The Strange Street to the Wrinkled Memories

Way to the library.

"No! I haven't yet seen the cut-road. Do you think we missed it?" Akshara looked around and stood their paused, scratching her head. Shravya was sitting on a piece of rock in the land. Shravya was dull, suddenly she rose to answer, "Seriously! I don't know if you missed it and you are asking me. Asking me? I don't even know myself and you are asking me about the cut roads in the village where I have no memories. How so terribly horrifying!"
Akshara babbled, "Exactly, I haven't been to the library for the past few months but I still remembered the way till here. From this spot, I expect a cut road on the right that would take us to the entertainment sites, railway station, ministers house, royal workers, library, school and more. I guess we will have to ask some villager to direct us." Akshara tried jumping and howling to gather someone to help.
Shravya gasped, "Whom do you expect to guide us in this mid-street?"
Akshara said, "The village..."
Suddenly they could feel the land under their feet dance. It was trembling and did they vibrate fully. Shravya stared at Akshara in amusement. Akshara smiled, "I guess it's the village tribes."
Shravya rubbed her hands and breathed heavily. There was a group of poor villagers who were in the forest side. They entered the mid-street and stood examining them. They were familiar with normal villagers and so there was no form of attack. The head of them addressed, "Natya Rajyans in tribal forest's mid street! Did you miss any road in your village? How come you enter into here?"
Akshara played on, "Aye! Villagers in tribal forest's mid street because I guess we missed a cut road. Which is the way to the library?"
They guided without moving on to any more questions, "Oh! You might have missed it for sure. It was a mile back."
Akshara and Shravya was awestruck. They continued, "Now you can go straight, cross the bridge. Then walk over the ministers and royal workers house, crossing the royal area, take a left then you will come across the entertainment sites - circus, museum, made-up theatre and more. After that you will get the library, schools etc. on the right."
They soon left after thanking the tribes. Shravya questioned, "Did you get me out of your village?"
Akshara yammered, "That wasn't anything I planned. It happened because we missed a road... So we ended up in the Vana-gram." Shravya turned away her head and sighed in an undertone, "Oh God! Obstacles are my followers." Akshara heard it lightly and gave out a soundless laugh.

The off road was covered with fallen withered leaves as if it had been autumn but on the either sides of the road was the blossomed flowers and bushes leaving no doubts that it was spring, but the burning sun left only the thoughts of summer. Night was mostly snowy and that's only time when winter and monsoon peeped. They continued their journey, however they took a break when tired to have the snacks.

"So that's the bridge they have told us about," marked Akshara.
"I hope so," Shravya guessed.
As they went further, their breath was held seeing the bridge. The two wooden poles were pierced into the land and the rope was tied on it. The rope set out to the opposite side where it was tied on a rock. On the rope was wooden blocks fixed in regular space. It was a hanging bridge, below it flew the river stream that borders the palace wall. Some of the wooden rectangles were broken, missing, loose, shaking and seeing all this the girls were trembling.
"How do we cross this?" Cried Akshara.
Shravya had no choice, she had to reach the library to know the answers to her questions. Akshara was shivering, she saw Shravya going to cross the bridge. Akshara wanted to go back to the village because she never had crossed this bridge and the another reason was that if she goes with Shravya to the other end of the village, she would have to return all alone in the days and nights through the streets to the hospital. Shravya felt her fear, she encouraged her with a smile, "Go back!"
Akshara was surprised, "What?"
"Go back! I will find the rest of my way to the library. Don't worry, there's time for the sun to dawn. By evening, I will reach the other side of the village. I will be fine. The villagers will help me. Inform Krithika and Ahruthi I will be safe."
"No, I can't leave you here in an unknown spot."
"No queries! Leave me and get back. If you go now, you will be able to reach at the hospital by early morning, think... I am alright."
Akshara nodded as she waved at Shravya and turned to walk back. She stopped and looked at her. Her eyes were filled with so much of kindness and love. Akshara handed her the meals packet as Shravya walked to her and then enveloped her in a hug. "Thank you so much Akshara. Hope to meet you some day very soon. Convey my love to Ahruthi and Krithika too."
Akshara tightly caught her and then pulled back, only to see her eyes misted over and she headed back to the hospital wishing the best of all to happen for Shravya.

Undoubtedly, it was a one-man show to cross the hanging bridge. Literally, a one-woman show. She ought to receive nothing less than success. She firmly caught on the thick rope in the sides. She slowly walked forth and she could hear the cracking sounds of the wood. She closed her eyes and decided to run as fast as possible. The next moment she opened her eyes, she saw the bridge shaking and few of the wooden pieces fallen and she was standing on the other side. She then saw a lot of houses, there were all types of houses just like in the other part of the village. All of it were lit up as the moon woke. The cool wind moved on and patted her. The clouds were ready to shower. The stars were beautiful in the constellations they did form. The abodes, down in the ground were said to be owned by the people holding a work post in the palace, from ministers and guards to sweepers and cooks. She saw that the guards weren't at their residence, it was sure they were in the palace. Only the children and other family members were there in the house. Most of the doors were kept opened. One lady watering her garden stopped at Shravya, "Hi dear! Who are you?"
Shravya ran her eyes to an elderly woman standing at a garden. She was wearing a salwar set and she seemed to be aged. The old woman was waiting for her response.
"I am Shravya Arushi. Ahruthi's, Krithika's and Akshara's childhood friend. You are?"
"Oh! I am Meena, the palace entrance guard's mom. Ow! Your friends... The nurses and doctor. Are you working in the hospital?"
She thought for a moment what had she been doing in her village.
"Dear! Are you here to meet the librarian?"
Shravya was brought back into reality, hearing the librarian's name.
"I...", Shravya choked, "I was at nearby village for higher studies". She tried remembering, "In Aahan Mitrapura. I just got back and met my friends. Akshara dropped me till the bridge."
The woman demanded, "There are four bridges to here."
"Oh!" Exclaimed Shravya, "I didn't know that."
The woman mentioned, "One from Aahan Mitrapura, other one from Vana-gram, then to the other side of this village and the fourth one from the palace."
"I see!"
"Where are you going?"
"I am on a short picnic within the village, because I am here after a long time. Just trekking till I get in the way to the library."
"So where do you live? In this village, I suppose, if the hospital staffs are your childhood friends."
"Ya! Yes!" Shravya caught back, "Aunt! You had said something about the librarian..."
"Yes! Ya!" exclaimed the woman, hitting back.
Suddenly they heard a lighting and they could see the thunder. The droplets of pure water came down slowly from the dark, heavier clouds. Meena called Shravya in and by then the it was raining heavily. She got into Meena's house. She then closed the door. The house was small from outside, but it was much bigger. There was a couch, a teapoy and a shoe-rack infront of a curtained window. From there was a flight of stairs to the floor below. There was an open kitchen and infront of it was the dining table and chairs. The fire in the lanterns lighted in all over. Below the L-shaped staircase was a work and study table, with lots of books and stationery things. Then there was one bed in the side and a double bed in a small room near to the restroom. The house was incredibly organized.

Shravya dried her hair as Meena gave her a towel. Shravya sat on the dining table and Meena brought a cup of hot tea for them both. Shravya took in a sip along with Meena  and she asked, "Aunt! About the librarian, what's it? You were saying something."

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Only Surya_SK