𝐀𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐀

s i x

❦

    A ZEAL LIKE NO other butterfly, Aaina sauntered her way toward the hill, accompanied by a pummeling heart and a clear direction. She never felt a freedom like without any worry at the back of her mind. This was it, the key to all the solutions to her troubles. Who was to stop her now?

    Her toes halted over the hill slope, careful to press them harder on the ground to secure her stance. She hated the slopey part of the hill the most. Not only did one have to apply more strength than usual, but also there was a risk of slipping off the grainy ground.

    Her pace turned slower, approaching the gates, quiet and watchful. No sooner did she step past it. The well emerged. A quite familiar aspect in her memory of her last visit there. The breeze, the leafy smells of trees and dew, wafted into her nostrils, and so did the eerie heaviness of silence. 

    Her skin charged up, goosebumps  emanating like wildfire as she sensed that someone was looking at her. She could feel it burning on her. There was definitely something wrong with that place. But it was her final call, a last resort, and her only hope. 

    She looked to her right to find a dark jacket dangling in front of her face and jumped in fright as if it was her own death threatening her. 

    "Why do you always scare me?" Aaina recoiled back towards a tree for support. 

    The man from the hill stared back at her in amusement. Aaina noticed he took a step back. Out of courtesy? Or just stalling for a bigger blow? 

    "Why are you always here? Trespassing is quite a serious offense, you know, " he spoke.

    Her heartbeats took a moment to calm."I know, but. . ."

    "But what?"

    ". . . I'm here . . ."

    His head bent slightly, waiting for an answer. 

    "I'm here to talk to you,"

    Something stirred in his expression as if he was not expecting that. He gave her a long stare, a difficult one to crack at that but quite judgemental, she thought. 

    She stepped four spaces back away from him to maintain the 'stranger' proximity, in case his mood changed again like last time. Yet she put up her fiercest expression. He eyed her Howin suspicion. 

    "What about?" He turned around and started walking. 

    Aaina played with the hem of her dupatta and dragged alongside. "Can we talk somewhere in private?" Probably the only idea that could lead her to where she wanted to go.

    "There is nobody except us here,"

    True that. 

    "Uhh. . . " She struggled to start a conversation. It was awkward, to say the least. He could be anyone, a madman, a dacoit, or a murderer. He hadn't done anything along those lines yet, and at least he was willing to talk, so she might be able to get some intel if not all.

    "My name is Aaina, by the way. I live just down the hill, at Hira Ghar — you must be knowing, everyone knows my kaki. " she took a stifling pause. "And. . . what's your name?" 

    There was no way she was getting an answer given his hypervigilant eyes and stern face. How could someone so young be so alert all the time? Can't he just relax? 

    "What is it that you want to do?" A cool response came that excited, Aaina.

    "I want to explore the grounds," There, she said it.