The wind blew through her cotton shirt, Lathitha held it down hurrying across Rick Turner Road. She tilted her head backward, fighting the edge to spin around at the whistle of the wind while making her way through human traffic mapping her way home. Tuscan villas ornamented with still fountains of clay and stone, carrying a warm presence of tranquility and a sense of home wrapped the whole neighbourhood.

Giggles and conversation of children walking home from school, random people taking their afternoon jog and old men walking their dogs filled the streets. The trees swayed to and fro in their majestic splendour of brightly coloured leaves - rusty leaves flying all over the place. It was exactly what she needed after the long day she had had.

Today they were released early from work due to load shedding. Everyone dreaded load shedding at home, yet loved it dearly at work. There was not much she could do at work without electricity. She was the Assitant Program Manager at the Research Council. For a twenty-five year' old, she was way ahead of her peers, most of them envied her. Although she had never imagined herself doing this for the rest of her life - or ever, she still gave it her all, sleepless nights and overtime. The thrill of a job well done was like a drug...