Chapter - 5
Part-1
---Lucille's POV---
(5 Days before in Alexandria.)
What... What should I do? His bleeding isn't stopping.
I panick so much.
Although I brought him in the nick of time and even tried to stop the bleeding by applying pressure but it isn't working.
I lay him on my bed.
Unconscious and unknown to his pain, he groans a little. With the little movement of his body, blood continuously spurts out of it.
"Jus.. Just hold out a bit longer."
I press his wound as I try to comfort him.
I have never been frightened about someone before nor worried.
My body is trembling and shivering with his every scream of pain.
So much time has already passed away. I already sent a message to grandpa. I hope he arrives fast.
His body is becoming colder.
Huh?!
His movement becomes less active.
What?!
I feel his pulse becoming weaker with every second.
What?!
He holds my hand firmly with all his strength.
He is unconscious.
Why is he holding my hand?
Warm and big, his hand felt more like a gesture of comfort to me.
Like he is saying, 'it's not your fault'.
A single tear runs down my cheek as his hand slips through my grasp. Why did I cry for a person whose name and origin is unknown to me?
Is it because he tried to save my life?
Why did you save me?!
Right this is my fault..
His death.
Even though there's a chance to revive him.
Then why is it hurting so much.
I silently wept before his dead body.....
(After few hours.)
"Lucille!! My child! Where are you?"
My grandpa arrives but it's too late now. I need to convince him to revive him.
"Grandpa...!" in a weak and hopeful voice I said.
His first sight goes on his body and says-
"What are you thinking by bringing up this human here? I read your letter and came here as soon as possible."
"Grandpa..?! Just help me this one time." I nervously said.
"No way! We can't risk involving ourselves to a human being." he angrily said.
I know why he is saying that but still I owe him a debt that cannot be repaid easily.
After all, his death is my fault.
"He saved my life! Your granddaughter's life. Reviving him is the least we can do." I pleaded- I mean I tried to oppose him by lifting up my voice.
"So what!? Anyway it was just a fragment of yours. You would be still alive if he hadn't interfered. He brought it upon himself. "
"That's low coming from you. I didn't expect you to think that my life is worthless." I try to convince him by twisting words.
"No..?! That's not... " His anger disappears and a confusion takes over him.
"Please...Grandpa! It's my fault that he is suffering. Please help him!" I pleaded.
My grandpa is not someone so breakable and easily convinced.
But he has a soft spot in his heart for me.
I hope he agrees to help me.
"Alright!! I can't win against you. But you have to take his responsibility and ensure that he is not discovered. Bringing him here is the worst you did to him. So handle him properly."
"Really?! Thank you! Grandpa! Love you!" I jump in happiness.
"Oh girl! You didn't even listen to a word I said. Anyway, get back now! I shall revive him."
I am glad, he will be alive again...
Wait!
"Grandpa don't put him under deep sleep." I insisted.
"No!"
"Please... " Do this poor girl a favor.
"Ok! Don't make that face now. And don't let him do anything rash after waking up."
He pauses and adds-
"You know your position right?! I don't know why you are doing this but don't forget who you are! And return to us after finishing this business. Till that time, I will cover for you."
"...."
I am a warrior...
I don't know how you will react. I might have to use other options to calm you down. But I don't want that. I want you to understand... I don't know what I will do if you start to hate me.
But I still hope we can get along for the time being... After you wake up...
Part-2
---Rayan's Pov---
Argh...I didn't wake up today again! She was really mad at me...
I don't want to be lazy but this habit of mine is eating me upside-down.
I look outside of the window....and think to myself..
I don't want her to hate me... Even if I had to do something out of my way.
The footprints of my oldself are hard to disappear.
How much I try to make them disappear, it just doesn't work. But the only thing I can do right now is to move forward. Create new footprints.
Footprints of someone I am proud of. Back on earth, I didn't care about anyone. How much they invested in me or trusted or how much they tried to motivate me... I DIDN'T CARE.
You can say that I am stone hearted. but there was nothing that I cared about. And I regretted all of my actions. Even though I didn't do anything, I still regretted for not getting obsessed over something. But this time it's different. I have someone, I care about. When I met Lucille, I saw a silver lining to create a better tomorrow.
So I will work hard no matter what.
At the very best of my abilities, the only thing I excel at is physical labour. I will ask Lucille if there's anything I could do involving strength.
It's not like I can't do any other things that include intelligence. Let's say using brain makes me more lazy than any other thing.
