Something strong smell hit her nose and her nose scrunched in irritation and her senses came alive in a more annoyed way. Hrida whines with eyes closed," What is this smell? Tapish, how have you not whined until now because of this pungent odor? I will ask my mother to take this smell away from my room. Motherr… Mothther. Mother! Mo-"
Hrida's speech halts when she looks around her, her eyes drooped low, and mumbles in low energy tone, " Mom. You don't need to take care of this. Because you can't and.." She whispers like she tasted poison, " And I won't let YOU or anyone else again take care of me because I don't want to indulge in poison."
Her tone shifts into a melancholic mood," It is so unfair. All of this, I feel like I am in some kind of tragic story where the main character is fed with false truths. I just can't seem to understand what should I do, or where should I go, till when I should keep searching for my truth. Should I let myself be caught by the police and start living in another doll house?..... No, I can't. I won't. I will continue my search until I meet my truth."
Hrida inhaled deep breaths and patted her cheeks but she was distracted when she noticed blood surfaces again on Tapish's tail. Tapish is still asleep but when she leaned closer to Tapish's face, she heard his low hissing sounds and his whiskers sharp like frozen fractals.
She caressed her head and cooed softly," Tapish, it is hurting you a lot, I know. But don't worry; I will try to lessen your pain. But you have to co-operate and don't even think of avoiding ointment. Okay! "
Hrida released the bandages from his tail in a delicate manner and low hisses came out of her mouth after witnessing the blood oozing out of his wound. She grabbed a large piece of bandage and wiped the blood smoothly, then again applied the ointment over the whole wounded region and covered it with a bandage.
Despite that, Tapish still didn't wake up and only low groans were coming through his mouth. She couldn't help but rub her palms vigorously and suddenly she realized that maybe Tapish's low energy was due to an empty stomach.
She grabbed the same cookie packet that was half full and fed him two handfuls of cookies, which he hungrily ate and ultimately she was left with only a few packets of snacks in her bag.
She ponders," We are only left with few sources of food and that too we have to adjust with it for at least a week and till then I have to find a job for myself to feed both of us. But Tapish being injured, he needs more energy and that means a little more amount than I assumed.
Like this, we would be left with no food and that would be worse for me and especially Tapish. How will I manage this? How will I-. WAIT, I can do that. Yes. That is a better option. In this way, both of us will be fine. Thank you, God, for this idea."
More hours pass by and evening sets in bringing an orange hue to those bleakly painted walls, which bought Hrida's attention and she gawked with carefree eyes until those chipper brightness slowly seeped in deep into the ground and left traces of inky bluish spread on the wall.
Her mindless stare suddenly became alert when she saw a pitch-black shadow spreading on certain parts of the wall. At first, she paid mindful attention but after a few seconds, she blamed this happening due to night's darkness.
She dug her hand into the large plastic bags which remained scattered next to the sofa. She picked out a few to find something useful or items in working condition for their journey. But she also found a few useless things as well like empty torn boxes, empty packets, ripped clothes, expired earphones, splinted charge cables, etc.
However, one item she couldn't categorize into the useless or useful list and held that item in her hand for a long. Her visions got foggy and small droplets of water fell upon the head of a torn and dirty yet pretty little doll. She threw it in a heartless manner to a far distance only to get past from here to there by those busy shoes walking from either side.
She wiped her tears and spat out," I used to think pretty dolls were valuable and useful but truthfully they belong nowhere. They are useful for selfish use and are useless for not being worthy of real love. Just like- just like…"
Her gaze followed the doll's condition which is exactly like her state, so unconsciously she took the doll into her shelter which looked miserable yet comforting. She taped the bandage around the mid-torso ripped area and lay against Tapish's belly.
It was already night and she already felt cold shivers upon her body due to merciless cold breezes, she wrapped herself, the doll, and Tapish with her shawl and hummed a lullaby tune under her breath.
Out of nowhere, she heard jarring giggles close to her, and other sounds dissolved and only the giggles hung up in the air at present. She felt an impulse to quench her curiosity despite experiencing horrors within her body.
She heard keenly and propelled towards the source of the sound till she reached the window on the left side wall and peeked in through the window. Her eyes widened and her hands covered her mouth upon sighting what was inside. She saw a young man in his late 20s seated on a wooden chair while staring at the ceiling and giggling.
A few seconds later, she noticed a glass bottle held loosely in one hand, his room appeared strangely neat yet there was a mess of scattered and broken glass bottles on the white marble floor.
She saw him rambling to someone while gawking at the ceiling," I thank you for giving me this. All my problems vanished and I found the perfect bliss. These are not just alcohol but blissful drinks that make me forget everything and I feel lighter and lighter and the whole world turns blur and I still feel happy.
Being grateful as I am, I offer you this drink and join me in this celebration. Join me…Join me...Ka-", His speech turns slippery, " yyou ttoooo reject me. Like everyone else. Like those studip..stupid people who think I am just a fake person and all my behavior and talents are just a showoff. I am jjust…ppretending to be like an all-rounder and 'The know-it-all' persooon. These are alllll..just fake. ME ANDD YOU.. Evrrything….Rrightt ? Who am I asking, you never respoonnd."
He rose from his seat and walked hazily and picked up those empty glass bottles and smashed them one by one upon his head while wearing a devilish grin, " I ttold you I am full of talents and this might be one of them. "
Hrida gasped and muffled her scream by keeping a rigid grip on her mouth. Her mind went blank and she figured out that he was totally out of mind, literally.
