With a loud "thump," the air-cutting sound stopped near Viriya. And the sound of water droplets falling on something metallic grew louder as the rain increased.
"Let's go, don't get wet," Makriva said, walking forward. And the snake-like creature with legs walked towards the back of Makriva's head from his arm. On its back it had zebra-like white stripes on it.
"What that?" Viriya asked, confused.
"Ridhra?
Did you forget already?" Makriva said, looking back at her.
After the train journey and all the events, Viriya completely forgot about Ridhra.
Meanwhile, Ridhra got up on Makriva's head, where it opened a fan-type membrane around its head and looked towards the sky. Like it was collecting the rainwater.
After looking at Ridhra for a little while, Viriya, remembering about Ownad, asked, "Where Ownad?"
"Might be with dad or—" Before Makriva could finish his sentence, loud thunder echoed everywhere. And Ridhra quickly walked back and was trying to go inside the trench coat of Makriva, but couldn't, with the bag straps around Makriva.
After Ridhra stopped and went back on Makriva's head, he said again, "Maybe with Di or at home, sleeping most likely."
They were walking towards the shaded place ahead.
There was a man with neck-length open hair, standing. He had those layered metal plates on his neck, and he had just a normal type of shirt, which she could remember seeing in the memory distortion. He called out, "Makra, Vira, come fast, don't get wet."
Makriva replied almost instantly, "Why don't you come and carry some luggage from me. What is the point of those strong arms of yours?"
"You know..." the man said.
"I know what?" Makriva asked mockingly.
"I don't like getting wet in rain..." the man said, smiling.
By then they reached the shaded place, which was covered with metallic plates. It was the place to purchase the tokens for trains.
"Yea sure," Makriva replied, after putting down his luggage.
Viriya thought, So Dad. No, Di. Should I pile on with Makriva? Ehh, I should, I guess.
After thinking a little about what to say, she said, "I not know Di, how you become Parira."
The man looked at Viriya, like saying what did you just say? But didn't say anything.
Looking at the man, Viriya thought, Wait, he isn't Parira? Or not my dad? Did I just?
Why I was so eager to ahhh!! Viriya just looked in a different direction, not saying anything.
He looked at Makriva and pointed at Viriya with his eyes, like saying what is she saying?
Yup exactly, go throw me under the train track.
Makriva said, "She is too much sleep deprived, forget her."
He came a little closer to Viriya. He was about to say something, when right then Ridhra jumped from Makriva to the head of that guy.
The man yelled, "Rain, Rain, bad rain water."
And Ridhra, not caring at all, jumped again outside the shade into the rain.
Makriva said, "Really, how did you become Parira? With this much ehh... I don't know, childishness.."
"Did you forget about connections? And keep that s—lizard away from me."
Makriva didn't reply anything to that.
Another man was coming from inside the tokens building. He had a tall frame, but not taller than Viriya or Makriva. His mustache was going down, not meeting the chin, and his medium-length hair was slicked backwards.
Seeing the man coming, the man with Viriya and Makriva said rather loudly, "And by the way, congratulations for the future brother or sister. Or maybe both..?" then looked at the man who came outside and laughed deliberately.
Hearing that, the man coming from inside just stopped. Looked at the man outside in disbelief and without saying anything, went inside.
"What? Why are you going inside?" the man with them asked.
From inside he called, "Kratshi, come inside."
The man with them said, "I will be back."
As he left the place quickly.
Viriya asked, "What happened?"
Makriva just said, "Ahh... Not sure? Dad called Kratshi in as he went inside after—"
It seemed like something clicked for Makriva, and he moved his head to a different direction. And didn't say anything.
Viriya asked again, "What happened."
"Don't worry. Will tell you after reaching our home." Makriva said.
What just happened? Am I too dumb? I don't know how — brother or sister? Dad? Oh.
After getting a little shock, Viriya asked, "how old I? And you?"
"Ahhh.., me tmra and you mrara," Makriva said with stopping inbetween.
"Ah, what? Break down?" Viriya said.
"Tmra, Tra e Mra and Mrara is Mra e Mra," Makriva explained.
Tra Mra, 43? He is 43? What? How is he so young? And Mra Mra? 33? How am I so young? Because half Daitya?
Viriya had an amazed face. Makriva didn't say anything on top of that.
That's why Dad—Di went inside? Embarrassed.
Well, yes, I am quite slow after all...
After thinking a little, she asked, "Who Kratshi?"
"Dad's working friend," Makriva said in a tone which seemed normal for that situation.
They just stood there without saying anything. Viriya went to sit nearby, under the shade.
A little while later, Dad came outside dragging Kratshi with him, like Kratshi had no weight, even though he was clearly a little too much bigger than Dad. Their dad said to Kratshi, almost like threatening him, "Will you or do I?"
When he first came outside, Viriya didn't notice the metallic plates around his neck and wrists. Those were visible now. He was wearing a long trench coat like Makriva, pants like Kratshi, and some kind of long boots maybe.
Kratshi said with a smile, "Are you having twins or?"
