"Hi!" I knew that voice!
"Pearl?" I almost shouted out of bewilderment. Swiftly, I walked across the room and bolted the door.
"What the--- what are you doing here?" I asked as I turned to face her. She was perched on the window-sill, smiling. "Do you have any idea of what will happen if somebody spots you?"
"Nobody will," she said in an assuring way. "That's why I came now."
"Why--- what's wrong?" I asked. "Is something the matter? Why are you here?"
"You said you brother is not at home," she said casually. "I thought I'll come to say hello."
"That's all?" This is ridiculous, I thought.
"I'll be gone before long, don't worry."
"Yeah," I said, sarcastically, "Worry is definitely the last thing on my mind right now…"
I went to the bed and sat down, leaning on the wall. I wasn't sleepy anymore, I was tensed. It's alright, I told myself. Everyone's sleeping now. There's no way anyone will find out about her.
"You know," she spoke up in a slightly confused way, "Today…" She paused.
"What?" I asked.
"I saw a guy eating another girl on the other side of the river."
"What?" I almost yelled and slid off the bed.
"Yeah, he seemed to be gnawing at her lips… I went closer to get a better look. The girl didn't seem to mind at all. What a weirdo!"
"Gnawing at her lips?" I was totally confused. People eating each other up? Then I understood quite suddenly.
"Oh! You mean they were kissing?" I asked, half-laughing.
"What-ing?"
"Kissing. That's something you do when---" I stopped short.
"When?" Pearl was staring at me curiously.
"When you really love someone," I finished. Both of us went on looking at each other for a long time in silence.
"Is that so?" she asked after a while. I nodded, still looking at her face intently; her gaze was fixed on mine. I got to my feet and walked up to her. She looked very different in the silvery moonlight.
"Have you kissed anyone?" she asked, not even slightly bothered… not knowing what it really is… unlike me.
"No," I answered, smiling. "It's not something you do to just anyone."
"Really?"
"Yeah… Why are you asking?"
"Because if you had, I could have asked you how it feels. I wish I knew… words don't explain that much."
I couldn't say anything else. I was scared about what would happen if I said anything to her at all. We were still looking into each other's faces. I don't know what was she thinking but I felt like I had found my world in her. She was my friend, true, but though I hated to admit it, she was much more than just that.
"You love her, don't you?" the voice in my head teased me.
I looked away from her face quickly, staring at the shimmering, silvery river instead, thinking of the day I had met her. Had I realized how much I would get involved into this? Had I realized that …
I looked at Pearl again. She was sitting on the window-sill with her eyes closed. Some might think she is scary, I thought, with her nails and scales and stuff. That's just because she's different. For me … she's an angel.
"Oh yeah, I forgot," the voice in my head spoke again. "She looks exactly like a goddess."
I don't care, arguing with the voice again, as I often did in strange circumstances. I don't care what she looks like. I just know one thing that…
"Aren't you sleepy?" Pearl asked suddenly. She was gazing at me again, smiling for some reason.
"What are you smiling for?" I asked, curious.
"Nothing," she shrugged. "I was just thinking about what I feel."
"About what?" I asked. She got to her feet and I couldn't help stepping a bit closer to her.
"About you. I don't understand."
"Understand what?" That whether you… I didn't want to think.
"Earlier I didn't even know about your existence. But now it's like I can't exist without you."
"Really?" I was surprised that I could speak. She had told me exactly what I feel for her … exactly the same thing.
"Yeah," she said and smiled at me. "These feelings are pretty complicated, aren't they?"
"Yes, they are." You have no idea.
"I guess I should get going, Patrick."
"You think so?" I don't want you to go, not yet!
"If you don't get enough sleep now, you will yawn all through tomorrow afternoon. So, yes, I think I should go." She was giving me mock stern look.
"Don't stare at me like that." I just want to go on looking.
"Okay, okay… I won't." She stepped even closer to me, with that smile. I felt temporarily lost. I knew what she was about to do and closed my eyes. A moment later, I felt her on my left cheek. Before I could stop myself, I had my arms around her, holding her close. She was surprised but didn't pull away. Instead, she looked into my face and asked, "Is something wrong, Pat?"
Everything, I thought, helplessly.
"Nothing," I told her. For some reason, I couldn't let go, but held her close.
"Do you…" she began, doubtfully.
"What?"
"Do you mind if I …"
"If?" I asked again. I raised my right arm to remove a strand of her seaweed like hair from her face. To my surprise, she hugged me tightly, closing her eyes as she did so.
"I seriously don't understand what I feel," she whispered.
Neither do I, I thought, lost for words.
"Good morning," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes sleepily. Maggie nodded at me, giving me her radiant smile, as always.