She saw droplets of blood dripping down his temple and then suddenly he started madly banging those empty glass bottles against his forehead. Some glass pieces flew and bit her hands and she hissed out low.
He started shouting like a madman," Can you see this? I am so talented. I smashed all these bottles still my head is fine as a needle. Sharp and strong! Woahh.. I feel like my head is wet. Looks like I poured alcohol on my head."
Suddenly rainfall of garbage pieces showered on her from the upper window. She grunted low groans but the metal items clanked on the ground and made a sharp noise, which grabbed his attention.
He tilted his head like a stuck robot and when he noticed her presence, his lips curved upwards forming a creepy grin. The creepiness came out stronger with each second, and within a blink of an eye, a hand sprung over her hand trapping her hand underneath that person's hand, making those tiny bits of glass pieces penetrate deeper into her skin.
She groans," Let me go ! You are hurting me. Let my hand go". Upon closer inspection, she noticed dried tear marks on his face though he had a disturbing smile on his face and strangely his sparkly eyes drifted and emerged a pitch-black hue leaving no room for even reflection to pass through. Hrida felt as if she was staring at a black hole and before it swallowed her as well, she sank her teeth into his palm and he let her hand go and he held his teeth-marked hand.
Hrida warns him in an irked tone," I told you to let my hand go. But you didn't lose your grip, so I gave you a grip of mine. You are older than me and have some manners. My mother says those who behave like mindless humans, are called idiots. You are also one of them. Get a grip, bhaiya (brother). Because of that adult drink, you have gone crazy, crazy bhaiya. Go see a doctor, you-"
That man roars, " Shut up, you stupid little girl. You don't know anything. Everyone treats me like I am not real. I am just a show-off from head to toe. What would a small girl like you know about adult problems? This drink is bitter and truth is bitter as well. And people sayyy, Bitter medicine cures you. That's what I amm doing. I think it has already started its healing effect. See me, I am so happppy. "
She corrects," No, bhaiya. Not everything that is bitter works like medicine instead it may be a poison. You should leave those bottles. You don't need these because you are not a ghost or invisible. I can see you unless you are a..... "
She stopped when suddenly he started laughing again in a devilish way and she was assured that he surely was the devil because she could see the horns on his head.
His tone reduced to a nightmarish tone, " I am not in the mood for speech but if you want to help me then tell him to join with me in my happiness. After all the credit goes to him because he was the one who suggested this brilliant idea of having these bittersweet drinks. Tell him to join me. "
Hrida questions in disbelief tone, " Where? There is no one in the room except you. Are you Okay?"
That man roars in anger," You stupid little girl, can't you see? He is hiding behind my shadow." She looked at his shadow and saw nothing but darkness still she felt a wave of chill on her spine for no reason. She refuses his request, " I can't see. Even if I could see him, I wouldn't request him to join you. I won't. I am sorry but I won't "
That man's eyes went round and he gasped dramatically and the next moment, he giggled and laughed like there was no tomorrow and his laughter didn't sound pleasant or comforting.
At the next moment, his face was suddenly closer by the window, and threatened her in a sugary commanding tone," Do as I say. Tell him to join me. Tell him, please. Tell him. TELL HIM."
Hrida steps back instantly and shakes her head 'No' then he threatens her with a creepy smile, " Don't worry, I know what is your problem. You don't know manners. I am there to teach you a LESSON. I AM COMING FOR YOU." After saying this, he rushes out of his room.
Hrida panicked and hurriedly scooped up her cat in her arms and hung her backpack on one arm while holding that doll in her left hand. She haphazardly ran on the streets though she could hear those madman's steps following her traces. She applied pressure on her tired legs to speed up and she fastened her running and kept switching her direction based on her instincts.
Ultimately she left that madman way behind her path and was now free from him but she also realized that she was right now standing at an unknown place with no trace of buildings. She turns in 360 degrees but she only finds trees and trees and trees alongside the narrow and long road.
Tapish's meows diverted her attention. She looked forward to his response but he stayed silent for a minute long. A small smile finds its way to her lips and she comments in a little chirpy tone, " You always do this when you want attention and still I love it. I think your playfulness has returned after all. Good. You are Happy, then I am also Happy. I know we can't be happy like our past selves but maybe better than that. We will find our way back home. And-" She kept her phrase incomplete as she ruffled his furry head and returned to the silent road.
She resumes her walking lazily to preserve her energy and permits Tapish to walk on the road and she had to otherwise Tapish wouldn't have stopped flashing his cute and wide toothy smile. She had been pacing for approximately 1 hour and her feet felt jelly and the ground shaking, still, she continued moving her stone-like heavy legs.
Her movement freezes when she finds Tapish lying on the ground, whimpering and groaning at the same time. She rushed by his side and examined his bandage but the bandage was clean as new with no traces of blood though she couldn't unheard his painful roars.
She drew him onto her lap and sat down on the roadside while comforting him with her delicate caresses and words to diminish his pain even if it is a bit, " Tap. Tap. Tap. Is someone there? I am Tapish's younger sister. Can you send him the message that he is the bravest and most lovely brother I have? What do you mean he is throwing tantrums? How unkind of you to state such a statement about my elder brother! He is not dramatic or silent but just a warm fuzzy ball being.
And you, let Tapish know that this pain is temporary, and don't force yourself, let me take care of him as far as I can. And also warn him to not place his paw on the ground until he is better. Good! Thank you for your service."
She took out a fist full of biscuits and fed him affectionately though at some point her hands were shaking but she shook her head to focus and ignored the pain. She once again stood up and resumed her steps but as she walked she felt her world shifting into blurry visions and suddenly darkness took over her eyes.