An Eternity with you

 

Dedicated to my dearest best friend Sharon A Shajan

 
 
.......‘I know there is an outside world above the cliff where many other people just like us live. I often wonder if someone somehow climbs down the hill and finds out about our life. From my thoughts, the chances to survive from falling off the huge cliff are nil. But what if someone comes down? Will they harm us? Will they be able to return? What type of people will they be?’.....
This is my wonderful world. A vast area of forest and grasslands just below this huge cliff. Nobody in our tribe has ever climbed that cliff. A beautiful river diverged flowing from East to west parallel to the cliff and bends to North West direction. One side of the diverged river was barren and had this huge cave, terrifying with the bloodstained torn clothes and flesh and bones on the side, while the other side was a beauty and pretty much where we lived. The water from this river was pure and we used this for our daily works. There were flowers and trees and wonder in the forest. The more attractive the plants and trees were, the more poisonous and dangerous, now that was what was protecting us from the outside world. Same as the old proverb goes, 'Good medicine always has a bad taste'. The fruit from the huge 'Buddha' tree has always cured us of illness. Even though it cures, death is inevitable.
 
Our tribe lives a few meters away from the cliff. We hardly come near the cliff. Although we were told about the tribes that live outside, we have never met one person outside our small tribe of 100, well, that's about 27-30 families.
I have heard Cha chi and Mu mu saying that my parents knew what was above the cliff. Ever since I lost my parents at the age of 3, Cha chi and Mu mu were taking care of me. They were like my adopted parents. It has been 14 years since I have been with them, and always the same routine. Starting the day from Mu mu's wake-up call and ending with Cha chi's bedtime story.
Our tribe was led by a great master and the most respected elder, 'Genei'. Any final decision to be taken in the tribe was decided by Genei. I don't know why we call her Genei even though it's not even her real name. Being so important, she had a few assistants to help her and others to put the village together and my Cha chi was one of them.
Cha chi is our master and is responsible for the education of the tribe, teaching and leading the children to become better people, not to brag, but I am the top of my class.
 
Every day was the same until Genei came home with a girl who was severely wounded. I wondered why she brought an unknown wounded girl with her.
Genei advised Raven, one of her assistants to check on the wounded girl. Faster than the flaps of a hummingbird, word has spread that the girl fell off the cliff and miraculously survived.
......‘oh, dear! Is it going to be true? What I have imagined? What I have thought? Will she harm us? Is Genei doing things right? Should I raise my voice against her? No, I shouldn't! Nobody has gone against her till now. I shouldn't let my Cha chi or Mu mu be blamed for raising me with no manners’......
I controlled my thoughts and went to Mu Mu who looked quite stressed but gave her a warm smile when she saw me.
 
Evening Cha chi came home and told that Genei gave him the responsibility to take care of the girl. He then turned to me and said to accompany her, and support her.
Even though I tried to decline the duty, he compelled me.
......‘I don't have a way of turning a stranger to a friend all of a sudden nonetheless I have never met a stranger before. Oh dear, I never thought that I would do this. But Cha chi has never compelled me to do anything, although I never turn down any duty.’.....
 
