The Strange Street to the Wrinkled Memories

Into the village...

Akshara was directing Shravya into the village, as she had wished. A few distance from the hospital was the main village. The sun was lustrous and the heat of the road was too much to bear, but still the weather was pleasant. The wind was soothing and the village was calm. The sky was not too strange perhaps the clouds were strange. They had formed different shapes as if they had been an omen. There were varieties of species found here and there, from plants to animals and birds. Birds were chirping like the musicians singing melodiously. Animals' sounds weren't too loud to be heard and so it was quite sure that they were telling secrets. Miles away from the village, above a mountain area was the vivid image of the reverse side of the royal palace, it seemed to be guarded by fog and from far away, the view of the palace's tombs and pillars were likely trespassing through the clouds. Just like any other village, all their sources of living was obtained and made by the villagers and also the greenery of Natya Rajya welcomed the outsiders into the village. The villagers house weren't huts but very strongly built and designed structures. There were one storey to two storey houses.

Shravya asked, "Isn't that the palace?" She pointed at the big walls surrounding the royal building.
Akshara replied, "It is. But we are seeing it from behind. It's front area is in the opposite side. The big gates and entrance to the palace is from that side... That's the real way to our village. In the entrance gate area, all the war and security apparatus are already implemented. We are coming from the hospital that's why we are in the village before going through the side way of the palace. Infront of the palace is a thick forest then comes a long plain area for observing invaders and that's the war ground."
Shravya doubted, "Is getting to your palace too hard? It seems to be standing on the peak."
Akshara disclosed, "It isn't that hard but it takes time. When you come from the opposite side, you will have to walk through the plain ground which will lead you to the big gate. To go through it, we will be having security check in by the guards. To cross over that, is bit hard. Then we will come across the suspension arch bridge, it runs over a river stream that houses crocodiles, virulent eels and more toxic aquatic animals. The bridge stretches to another wall, that's comparatively smaller that the main wall; then comes our palace. From the village, the villagers can enter through the back gate after climbing some stairs. There will be a security check-in. But it's said that it's easy and time saving to enter the palace from the forbidden Medusa street."
Shravya slowly nattered, "I am ravenous."
Akshara looked around at all houses and borne out, "I am also hungry. Two more steps and we will have the lunch from my house."
Shravya questioned, "Do you really think that the librarian's house is somewhere near?"
Akshara attested, "It's at the other end and it will take some time. The school, minister's houses, pilgrimages, entertainment sites as well as the library are distanced from the village houses and work area."

They were still walking and they've been shooting the breeze for well over an hour. Shravya stopped, "Akshara! Aren't two steps over yet? I am famished."
Akshara foolishly smiled, "Two more steps please."
Shravya was blinded by hunger, she cried, "Where is it? Where is your house?"
And this time Akshara pointed out her finger at a cape cod house. Shravya rubbed her eyes and looked at Akshara's shelter. It was beautifully guarded by flowers and bushes. It had single grey glass window all over the white tiled house and bluish grey combined roof.
Shravya was no more walking, she was running to sit in the dining table. Akshara was following her. Soon they were infront of Akshara's house, it's door was closed. Shravya wanted to know, "Whom do you live with?"
Akshara told, "I live with my parents and my grandmother. And you?"
Shravya paused, she couldn't remember. She tried to recollect and she was suddenly broken when Akshara concluded, "I am sorry."
Shravya smiled, "That isn't necessary. Why should you be sorry? It's me who have forgot my past, it's not your fault."
Akshara sighed, "I shouldn't have asked you. I forgot that you forgot your past and that's why I am sorry."
Akshara welcomed her in and they walked up the door steps and rang the doorbell.
Someone called out, "Coming!" Within seconds, the door was opened and there stood a woman in a long rose gown. Her curly hair tied up and her eyes was still on her daughter. They hugged and then came in an old woman asking, "Who's there?"
Seeing Akshara, the grandmother joined in their hug. The old woman was bubbly and her hair was braided. She used a specs and was wearing a skirt and a coat. Soon the mother and the grandmother turned to Shravya. The grandmother corrected her specs and asked, "Akshara! Who is it?" Akshara narrated Shravya's story to her family members and then she was welcomed into their small house.

