A dream once whispered now stands before her,
flesh and shadow entwined.
What once flickered behind closed eyes…..now breathes in the wind and watches her back.
~~~~~
"Did you find the tree?" he asks, searching her eyes.
Ahmaya shakes her head, with eyes filled with tears. "No… I can't find it." Her voice trembles. She holds his hand again, more out of hope than desperation.
Without saying a word, Kitbok guides her back towards the village. They stop by a quiet little lake. He lights a small bonfire between them, its warm glow warming the chill in the air.
He watches her for a moment before asking , "What's going on, really? Just the basics. Who are you? Where are you from?"
Ahmaya gazes into the fire, then shifts her focus to the lake, her voice a mere whisper. "I can't tell you where I live. You would not believe me even if I did…..." She gulps down hard. "Somethingvery strange happened, and I don't know what? why?. I am stuck here now and I don't know how to get home. It's all making me crazy." She wipes a tear from her face. "I am eighteen. I live with my grandma. I don't know where my mom is, and my dad is dead."
Her voice breaks. "I miss her…..my grandma..so much."
Kitbok watches her quietly, his expression softening. He wants to say something comforting, but the right words don't come. Her vulnerability touches something deep in him.
"Are you hungry?" he finally asks.
She nods.
"My aunt's house is just nearby. Stay here, I will be right back."
A few minutes later, he returns, holding a bowl. "Here.... It's jadoh."
Ahmaya smiles faintly. "I know. I used to eat it a lot when I was younger." She takes a bite, and the taste holds her in place for a moment.
She glances up at him. "Will you tell me something about yourself too?"
"Sure," he replies, settling beside her. "I'm nineteen. My mother is the head of the Hojang community. I have an elder brother studying at Cambridge. And… I had a younger sister but she…. was shot by a British soldier. It was an accident…"
Ahmaya's eyes widen. "British soldier?"
Kitbok raises an eyebrow. "Yes. Why?"
"Nothing," she murmurs. The realization hits her again,this is British India. This is 1935. "I'm sorry… I know what it's like to lose someone you love."
She takes another bite, then adds, trying to lighten the air, "So you study at the Konway University, I guess? Why not follow your brother to Cambridge? Were you a terrible student?"
He laughs quietly. "Yes, I study there. And no, I wasn't terrible at studying. My parents wanted me to go. But I decided to stay. I wanted to live here with my people and help them. That is more important to me than prestige."
Ahmaya studies his face, the flickering firelight dancing across his sharp features. "That's… impressive. You have an impressive heart."
Kitbok looks at her with gentle curiosity. "To which community do you belong?"
"Aokma," she replies, this is what she heard when she was little.
"Aokma…?" he repeats.
"I've never heard of that community. I asked because if you were from a rival community , you would not be safe here."
Ahmaya smiles. "Where I come from, things like this, caste, communities, and religion don't matter. We all live together."
He studies her for a long moment. "It's late. Let's get you back to Rupomoi's place. You can stay there for now."
As they walk side by side through the village lanes, Ahmaya keeps stealing glances at him. There's something about Kitbok—something grounding, something that makes her feel less lost.
They pass a familiar-looking spot, and Ahmaya freezes.
"What's wrong?" Kitbok asks.
She doesn't answer immediately. She looks around, her eyes scanning every inch of the place. "I've seen this before… in a dream." She steps off the path, brushing her hands in soil, checking every detail. Kitbok watches her, confused and concerned.
Then a voice interrupts the moment.
"Hey, you girl. What are you doing?"
Ahmaya turns.
She catches her breath.
Standing before her is the woman from her visions—tall, striking, with large black eyes and tousled auburn hair, short. The same mysterious presence that haunted her dreams.