This is no fairy tale even though I married my long time girlfriend, Moon. We had been courting for aeons, literally. People spoke about how Moon and I disappeared behind the clouds at times. News about our celestial love affair spread as far and wide as Pluto. And you know how it is – can’t stop those tongues from wagging!

We seemed to be, what one would call, completely contradictory. Me, hot and blazing. Everyone needs me, but wants to keep their distance. You bet! There’s never going to be a spaceship coming my way! On the other hand, she’s cool and yes, beautiful. Very beautiful! Her flawless white skin with traces of silver, her pretty curves, and how she can turn the tides! No wonder there have been and will be many more spaceships that can’t wait to knock at her doorstep.

We were hopelessly in love. Still are. Ours is a love that cannot be defined in any conventional way. People think we eclipse each other, outshine each other’s presence, but that’s our way of expressing love for each other. The beautiful ring you see in an eclipse, that’s our wedding ring. And the world is our witness.

It was time, we tied the knot. And while our families, friends, and neighbours thought it would be a wedding like no other – fireworks that would streak across the cosmos and put up a grand spectacle for all those watching from the Earth, a bevy of heavenly beauties, a knockout spread of cuisines from across all planetary bodies, we kept it simple. There was no glitz and glamour. We wanted to avoid headlines. And camera flashes.

So we took our vows in the presence of the Polar star. We signed across a pure white, wispy cloud and vowed to script a new journey together for a few more aeons.

But twilight is the only time of the day when we can meet. Every time we unite, there’s a vermillion streak across the sky. Heaven and earth behold our union. I love to watch Moon as she emerges from behind the clouds each evening. Like a mystical secret. The clouds dissipating as though intimidated by her presence. The oceans rippling to her tunes as she watches over ships bouncing up and down the waves, like a mother watching over her children.

By the grace of God, we have been blessed with a few million children. All shining bright! But since our work hours don’t match, the children prefer to be with their mother.

One evening, Phoenix, my eldest son came to me. He didn’t look particularly happy. He looked lacklustre and I wondered if he was unwell.

“Son, are you all right? You don’t seem particularly well to me today,” I asked worriedly.

“Pa, we love you! But we want more of you. We miss you so much! And to tell you a secret, so does Ma!” he replied with gloomy earnestness.

I answered almost apologetically, “Son, I miss you all too! But somehow I cannot change things. This is how it’s meant to be!”

My brave children smiled. So did Moon. Only I knew how much I missed being with all of them. But soon I knew that our cosmic destinies would align!

And so I announced with joy, “Phoenix, I have a surprise for you all. You won’t have to miss me for too long now! This winter, there’s not much work for me here. I’ve applied for a long leave and we all will be on vacation to the North Pole. Together!!”