She looks at me confused when I asked her to give me work to do.
"Why do you need to work?!"she asks me a very decent question.
Right why do I need to work. There's nothing to work?
No there must be something. I can't back off now.
"Just anything! Please!" with a confident voice I said.
"Hmm.. Erm.. A work involving physical labour. Oh! I know the perfect work."
She takes me further inside of the forest and askes me to collect firewood as much as possible beacuse winter is coming.
"You can atleast do this much right?!"
She asks me in a mocking manner.
"You bet!"
"All the best then Mr. Curious! I will see you at dusk."
This girl! She is not stopping at all.
Now if I think about it, taking down this huge tree is not gonna be so easy.
When was the last time I decided to work...
I can't remember...
Knock it! I'll just start with this task.
I know Lucille holds immense power and she could cut down this tree in an instant.
Despite knowing it will be easier to obtain firewood if she did it alone, she doesn't say anything and let me do what I want to.
I start chopping it's stem.
(After 2 hours)
"Huff... Huff..."
*Gulp
Ha..! It's easier said than done.
I just cut half of his stem and I'm already drenched with sweat. The side effects of not doing excercise daily is like a slow poison.
But I started this as a man-committed to do something and I will end it the same.
"Come on... I can do this all day!"
Should I take some rest? Making myself rest a bit will help in moving strongly forward.
There's no one watching me. What will happen if I catch a breath? A little nap won't hurt much.
(Argh..! )
I suddenly get up. It is good that Lucille isn't here to see me whining over this little problem.
I have to concentrate. Slacking off when no one sees me is one of the reason I got addicted to being lazy.
Let's start over.
Part-3
It is evening already. Every muscle in my body is screaming in pain right now. I am afraid I will collapse anytime soon. But at least I completed today's task. I mean.. I just cut down the tree and chopped some of it's small branches but still.. This counts as completed work.
I wonder what they are doing at home. I said I will come at dusk but I got pretty late. They might be sleeping now.
"I am back!"
Hmm... No answer, I guess they are sleeping. It's not like they would stay awake for me. After all the work I did, I am really starving the hell out.
Suddenly a voice cracks in my ear.
"Welcome back! You are pretty late.. How was your day?"
I.. I wasn't ready for this. She really does surprise me now and then.
"Uh.. Oh it was great."
"Get fresh and let's eat dinner I am so hungry.. "
(She hasn't eaten yet?)
"Why did you not eat?" I ask her nonchalantly.
"I waited for you, so get ready already." (Growls..)
"Ahh! Right let's go."
I have seen this scenario many times. Just like my parents!
When I was living with my parents, my dad was always late for dinner. I was alseep everytime he came home.
One day, I woke up at midnight to take a piss and saw my mother sitting alone on the dining table. Absorbed in thoughts.
Suddenly a voice came from the entrance door "I am back!"
It was my dad's.
She rushed like they haven't met in years. "How was your day?!" with a gentle smile she asked him.
Now I know what my dad felt that day.
My dad felt happiness and joy.
I peeked at them as they cherished each other in their arms.
And when my father asked my mom 'why didn't she ate food?'
She simply replied with a soft tone.
"The food doesn't taste good without you."
(I wonder what they are doing right now.)
Part-4
"Mmnhm...! It's so delicious!"
Why does it tastes so nice.
"You sure make tasty meals! Where did you learn?"
"My mother taught me..!" a faint smile appears on her face.
"She is better than me.."
"Your mother?! What type of person is she?!" nervously and unsurly, I ask her.
Her eyes falls down a little bit and she lifts it up again and says-
"Warm and cool! She is like the sun of my life... When I was little..umm actually... " she hesitates "I had a rough environment growing up and at that time she was the only person I felt safe around. I mean she's great and she taught me many things including how to cook.. She was.. I mean.. nevermind."
"Oh no! It's okay if you don't wanna talk about her. In fact hearing you I got reminded of my own mother."
"Really!? How was she?" in excitement she asks.
"You know.. umm just like yesterday's dofi fruit- Too sweet!"
And we both chuckled..
"That's great to hear!" she says
Hearing her I realise, my mother too once taught me how to make a mixed vegetable and meat curry.
An idea pops in my head. Isn't it my courtesy to repay kindness. I should cook for her too. Also who does not like a man with cooking skills.
This is my chance to shine in front of her. I am a genius.
"Say... Lucille... Have you tried our cuisine when you were on earth?"
