guiding me to this
beautiful place.’

Parvathi interrupts, ‘My pleasure! Your voice is magical.’
Saturday night is a busy affair at Ricky’s. By the time we start, the entire
shack is bustling with chatter.

Alara is our opening performance for the night and I feel the most excited
to watch her perform. She walks up the stage, adjusts her mic, clears her
throat, and starts to sing:

In my dream,
you are real.

More than my body
I touch yours,
more than my existence
I feel yours.

In reality,
you are a dream.
Far-fetched, deceitful

alluring still.

Fortunately,
the dream is everlasting
And the reality
Ever-changing.

Music is one of the best ways to heal. When I am not travelling, music
transports me to places and makes sure that I am still moving. As I watch
her perform, Alara is all that I can think of. I’m sure others feel the same
too.

She is like the madness of a club. She does not fit into the conventional
definition of beautiful. Her eyes aren’t blue, just plain black, nor are her
hair coloured differently. Her skin is the colour of sand; not jasmines, lilies,

or roses. Her body doesn’t resemble an hourglass. Yet, she is so beautiful.