Crack Of Dawn

Chapter 17

Adya had been lying on the bed, tossing ang turning, wrapping herself with the blanket, burying her face in the pillow and screaming, staring at the wall and then at Srishti. She finally got up and her eyes were narrowed to slits.

"You should get some sleep while I take the shower." Srishti stretched from her bed as the shining Sun marked a new day.

"I just can't sleep... Will it all be normal if I wake up?" She sat up on the bed, "Then I will sleep."

"This is normal, Adya. You are just freaking out."

"Because this isn't real." Adya shrugged with a frown. Srishti sat down beside her. "You believe me?"

She nodded, yawning.

"Then believe me now too. Come with me and you will see not just everything right in front of your eyes is reality."

Adya rubbed her hands and took in a deep breath. She opened her mouth as if to reply but then fell to bed. "I will take a nap till you wash yourself."

***

They bowed at Namrata and hugged Diya and Dhruv as they stepped out of the house.

"How do we reach your place? Do we make a spell?" Srishti enquired as they took a few steps.

Adya joined, yawning. "Does a portal open?"

"There is only one way... well, I never thought you guys were dumb." Ishaan shook his head, "You did read the the guide, right?"

"Yes, so?" Adya scratched her chin.

"They say the land knows what you seek, and is only waiting for you to speak. They have been living a secret, finished in a portrait. Shielded was it with illusions, crafted was it with memories. The soil glitters scarlet, yet it is not the favourite. Don't be fooled by ways that takes afar, because there brews a magical war. Run down your old lane and reach where you dare."

Srishti recollected the lines.

"That's the way... if you want to visit the land you seek which have been living a secret life of magic, you must walk through the scarlet soil which might lay multiple tracks in front of you to choose and of course outsiders will easily take up routes that will mess with them as if they are trapped in a maze."

"Did you just warn us?" Adya clarified as he affirmed. "And the right route takes you to your destination."

"So that means we must go to our back yard to step into the Scarlet wood?" Srishti bit her lower lips nervously. "There is chances we will have to meet our mothers again if that is the case."

Adya sighed. "No other way for all of this to end so let's get started."

***

The horse cart rode down the village to the Sun Fort before it pulled to rest a few meters away from the Dira house. They got down and tiptoed through the yard and walked to the reverse side of the house. They finally released a breath as Dikshita had not seen them until the voice was firm, "Stop!" They were about to cross the river when Adya rose her hands in surrender and they slowly turned. Srishti had her head bowed and Ishaan whispered, "Why did we even walk like a thief into this compound, we weren't robbing?"

Dikshita stared right into Srishti's soul, "Where are you headed to?"

"Riverside." Srishti rose her head.

"Where were you-"

"I invited them for a picnic," Ishaan bowed at Dikshita.

"Get back for dinner." Sanvi came in and Adya shook her head.