"Oh! Yes! Where I lived, there were many tasty restaurants. I didn't know anyone there and it was quite hard to mix in, so I alone tried a variety of them and they were all good." she instantly answers as if she already knew what I am going to ask her next.
"So.. Then what if I cook for you?"
"Really?" she asks with a glow in her eyes. "Can you do that?"
"Yes..I mean.. I can give it a try."
"Oh!" she exclaims.
And stares at me for a sec.. Blinking her eyes!
"What? Is there something on my face?!"
Snapping out of blinking she answers-
"No.. No! I was just stunned that you could cook."
Is she really liking the idea or is she making fun of me. I know she likes teasing me but this tone of hers is different.
"What?! You thought I was just a no-good-at-anything type of man. But let me remind you if anything pique my interest then the competitors alongside me raise their hands."
"N.. No! No! I am glad to know that you have such skills." she pauses and add-"Actually, this will be my first time when a person of another gender will cook for me. And it kind of makes me embarrassed..."With red cheeks and playing with her hair she says.
Gulp*
She killed me with that cuteness. Seems like she's really looking forward to it.
"Oh.. Is.. Is that the case?"stammering a bit I say-"Ahem! I will be happy to cook for you then. Let's make it for tomorrow's dinner. "
"Yeah.. Alright.." She whispered.
This convo became a little bit awkward and we didn't talk for the rest of the dinner.
I did say I will make it but this will be my first time after very long. I am feeling kinda nervous now. Have I stepped on the hammer itself?
Just calm down and remember what mother taught me..
I returned home early today... My shoulders are still stiff. But I need to do preparation for dinner today.
Lucille shows me the store room where her grandfather stored all the necessary and important goods and supplies for surviving 6 months.
Surprisingly he placed a magic barrier, so there won't be any chances that the vegetables will rot.
Argh!! I want to learn about magic too but she won't tell me anything about it. She always gives me excuses like 'You don't need to know', 'it's for your best if you don't know.' Atleast I will ask her about the gods and goddesses of this world in the future.
She is keeping too many secrets from me...
I open the store room door.
"As expected of Lucille's grandfather... He kept a food supply that will last for months."
Even though how much of a weird and hateful that old geezer is.. He is still helpful.
(Oh! There are all the ingredients that I want to make curry.. )
We decide to make dinner outside...
I brought up the idea of eating outside. It will be nice to see the night scenery while eating. Why don't I light some candles and make it a candle light dinner. This seems amusing...
When was the last time when I had this much fun.... I can't remember.
We set up a table and two chairs. Bring a huge steel bowl. And laid the foundation of a hand made stove which is fuelled by firewood. I always did in my younger age. While camping with family and going for school associated campsites. I learnt everything that is there to live in a forest like this...
Ahh... What is this set here?!
In the storeroom I find a set of glass bottles containing rum. I take one out. It smelled old and refined. I hesitate at first but I had my curiosity at it's limit. So I opened up the bottle with my lower teeths.
*Hiss
A sound that made me more curious. I want a taste of it. When I am about to take a sip of it, Lucille suddenly calls me. And I go back to her.
Ha!! I was saved by Lucille. What was I even thinking? I am still not old enough to drink that stuff.
I start to cut the vegetables.. In the midst of it I catch an intense glare of curiosity coming from Lucille...
"Umm.. Do you want to help me?"
"Ah..yess!" she shyly replies.
It's ironic that she wants to help me.. Even though she makes food everyday, she is still curious about this. I guess she might be thrilled to work with me. We steadily cuts vegetables and meat and pour it down in the bowl and water and necessary masalas in it.
And give them time to boil and wait for them to get soaked and coloured with masalas that we put in it.
And.... All done!
It surely smells nice, I wonder how it will taste.
Let's hope everything will be Ok!
In the presence of this luminous forest we prepare ourselves to eat our earth food. It's romantic, at the same time thrilling too.
Lucille takes her first bite. I stare at her so I could get a glimpse of her reaction. She doesn't make any expression until she swallows it.
"Incredible! It's very tasty." I am not sure how to react to this. I am surprised she liked it. Is this how she felt when she made me dinner. I guess I am happy too.. I gave some to Kuro too. Surprisingly he liked it too, he chunked down his plate one after another. Even though we hate each other, we can still agree on this curry.
"Hey! Don't you wanna eat? The food will get cold?" looking at me she speaks.
"Oh.. Yes!" I zoned out thinking why this is so peaceful.
"Hey.. Um I was thinking and wanted to ask you about something.."
"Ask away!"
"Why did you wake me up!?"
