An Hour for Earth

It was the last Saturday of March.

- Dr. K. Rani

After the mild heat of the day, the evening weather had become pleasant.

The leaves of the trees planted outside the mall began to rustle in the breeze.

Ten-year-old Sana had come out after watching a film with her younger brother Aarav, Mom and Dad. There were many songs and funny scenes in the movie, so Sana was still lost in the world of cinema.

"Mom, I liked that scene the most, when "Sana was speaking excitedly, when Aarav interrupted.

"Oh yes, and I liked the other one with the dinosaur!" he said.

Mom was smiling and listening to both of them.

"You guys keep talking, I'll get the car from the parking lot," Dad said.

Mom stopped near the benches outside the mall. Many people were standing around with their families. Somewhere, someone was taking a selfie, and somewhere, children were insisting they did not want to go home yet.

Sana noticed that the big lights outside were shining brightly. She liked the light because she was a little afraid of the dark.

Not a lot, of course. Just a little.

"Mom, the mall is looking very bright today," Sana said sitting next to her on the bench.

"Yes, but sometimes too much brightness also tires the eyes,” Mom said.

Sana did not fully understand what her Mom meant but stayed quiet.

Suddenly, click ...click... One by one, all the lights went off. The courtyard of the mall, the street poles and the shops, everything was submerged in darkness. Some people were startled, and someone switched on their mobile torch for light.

"Mom! What happened?" Sana cried out.

Sana instantly became very frightened.

Along with the darkness, sudden silence had spread. Only the rustling of the leaves of the nearby trees could be heard.

All this was creating fear in Sana's mind.