Dad just faced a different direction and said, "Did I.. did I? Never mind, just—just wait inside. No, go outside in the rain."
"What? Didn't you tell me to say that? What's wrong?" Kratshi asked, laughing, as he went inside.
Dad, raising his voice a little, said, "No, no, I didn't."
Then it was just silent for a while. Makriva suddenly said, "So Ma is ok this year right? No pain?"
Dad answered a little too quickly, "Y—yes. She is ok this year. Because of t—that."
Dad looked at Viriya, about to say something, but pointing at the jar Viriya was holding, he asked, "Is that?"
Makriva, looking at it, said, "Yes. A Katayantra tried stealing it, failed. At night Viriya sleepwalked and took it.."
Hearing that dad stood there looking at the flower. The just went closer, bent down, got on one knee, and looked at the fresh white flower floating in slightly red-tinted water.
He asked, "What did Udaya say about it?"
"Give to Ma." Viriya said in a broken, sleepy voice.
Dad stood up and said, "Ok, go home, and tell Bhava what happened there."
Makriva said, "Sure. Let her go home with Kratshi, I have something to talk about. I will catch up to them."
The rain was less heavy then. Dad, thinking a little, said, "Ok."
Makriva said to Viriya, "Go ahead with Kratshi. I will catch up."
Viriya had almost fallen asleep sitting there. She just said, "Yea sure... The train thing?"
Makriva just nodded and said, "Stand up."
As Viriya slowly stood up, Makriva held Viriya's face with both hands and shook it a little aggressively, which made Viriya feel less sleepy.
Dad called out to Kratshi. He immediately came outside, like he had been waiting at the door.
"Go ahead with Viriya, home." Dad said.
"But, but the rain?" Kratshi asked.
"What rain? That is rain?
...
Just go."
Kratshi just stood there without saying anything.
Dad sighed and took off his trench coat, gave it to Kratshi, saying, "Use it as cover... And it has my equipment, leave it at home..."
The metal plates were at his neck, going down till the shoulder, and the wrist plates continued till the elbows. He was wearing a black, skin-tight garment. It was somewhat shiny and had some kind of patterns drawn on it. Viriya noticed but didn't ask about it.
Makriva told Kratshi, "Viriya is too sleep deprived. If she says anything weird or asks anything totally out of nowhere, just answer or.. ignore it..."
"Why? What might she say?"
"I don't know, anything..?" Makriva replied.
"Just go.. and take these bags with you," Dad said, pointing at the luggage of Makriva and Viriya.
Kratshi wore the trench coat, which didn't really fit him properly. He took all the bags in one hand like they weighed nothing, then split them into 2, one for each hand, and said, "Let's go, let's go, Viriya."
Viriya went ahead with Kratshi. While leaving the stand, she heard Makriva talking about the train situation to Dad. The voice slowly faded as they went forward.
___
While on their way home, Viriya was sometimes looking at the structured buildings, lights outside, but mostly not. Both were silent for a while like that.
Kratshi and Viriya were walking side by side.
Kratshi asked, "From when did you stop talking?"
"Um, the sleep..."
"Yes I can see that.
How was the meal for the public there this year?"
"Yea, good, tasty."
"I wish I could eat that once more."
"Why not go there, this year?" Viriya asked looking at him.
"Yea, gone once, maybe later again. Maybe not." He said in a little sad tone.
"Why not?"
"If I go there more, the already huge belly of mine will become even bigger to do anything. The food there, just so good." Kratshi said laughing. Which felt like he was trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.
He asked again, "And the flower? Why it was broken before maturing?"
Viriya just explained in short what happened, leaving out the dream during the sleepwalking.
"Why are you talking broken like that? Just sleep deprived or something different?"
Viriya was thinking whether she should tell anything or not, later decided not to. Because Makriva did not as well. She just said, "No sleep and simple."
Viriya continued, "Maam said, give it to ma. Maybe she know thing do with it?"
"Hmm, but during her pregnancy..?" Kratshi said in a little worried tone.
"There any problem? With having kid and this?" Viriya asked.
"Maybe not? Not completely sure. At least she isn't having the pain this year at least." Kratshi said, a little relieved.
"Yes, Makriva say the same, what pain?" Viriya asked.
"The period? Did you forget? Every year at these days."
"Oh yes, pregnant so no— got it."
Viriya became blank for a little, and stopped in her tracks.
Wait period? And Viriya gets that too right?
No, I will get that too right? Why the memory distortion had to be a male body....
Nope,
what even I am saying? I just forgot. I always had that.
"Viriya. What? Come?"
Viriya snapped back and stammered, "Not forgot, just confused little."
Kratshi looked at Viriya a little and said slowly, "Yeahh." then started walking again.
A little while later Viriya heard a gliding sound from behind.
When she looked back, it was Ridhra, gliding, and behind them Makriva was running towards them.
They both waited a little for Makriva. Ridhra came and sat on Viriya. When he caught up they started walking again.
Makriva asked, "What you two were talking about till now?"
"That the food at Upavana is very good, sadly only I was there once." Kratshi laughed and said.
