It was like a dream… a hazy grainy vision of the past.
Leon, completely aware of the fact, simply couldn't get up. He was the spectator as the dramatics started the film.
Makina was clinged to a wooden chair. She was devastated by the death of her daughter, completely rotten in sadness. The kettle was spilling hot water, but she completely went deaf. Her ears would only respond to one voice- and that was of her late daughter.
Then came the change, on a random winter day…
Grimsa entered their life…
She brought some sweets on a random dusk, mulling over their past.
Drasthamus gave a smile and readily took them, but Makina would be shut busy in her daily chores.
"Please have some" she would insist, but Makina wouldn't have one
"So you are the new neighbour?" Drasthamus asked
"Yes, sir" she replied
"Don't call me sir… you are of my mother's age" he smiled and extended his hand "I'm Drasthamus"
"I'm Grimsa"
The vocals inaugurated the opening. She soon learned intricacies about the accident.
Her face turned pale as she understood the disaster…
"No wonder Makina is still distressed" Grimsa whispered
"But I think, your mistake complies the response"
She overrules
"What do you mean by that" Drasthamus was furious
"Have you shown your love and affection, Drasthamus. We women surely loves that"
"Of course" Drasthamus clenched his hands together "I loved her no matter what the consequences stated. And that is why I actually act unphased, so she can rely on me"
"Do you know what we women love the most?" She smiled as she strayed from the question "we love when our family shows their claim on us. It sounds absurd but that's reality".
"Showing claim" Drasthamus was confused.
"What's your treasured meal?" She asked "something she loves to make for you"
"Dacha rice" he claimed
"When was the last time you asked her for that"
Drasthamus was stunned. He understood what Grimsa meant…
It wasn't the physical affection she talked about…
She meant the eternal bond of gratitude, and willingness for trust that two in love share…
During those rough times, Makina never asked for exempt reassurance, she just wanted the man she loved.
The afternoon dawned as the night visited the town, and Grimsa left for her house. Drasthamus knew what needed to be done. He held Makina while she stood near the window, peering at the sunset. He pulled her closer, feeling her warm breath.
"Will you help me in the farm tomorrow" he sighed "you know I'm exhausted by the same chores day in and day out"
"That works" she kissed him, preceded by a calm smile
"That would be great my love" he went closer "and will I get to eat Dacha, from these precious hands"
He kissed her palms, soothing them over his cheeks.
"Aren't you asking a lot today?" she giggled.
The little smile meant a lot, Drasthamus was overwhelmed. He couldn't thank Grimsa any less. The change wasn't profound, but it was a good start.
That night Makina and Drasthamus applauded their memories. The next day on the farm went well. That's how their journey began, in fact. In those hard chores of loamy soils and poultry hard work.
The couple got back their laughter and the tragic past was slowly dusting off. But then the another issue rose,
They tried multiple nights, but Makina wouldn't conceive.
The couple after such a tremendous leap tried for another child, but these results were surely wavering for them.
"I guess it's because of me" Drasthamus cried "I can't feel my fertile energy"
"That's okay, Love"
"I'm sorry" he would stare blankly, while his wife comforted him.
Several months waved off with no results, but this instant they weren't depressed. They soothe the other, solacing them in sympathy.
But the silence laid a controversial solution…
DEAD GOD VRINSTINE…
A descendant from hell… a devil who was throned as god…
Give him your ultimate devotion and he would grant thy desire. But his Workship never turns easy, it dreads one of their everything. Time by time it unveils a catastrophic disaster. Still human desire never contends with the boundaries. They are ready to bear any hardship, in the name of a peaceful moment.
Drasthamus and Makina bore extreme sacrifice to get their gift. The father offered nearly half of his threshold after harvest, while the mother stood for constant hours of praying. It wasn't just physical, but also a mental test for the believers. Days went in unnegligible agony and the fruitful day finally came,
The god appeared in the shrine Makina prayed…
A little blurry was his image as he stood behind the curtains, a little distant from the prayers…
"Tell me your yearning" he whispered with voice that echoed
"We are lingered with the curse of infertility, dear God" Drasthamus claimed "can you please attend to our issue"
"I can see… the spark is minimum in the man. I am convinced by your prayers" he was fading off the curtains "I will grant your wish for one night, but remember…"
He paused
"Wish granted by me, never turns peaceful"
And he vanished…
The night was pleasurable and worth the oblation…
Makina soon showed visible symptoms of pregnancy…
And very soon Leon came to the world of Ascension…
He could see everything… he was living the past visions of his birth through his father's eyes. For a moment he found himself endearing. Later he loved his parents' joy.
In a blink… the vision changed. Mass destruction of the town blurred in. Mayhem of blood and dead bodies flooded the teared eyes of Drasthamus.
He was glaring at his wife hanging to the tree of life…
He was guilty about his helplessness…
He tried to peep through the tree hole, but couldn't find Leon. And in those sole moment he whispered
"I'm sorry… everyone"
His neck was decapitated in the next instance…
Leon was transmigrated into the white void, but this time he was alone. No waves of Crikes were nettled to kill him. He let his guard down- as he saw Makina and Drasthamus walking towards him.
"My little boy was a grown man it seems" Drasthamus giggled
"I'm sorry" Leon cried, as he understood his negligence
"What are you sorry for, dear" Makina held his either shoulder "you are doing everything you can"
"I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you"
"Are you stupid" Drasthamus knocked his head. "You must have been a reincarnation… but for us you were our little child. It was our duty to protect you… and we did good it seems"
He laughed off on his own comment
Leon's tears kept flooding his eyes…
"In both of my lives, I was blessed with such loving parents… but… I failed them in each one" he wiped his eyes but the tears wouldn't stop
"I am so happy that you are my son" Drasthamus replied with a warming smile
Leon stopped sobbing and in turn looked at his father…
"Sometimes, Leon- We don't get choices in life. We just keep crushing ourselves against the flow, not because we love, but that's all is left to it" he sighed "so no matter what Leon Vale was in his previous life, I am assured he is the shoulder everybody is relying on in this one…"
A stream of tears, not dignifying sorrow nor joy- just relief.
"I will make you proud… I will bring my sister home… I promise" he smiled "I will write a story you will love too"
They laughed…
Something resonated in Leon's ear in that instance…
Someone was calling him…
"Leon… wake up" the voice said
With a quick jerk, his eyes parted in reality. The tears still adhered, Leon gave a smile. And in that emotional complexity Agasthus asked
"Brother, are you crying?"