Ten years later.
Regular communication now existed between Mars and Earth. Ships came and went every month. People traveled back and forth. Some came from Earth to settle on Mars, some returned from Mars to Earth to visit family.
Lina was now forty. She was now Mars' chief. After David, she had received this responsibility. Under her leadership, Mars had advanced further. Domes now numbered more than fifty. Green forests had grown in many places. Small rivers had been excavated, carrying artificial water flow.
Today was special. Today for the first time, Earth and Mars together organized the "Festival of Two Worlds." Thousands of people came from Earth. Martian people also joined the celebration.
The festival was held in Mars' central dome. The massive dome was decorated with colorful lights. Earth's flag and Mars' flag flew side by side. Both flags now looked similar—a blue crescent and a red crescent side by side, symbolizing the union of two planets.
Maya had come. She was now nearly sixty. Hair had grayed, face showed signs of fatigue, but eyes still held their former sparkle. She embraced Lina upon seeing her.
"You've changed, Lina. Now you're a leader."
Lina smiled. "Learned from you. Learned from Emon."
Maya said, "If only Emon could see today's scene!"
Lina showed Maya around the festival. Earth food sold somewhere—rice, lentils, vegetables. Martian food somewhere else—various dishes made from red algae. People stood in line eating food from both planets, laughing, chatting.
Poets had gathered in one place. Earth poets and Mars poets—reading poetry in both planets' languages. Earth's language differed slightly, Mars' language differed slightly, but poetry's language was one—the language of love, the language of union.
Elsewhere, children played. Earth children, Mars children—running together. No discrimination among them. A Martian boy said, "My father lives on Earth. He's a scientist. When I grow up, I'll be a scientist too."
An Earth girl said, "My mother lives on Mars. She's a doctor. I want to be a doctor too."
Adults laughed at the children's words. The festival's greatest success—the children. Because they were tomorrow's Earth, tomorrow's Mars.
Maya and Lina walked. Suddenly they saw a long line before a booth. People stood, each holding pictures, letters, flowers.
"What's that?" Maya asked.
Lina said, "That's Emon's memorial booth. People go there to write something for Emon, give something."
Maya approached. Above the booth was written in large letters—"Emon—Who United Two Planets." Below was placed a box made in the likeness of his medicine box, where people left messages of their love.
Maya saw an old woman standing with a letter. She was nearly eighty. Maya asked, "Mother, what did you write?"
The old woman said, "Son, I'm grateful to Emon. Fifty years ago, my husband was dying. Emon gave medicine and saved him. Today my husband lives, my children live, my grandchildren live. Without Emon, none of us would exist."
Tears in her eyes. Tears in Maya's eyes too.
Beside her stood a young man. He was Martian. In his hand was a flower—a red rose, born on Martian soil. He placed it at the booth.
"For Emon," he said. "Without him, I wouldn't exist. Emon saved my grandfather."
Maya understood—Emon was no longer just a person. He was a belief, a faith, a love. People remembered him, loved him, respected him.
A grand ceremony took place in the evening. A stage was set in the central dome. Thousands gathered. Maya and Lina ascended the stage.
Maya said, "Today we stand at an important moment in history. Today Earth and Mars are not just two planets—they are one family. Emon taught us that wealth's true meaning isn't money—wealth's true meaning is people. Saving people, loving people—that's real wealth."
Lina said, "I was born on Mars. I know how hard it once was here. But Emon's dream, Emon's love brought us new life. Today flowers bloom on Mars, trees grow, children laugh. Without Emon, none of this would ever have happened."
Suddenly a young man stood up from the crowd. He said, "Can we open a university in Emon's name? Where only humanity lessons are taught? Where they teach how to save people?"
Maya smiled. "Good idea. Why not? A university in Emon's name—we'll do it."
Another said, "Can we declare a day in Emon's name? Emon Day?"
Lina said, "We already celebrate Flower Day. But Emon Day? Yes, that could happen. Emon should be remembered all year, not just one day."
Everyone applauded. Maya and Lina looked at each other and smiled.
That night, Maya opened her diary. Tonight's entry was longer:
"Dear Emon, today I saw how much people love you. Thousands gave flowers in your name, wrote letters. An old woman said you saved her husband. A young man said you saved his grandfather. You saved countless people. But you didn't just save people—you saved their dreams, their hopes, their loves. You taught us how great a person can become if they don't live only for themselves. You taught us love knows no boundaries—it spreads from planet to planet. Today Earth and Mars are one family. You are the father of this family. Without you, none of us could stand here today. Thank you, Emon. Forever thank you."
Lina also wrote in her diary:
"Dear Diary, today I saw Emon isn't just a name—Emon is a feeling. When people save someone's life, they become Emon. When people give something without expecting return, they become Emon. When people love unconditionally, they become Emon. Emon now lives within all of us. He didn't die—he lives in every good deed, every donation, every love."
The next morning, Maya was returning to Earth. Lina came to see her off.
"When will you come again?" Lina asked.
Maya smiled. "I'll come when birds sing in Mars' forests. You haven't brought birds yet."
Lina said, "We will. One day birds will fly in Mars' sky too. Earth birds, Mars birds—all flying together."
They embraced. Maya boarded the ship. The ship rose slowly, leaving Mars' red soil behind.
Lina stood watching for a long time. Jon beside her. Jon was now a twenty-year-old young man. He studied at the university named after Emon.
"Auntie, what's Earth like?" Jon asked.
Lina said, "Earth is very beautiful. Blue sky, green fields, rivers, mountains. But this red soil is beautiful too. This is our home."
Jon said, "One day I'll go to Earth. See the blue sky. But I'll return here. Because I too want Mars' sky to become blue one day."
Lina looked at Jon and smiled. In this boy, she saw the future Mars—a Mars no longer red, but blue, green, vibrant.
The ship grew smaller in the sky. Gradually it disappeared among the stars. Lina said in her heart, "Emon, do you see? Earth and Mars—two planets now travel the same path. They bask in the same sun, rest in the same shade. What you wanted has happened."
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