It was one of those summer mornings, bright and sunny, and all of us were up early. Well, in our family, Jason is always the first one awake followed by Mother. And I am always the last. I don't understand how Maggie, who is younger than me, manages to get up before me. Summer is still okay, winter is like some sort of curse for me. I can never help oversleeping! The usual morning scene in my bedroom in winter consists of an exasperated Maggie standing at the foot of my bed, with her hands on her hips, asking me over and over again to get up and me snoring under the blanket, oblivious to everything else. Jason never bothers waking me up in the morning, no matter what season it is. His standard dialogue is, "Useless!" And I don't bother arguing with him. I mean, who would?
That day, Jason had again gone off to the other village and Mother had gone to the market to buy things. It was just me and Maggie at home. She seemed very cheerful for some reason.
"You look very happy," I commented, as she set a plate of toast and scrambled eggs on the table in front of me.
"I am," she answered, going back to the kitchen counter again to prepare tea for me and herself.
I waited for her to speak. This is the main problem with Maggie. She is of a very sweet and easygoing nature, but whenever something happens she won't tell you everything clearly straightaway, irrespective of whether it's good or bad. Jason often loses his temper over this habit of hers. In return, she never tells him anything. She tells me since I know the trick--- stay silent for five minutes and don't give her curious glances. She will tell you. I smiled and went quiet, busying myself with my breakfast.
"Won't you ask me what happened?" Maggie asked after a while when I didn't say anything.
"I thought you didn't want to tell me," I replied innocently. She came with two cups of tea and sat down at the table in front of me.
"You know that water monster everybody talks about?" she asked in a quiet voice.
"Yeah…" I nodded slowly, my tea-cup suspended in mid air. I felt like something was welling up inside me… something like fear.
"The villagers caught it last night."
"WHAT?"
Maggie winced, taken aback at my reaction. I had yelled in shock.
"Sorry," I told her, trying to act calm. "I never knew there was a water monster for real. I just… never mind."
"Well, there is a water monster for real, if you don't know, Pat," she said after a minute of silence. "Everything is not just a story."
"I--- I guess so."
I couldn't eat. I couldn't speak. I just sat at the table, silent.
"What does that--- that monster look like?"
"They are saying it looks like a girl but has very eerie features." She shrugged. "Long claw-like nails, messy seaweed like hair, scaly skin---"
"When did they catch her?" I cut across her description.
"Last night. The most startling thing is it was found near our house."
I stayed silent. That means she was coming to meet me again in the night, I thought and cursed my fate.
"Does she speak?" I couldn't help asking.
"Not at all," Maggie almost laughed at my question. "How can you expect a water creature to speak our language?"
"I was just asking." I went quiet again. I needed to know where she was, without making it too obvious.
"I hope they have put her somewhere far away from the village so that she can't hurt anyone," I said in an even voice, hating myself for saying that.
"No, it's tied to the huge tree near the village square," she replied. "Not too far away. The village head thought people should have a look at it so that they don't neglect his advice and stay away from dangerous places in future. As for hurting other people, it's bound properly enough for one day and it seems too weak to break free."
"One day?" I didn't like the sound of it.
"Yes. If she is still alive out of water till tomorrow, the villagers will set it on--- Are you alright, Pat? You look ill."
I nodded, unable to speak. I was horrified at what Maggie had said. I knew what was going to happen to Pearl even though I didn't hear the last word. It made me shudder.
"Maggie," I said, trying hard to stop my hands from shaking, "I don't feel like eating anymore. I'm feeling a bit sick. I'll just go upstairs and rest…"
A few minutes later, I slammed my bedroom door shut. I felt like I was in some sort of nightmare and fear was eating me from the inside. I lay down on my bed, tired… lost…
The princess of the seven seas,
She came out of the deep.
She was alone, she had no one,
And all she could do was weep.
The ground was hard, the sun was harsh,
As she kept walking on.
She lived on fruits and river-water,
And slept from dusk to dawn.
Then one day, she met someone---
A young village guy.
He found her in a forest, tired,
As he was passing by.
She slowly came to know him more,
And he knew her well.
They met each-other everyday,
As if bound by a spell.
The bond grew stronger, hidden from all,
While they came to know---
It was something more than that,
And the feeling did show.
It had to happen someday, sometime,
So, one fine summer dawn---
They let go of themselves in love,
And couldn't stop then on.
But the happiness and the laughter,
Didn't stay for long.
God had planned to test the bond,
Which had grown so strong.
So, one day, the princess sweet,
Was caught by villagers and bound,
She was hurt, lonely and sad,
But didn't make a sound.
She knew her friend and love will come,
And she'll be free and happy again.
So, she waited for that time,
Though she didn't know when.
"I won't let you die, Pearl," I whispered, burying my face in my pillow. "I promise…"
And I cried.
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