Allelea
As the plane gradually descended on the runway, I was greeted by a mixture of various sights and sounds. The vibrant tapestry of Bengaluru unfolded beneath us, a chaotic blend of traditional and modern India. The city was alive, pulsating with the heartbeat of millions and honking of horns.
The airport was a microcosm of this energy, a gateway to the possibilities that lay beyond. I could hear the distant melody of languages, a symphony of Kannada, Hindi, English, and more, each one a unique note in the composition of this place.
Lead’s voice broke through my reverie. “Welcome to India, Allelea,” he said, a hint of something unreadable in his tone.
“Welcome to India, yourself, Lead.” I replied, chuckling. “It’s nothing like Berlin,” I murmured, more to myself than to him.
“No,” Lead agreed, his gaze fixed on the airport window as we walked along.
“No,” Lead agreed, his gaze fixed on the airport window as we walked along. “It’s a different world here—more color, more life, more… chaos, in its own beautiful way.”
I followed his gaze, taking in the sea of people moving in a fluid dance of arrivals and departures. The air was thick with the aroma of spices and the warmth of the sun that filtered through the glass panes.
“It’s overwhelming,” I confessed, feeling the stark contrast to the orderly streets of Berlin. “But there’s something about it that feels right, like we’re meant to be here.”
Lead nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “Maybe it’s the universe’s way of telling us we’re on the right path, despite everything.”
We collected our bags, the wheels clicking rhythmically against the polished floor. As we stepped outside, the heat enveloped us, a welcoming embrace from a land steeped in history, traffic and mystery.
The honking of horns became a symphony that heralded our arrival, and as we made our way through the bustling streets, I felt a sense of purpose ignite within me. This was the beginning of a new adventure, a new challenge, and perhaps, a new home.
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Lead
A few days passed since we arrived there. The city was a blend of many things — too many for us to explore in a day. The streets of Bengaluru were a labyrinth of life, each turn revealing a new facet of its identity. The scent of jasmine from roadside vendors mixed with the exhaust of auto-rickshaws, creating a unique smell our delicate European noses were not used to.
In this city, the realm of biology manifested most prominently in geobiology— the study of how physical, chemical and biological processes influence each other in natural habitats. And India, being a vast, diverse country, had different landscapes to offer. Allelea, who sat beside me on a taxi ride to Commercial Street, one of the biggest and most popular street shopping places in Bangalore, was enjoying the view. “We’re not in Berlin anymore…” she said, more to herself than to me. “It must feel odd to be somewhere so different for you, huh, Lead? No offense, but considering BioSync you’ve probably never left Germany.”
“If you count living in Cobalt Crescendo for a while. It was the city-state where Elemental University was. But now… neither exist.” I shrugged. “It was a tiny island, really. Just off the coast of the UK. Mostly, only real chemistry enthusiasts lived there.”
“In another life,” she mused jokingly. “Also if Physics, Chemistry, and Biology were people — siblings, who’d be what?”
“Identical triplets, maybe. Those don't happen often so fraternal,” I confirmed, right off the bat. “Bio’s the chill eldest sibling. Chemistry should be the forgotten middle child, while Physics is the younger one.”
“But Phy’s also his dad — Mathematics’s favorite. Physics in high school and beyond involves Math way more than all the other sciences do.” Allelea added, a cheerful tone in her voice. “But all of them need Math. It’s the queen of sciences... dad of sciences in this case.”
I chuckled as I watched her smile, and start thinking for all the other ones. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of deja vu though. But I know better than to tell her a thing — especially not after she and Cyto just broke up.
As we approached Commercial Street, I wondered if this hidden garden Lead had mentioned held answers. Allelea’s determination to recruit him for the resistance intrigued me. But I knew better than to reveal too much. The past was a delicate thread, and unraveling it could change everything.
“Lead,” she said, her voice softer now, “we’re in this together, right?”
I met her gaze, the sunlight filtering through the taxi’s window. “Always,” I replied. “No matter what secrets we uncover.”
“Always,” I had said, and I meant it. But ‘always’ was a dangerous word, laden with promises that the heart could not keep. I turned to look out the window, watching the city rush by, a blur of colors and sounds that mirrored the turmoil within me.
I was reminded of a particularly daunting paragraph from my story, where ‘always’ didn’t really mean always. She had ‘always’ seen me as a friend, and now, she felt uncertain. Doesn’t sound like an ‘always’ to me. If anything, I could replace ‘friend’ with lab experiment.
Allelea’s presence was a comfort to the chaos, her determination a beacon that drew me in. I wanted to tell her everything—the secrets of Cobalt Crescendo, the whispers of the past that haunted my dreams. But some truths were too heavy to share, especially with someone standing on the precipice of a new beginning.
The taxi slowed as we reached Commercial Street, the cacophony of the market reaching us even through the closed windows. Allelea turned to me, her eyes searching for something I wasn’t sure I could give.
“Lead,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, “there’s something about this place, about you, that feels like… like coming home.”
I swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling in my chest. “Home is a strange concept,” I replied, my voice steady despite the storm inside, yet trying to change the subject. “I never really got it. Anyway, we have to get out of here,” I said, as the taxi slowly stopped. I paid the driver using the forex card I received from the resistance, and off we went.
The taxi pulled away from the bustling market, leaving behind the cacophony of voices and the vibrant chaos of Commercial Street. Allelea stood beside me, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery—the colors, the faces, the life that flowed around us.
Soon, she turned to me, and held my hand, a friendly gesture Selena always did to all of us back then. It made sense, knowing her. It was never romantic, unless it was Gallus. But... before the ball? Who knows. “But sometimes, home isn’t a place,” she said. “It’s a feeling—a connection.”
