I was running to my parents to catch them, but they're going as far as I tried to catch them. Mom, dad, wait, I want to be with you. I tried to stop them, but they seemed to just fade away. Mom, dad, take me with you. I want to be with you two. Please don't leave me alone.
They just left me here alone. I collapsed on the ground and started sobbing.
"Sakhi, wake up" someone's talking to me, who is it?
Suddenly, the world started to shake, and I swiftly woke up from my sleep to see sakhi's mom trying to wake me up.
It drenched my face with my tears.
What matters is Sakhi? Had a nightmare? She asked worriedly.
I nodded. She creased my hair and said softly, "it's okay, mom is with you."
I don't know, but those words made my heart feel warm. She reacted the same way my mom would do.
"I came to wake you up to get ready. I have already selected the clothes for you and put them on the table. Don't be late." She said and left the room.
I wiped the sweat from my face and sat blankly. I looked at the wall clock and saw it was only 3.30 in the morning.
That's actually the time when I get to sleep if I have to finish my assignments due. My brain is so fuzzy right now, and I can't think of anything else. Maybe due to lack of sleep.
I slowly got up from my bed and looked out of the window, and it's still pitch black outside. I can literally see nothing. I want to sleep more. I took my clothes and headed to the bathroom.
I don't have any experience in handling a half sari, but it's better than a sari and it's so good. It has outstanding quality. It has a rich soft fabric, it must be super costly. And the measurements are great, it looks like it's made for me.
I started drying my hair with a towel. I went to the window to see that blue hues were forming in the sky. And the sun is yet to set in the sky.
I dried my hair quickly under the ceiling fan and styled it with hairpins.
I obediently sat on my bed, waiting for mom to take me with her.
I started walking to the kitchen to drink water due to the lack of hydration in my body. After chunking a full glass of water, I felt relief. I started looking for something to eat as I woke up early, and now my stomach started to complain.
I saw mom coming downstairs in a beautiful sari, and hair adorned with jasmines.
She went to the puja room and took essential items, and kept all of them in a basket. After taking everything, she carried the basket with her and started walking towards me.
"My daughter is looking so beautiful," mum's face was glowing while telling that
"What are you doing in the kitchen? We were getting late?"
"I'm looking for some snacks, I'm feeling hungry mom," I made a pitiful face, thinking I could get something to eat
"We have to visit the temple with an empty stomach. I already told you many times,"
My face dropped after hearing her, but didn't take it to heart, and we started heading to the temple on foot. I hope it's not too far, or else I'll faint for sure.
I didn't get to explore the neighbourhood, even though it's been a few days since I came to this world. I started observing everything while following mom.
Everyone was already awake and started cleaning their entrance to the house. Some of them have already left for work. All the houses here seem like they're made up of mud, and only a few seem like they're made up of concrete and cement. All of them have cracks. I wonder how they're able to live in such homes?
After a 20 mins walk, I was covered in sweat. I think this is exactly my body because I sweat just like this. We finally reached the temple. The temple was magnificent. I can't describe the beauty in words. They made the whole temple from one big rock. It was so peaceful, and I could constantly hear the ringing sounds from the bell inside.
There are not many in the temple, as it's still early. They filled the whole temple with the fragrance of the Agarbathis, which I always love. We got inside and started doing Pradakshina. We went to offer the coconut to the deity after breaking them. After that, we went to pray to God and received aarati and some prasadam.
We went to sit in the corner for a few minutes. During this time, I'm observing the surroundings. The temple has a few cows, so I gave them bananas that mom brought, which they enjoyed devouring.
I prayed to God with my whole heart to show me a path to get out of here. Now everything is going to be determined by the universe.
I'm grateful that I'm able to enjoy the luxury in this world, but I want to be in the warmth of my parents. And children can only be at ease when they're under their parents' umbrella.
I was lost in my thoughts when mom shook my shoulders to grab my attention and said that it was time to go.
I got up, removed dust off my clothes, and started to follow mom to return home.
In a few days, there will be a jathara, and we have to come again. My eyes lit up upon hearing her.
Finally, there's something to cure my boredom. While I'm doing my happy dance in my mind. Mom said something again. "I made a solemn vow to the goddess, and you have to fulfil it."
Feeling confused, I asked, "what should I do about it?"
"You have to offer 50 coconuts to the goddess,"
My head started to feel dizzy, unable to accept the fact. My palm will start to bleed if I do that. I shook my head no. She frowned and explained, "You have to do it with your own hands without any help, if we break the vow, our family has to suffer from the curse by the goddess."
She's placing me in a difficult position. I know it's not a real world, and I don't even know if the curse is real? I would have believed if I'm in my own world, but it's a novel world and I don't know if it applies here. Anyway, I didn't want to risk getting a curse, so I nodded unwillingly, accepted my fate.
I literally have zero energy to go home now. But this lady, aka mom, seems to be full of energy, there isn't a single drop of sweat on her forehead, and she's walking at such a rapid pace that it's hard to follow her.
My face turned pale and cold sweat started to form on my forehead as we made our way to our home. It feels really weird to call it our home. My hunger died as we made our way to the entrance of the house. I was gasping for breath. Now all I want is to get rid of this dress quickly, hit the bed and take a fulfilling nap.
I hurriedly started to climb the stairs when mom interrupted me, came downstairs after washing hands and feet. "Why?" Now what do I have to do? I don't even have the energy to lift my arm.
"Of course, to have breakfast," as my hunger was already dead. I didn't feel anything when I heard her.
"I'm not starving, you continue without me," I continued to go to my room.
"It's not good to skip breakfast, don't make me repeat myself," is she threatening me? Ugh
I quickly cleaned my hands and feet and came downstairs.
I quietly took my seat, and mom served me idly with chutney sambar and some powder. Is this a hotel or something? My mom would just make some chutney, and it satisfied me with that, but here?
I quietly prayed to God for giving me good food and took my first bite of idly. It was so delicious; the sambar was steaming hot, so I carefully dipped the idly, so I didn't burn my fingers and ate it. I feel like I'm eating in a 5-star hotel.
I usually eat no more than 4 idlis, but now I finished 7. Wow, I never ate this many.
After finishing the breakfast, I washed my hands and thanked mom for the food, and returned to my room.
To be continued…..