A Shortcut to Green Moments

As we walked back home, my friend looked up at the soft grey sky and smiled. “The weather is so nice today. Let’s take some pictures,” she said, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

I nodded, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Sure,” I replied, “but let’s not take pictures here on the road—with cars and traffic in the background. We need a more natural spot… something peaceful and green.”

She agreed instantly, and I knew the perfect place.

“There’s a shortcut nearby,” I told her. “It’s quiet and beautiful. Lots of trees, flowers… a small garden too. It’s perfect for photos.”

She was curious, so we turned towards a narrow lane that led to a house I knew well. It wasn’t just any house—it belonged to a joint family. They had two nicely built rooms, a small verandah in front, and beyond that, open fields. A garden bloomed there with flowers in every color, and tall trees stood gently swaying in the breeze. Sometimes, even a group of about twelve sīhā (a kind of bird or animal—maybe deer or stray dogs, depending on the region) could be seen passing by in the evening.

That spot had a kind of calm magic, especially during the late afternoon. The air was fresh, the sky a gentle grey, and the green around us seemed to glow softly.

We reached the place and just as we were about to start taking pictures, a group of dogs began barking loudly. One of them ran towards us, its tail up and voice strong. My friend jumped a little and held my arm tightly. I could feel her heartbeat rise—and mine too, if I was being honest.

An aunty from the house came out into the verandah. She smiled kindly but said, “Your friend is new here, isn’t she? That’s probably why the dogs are reacting like this.”

We smiled politely and nodded. A part of me wanted to explain that we just wanted to take a few pictures and then leave, but another part of me felt it was better not to.

Feeling a bit nervous, we decided not to stay there any longer. We slowly walked back the way we had come, the sound of the dogs still echoing behind us.

Back on the familiar road near our house, we laughed a little. “That was unexpected,” my friend said. “But it’s okay. Let’s take pictures at your place instead.”

And why not? My home had its own charm too. We had flower pots arranged neatly on the balcony and near the steps—bright pinks, yellows, and whites. The air there felt just as cool and comforting, and the silence was broken only by the sound of the wind and the occasional bird call.

We set up a little spot near the potted plants. The breeze played with our hair, and we posed, smiled, and laughed while the camera clicked. There was no field, no wild trees—but the peace and the moment felt just right.

Sometimes, it’s not the location that makes a moment special, but the feeling in it—the joy of trying something, the laughter between friends, the little surprises along the way.

And as we reviewed our photos later, smiling at our goofy poses and perfect shots, we both agreed—it was a good day.

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