"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,

And therefore is winged cupid painted blind"~ William Shakespeare, A midsummer night's dream.

~'~

"The temperature is like -36 degree Celsius ! That's insane! We're going to freeze--," Agnes began.

"Well, yes. The district recorded a temperature as low as -67.7 degree Celsius on February 6, 1933. But that's okay Agnes, it's just a matter of a few hours," Takumi smiled.

The group were going to the Oymyakon district in northern Russia, in the Sakha republic. It would be one of the coldest places they had every visited and ever would. People died of freezing, there was hardly any food, and even pens froze.

"Life's full of insanity, remember Ms.Fotaine?,"Jason said quoting her as he got inside the bus. "And this is yet another insane experience we are going to have in this world tour"

Agnes looked at him and laughed. Like all of them, Jason had worn a muffler, scarf, socks, boots, thick coat, gloves, and everything possible to make himself warm.

"What? Why are you laughing?"

Agnes smiled at him and exclaimed, "Because Mr. Lecturer , you're looking extremely cute!"

~'~

"Brrr...," Agnes shivered, sticking close to Jason. The four of them looked around.

There was nothing but snow and ice all around the place. The huts, the trees, the bridges , everything was permanently under snow. The place was under permafrost all the time, and no matter how far into the horizon you stretched your eyes, the only thing they would capture was snow.

"How do people even survive here? Cultivation isn't possible here, of course," Akane said.

"They eat reindeer and horse meat, what else? Of course there's fish though,",= the guide apprised her. They nodded. Agnes made a face. How do people even eat that? Survival makes humans do wonders.

"I really need to keep warm.. keep warm... I'll freeze to death!," Agnes said, sticking to Jason even though she already was. Akane and Takumi grinned.

"Freezing eh?," both of them pushed Jason and Agnes closer, and Jason wondered what they were doing because the four of them were already very close to keep warm.

"Anyway, everyone. Since we have limited time here, we'll be doing ice fishing," the guide said, as he took them towards the ice fishing area.

~'~

They sat down with chattering teeth, and dipped their rods into the ice cold water. They were shivering and fishing.

Agnes looked at Jason.

He was taking out his fifth fish.

"Mr.Lecturer?," she whispered, her teeth chattering.

"Yes?"

"Would you mind.... NOT TAKING ALL THE FISH?"

Jason looked at her in surprise. "I.. haven't taken all of them...," then he looked at the fishes swimming in his red bucket. Yes, he had most of the fish.

"Okay... sorry," he added, scartching his head. Takumi and Akane shook their heads in mock disappointment. Agnes smiled.

"You can sure handle my tantrums"

"Not tantrums. Eccentricities," he said.

"Same thing---"

"IT'S FOOD TIME!,"Takumi said, getting up as the guide waved to them. Agnes got up to leave when Jason held her hand.

"We can't eat"

"Why?"

"Non-vegetarian. They are going to eat the local dish which is non vegetarian"

"Correct," she said, sitting down beside him.

"You both aren't going to eat?," Akane asked.

"Nope. Can't"

"Then, we won't either," Takumi said. Akane nodded.

"Don't be silly. Go!"

"No-"

"Go-"

"No-"

"Oh, come on! Go now," Agnes said, giving them a light push. They showed her their puppy -dog face. She shook her head. Jason looked at them, amused.

They reluctantly went away and  she sat down beside Jason again. He poured them a warm cup of coffee.

She held on to the warm cup. "Do you believe in destiny?"

"I don't know, Cherry. Maybe"

"Mhm. Well, I do"

"You do?"

"Yeah. I believe going on this tour was destiny. I believe meeting Akane and Takumi is destiny. And I also believe meeting you is destiny"

"And?"

"And since it includes a friend like them, and you, Jason. I believe I have a good destiny," she smiled. He looked at her face, her double layered eyelashes and her black eyes. They were looking back at him with such trust and, well, love, that he felt that he was dipping into a beautiful ocean of emotions.

It started getting colder and colder as the sun was setting into the horizon. Jason got up to burn the fire. And what a strenuous task it was! They lit a small bonfire after many efforts and sat in front of the fire, looking at the red colour of the sky that had now emerged. They sat silently. Partly because of the cold, and partly because they were enjoying the silence between themselves.

"Agnes?,"a sudden voice made her jump. Agnes turned to see Akane and Takumi.

"Yes?"

"Do you know how close you're sitting to your boyfriend?"

She blushed and shifted away from him. They laughed and laughed and laughed.

"Stop laughing"

"But its so funny"

"I don't find it funny at all"

But of course, when it came to Akane and Takumi, laughing was an unstoppable thing.

"It's time to leave, people!," the guide informed them. They nodded and sat down in the bus. The sky was now darker. The driver started the bus.

"Oh god!," Agnes suddenly shouted.

"What's wrong?," the three of them asked.

"STOP THE BUS, please!"

The bus jerked.

"Jason! I don't believe this!"

"What's wrong ,Agnes?"

"I didn't catch a single fish! Please come with me!"

"Agnes, it's already quiet dark there.. It's not possible"

"Please, Jason?"

He sighed, got up and extended his hand towards her.

"Come on, Agnes. Let's get you a fish real fast"

~'~

"I still can't believe you agreed," Agnes said, looking into the water.

"And I still can't believe I am fishing in this freezing weather," he said.

They were fishing now, with Jason sitting behind her, holding her hand, trying not to make her uncomfortable. They were lightly arguing.

Akane snapped a picture of them from a distance. She showed it to Takumi and laughed. Of course she would. Both of them were insane!

People of the district saw a couple. Sitting together, fishing in the cold night, talking about something. Their argument was just as funny and perfect as their relation was- sour, sweet, funny, wild, insane, but indeed truly loveable.

~'~

Sorry for the long wait! Hope it was worth it!