"Huh? Should I have left you as it is?"she asks in a calm and surprised manner.
"No! I mean I'm gald you did that. I really am! But you revived me when I was dead and then did me this favor. Thanks to which I'm experiencing this wonderful moment... But why would you do all that? For someone like me? I don't recall helping you at all!"
"Is it really necessary to answer?! Can't we just leave it as it is?"
"No! Actually, this seems really suspicious! "
"What? Are you suspecting me that there is something fishy going on here?" in an annoyed tone she said.
"What..? No! I just..I just want to know!"
I really want to know. A world where humans are brutally murdered and despite that she brought me here and is taking care of me. Why shouldn't someone suspect anything.
She stares at me. I think she is really mad.
She doesn't take her eyes off of me and her stare grows more intense and frightening..
"You...you don't have to answer if you don't want to!" I nervously said.
She slowly picks the kitchen knife and from across the table she immediately hops on me.
"Argh!! Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean to..." I get surprise and terrified when she hops on me.
We both fall on the ground with she on top of me.
I slowly open my eyes which I closed when she threw herself at me with a murderous intent.
I see her face which is distracted elsewhere.
"Ufff! It was so close!" relaxing her facial expressions she said.
Huh? What? Confuse me don't know what to do.
(My god!! She's too close.)
Showing me a bee of thumb size, pierced by the kitchen knife she says-
"Thank God! You are safe! This little was gonna sting you! "
Huh?
"A bee?"
"Not a normal bee! If it had stung you, you would have suffered countless times before you had died because of its venom."
Scary?!
"What?! Really?!"
Still on top me and getting more close she says-
"You asked me, right!? Why did I wake you up?"
Waaaaaaa!!! I'm gonna die! I'm gonna die! She's too close. I can even hear her heartbeat...
"Your world is boring for you right?! That's why you like it here right?"
I can feel her breath on my face with every word she utters.
My heart is beating faster and louder because of her.
Ahh.. Our hearts are beating in sync.
"Yeah... "
"It's the same reason as yours!"she moves farther from my face and gets off of me.
"I was bored of this world and wanted to explore more. I got a chance to come down on earth and while I was there your people quite grabbed my attention. The more I spent time there the more I got curious. And before I knew I got interested in humans and wanted to learn more about their culture and emotions.. So when I brought you here I saw an opportunity and grabbed it quickly."
"Oh..! That's why!"
I'm more surprised to hear that she's bored of this world.
Strange!
"You believe that right?!" she asks
"Oh! Yes! Yes! Why wouldn't I believe you!"
"Idiot..." she whispers
"Eh? Why am I an idiot?"
"Just because! Now eat! Or it will get cold!" she gets up and sits on her chair.
"Yes! Coming!" I too get up and eat the curry I made. And it was good!
Everything is good, only Lucille is making faces at me now and then while eating her food.
I wonder what she is mad about!?
After this day it became our special dish made on weekends.
I didn't know what type of calender they have here. But I continued my days keeping in mind the calender of earth. I took a day off in seven days. And that was still not enough to rest my body.
Lucille showed me various types of plants that habitat in this forest. She grew my intelligence by telling me which are harmful fruits and which aren't, including the Dofi fruit.
Dofi fruit is the specialty of this forest. They grow on top of big and tall trees; hence it was hard to get those fruits. Some of them tasted good and some of them tasted bad... I think the reason they tasted bad was because they weren't fully ripe. The season of Dofi fruit is ending and the winter is coming in few days. I can sense the cold breeze at late nights. There is also a fruit called 'Kantar' which has thorns on the outer surface but if you carefully cut it, the inner part is soft and edible. Apart from selective fruits, most are same as on earth.
Strangely I don't see any animals here. It's weird but true. Other than small bugs and insects. I don't see any other living being. I didn't give much thought to the reason and carried on with my work. Having Lucille wait for me was all the reason I kept working so hard. Day and night.
2 weeks passed.
In last few days, like a mosquito I kept pestering around Lucille to find more about this world. When she was fed up by me, she decided to give me one information per three days. I instantly agreed. It was unfair, but still something is better than nothing.
"It sure is sunny today!"
Despite the hints of winter coming. It is sunny today. Lucille and my bond have become quite good over these days. We laugh, we work and fight and make up with each other. I am having my life's greatest time right now. Also it looks too good to be true. My mother always said that when you think everything's good, start preparing for the worst. So you don't lose anything important to you.
I hope the worst doesn't get the best of us.