The End

I looked up, followed by the priest. The two souls looked up. A strange brilliance appeared above the tree. It shone upon the four of us. It was one of warmth, calm, peaceful and tranquil feeling. A kind of feeling when one was safe in the arms of our mother or father. There was no fear. I cried and wept as I knew the end was just around the corner.
Slowly, the two of them were lifted up towards the brilliant light. It was a sight to remember. I could bet that the four buddies had seen this miracle. As they rose higher and higher, they waved to us. I put up my hand and waved back both for farewell and for a happy ending. My tears rolled uncontrolled down my cheeks. I was not ashamed. I was weeping as if I had lost someone very close. The priest wiped his eyes for he had also cried.
Then I realized that the other four buddies were also beside me. They were seated on the ground beside me. I heard a sniff and someone sighing.
The brilliance faded as the two rose higher and higher. Then they vanished. The moon had appeared once again as the clouds were nowhere in sight. We were bathed in the total brightness from the moon.
My shirt and shorts were covered in dirt and dust. My hair was unkempt and untidy. I was totally soaked in sweat. The four buddies were neater and cleaner because they were not affected by the whole incident.
The priest looked horrible; hair blown loose and unruly. His white dothi was dirty and white anymore.
We got up and together we walked away relieved and happy that we had carried out a deed few had done before. We were proud too. The fear of the place and the stories had faded and we walked away not fearing anymore. We thanked one another and especially the priest for his help and service.
The tamarind tree is still there, tall and mighty. The house had been pulled down as the company had ceased operation. I have not been to the place again since the incident. I do not know if other children still go there to gather the tamarind fruits or to get the sap from the useful tree. I hope to visit it again. But this time, I am sure I shall go there with a sense of pride and happiness.

Give them the rings

The priest looked around as if searching for something. I knew it. God was against us helping them unite. How cruel! With a courage I had never known to possess, I crept nearer, eyes focused on the ground where the priest had been hit by the lightning. I scanned the area and to my utter astonishment and relief I saw the two rings. I picked them up immediately.
A sudden warm and calm feeling came over me. There was a warmth from the rings. This has to be something good, no doubt. It was like coming to the end of a race and heading to the finishing line. The end was in sight and my heart was about to burst with joy. I had no fear now. What mattered most was to get the whole business done.
The rings seemed to glow with a strange brilliance that I had often seen in the sky when the stars twinkled. The couple was smiling at me. That gave me the confidence. Their faces glowed as if they knew the end was near. Their faces were not hideous as one would expect. They were smiling and beckoning to me. The fear I had all this while faded and I knew for once that I need not fear ghosts or devils.
Without hesitation, I handed the rings to the priest. He nodded and quickly said his prayers although I could not understand a single word. From the gestures and movements of his mouth, I knew that he was performing what he had to do.
I knelt by his side facing the two pitiful souls. The wind was still furious, the lightning was sill flashing but it was far away. Thunder was pounding away in the distance.
The priest handed the rings to them. The girl took the rings and put one on her finger and the other onto the boy's finger. It was at this instant when the two had their rings on that something unexpected happened. The wind suddenly died down. The lightning ceased all of a sudden. Even the thunder faded without leaving any trace. I was amazed and shocked. I looked a the priest. He looked at me in return. We turned to the place where the two souls were huddled. They were standing up now and were holding hands. They were in total happiness and were smiling from ear to ear.