The girl recovered within a few days and started introducing herself to us as Aami. Soon Cha chi introduced her in our class so that she won't spend daylight alone, and I still was responsible for her. She had a hard time being around us. Noticing her daily I understood that she is a good talker and sometimes a chatterbox. A few days later I found her surrounded by a crowd. She was talking about her experience above the cliff. As for my eagerness, I too became a member of the crowd. 
Her stories were very interesting. Hearing her story I understood that her world is much more developed and huge. She talked about carriages that can move on its own and less hard work. My tribe wasn't used to "less hard work", so some of us started leaving from the crowd. She said that she accidentally fell from the cliff when it was moving. She started to define each word that I couldn't understand; she compared to things in our surroundings to make me understand. She also said something called 'electricity'.  Although I didn't understand it completely, what I understood was that electricity is much like trapped storm lighting into stretched metal-like things. Now, if they can stretch stones and break them easily, the things they used must be really strong. I remember her mentioning houses which are arranged one another and tall like palm trees in which many families can live together. Even though her stories were difficult to accept, they were much interesting for me, something like a magical world. Later and later the crowd started to disappear when they couldn't accept what she said. Her world above the cliff remained as a wonder-world. At last, I was the only teenager who remained with her, hearing her stories, who thought that I couldn't get along with her. She was a good talker and I enjoyed listening to her. Her actions, imitations and expressions that ran on her face while telling stories made more and more interesting. We became friends and grew closer every day.
We shared secrets, our childhood life and experiences. Everyone wondered what we were talking about that much even after so many days. As the proverb goes ‘Friend of a pangolin is always a palm civet.’
...................
It has been 137 sunsets since Aami came to us. We were watching the 138th sunset together by the cliff and I knew Aami was missing her old life.
“Help me to tie the rope on this tree,” Aami said.
I helped Aami.
“Are you sure you can do it?” I asked. 
“Yes, of course, I was born a climber.” 
She started to climb the cliff with the help of a rope. I could see her climbing on a solitary tree growing on the cliff. She shook the rope indicating me to untie the rope so that she could tie it on the solitary tree and reach the top of the cliff. As soon as I let the rope free, she pulled it and then tied it on the tree. She started to climb the rest of the cliff. Sun was burning brightly on the side that I couldn't keep looking at her. I moved to the other side and watched her climbing. Meanwhile, I felt like I was going blind 'cause to light. I looked at the ground, closed and opened my eyes a few times to get my sight back. Dust stuck in my eyes when the wind blew. I couldn't open my eyes more than before. While rubbing my eyes I heard a scream. I could recognise that it was Aami's. 
.....‘What happened to her? Why did she scream?’...
Somehow I managed to get rid of the dust, opened my eyes and searched for her. I saw her falling from a height on the cliff, hitting bare rocks. My mind turned blank, my heart was pounding and my limbs shivering. I wanted to scream and ask someone for help, but no voice came out. I was petrified by what I witnessed. A river of tears flowed down my cheeks. 
I opened my eyes. I was relieved that it was just a dream. I couldn't find Aami in her bed. It was almost midnight and the whole town was asleep. I wondered where she could have gone.
I remembered my dream and gave me the chills wondering if Aami ever returns home again. I got up from the bed and went to look for her carefully not to wake anyone.
I walked around for a while searching but couldn't find her. I went by the cliff to check for her. I saw her staring at the sky, and I knew this should have been the place I should have checked first. Silently I went and sat beside her. I saw her eyes filled with tears, then wiped them and smiled at me. 
“Why are you here at night?”
“Shouldn't I be the one asking this to you?”
 She looked at the top of the cliff and smiled.
“Are you missing your life above there?” I asked her, staring at the cliff.
She nodded stating yes.
“Are you not happy here? With me? With us?”
“Even though I'm happy with you all, I wish I could go back to my real home and loved ones, my family, my school.”
I understood her feelings: even if my parents would ever come back, I know I would choose to be with my Cha chi and Mu Mu.
I didn't know either to console her or to erase her feelings. So I just sat beside her.
“Aami…?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you believe in dreams?”
“Why did you ask me?”
“Well, it's just... Two people appeared in my dream recently. I don't know why I feel like they are my parents. So I just want to know if the dream comes true” 
I didn't want Aami to know what I dreamt.
“Sometimes it does. Dreams can also be signs of something going to happen and my mother used to say that the people in our dreams wish to meet us. Maybe your parents wish to meet you.”
“I understand.” 
.....‘Signs of something going to happen....’ it echoed in my ears. I felt my fear. Somehow I have to make her stay here and don't let her take risky decisions.
Soon we decided to head back. She was walking nodding her head looking at the ground and singing. She said that that song is the latest hit in her town. As I was laughing, I noticed something around the barren land, near the cave. Everyone says that there lives a great predator as nobody has ever returned from the cave once they went inside. I thought I saw a human figure but ignored it as Aami went silent as we reached our home. 
A few days passed and Aami started becoming gloomy. I tried my best to make her happy and not give her time to think about her world yet I knew whatever she was experiencing here, she wished to get from her hometown.
That day night I again woke up from another nightmare of Aami getting injured. I couldn't sleep anymore peacefully knowing Aami will never be at peace here. I went near the window and looked at the moon wishing I could find a way to the top of the cliff. All of the sudden, I saw someone going out of the town.
I went out to see who it was. I saw a person covered with a blanket and a bag in his hand. I decided to follow and led to the restricted barren area. I was scared of getting caught by the hooded figure that I hid behind a rock and watched at quite a distance. The person stopped to check the surroundings and removed the blanket. I was startled when I saw the person to be our Genei!
 
......‘Why is she here? What is she doing here?’ Thoughts started running in my mind... 

