I led Hridi to my room.
Me: Hridi.
Hridi: What was it?
Me: Look, you won't keep it secret, okay? Whatever you talk behind me—tell everything to me today.
Hridi: We didn't talk anything.
Me: Listen, I think I heard you speak something. I am not going to stay here. Don't keep anything with you, sister.
Hridi: Dad forbids me to tell.
Me: I know why they wouldn't let you. They deserted me then. But I don't want to lose you now. Tell me everything that you know, now.
Hridi: Okay, Dad, I will tell.
Me: Hmph, go on.
Just as Hridi began to speak, Mom and Dad entered.
Mom: Don't worry, Dad. Here—she looks very hungry; I'll give you food.
Me: Hmph, thanks.
Dad: Were you scared when you went there? How did you go? Anything wrong?
Me: Oh, Dad, don't say that. It's possible that people can walk when they're half-asleep. Maybe I was sleepwalking. Maybe I tripped and hit my head while walking and that is why I was unconscious for a day.
Mom: Yes, maybe that's possible. Eat and rest quietly.
Mom fed Hridi and me together.
Me: Mom, the first day of college is tomorrow. I'm going to college tomorrow.
Dad: No, you don't have to go anywhere.
Me: No, nothing will happen to me. Hridi and I will definitely go to college tomorrow.
Dad: Okay, go. Now sleep.
Mom and Dad left.
Me: Now start.
Hridi: We were very young then. I don't know even how young we were. We were traveling along the sea coast. Dad was at the wheels; you and I were sitting on Mom's lap. Then a tsunami came and covered our car. At that tsunami, Mom and Dad were swept away—if that is what had happened, we would not have lived. We both died. Mom and Dad hugged our corpses and cried. Perhaps the King of Waters felt sorry for us. He brought both of us back to life in exchange for his own condition. But there was something. The something was that one of us would be claimed by the Waterrealm. If a boy is donated, he becomes the king of the Waterrealm; if a girl is donated, she is the queen. Mom and Dad had a very hard decision.
They did not know who to donate. Even if both their children were alive, they would be happy just to be able to donate a child. They accepted the terms.
Me: Then donate it to me.
Hridi: Yes.
Me: And, I suppose, I also heard dervish's story earlier.
Hridi: That was three years after this happened. A man came to my maternal grandparents' house. We were staying there then. You and Mama were near the river. I was talking to Nanu. A man came to beg. I went and gave him alms. When he saw me, he shouted loudly; the whole household came running. He told us that neither of us could marry. If I married, my husband would die as well as your wife the very same night. He also told us about the harm that would befall you and proposed a solution.
Me: You mean the harm is that I'll have to go to Jalpuri, right?
Hridi: Yes.
Me: And what was the solution?
Hridi: That solution is never possible. forget it. Sleep.
Me: No—speak. If you don't, I'll tell Father that you learned all this from me.
Hridi: You're threatening me. You've already learned everything by yourself, and now you're threatening to listen from me—and then threaten me again. Wait—how did you learn all this? You must have traveled to Jalpuri.
Me: … (I began to laugh.)
Hridi: You're laughing. Ask me—did you go or not?
Me: Yes. They kidnapped me. They would make me a queen in fifteen days, but I tricked them and asked them for two months' time and came back here.
Hridi: What?
Me: Yes. Now I have to plan how to send them away for good.
Hridi: O brother, what did you see there?
Me: Never mind. It's all imagination—I imagined it all up for you.
Hridi: I know, brother, that it's true. Don't tell me, my fortune brother.
Me: Hmm. Listen then—but don't tell Dad and Mom.
Hridi: Okay.
I began telling Hridi the whole story, in fragments. I did not say Jerry. I will tell her about that later. I must do something so that I and they do not have to go to the water, and that Jerry will be here with me.
I slept as I was chatting with Hridi. The next morning I awoke and got ready for college. Since it was my first day, I hurried out after breakfast. My father dropped us at college.
Father: Hridi, you won't ever be parted from your brother, okay?
Hridi: Hmm, Papa.
