The sun was about to rise and we stood in the forest with the bodies layed on our side.
“Are we going to leave them here?”
“Do you want to take them with you?”
“No! But they are hurt ”
“Hurt! They wouldn’t have taken a minute to hurt you. Are you sympathizing with them?”
I shrugged while i tried to hide my face.
“Are you saying i am wrong. They broke my ankle.”
“I am not saying anything lets get this over with and leave.”
She looked at him with eyes in rage.
The way back none of us tried to start a conversation.
But the silence was killing me so i asked.
“Are there more of them?”
“I am not on their side.” Her tone showed her anger and my words hurt her.
I was still confused on how to digest the suggestion but for now i wanted her to not feel bad about it.
“Its okay i would have done the same if it was me.”
“Same worse guys are more aggressive i have seen much worst.
I did it.
Nevermind.” And then her tone turned to whispers “Why should i explain it to a kid.” But i heard it.
I thought in my head “You look like my age” but i didn’t say a thing.
I didn’t wanted to hurt her more.
We reached the home and she asked if there was something more to eat.”What?
I am hungry after all that?”
“How’s your foot?”
“Its better.”
It was morning so i asked my mom to cook something for her.
I couldn’t tell her everything that happened she would be scared.
I had to make sure she doesn’t enter the room.
I knew by the way she walked she wasn’t going to leave soon so i suggested “I think you need new clothes. I have some savings.”
“hmmm! But i wanna eat first.”
“Yeah we cant leave in broad daylight. People around know me. We will leave in the evening untill then you can rest.”
We hadn’t slept properly in the night so we both wanted to sleep.
I ran downwards and brought the paranthas that my mom made.
Her nose loved the tangy aroma of the spices inside.
Along with the home made chutney of herbs.
She ate all of them within seconds and was shy to ask for more.
But i dropped more of them.
It was the start of summer and after eating the paranthas she quickly nodded off to sleep.
I slept below the bed.
“I hope she doesn’t scratch my neck again.”
The windows on my house were huge but nothing could be seen from outside.
The view had mountains gliding till clouds.
The bright lights of cars was evident on the roads.
We woke up in the evening and left the house covertly.
In the streets people gazes were all over us.
She didn’t leave her sword even though i persisted.
Her brown hood made her shine among the people.
“Namaste!” I knew i am gonna be in trouble if the news reaches the home.
But meeting few of known people we reached the main market.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
The view was peculiar for her.
The buildings and small streets tight enough for people to walk.
Only she was the one comfortable in the sorroundings.
And caused evident abnormal reactions to people, everyone avoided her in her path.
She smiled on the way untill we reached a shop.
I nudged her to send in.
The shopkeepers were baffled by her look.
I asked,”Clothes for women.”
In awe they asked again,” clothes for women”
“Go to top floor.”
We reached the top floor and i was happy no one else was there.
But her.
They showed suits one by one.
But she didn’t like one of them.
Different colours.
Different styles.
As soon as they pulled out one clothes.
She looked at me with an upset smile.
We soon left the shop and went to another.
The shop was filled with people this time.
We barely fitted in the room.
They started with sarees.
I denied them as i knew she wouldn’t like that.
One child noticed her sword and whispered to his parents.
And the shopkeeper irritated showed her dresses one by one.
But the look on ber face didn’t change.
When we left the shop, people gazes were still over us.
I was waiting for this to be over.
Then we went to another shop it had normal shirts but she didn’t like anything.
Even her eyes were down now.
Untill she saw a lady in a hood made of fur till her waist.
“Do you like that?”
I was excited when she nodded and asked can we have that?”
The season was of summers it was hard to find a shop with hoodies.
Bumping people and my legs were tired now but atlast we saw a hood hanging outside.
she pointed towards the hood and we went in.
“Do you have hoodies?”
The shopkeeper was polite and escorted us to the ground floor.
He pulled out a wrapper of clothes.
And unfloded a white fur filled hoodie with a cap and she quickly touched the fur.
“You can try in the rest room.” She left and when came back, the shop keeper was about to fall seeing the sword tied to her.
Waist.
I asked him if they had any jeans or lowers.
When he left she uplifted her hair.
The white hair contrasted with the hood and i notoced the blue color of her pupil.
“White hair isn’t that common here.”
Then they showed us.
She wasnt choosy in them but asked me if they had anything where she could keep her sword.
But i couldn’t think of anything.