As we navigated through the crowd, I couldn’t help but feel a growing reluctance. The hand-holding, meant to be a simple gesture of camaraderie, was becoming a symbol of something more, something I wasn’t sure I was ready to face. The warmth of her touch was comforting, yet it stirred memories I had long tried to bury.
With each step, memories of Aurelia flooded my mind, unbidden and relentless. The way she laughed, the spark in her eyes when she spoke about her passions, the way she held my hand during those long walks through the university grounds. The parallels between Aurelia and Allelea were uncanny, and with each passing second, the lines blurred further.
We stepped into the throng of Commercial Street, the air thick with the scent of spices and the sound of haggling vendors. The vibrancy of the market was a stark contrast to the sterile environment we had left behind in Berlin. Here, life was raw and unfiltered, a kaleidoscope of human experience.
“So,” I began, breaking the comfortable silence between us, “what do you think of Bengaluru so far?”
Allelea’s grip on my hand tightened ever so slightly. “It’s… overwhelming,” she admitted, her gaze sweeping over the colorful displays. “But there’s a beauty to it, a rhythm that’s captivating.”
I nodded, understanding her sentiment. “It’s a city that’s alive,” I said. “Every corner tells a story.”
I knew I had to maintain a distance, to keep the past where it belonged. But as the day wore on, and the shadows grew longer, my resolve began to waver. The city, with its vibrant chaos and hidden whispers, seemed to echo the turmoil within me.
As we explored, the conversation flowed naturally, touching on everything from the peculiarities of local cuisine to the complexities of our mission. Yet, beneath the surface, there was a tension, a magnetic pull that drew us closer with every word, every laugh, every shared glance.
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Allelea
“Wanna go on a thrill ride?” I asked Lead, while beckoning an auto-rickshaw to come pick us up, a shopping bag in hand.. “They say going on these things is a hell of a ride. You coming?”
The auto-rickshaw sputtered to a stop in front of us, its vibrant colors a stark contrast against the dull pavement. I could see the hesitation in Lead’s eyes, but the promise of an adventure seemed to spark a flicker of excitement in them too.
“Sure,” he said, a cautious smile tugging at his lips. “Let’s see what it has to offer.”
We climbed into the rickety vehicle, the driver nodding enthusiastically as I told him our destination. The engine roared to life, and we were off, weaving through the chaotic symphony of honking horns and shouting vendors.
The ride started off thrilling enough, the wind whipping through our hair as we dodged cars and pedestrians with inches to spare. But as we hit the outskirts of the city, the roads became less forgiving. Potholes appeared like gaping maws, each one sending the auto-rickshaw into a bone-jarring dance.
I found myself gripping Lead’s arm, my knuckles white with the effort. He was holding onto the handles for dear life, his face a mask of concentration as he braced for each shock and shudder.
And then it happened—a loud bang, like a gunshot, pierced the air. The auto-rickshaw lurched violently, nearly flipping as the driver fought to maintain control. I screamed, my arms wrapping around Lead instinctively.
The world tilted, a blur of sky and road spinning around us. When the auto finally skidded to a halt, we were both shaken, our hearts racing with adrenaline.
“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice trembling as much as my hands.
Lead didn’t answer right away. He was pale, his breaths coming in short gasps. And then I saw it—the jagged piece of metal protruding from the arm-hole of his t-shirt, a stark reminder of how quickly thrill can turn to danger.
“We need to get you to a hospital,” I said, panic edging into my words.
The driver was already on his phone, calling for help. I held onto Lead, trying to offer whatever comfort I could as we waited for the ambulance.
As the sirens approached, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of guilt. This was supposed to be a simple thrill ride, a momentary escape from our mission. But now, as I looked at Lead’s injured form, I realized that some risks just weren’t worth taking.
The ambulance arrived swiftly, its flashing lights casting an eerie glow on the chaotic scene. Paramedics rushed to Lead’s side, their movements efficient and practiced. I stepped back, my hands still trembling, as they assessed his injury.
“Stay with me,” I whispered to Lead, my voice barely audible over the sirens. His eyes met mine, pain etched into their depths. He nodded, his jaw clenched in determination.
As they loaded him onto the stretcher, I followed them to the ambulance. The doors closed, and I sat beside him, my heart racing. The paramedics worked quickly, their gloved hands deftly cutting away his shirt to reveal the wound. The piece of metal was embedded deep, and Lead winced as they probed the edges.
“Stay still,” one of the paramedics instructed. “We need to stabilize the injury before we can transport you.”
Lead’s gaze never left mine, his fingers gripping mine tightly. The pain in his eyes mirrored my own, a silent acknowledgment of the danger we were in. The auto-rickshaw ride had turned from thrill to terror, and now, as the ambulance sped through the streets of Bengaluru, it felt like a race against time.
The hospital loomed ahead, its sterile walls a stark contrast to the chaos outside. As they wheeled Lead into the emergency room, I felt a surge of protectiveness. He was injured because of my suggestion, my desire for adventure. Guilt gnawed at me, but there was no time for self-recrimination.
The doctors took over, their voices a blur as they assessed the damage. I stood by, helpless, as they worked to remove the metal shard. Lead’s face contorted in pain, and I wished I could take it away, bear the burden for him
And then, as they stitched up the wound, the reality of our situation hit me. We were in a foreign city, embroiled in a resistance, and now Lead was injured. The mission was still paramount, but my heart rebelled against the cold logic of it all.
I then and there decided I would stick to vehicles with even numbers of wheels.
【 I actually love this chapter. And I used the subject family idea in another story actually. Not planning to upload, at least till after Realms of Biology or its sequel...
You heard it.
I am jobless confirmed.
】
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