We left father behind and moved to college. Somehow, I felt Zara was very close to me. I could feel her. My heart was racing. I could smell her surrounding me — that meant Zara was nearby. But it seemed she was not moving forward because of Hridi. How do I make her come behind me? I have to try something.
Me: Why are you following me around like this? We're in college now — you get new girl friends, I'll have new guy friends.
Hridi: Ugh, Papa told me to keep you company. Didn't you hear? And you're my brother, my best friend. I don't need to make new friends.
Me: I'm going to the gents' toilet. You want to come?
Hridi: Yuck. Go. I have to go to class.
Me: Good. I'm coming.
She finally left. Now it's my turn to find Zara. But I couldn't see her anywhere. I fled the moment there was a division. I locked the door and quietly attended to things. When I turned, something ethereal was turning material.
Me: Zara, you're here.
Zara: Shh, come quietly. We can't talk loudly here.
Me: Where were you the entire time?
Zara: I was on the second floor. I saw your sister standing next to you, so I didn't go near. But when I knew you were coming here, I turned invisible and trailed behind you.
Me: You can just turn into thin air and follow me? You've seen everything ????????????????.
Zara: Oh, don't cry. I didn't see anything. I tried, but I couldn't muster up the nerve.
Me: You won't speak, right? And don't let anyone set eyes on you and me together — they'll be regretful that they did.
Zara: No one can see me.
Me: Oh — you're invisible.
Zara: Mm-hmm. And listen — while we're here, I'll study here with you.
Me: Was that absolutely necessary?
Zara: Yes. Because I want to be around you every minute.
Me: Then you may stay in my house.
Zara: Ah. That too will take place today.
Me: How?
Zara: Your sister… she will ensure that.
Me: How will you manage it?
Zara: I read so many magic books for everything yesterday… so everything will happen. Just see.
Me: But—
Zara: No buts.
Zara planted a kiss on my lips, vanished, opened the door and stepped out. I too stepped out and went up to our class.
As we entered, Zara and Hridi were sitting and giggling, laughing their heads off. You could tell they had becoming proper friends. Maybe Zara had enchanted Hridi. Good luck to her. I couldn't sit between them, so I was forced to grab the boys' bench, over to one side. I marched out of class with my bag. They trailed after me.
Hridi: Zara, this is him. This is my one little brother.
Zara: You two are twins, Hridi.
Hridi: Yeah, because we're twins. And Hridoy, meet my new friend Zara.
Me: What, you said you wouldn't make any new friends.
Hridi: We can't sit side by side here anymore… so one needs a good friend to sit next to.
Zara: How are you, Hridoy?
Me: I'm very well. How are you?
Zara: I'm fine too.
Hridi: Zara, you are from where?
Zara: I am not staying in this town. I stay very far away. I have a relative's house here, but that too is very far away. I am trying to get a good girls' hostel to stay in, but I am not able to find it anywhere.
Hridi: What? Okay, how about I get something fixed up for you to stay?
Zara: Do you know any girls' hostels?
Hridi: Why would you ever visit a hostel? You can come and stay with us at home. We have plenty of rooms anyway.
Zara: But will my father and mother agree to let me stay?
Me: Why not? You don't have to worry about that. If we wish, they'll agree.
Zara: How will I ever be able to repay this kindness to you?
Hridi: You don't owe it to her. Friends do things for friends, don't they?
The teacher was coming. Hridi ran into class early. Zara widened her eyes at me and followed as well. The whole class — not just the students but even the teacher — stared at Zara with mouths hanging open. I was jealous. I was angry; I wanted to pop eyeballs out of people's heads.
Can't she have a home, a mother, and sisters? What business is it of hers to become another man's wife? And should they know what she really is, all of them will die here of fright — thinking that made me smile weakly.
Sometimes I was kept looking; Zara was also looking at me while talking to Hridi. Hridi and I went home after class. Hridi gave Zara our address and told her to pack up and come to our house in the afternoon.
I had no words to speak and could do nothing. I used to think — she had no clothes, then how did she get the college dress and the burqa today? Only that red dress was present on her. We'll get to see her again and will hear more later.
She told my mother about Zara at our place. My mother also agreed because my parents are very benevolent and want to help everyone. In the afternoon, Zara came with two big bags.