Just two days remaining, Shaheen was finally ready to hit the beach. One Geography and the last English exam was all that was standing between her and the vacation that she was so desperately looking forward to. For the records, Shaheen never really liked exams. The idea of oncoming exams and the studying sent her on a yawn induced spree. It was kind of funny to watch Shaheen cringing about sleep as the exam date came close. Sleepless by nature, it suddenly was strange finding her covered under the comfort of her brown blanket, with books littered round her bedside. She hated when somebody peeked into her room and watched her do all this.

25 March, the last English paper had 10mins remaining for tying up on the loose supplements. ‘The final bell could go off any minute now!’ Shaheen was staring out the classroom window, in-between allowing a second’s worth of glance at those others waiting with their finished papers, just like her. The bell rang and she was short of screaming out a joyous scream, instead she let out a lengthened sigh of relief. No sooner did the examiner reached her desk for collecting the paper; she was almost as ready to make a dash towards the classroom exit. Her mind was racing at a galloping pace along with the neatly scheduled plan. ‘Next flight to Goa.

Shaheen’s grandparents owned a nice little place there with the sea splashing to its background. It was a serene place, with every of the fourteen rooms opening to a beautiful chirping world outside. The neighbors were few but were way too sweet. Being there, the silence was always filled with the sound of gushing wind that came down from above the sands of the splashing waves, bouncing off of the tall swinging coconut trees. The eerie silence of that place and the wind always had a story to tell ….and Shaheen loved it!

26 March, the flight proved uncomfortable for her. As soon as she landed, stomach cramp grappled, stripping her of all the enthusiasm she had when on boarding the plane. For the first time she decided to be on her own. It proved, it wasn’t such a good idea after all.  There was a lady, sitting besides her during the flight, helped her with the luggage and offered her ride to her grandparents place. She lived across a couple of houses away from theirs.

Pretending as they weren’t informed, both her grandpa and nani (grandmother) filled themselves with joyous eyes on seeing Shaheen. She too was overjoyed with being in their warm presence after a very long time.  With a very brief chatter the neighborly Mrs.D’souza waved them all a nice little good bye “aoun vaita” and the tires raised a little dust as they left towards the front gate.

Her favorite room was the one that adjoined the humongous kitchen on the top floor.  Her grandpa made it especially for her, with all the creature comforts that she granted back at her Mumbai home. A huge 62’ screen decorated the opposite wall across the neatly cushioned bed. Truly bliss with an added view of the sea.

The same night, aroma from the kitchen dragged Shaheen out her slumber, bringing her outside of that cocooned bedroom and straight away landing on the dinner table chair. Nani didn’t realize her presence at the table; she was busy with the other two maids in preparing the ‘assal’ goan cuisine; ‘Until she yawned her a loud presence. Grandpa soon joined in, reaching for the fridge. Shaheen was staring at him and saw her grandpa take a dish filled with colorful cupcakes. Due to her earlier stomach cramp, she was by now very hungry. “You want one dear” grandpa was already reaching the chair at the dinner table, beside her. She smiled and took a pink one. It looked delicious.

Shaheen’s grandpa wasn’t allowed to have any sweets. Nani was smilingly staring at both of them with one hand on her hip. The other two maids were giggling. Shaheen was finally away from all the things she found irked and was among those moments when she truly felt a smile linger over her.

Almost as the three got themselves stuffed with the nani’s special delicacy filled diner, Shaheen wanted to go dig her feet under the moonlight sand, but a quick refusal from her grandparents; she was happy in their company slurping down the chocolaty dessert. The house had a beautiful lawn, right outside the front gate.

Granny was famous for her stories. She added the simplest of real life incidents and told them believed to be set in a fantasy world. Shaheen enjoyed them, but the last one she heard was way too back.  That night under the full moon, nani told a story about the viscous creature who loved binging on electricity. Being from hip background, a science student at that, Shaheen initially had and unimpressed look to her face.  It was said that every year the monster returns and takes over every source that consumes electricity, leaving the entire world in a darkened state of light. Nani’s told the story in such an animated manner that Shaheen queried with utmost seriousness, “when will that monster strike next!”

Grandpa was enjoying himself at her terror filled innocence, and to retain that atmosphere he interjected “maybe tomorrow.”  The sleep on that thought filled bed was hard to come by, that night.

27 March, The entire day was enjoyed at the backyard beach. She also made some friends who showed her around and in the afternoon took her back to their place; they stayed in the neighboring villas. Shaheen returned with glittering joyous laughter and found grandpa and nani busy with their books in the study room.  The ambience in the room glowed as soon as she made herself comfortable besides at nani’s feet. Some chatter between the two followed, with all the details of the entire day told as the perfectly as they happened. Sometimes with a shortened breath!

The time flew and dinner time arrived. As they were to exit the study, every light to the house went down. “Watch your steps Shaheen.” Grandpa cared for her.  “yeah grandpa.” “…What do you know!” grandpa sniggered. “the monster seems to have attacked…” “ha ha ..yeah right grandpa!” “You don’t believe me …come I’ll show you.” Under the light of the cell phone Shaheen and grandpa made their way amongst the stumbling darkness into the open lawn. The whole area, as far as she could see was under the spell of blackout.  Shaheen for a moment believed for the thought to be true. She found herself uttering a simple word. She just couldn’t argue neither was she in a state to deny.

The electricity was resorted after an hour or so and she was the one who was relieved the most. Without mention of the light or even the monster they had a dinner and the exhaustion of the day had her sleep a little too early, right after the yummy dinner.

Next day the coffee table editorial read: ’Goa, Sunday, 28 March 2010 – Light’s out for Earth hour.’

A smile arose on her after reading that headline, “So now I know who the monster is …grandpa!” grandpa was stunned with her sudden exclamation. “you do?” he queried “yeah ..we are the monsters!”  Both grandpa and nani stared at each other with a look of proud amazement and turned their attention to what she wanted to say. “We humans take everything for granted and risk the nature getting ruined by our own ignorance.” Pausing with a scratch to her nose she stated again “I feel so happy and proud of you …grandpa and nani! You held the earth hour.” Nani with a wise stance “we love our planet kiddo!’ at this Shaheen made a sadden face and blurted “Ugh …and I was so ignorant!”  At this the kitchen was filled with laughter.