Banu and Nadim

ch 3 : predatory

note : I recommend that you listen to «bayu bayushki bayu» (an old Russian lullaby) for this chapter

The aunt was sitting next to the boy's bed, lost in her thoughts, staring at her unconscious niece.The sound she heard broke her train of thought

- Don't worry aunt...it's hard, but it will be fine.the doctor injected him with a sedative.

The aunt turned her head and looked at the young servant who was standing by the door at the end of the room.Mehnoor was one of the chefs, the girl's eyes and the tip of her nose were red from crying.Mehnoor tried to smile, although it was difficult for her. Aunt took a deep breath and said:

- I'm not worried....when you live in this mansion for thirty years like me and see these things, there's no need to worry anymore.....

mehnoor's smile was genuine, she joked:

- I was starting to believe that every time you said you were twenty years old

- Ha ha ha! I can't talk seriously with you young people...

- Okay, don't be upset, I was joking, I won't tell anyone how old you are, I didn't know you were so sensitive.....

The fire burned in the aunt's eyes, the woman frowned, and turned her head towards Nadim again.
The color had returned to the boy's face and he was breathing slowly.It's not as if he was in such a disturbed state until a few minutes ago.mehnoor coughed and said :

- But separately, aunt... you have been here for a long time... it must be very difficult for you to have to see the death of every generation.

A small and deep smile appeared on her face, which mehnoor could feel even though she Couldn't see it:

- Yes....I've been here since I was nine years old....my life is tied to the pillars of this building....

khanum took her hand to the boy's split bangs and combed his hair with her finger:

- I saw many deaths, but the birthdays I saw.... were more...

mehnoor, who was still shocked by aunt's previous words, suddenly took a few steps forward and said:

- From the age of nine? ....so you have been here for a long time...

The older woman grinned

- Just a minute ago I said that I have lived in this mansion for thirty years

The aunt raised her head, her gaze fell on the half-opened window lock. The green leaves of the trees shine like a mirror under the sunlight. The aunt's gaze deepened as if ... as if with the sound of each bird, She was traveling to previous years.Finally, she broke the silence, her voice was calm. Like the sound of Nadim's calm breaths.

- I was nine and my sister was fifteen years old. We were not from here. We were really from nowhere, a poor person doesn't belong anywhere.... I don't have much left from those nine years, neither in my memories nor in my possessions. I remember one day the decision was finally made, we put on the only clothes we had and they took us out and put us somewhere in the village, telling each other that either someone will save them or ... the wolf will take them.

mehnoor's mouth was half open and her eyebrows were tied. Aunt never talks about her life except as a joke, and now it was as if she was digging out a very old burial from the depths of the earth.
The aunt continued:

- We didn't know what was going on, there was nothing in our lives, we didn't know where we were going to determine our destiny. A few hours passed. No one would pass by us, but if they did, they would take a brief look and go on with their lives. Until finally one of the passers-by showed up and stopped. There was a man who had a gun on his shoulder. The man was frowning and looked at us for a few moments. Then he came forward and said " Why are you alone, where are your parents ? "