I watched her opening her bag. She took out some torn clothes with bloodstains and threw it around so as it could be seen. I wondered why she was doing this. She then moved forward and threw the bones. Genei covered back and walked a bit forward.
..... ‘Was she always doing this? Why is she doing this? What's the reason to scare people by doing this? I knew it! All the answers to my questions lie there in the cave’...
She threw the rest as far as she could and returned. I decided to go inside no matter what and find out answers for my questions myself. 
After confirming Genei was not near and I was safe to move, I went near the cave. Walking through the barren grasslands with a cold wind breeze, I saw a few deers and rabbits sleeping. It was a pleasant scene and also strange. Strange is that, would rabbits and deers be living nearest to a predator?
Standing in front of the cave, even though a little scared, I gathered up all my courage and stepped inside. It was dark inside. I came back as I was scared. I found out some dry leaves, a few twigs and a log. I covered the log with my coat. I took out the rocks from my pouch hanging on my waist and started to strike and make out the fire. After a few strokes fire blew. Somehow I managed to burn the log and went inside the cave. 
I couldn't see clearly but was able to find the figures and path. I ended up at the end of the cave. 
There was a way to somewhere top of the cliff. Then I remembered Aami. I continued my walk even though it was adventurous but not as hunting. After walking a long distance I found that I came to a strange place. I was sure that I was on the top of the cliff. I returned with happiness and excitement.
 
I realised why Genei restricted the area and why she did all these. She must have known the way years back and doesn't want the tribes to be exposed. I decided not to sell this secret except with Aami.
I arrived back at my home I found Aami sleeping. Sitting on knees beside her I shook her silently. Aami woke up just like that. I noticed that she wasn't even asleep and I whispered, I'll send you back home, soon.” I saw Aami smiling and let her sleep.
 
Morning, as usual, Cha chi taught us at school and at noon after having lunch I decided to send Aami back to her home. Saying Aami and I are going swimming, we went by the river. Aami was not so interested but I insisted on her to at least give me a company. After walking a few distances, I stopped and looked around to check and make sure we were alone.
“What are you searching for? Why are you looking around? Are we in trouble?”
Confirming that we were alone I said “No. I found out the way to your home”
“What? Really?” I could see the excitement in her. 
“Don't ask any questions. It's near the cliff and I'll take you there now and you can go home today. But promise me you won't expose us or the way to here.”
“I promise you. But isn't it in the other direction? And why are we heading to the river?”
“I know, but we don't have a choice to go there the easiest way. We'll walk by the side of the river; it'll lead to the cave.”
“Okay” 
We reached the river and walked through the sides yet a bit inside so that our tribesmen can't spot us. We could see the cliff behind the grasslands. Walking further we reached in front of the cave. 
“Are you sure this is the way?”
“Don't you trust me? Besides, I reached the top when I came last night”
“You came here last night? Alone?”
“Yes! I am sorry I didn't take you yesterday, but I want this for you.”
Aami smiled at me and we went inside the cave. 
“This way leads to the top?” pointing to the uneven path
“Yes, you can go now. Return to your home. And I'm heading back to mine.” I said.
She stared at me. Even though I was sad I didn't want her to know.  
“Go home. Bye.” I turned away from her as I said it and walked without turning back.
...…. ‘I know you are sad, but it's time we get separate from each other.'......’
Just as I was about to go back, I remembered my dreams of her getting hurt.
I stopped midway and returned to her. I saw her walking towards the top and not far. I guess she started to walk just now.
“Aami” I called out her name as I ran towards her. 
“You came back?”
“I'll go with you to the top.”
“You don't need to.”
“I want to. I want to make sure you reach safe and sound.” I walked forward as I said. She followed me.
As we reached the top of the cliff, we looked at each other, both eyes filled with tears. We hugged and bid goodbye understanding that we can't be together. She gave me a small rock, like a souvenir. Its shape was like two round clay pieces joined end to end having the colour of a log with two or three green leaves on top right side of the top rock. And two hands were bulging from either side of the bottom rock. At some angle, it was just like a small bird, maybe a sparrow. It was cute and special for me.
“Keep this with you.”
“Thank you” I smiled. 
“Keep it safe and don't let others see.”
We both hugged each other again. I looked at her.
..... ‘I'll miss you Aami’...
‘I'll miss you too...’ Her eyes said.
Now the dream came true. She is moving away from me and fading.
 
I headed back home as she walked to hers.
 
Just as I reached the entrance, Genei was waiting for me. I wasn't scared this time. With a huge lump of peace and happiness, I walked towards her. Genei wasn't angry at me. She didn't say even a word to me but her eyes said that what I did was right. 
As Genei walked me back home, I looked at the cliff.
 
'Hope we can meet each other again. Till then,
Good Bye......'
 
 
 
 
- A story by Sreesha and Swathi
 
P.S. to the readers... Accept our flaws and enjoy it. <3 

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