"Hmm, that's very true but, well I can describe how good they were, want to know?" Makriva replied teasingly.
Viriya then said, "And the Kiranot?"
"Oh yes, also we ate the great Kiranot of Untashi." Makriva smirked and said.
"And yet, you are still so, ehh.. and look at me." Kratshi said looking downwards.
When she was hearing their conversation, it suddenly dawned on Viriya that how did she understand the word for period? Because she never heard that before.
But remembering that she could understand some of the words before learning the language, she decided not to think much of it.
They reached a bigger road. And on the side of that, a small passageway. They all went that way. And Viriya followed them. A little inside that passage there was a rotten smell, rotten fish or meat.
"Why this place, so bad smell?" Viriya asked, covering her nose with her right hand. She held the broken jar in her left hand.
"It's a meat shop area, and it rained so this is the situation now.
And it's a shortcut." Makriva said, slightly through his nose.
"Shortcut.. better end soon." The pungent smell of rotten blood, meat, mixed with mud was a bit too intense for Viriya. She wasn't sleepy anymore.
"It's not that bad, and we are almost there." Kratshi said normally.
"Mhm.. sure."
After they went out from the small path, Viriya sighed loudly out of relief.
Lamp posts were lighting the road they were walking on. The roadside was still muddy from the rain. After walking a little,
"Hoi sleepy slandiri, can you see our house there?" Makriva said, pointing a little far towards a lit house.
Viriya said, "Yes, brother of sleepy sla—ndiri."
"Why Di not come with us?" Viriya was wanting to ask that for a while, but was hesitant a little. Then she asked almost instantly. So Makriva couldn't say anything else like sleepy slandiri.
Kratshi said, "Pannavo was supposed to come and I was supposed to stay there. I am here so he had to stay."
The names of mother and father Viriya knew from the train conversation. Father is Pannavo Shanipat, mother is Bhavakari Shanipat.
"Yes sleepy slandiri. Dad will come home when he will be at the stand." Makriva intentionally said again.
Viriya just face palmed hearing that again. Her eyes were closed then. She was about to trip over something. But Makriva caught her before she could fall.
"Slow, slow down, slandiri."
"Yea sure, my beloved brother." Viriya said snarkily.
Makriva didn't say anything after that. And went forward, towards home.
___
They were near the house. Makriva said, "Our home."
Viriya didn't say anything to that, just thought, Our... home.
After reaching the house, Makriva knocked the door. A lady of similar height to Makriva opened the door. Her skin tone was darker, and her face structure was essentially Viriya's but more rough, more rigid. Her hair was like Makriva's. Braided in many parts and tied together at the back, the only difference being that Makriva had a ponytail kind of thing and the lady had a bun. She was wearing a gown kind of thing which was covering her whole body other than her head and palms.
As soon as the door opened, Ridhra ran-glided inside into the right room. And a barking sound followed.
Ownad.
A big dog came outside from there. On top of its head, there was Ridhra. Like it was resting on a cozy bed made out of big fur. The right leg from the knee down, Ownad had a metallic prosthetic leg.
Viriya thought, Mastiff breed still exists?
She told them to get inside the house.
She asked in a slightly concerned tone, "Was everything ok? Was anything wrong?"
Makriva said, "Yes, ma mostly." as they went inside.
Makriva continued, "Viriya sleepwalked and took the flower without triggering it. Maybe because it was cut down by Katayantra? Anyway, Maam said to give it to you."
"The palm of her?" saying that she took the jar from Viriya, which she gave willingly.
While Viriya was handing the broken jar with the flower to her mother, she noticed a pendant hanging on a thread on her wrist, in the place of the bangle.
Kratshi was there, mother didn't bring attention to it then. So she started walking inside the room with the jar.
When she was going inside, from behind them Kratshi said, "Thenra, here is Pannavo's coat. And the luggage. I am leaving. Otherwise he is stuck at the stand."
"Ok Kratshi, be safe. On the way."
"Thenra" — is used for a woman who is loved and respected. It could be towards a younger baby or a dying elderly. The closest equivalent in English is "Dear."
Kratshi dropped the luggage in the room and hung the trench coat at the side of the bed. Then he took out a small bottle from his pant pocket and drank something before leaving.
After taking the jar, mother went inside a room, Ownad followed her there. She stayed there for a while.
Makriva sat on the bed there. Seeing that, Viriya followed.
The house was made out of concrete, and on the inside it had wooden work. The room they were in was clean, but in the gaps of the wood and concrete, there were some small dead plants. Also some plants seemed like they were made out of concrete.
Not much things were there other than the bed, desk and a chair.
After mother came outside empty handed, without Ownad or Ridhra, she asked what happened to the bangle.
She asked, not looking particularly at Viriya or Makriva. Viriya hadn't said anything there at all, she was thinking of saying at least something for a while. Before Makriva could say anything, Viriya blurted out in Hindi, "Someone stole it, I don't know what happened."
First she looked a bit confused, then in a bit she asked,
"Stolen? How?" Bhavakari came closer to Viriya while saying that. It was like the fact that Viriya had spoken a different language didn't even register to her.