The night was dark, too dark, the rain pouring down in relentless sheets. Somewhere in a dimly lit room, cluttered with memories and traces of a life about to be abandoned, a sense of urgency hang heavy in air. A young girl, just 18, trailed behind an old man, her voice trembling with desperation.
"GP, please..." she begged, her voice only a whisper, her eyes filled with fear, reaching for him.
The old man however, moved quickly, packing a small backpack with essentials for escape. His actions spoke of an imminent danger, a silent acknowledgement that time was not in their favour. His old, weathered hands moved swiftly yet with an unspoken heaviness.
Finally, he zipped the bag and turned to face the girl, his voice wavering just slightly, as if he was trying to mask his own inner conflicts. He handed her a small pouch.
"You have to go" he said firmly "Take this. It's for your safety."
Tears welled up in the girl's eyes as she clutched the pouch, knowing it was her lifeline in this sea of uncertainty. But was it enough?
Her voice cracked with emotion as she pleaded...
"GP, I don't want this. I don't want to leave you." She reached out to hold his arm, as if trying to anchor herself in the storm of this unbearable change.
He gently guided her outside through the dark corridor lit only by oil lamps, their flames flickering everytime the wind got too harsh. They walked until they reached the backdoor. She resisted again with all her might, "Please GP, there must be another way. I can't just leave you here. Please..."
But, ignoring all her beggings he pushed her outside, into the cold and unforgiving darkness. The rainy night's chill embraced her, and she found herself standing alone the door closing before her eyes. She pressed her palm against the door, tears streaming down her cheeks, leaving wet trails on the wooden floor.
"Go away" he urged, torn between duty and love. "It's the only way to keep you safe."
In that final moment, he looked at her with a mixture of sadness and determination. His voice was steady as he spoke, leaving her with a cryptic statement that sent shivers down her spine.
"Remember your 21st birthday" he said, the words hanging in the air like an unsolved riddle, his voice quivering with emotion. "Be aware."
She stood outside, her heart aching, the anguish in her eyes mirroring the pain in her heart. She watched as the old man, her only family, her protector slowly closed the door on her face. The heavy wooden barrier sealed off the world she had lived, leaving her in the unknown.
................
With a jolt, Aara woke from this haunting dream, her heart racing, and her mind filled with memory of that mysterious night. It wasn't new for her to see that dream, but each time it played out, it felt like she was reliving that moment all over again.
She rubbed her trembling palms against her face, attempting to calm her racing heart. The room around her was still cloaked in the soft, early morning light. Light cold breeze of Nanital moving the window curtains like a whisper. Turning towards the nightstand, she reached for the glass of water, her fingers shaking as she brought it to her lips. It was now become like a morning ritual, a way to ground her after those recurring nightmares. The cool water provided some solance, if only for a fleeting moment.
Her gaze then shifted to her phone. Though there was no pressing need to check it, but it was as if she couldn't resist. Her thumb swiped across the screen, illuminating it in a soft, bluish glow. However, as soon as her eyes landed on the date, a chilling realization washed over her.
The date.
The day she had been running from had finally arrived. Her face drained of the remaining color, as if every drop of blood had been sucked from her body. A wave of panic surged within her. It was her birthday, her 21st birthday, and that one sentence from G.P. echoed in her mind, "Remember your 21st Birthday... be aware".
Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum, and she felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding. The mysterious events from her past seemed to be converging on this fateful day, and she couldn't escape the feeling that something significant was about to happen. The room appeared to close in, suffocating her with uncertainty, and the weight of the unknown pressed heavily upon her shoulders.
"It means today... I will be.... no, it can't happen. It's all false... But G.P. said that... No, No, No... Don't think about that, Aara... you are a normal human, and normal humans don't... Yes... Calm down... Calm down."
Aara whispered those words to herself, trying to calm the rising panic that clawed at her chest. She pressed her hands against her temples, as if physically pushing the unsettling thoughts away. She needed to believe in her own normalcy, to dismiss the notion that she possessed any kind of extraordinary power. But it was a battle within herself, one that left her with a sense of disquiet.
Just as she began to regain some semblance of composure, a loud, impatient knock at her door shattered the fragile calm.
"Hello. Ms. Queen wakeup! Your servants are waiting outside to serve you. Please, give us the honor" a girl's thin voice called from outside, laced in a mocking tone.
It was Minnie, Aara's house mate. They were best friend for around three years or it can be said they were two sisters from different world whom fate bought together, to be a support for each other in this big world like a family. Where Aara was a sweet, calm and mature girl, Minnie was an extra in every quality. Her joyful nature and being inserious in every situation was some times troubling but mostly fulfilling for Aara's simple life. And their mock royal awakening was a part of their shared routine, a lighthearted tradition that provided break from the weight of the world.
Startled but quickly recovering, Aara set her glass and phone aside. Her heart still racing from the unsettling thoughts, gradually settled as she engaged in their daily playful banter. She walked to the door, opening it with a huff, her mock annoyance clear in her narrowed eyes.
"Is this the way to wake, Ms. Servant?" she responded, a playful tone in her voice, following Minnie as they made their way to the kitchen.
Minnie couldn't hide her sly grin. "Well, I thought a queen deserved a royal awakening."
Aara rolled her eyes, fully embracing the playful atmosphere. "Save the royal treatment for a day when I'm not dealing with... Fake Queen."
While Aara tried to push aside the disturbing thoughts of her 21st birthday, she knew she couldn't share the reason of her anxiety with her friend. In their shared apartment, secrets and mysteries still lingered, where Minnie remained oblivious to Aara's past and the enigmatic secret tied to this particular day. Aara hadn't even revealed that it was her birthday.
With a sigh, she put on a brave smile, masking the weight of the impending day. Her unusual dreams and the words from GP were burdens she had to bear alone.
Minnie, unaware of the storm brewing within her friend, gave her a teasing grin. "Well, Aara, my royal highness, let's make a grand breakfast and then head to the café. We've got a busy day ahead."
Aara nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Yup. Let's whip up something delicious and prepare to rule the café."
In their cozy kitchen, they set to work, cooking up a breakfast fit for queens - or, in Aara's case, a 'fake queen.' Lighthearted banter flowed between them, a reminder of the friendship that provided solace and a temporary escape from the burden of Aara's thoughts.
After enjoying their fulfilling homemade breakfast, they gathered their belongings and readied themselves for a day at the café where they both worked. Sundays offered a break from college, allowing them to spend extra time serving customers and working together. Aara managed the cash counter, while Minnie was the dependable assistant in the kitchen.
As they locked the apartment door and made their way down the bustling streets of Nanital, their conversation drifted to everyday topics, temporarily leaving behind Aara's concealed concerns. Together, they headed to the café, ready to face the challenges of the day. Their cute and friendly dynamic was a refreshing contrast to the mysteries lurking beneath the surface.
Everything seemed the same. The crisp Nanital air, the bustling streets, Minnie's never ending chatter. But still, why did the day feel... different.