Nanda Nair - The Amazonian Charitha: The Quest for the Time Traveller

The Amazonian Charitha:

The Quest for the Time Traveller

Nanda Nair

I dedicate this Bundle of Imaginations

to my Father and Mother

to whom I am forever indebted to.

Chapter 1

Abigail of the Heir

I am Vinaayaki, unfurling myself is difficult due to some bizarre reasons. First is that I know too little about myself, second my aunt was really mad and the last-she told me that I was born to guard.

Strange! Really strange! Isnt it?

Life in a secluded village where my aunt is known as the the Weird Widow, was somewhat exhausting. Weird Widow- Everyone called her so, I thought it would be her introverted manner which made them call so, but it was not. Whenever I started to nurture a sense of my own, I realised that she was odd in all her ways. We never conversed. She sent me to a nearby school and never bothered my performance there. Every month she would give me new clothes and some money, I never complained but it was on my twelfth birthday I asked her about me, the relationship we shared and why she was so. She did not answer but handed over me a letter the next day.

Girl,

I am just a caretaker. I love no kids and wishes to be alone. 16 years ago I met a man who gave me a casket - it was you. He told me to take care of you until you are 16 and informed of paying me extremely on the day of your retrieval. He owed me money and wanted me to keep no bond with you. You are born to guard their Royal Heir. You should leave on your sixteenth birthday.

I was puzzled and relied upon the words of village folks that she is non- sensible.

However, you may wonder why I am referring to this now.

You know today, this very day I turned 16. Even if I consider her words non-sensible, I am curious in the events that are yet to happen.

If my aunts words turn out to be right, this is my last day, here. I gazed out of the window to savour the beauty of my hamlet. Suddenly I heard something. I turned and saw my aunt. She was running without giving a glimpse of her sight. She is trying not to have any bond with me. Let it be so. But there was a letter hanging from my cupboards divider. It read thus:

Girl,

Today you are concluding your life here. Theyll come for you. Get all set in time.

Is this right? If so, whos coming for my retrieval? Where will I be taken?

Set of questions blended inside me. But I cannot be dubious about her other than to digest whatever she says.

I filled my bag with all my clothes, books and so on. I was surprised by the teardrops rolling down my cheeks.

All of a sudden my aunt rushed into the room. You will make me liable in front of Her Highness. I didnt know to whom she referred to. I told you to have no bond with me or my place.

I was confused. She snatched my box and threw everything away. NO MEMORIES, I SAY. She roared.

Now I got it, she is prohibiting me from keeping my personal diaries, photos (which I had without her knowledge) and other stuffs.

A stream originated from my eyes which she ignored. I nodded and put those away. I looked back at her - meaning - Happy now?

Come, she commanded. Carrying my leather bag, I followed. The tears blurred everything around.

I was led to the courtyard.

After a long silence she started to talk. I am glad..... really glad. At last, I am getting paid. I should be honest enough to tell you the truth - you were a good girl, keeping you under custody wasnt a burdensome duty. Realising the emotional break, she changed altogether and set herself rude, You wont complain about me haa?

Getting back to my nerves, I thought. Look at me - standing with tears dripping through my eyes, waiting for the unknown, helpless even to hold a memory of the past.

My thoughts were ripped by the soliloquy of my aunt who was happy on getting paid at last. As she immersed herself in those happy thoughts and me in the sorrow of parting, we hardly noticed the two hours that flew away. Gradually we came to notice that nobody had come until now. She appeared irritated and sat hiding her head between her knees.

Dont be panic. They will come, she consoled herself.

The whole day we stood there, no one came. I assured she was surely non-sensible, waiting for someone who did not exist.

When it was midnight, she got up, her eyes intense. They fooled me; Ill make you pay for it, she released her temper on me.

That day my birthday was one of the worst days, as she made me sleep with her pup in her lair. The next day I realised that she declared me as the official servant of her sweet home. She made me do all the household chores and even restricted me from going school. I was sure that she would change after some days of the avenging process. I waited.

****

I n villages, its expected to see some stranded houses which were believed to be haunted, likewise my village also owned one. A mansion habituated with unusual happenings. Its sight could send shivers down our spine. All were obviously frightened to go there, I too.

Today my aunts pup which had the name PUPPY had her birthday. She fed her with milk paayasam, a sweet dessert in Kerala. When Puppy was in a mood for an evening walk she bit my skirt leading our way. After passing the tribals village market which was the last place crowded, the path narrowed into a thin strap. The shrubs hindered our walk but Puppy ran fast dragging me like a ball.

Puppyyy... pup... yyyyy... stop I sayyy... I cried.

There was no sign of her notice, she bent her head as she smelt something and continued. When she ceased, the sudden stop made that rusted gate kiss me so harshly.

Aahhhhh... I bellowed. I planted my fingers on my face in search of wounds.

Thank God!!!! Nothing. I said to myself. Puuppy you wouldve killed me!

Puppy was of course horrified by the gates cry. I took a deep breath and patted on her back. Suddenly a warm breeze woke my brain. I thought Where am I?

To my shock, I realised the terrible truth that I was standing before the rusty gate which guarded the nightmare of the villagers - THE HAUNTED MANSION - for the last 500 years.

I gazed at it SPEECHLESS, BEWILDERED AND NEARLY DEAD.

Wake up girl, It was my aunt. You little vermin, Ill make you do all the works under the sun. She screamed.