The Beach

Its vast expanse lay there for miles. The sand on the surface was still warm from the enormous heat rained on it by the fiery summer sun all through the day. Ah, it was much hotter during the afternoon. It had a gradual slope descending into the ocean. It met the ocean and then there was water as long as one can see. The sea was roaring with the brute force of the high tide, trying to meet the moon high over the sky. It rose with hope and anticipation spreading its giant arms and fell in disappointment each time for the moon was unreachable. The saline water ran furiously over the sand battering it cruelly until the force waned and water receded back to the ocean like a crestfallen, defeated soldier. The ocean made another dash at the moon with one more giant paw rising high and came down with a deafening roar as if in self anger.

The moon shone brightly in the clear night sky watching the agony of the sea below. It smiled smugly feeling unashamed pride in its own ability to make the gigantic ocean rise and fall at its own will. This is the one sight it loved to watch every day. It shined a tad brighter illuminating the sky as a glow swept on its surface. Suddenly, a strange anguish spread through its mind as the light was not its own, a mere reflection of what it received from the fireball which had sunk on the horizon few hours earlier. "I may not own the light, but my touch makes it so beautiful", the moon thought knowing it was in vain. It continued shining but inwardly seething at its own failure to possess its own light.

The beach was aware of all this as it was watching this charade zillionth time since many long centuries. "They are at it again!” it grunted, "I take all the heat, my sand is tanned golden and these guys won’t even let me have some peaceful time even during night!" Yet, it felt so nice when the waves crashed onto its surface, a spent force. It was a witness to the pride and failure of the sea and the moon. Unknowingly, it yearned for another mammoth wave to rise towards the sky, yet another effort and yet another failure. "That’s how it will always be!” - It thought as it soaked into the fresh splash.