Ayunda's recovery had been gradual, each passing day bringing a little more clarity to her mind, a little more strength to her body. The fever that had gripped her when she first arrived had faded, and the sickness that had followed her fall into the pond was now a distant memory. She spent most of her days in the quiet confines of her chambers, attended to by a young servant named Rina. Rina was kind, always ready with a warm meal or a fresh cloth for Ayunda's brow, but never intrusive. The girl's gentle presence became a comforting part of Ayunda's daily routine, and slowly, as the days passed, she began to feel a semblance of peace in this new life.
Despite the comfort she was beginning to find, Ayunda's mind remained restless, sometimes drifting into strange thoughts about the world she had once known. But each time she remembered, she would push the thoughts aside, focusing instead on her present life, which now seemed to be unfolding like an unfamiliar yet intriguing book.
On the evening of the second day since she had awoken, Ayunda was gently escorted to the dining hall for the family's evening meal. It was the first time she was to join them outside her chambers, and a sense of anticipation, mixed with unease, fluttered in her chest. Her mother had arranged for her to join the family's dinner, hoping that the small gesture would lift Ayunda's spirits and ease the quiet isolation she had been living in since her arrival.
The dining hall was large, with high wooden beams overhead, and the long table was set with dishes Ayunda could not name. The air was fragrant with the aroma of spiced meats and fresh fruit, and the warm glow of lanterns cast soft shadows on the stone walls. It was a far cry from the sterile, impersonal environment of her previous life, and as she stepped into the room, she felt like an intruder.
At the head of the table sat her father, a man of quiet authority. His gaze softened as Ayunda entered, but he said nothing, simply gesturing for her to take a seat next to her mother. His presence was commanding, but there was something steady and reassuring in the way he carried himself—like the calm before a storm. Ayunda had noticed it in the short glimpses she had gotten of him in the past days. He was not a man of many words, but his actions spoke volumes.
Her mother, in contrast, was effervescent, her smile bright as she welcomed Ayunda to the table. "Sit, my dear," she said warmly. "The food will do you good, and we can all share a pleasant evening together now that you're feeling better."
Ayunda nodded and sat down, her hands folding in her lap. She observed the family in silence—her father, her mother, and her brother, Bayu Kusuma, who was around her age. Bayu looked up from his plate with a shy smile, his eyes twinkling with a warmth that reminded her of the playful siblings from the stories her mother often told.
"How are you feeling now?" Bayu asked, leaning forward slightly, the gleam of concern in his voice masked by his usual youthful enthusiasm.
Ayunda's voice came out softer than she intended, but she answered truthfully, "Better, thank you."
Bayu's eyes brightened. "Good! I brought you something," he said, reaching for a small dish on the table that Ayunda had not yet noticed. He placed it in front of her, revealing an assortment of sweet, sticky treats. "I remember you liked these when you were younger," he said with a wink. "I thought they might help you feel better."
Ayunda couldn't help but smile at the gesture. She picked up a piece of the sweet, fragrant treat and took a tentative bite. It was rich with flavor, the sweetness almost overwhelming, but comforting all the same. The sensation was familiar in a way she couldn't quite place.
Her mother watched her with a soft smile, her eyes filled with a gentle warmth. "I'm glad to see you eating well. It is said that good food can help heal any pain," she said, her voice calm but filled with a deep, knowing affection.
Ayunda nodded, grateful for the kindness, but her thoughts still lingered elsewhere. She realized that while she had begun to heal physically, emotionally, she remained distant, her past life—a life of solitude and detachment—still clinging to her like a shadow. She had no expectations of love, no attachment to her past world. She had lived as an orphan there, an independent woman with no real connections, no family. The thought of her previous life barely stirred anything within her now.
What mattered to her now was this family—her father, her mother, and her brother. For the first time, she could feel the stirrings of something akin to belonging. She did not understand their world completely, but she hoped that with time, she would learn to find peace in it.
After dinner, as the family shared small talk and laughter, Ayunda excused herself, quietly slipping out of the hall. The garden outside her chambers had become a refuge for her, a quiet place where she could think, breathe, and observe without feeling the weight of expectation.
The night air was cool against her skin as she wandered through the lush greenery. The moonlight cast a soft glow on the path, and for a moment, Ayunda stood still, taking in the tranquility of it all. The scent of flowers filled the air, and the sound of rustling leaves seemed to whisper secrets from another time. She sat down on a low stone bench, letting the peace of the garden seep into her bones.
As she gazed out at the vast expanse of the garden, memories began to surface—flickers of images from her past life. She could see herself, alone in a small apartment, buried under paperwork, working tirelessly through late nights and early mornings. There had been no friends, no family waiting for her when she returned home from the endless hours at the office.
But here, in this new life, things were different. She had a family—a mother, a father, and a brother. She didn't know what the future would hold for her in this strange new world, but for the first time, she allowed herself to imagine a life filled with warmth, connection, and maybe, just maybe, happiness.
As the moon climbed higher in the sky, Ayunda sat quietly, listening to the night, wondering what tomorrow would bring.
End of Chapter 2.