Chapter 6 The Ash of Dreams
Two glasses of water and one broken later the tension in the room had not abated. Aarav served the water. Kiyan drank it silently and began to move towards the door.
Just then Aarav's hand shot out and caught Kiyan's wrist. Stop.
Kiyan turned. A question hung in his eyes.
Aarav quickly withdrew his hand as if caught in a mistake. I mean it is raining outside. You will get sick if you go out in this. That is all.
Kiyan stayed. He sat on the edge of the bed staring out at the drizzle.
You will have something Aarav asked masking his restlessness. I mean will you eat. Are you hungry.
Kiyan shook his head.
Just then an alert vibrated on Aarav's phone. A message from the weather department Heavy rain expected in Mumbai throughout the night.
Look Aarav said pushing the phone towards Kiyan. It is going to rain all night.
Kiyan gave no reaction.
So will you stay. Here. With me Aarav asked a strange tremor in his voice.
Kiyan looked at him then took another step towards the door.
Hey I was joking Aarav laughed stepping forward and grabbing Kiyan's hand. He pulled him back and made him sit on the bed. You can stay for the night. We are both guys anyway no need for all this shyness.
Aarav added Will you change. Because I cannot sleep without my nightclothes. I am changing. You turn your face that way.
Without a word Kiyan turned his face away.
Aarav began to pull off his t shirt. Just then lightning cracked violently outside a terrible flash flooding the room. Aarav yelped scrambling onto the bed where Kiyan sat.
Kiyan looked at him. Aarav realized he was still half naked. He jumped off the bed and yelped Hey turn around. You are so shameless. Watching a guy change. Come on look away. And now my hand is stuck in this sleeve it will not come out.
Kiyan got off the bed. He started walking towards Aarav.
Wh what are you doing. Why are you coming near me. Aarav pressed himself against the wall.
Kiyan came close. He reached out a gentle hand. Aarav closed his eyes his heart pounding. What was he going to do.
But Kiyan simply took Aarav's hand and freed it from the tangled shirt. Then he turned back went to the bed sat down and pulled the blanket over himself.
Aarav burst into laughter filled with relief and a strange embarrassment. I was not scared of you or anything I just whatever. I have changed and I am sleepy now. Look it is already ten.
Aarav lay down on the bed. Kiyan lay down too a formal distance between them.
Aarav turned on his side to face Kiyan. Why are you so quiet. Are you sad. Or just crazy.
Kiyan gave no answer. He placed a hand over his eyes and pretended to sleep.
Fine Aarav said. What do I care. I am sleeping. I am so sleepy.
Aarav truly fell asleep. His breaths grew deep and steady.
Kiyan removed his hand from his eyes. He began to watch Aarav's face the closed eyelids the soft lips that innocent face peaceful in sleep. His hand drifted forward towards Aarav's cheek. His fingers halted in the air just an inch away. An invisible wall. He hesitated then pulled back restraining himself. He drew a pained breath pulled the blanket tighter and turned the other way.
Midnight
Kiyan's dreams dragged him back to being a small child. A forest a hut. His mother and father. Happiness. Then flames. The angry faces of villagers. The hut burning. His father saved him and his mother sacrificing himself. Fleeing footsteps. Pursuing people.
And then a man in front of them sword drawn. Kiyan clung to his mother. Ma he will kill us.
No son his mother said an iron will in her voice. He will not kill us.
His mother stretched her hands into the air. Her eyes blazed with a golden light. Her nails grew long her hair billowed. She grabbed the man's throat and lifted him into the air. A golden energy began to stream from the man's body and into his mother's mouth doing umr choosna (age draining). In moments the man transformed from a youth into a wrinkled ancient husk. His mother flung him aside.
She grabbed Kiyan's hand and ran. Then another man appeared ahead. He threw a net laced with white flowers (Safed Ketaki a sacred white flower). Kiyan's mother screamed.
Run son run she said tears filling her eyes.
No Ma. No Kiyan cried.
My son I swear to you run from here.
Then some people began chasing Kiyan. But Kiyan ran many times faster. And soon he vanished into thin air.
The villagers captured his mother. They surrounded her planting those same white flowers around her. With each flower his mother writhed and screamed. And Kiyan helpless watched it all from a tree. He covered his mouth with his hands and screamed Ma.
On the bed Kiyan's body began to twist. His head tossed from side to side. A pained groan escaped him.
Aarav awoke. He saw Kiyan twitching his face damp with sweat eyes clenched shut.
Kiyan. Wake up Kiyan. What is wrong. Kiyan. Aarav shook him.
Kiyan sat bolt upright eyes wide with terror. Ma he cried.
And then without thought he clutched Aarav. A tight desperate embrace seeking anchor. His entire body trembled breaths ragged.
Aarav froze. Then slowly he wrapped his arms around Kiyan. He said nothing. Just held him resting his chin on Kiyan's sweat damp hair. He rubbed his back slowly gently as if soothing a frightened animal.
Outside the rain had stopped. Beyond the window in the dim glow of the streetlight a figure stood. Black coat masked face. Its gaze was fixed directly on Aarav's window where two shadows seemed to melt into one.
Then the figure turned abruptly and vanished into the darkness moving at impossible speed.
Inside the room Aarav and Kiyan still clung to each other. One's pain the other's solace. One's secret the other's curiosity. And outside a new danger now closer than ever.
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