Grandmother was too much talkative, she chattered, "I am Sweta, I used to work in the palace house keeping but I am too aged now, so I stopped working but my son Prakash is at work, he comes back during the evening time. My daughter in law, Akarsha. My grand-daughter, the nurse of Natya Rajya village hospital, Akshara." Akarsha brought the lunch to the dining table. She served the saucy-veg rice and potato chips. They were enjoying the food even when Sweta didn't shut her mouth. She went on saying about her family and herself. Eventually Sweta zipped her mouth when Shravya and Akshara got up to wash their hands. They left behind no crumbs of the food items.

Shravya walked away with Akshara to reach for the librarian's house. She waved at Sweta and Akarsha as she vanished at the turn from the way to their house.

Akshara choked as they continued their journey, "So do you remember anything atleast any broken recollections?"
Shravya denied. Akshara looked at Shravya, her eyes were narrow. They were trying to decipher something. Akshara shook her, "Oh aye! How do you feel after the walk of more than seven hours?"
Shravya shrieked, "My legs are longing to take a nap."
Akshara gave a low laugh, "So what do you feel about our village?"
Shravya commented, "I have forgot how my village is, but nevertheless this village seems to be more like mine. So green, so beautiful, so many family-hood, so much of love, so very different... I wish I get to say this to your king, being an outsider." She smiled as her eyeballs stiffly paused at the palace walls of the village.
Akshara corrected, "You wish you will get to praise about our village to the queen or the mad prince."
Shravya repeated, "Queen, Mad prince? Aren't you...? Isn't this village ruled by the king?"
Akshara expressed her denial.
Shravya had so many questions in her mind now about this village, about herself and more. She wanted to ask, why is your prince called the mad prince? Why is the village ruled by the queen? Where is the king? Who is the librarian and her daughter, when will we reach there? Who could help her in all ways... Help her to know who she was?

Akshara said, "Hey there!" Shravya suddenly looked to see the librarian, but Akshara completed, "That woman makes tasty snacks. Let's get some for the rest of the walk!"
Shravya nodded, looking back at her steps. They walked to the river bank where there was a small cottage kind of house. Akshara knocked on the ledger window on the side. There came up a woman and opened the window. The delicious smell of the baked delicacies ran in to them which resulted in their mouth watering as if a ship could run on it. The woman greeted, "Welcome fellows! This is Issy's bakery and I am Issy Loon. What of Issy's would you like to lick, crunch, grin, eat?" Akshara ordered, "Three sets of potato fries, pack of tomato crunches, a set of baked buns, two lava muffins and hot'n spicy nachos." The woman mentioned, "In two minutes teens!" She went in and they could hear the sounds of utensils and the packet. After a short gap, the woman peeped out with a cloth bag in her hand, "Here you go! Issy's potato fries, tomato crunches, baked buns and lava muffins, and that's for a thirty penny." Akshara paid her and took the packet of snacks. Issy observed Shravya and then murmured, "I haven't seen this girl here." Shravya felt that the woman wanted to ask something, she went on, "Sorry! What did you tell Ms. Issy? I guess I heard you say something." Issy sighed for being caught and then said in a gruff voice, "Little lady, who are you? I have not seen you in this region?" Akshara laughed out, "Do you doubt she is a invader, intruder, traitor, assailant or something like that?" Issy slightly shook her head and Shravya cleared, "I am Shravya Arushi and I am a Natya Rajyan," that suddenly flew out of her. Akshara looked at her stunned and Shravya choked, "Mm... I and Akshara have some super important matters to be dealt with so... Thank you Issy." Shravya pulled Akshara who was still staring at her as they continued...

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Surya_SK