Nostalgic cool breeze pats a young girl. Lily is travelling back to her hometown The Merkis Island after years… “I am finally back…” with tears she said “I wish I stay here” as she was reminiscing her moments with her family. And it looks like God has heard her WISH.
Lily flew to France to pursue her career and lives alone while working a part time job while working on her PROJECT which will give a boost in her business. She is physically distant but her heart still aches for her family. Lily headed towards her hometown for an auspicious day…
“Hello mom I reached Jebeing Port I will arrive Merkis in a day” “Come safe my dear, we are waiting for you”. “I’m very excited to meet you all…” As she ended her call a big truck hit her car and she went flying near a lighthouse…Everything went black... “Omg!! where am I? my head spins” she said, after an hour or so. Lily searched for her phone but couldn’t find it as it was pitch dark… “Where’s that mad driver he’s gonna pay me for this” The lighthouse stood as the only hope for Lily in the middle of nowhere. “What? isn’t this lighthouse so old and abandoned? Whatever…”
She entered the lighthouse it was humidified and she felt relaxed for a bit, “Is anyone here? I am stuck here…OH a torchlight perfect!!” She stepped out of the lighthouse and searched for her car “Mmm I see it there… Its totally damaged now I have to wait till someone comes” She took her bag and walked slowly and she was feeling dizzy. She went and fell on the slope of the lighthouse and took a deep nap. “You should find your way… You should find your way…” a voice murmured… suddenly the door slammed shut, her conscious took her and was trembling. “What’s happening?? is somebody out there?? help me” She gave up desperately and sat crying “Why God? Why Me?” She blabbered. Lily went to the top of the lighthouse, “WOAH!” she was amused by the view, The sky was made glittering by the enchanting fireworks. “Gorgeous” as she stood still mesmerized, a bird fell on the wall of the lighthouse...
“A bird? I hope its ok” she went hurriedly and picked it up “I’m all okay, young girl” said the bird “wait what” she was horrified “A bird can speak??is this a dream???” “No… not at all” said the bird, “Then you must be a trained bird” “Maybe” replied the bird sarcastically. “I can fix your wound” said Lily. “Thank you so much…” while they were chatting Lily saw a gigantic painting and touched, “Hey look isn’t it beautiful?” The painting fell and there, a map was to be found “What? a map?” suddenly the antique things and the paintings vanished and the place transformed as if its fairy tale. “What’s happening??” confused the duo. “The map says that the lighthouse consists of three levels…so does that mean the Third Level is going to start??” Frightened Lily. The floor just in front of them submerged into earth… “Woah! look down its so…deep! and there’s lava!!” panicked the bird. “We need to go to the other side through these pillars??” the bird was hopeless “This is the only way little bird, we gotta do it even though I’m also scared!” but for the life of them they couldn’t move “OMG I ain’t doing this its so dangerous” For some minutes it was highs and lows and finally, they mustered up their courage and took a step forward on the stone they carefully placed each step and came near the last stone and… the whole setting is like snow on the beach…
“What? I can do this backbreaking stunt... how a human can possibly jump from one cliff to the another?” “its ok girl you can do it…” “Yes it’s easy for a bird like you but for me it’s not!! since childhood I don’t have much confidence…I don’t even know why am I stuck here with a weird talking bird in a haunted lighthouse…” For a moment there was dead silence …Lily knew she constrained the poor little soul and went to console her friend. “Sorry my friend I din’t mean to…” as she began, the bird turned its head unsatisfied and Lily went to take that plunge. “LILY YOU CAN DO IT YOU CAN” the bird chanted. Lily believed in herself and took off for her friend she landed in the cliff strong like never before and ran to pull the lever to make a way for her tiny friend. “Thank you, Lily for risking your life for a bird”. “Don’t worry, you are my very first friend” As they were talking, lights were cut off Lily began to worry. “Are you okay Lily?” “Yes I’m pretty fine…but I am afraid of darkness so I hope the lights will come soon…” “Afraid of dark? But why?” “Because once when I was a child I got locked in dark room for a whole night by my friends as we were playing” “Seems like you have not overcome it" “Yea…Hope I get out of here soon”. Multiple armoured men spawned around Lily and the bird was taken by one of the men…
“Lily save me! Someone is taking me Lily! Lily screamed her lungs out as it was pitch dark and her fear made her lose her senses THIS IS A GAME OF BLINDMAN RUSH said the man and stood there still like a statue… Blindman rush? I can do anything but this please Lily begged herself but her trauma haunted her Lily had no other go Lily I can see you what should I do now? And hurry up” This time they had put so much trust on each other as the bird will be killed by the man if Lily did not make any move and if the bird did not lead properly, Lily will be caught… “Just guide me the way I would not touch the statue of the men” said Lily “Sure my friend…” “A little to the left Lily, now move forward…”
Despite of her fear of darkness Lily again hit the timer to save her friend but this time it was flawless, fearless and strong her face was lit up like never before. “Lily you are really amazing” “You woke my soul which is stronger than I would ever imagine” said Lily. Even in this situation, Lily felt happy and smile while her eyes was watering it made the bird overwhelmed…Soon another puzzle came in a flashing second but this time both the friends was fierce and was ready to deal with anything that comes in their way. They entered the Last Level there was so many paintings and they stood clueless as there was nothing menacing about the room. Lily gave a very precise glance at the paintings and said “I got It! follow me quickly!” Lily whispered something to the bird and the bird asked “Puzzle?”. After few minutes the friends were walking out of the lighthouse as the sun gave them a spotlight…
Their faces were brighter than the moon or anything that’s considered enlightening …
Lily then as she had planned met her family on time… “Lily my dear come inside” “Dad! sis came” “Lil, how have you been?” “yeah good grandma”. “Help your sister” “ok alright” “bro look here what I have brought for you” “a bird?? I was asking for this to mom and dad how did you know this” “THE UNIVERSE MAYBE…”
Lily spent the hours working for her project and it was successful as if it was meant to be. Now since she accomplished the milestone Lily can stay with her family and her brand gained attention. “Ms.Lily how did you become the youngest millionaire of our country? Any secret or advise? Asked the interviewer. The conversation went on and Lily shared her unique experience, “I got it, I said and I whispered to my friend to follow me and asked him to stand before an eye catchy painting, It was a cherry blossom tree which was blooming in soil worth nothing…I understood the meaning of the painting it visualised our purpose of life, ‘IKIGAI’ and I cracked the puzzle by mentioning ‘To Give Hope’ in the ground and soon the painting opened there was so much precious things…”
“How is the painting related to IKIGAI? asked the interviewer “The purpose of the tree was to give hope to the people who are desperate living in a very challenging village where not even a single grass can grow…” You are a mastermind for sure” praised the interviewer. “And what was the precious things inside? any diamond or emerald?” asked the interviewer. “No absolutely nothing but a piece of paper that noted ‘IKIGAI’ and under that ‘You Already Found It’. “I’m really interested to read your book what’s its name again?” “THE LIGHTHOUSE”.

© LOA