conversation in english:
Can we go back?

Why? There is nothing for us there. - Why?

Tell me.

Please...

Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!

I made... a friend...

What was that?

I made a friend.

A friend?

Yes. - She is like us. Same ears. But she is not from our desert. - Salem is a desert island! That is where she lives and we can too.

No. - Let's go.

No?

Aadhira. Let's go.

No.


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“Chalo vaapas aao?”

This wasn’t the first time Aadhira had spoken up in his quiet, almost fearful way, his brown eyes wide as he looked up at his sister. As all the times before, Aarushi, with her slender neck high and her nose in the air, looked down at him with questioning heavy in her gaze.

“Kyon? Kuchh bhee nahin.” Suspicion poisoned her tone and when Aadhira wavered, Aarushi’s eyes narrowed. “Kyon?”

Aadhira did not speak. His head ducked, his mouth opened, his curved ears turned outward at either side of his poll. Anxiety became him and Aarushi did not relent. Her hooves pushed against the ground as she turned herself about, standing to face him rather than lean against him.

“Mujhe batao.” It was a command.

Aadhira did not lift his eyes to look upon his sister. “Prasann karana…” He murmured softly.

Aarushi’s ears laced back against her skull and she leaped, snapping out. Her flat teeth pinched a roll of his skin hard. Aadhira squealed and jerked backwards, the whites of his eyes flashing as he stumbled, trying to put distance between them.

“Mujhe batao!” Aarushi squealed, leaping forward and closing in on him again, biting another wrinkle of flesh, praying she’d leave him bruised for keeping secrets from her. “Mujhe batao!” She commanded again, rearing, her knees smacking against his wither as she arched her neck and grabbed a mouthful of his inky black hair. Little strands were ripped from their roots as she pulled and fell back to the ground. “Mujhe batao!” She screamed.

Aadhira was crying. “Mainnai aik…” He sucked in a shaking, whimpering breath, his legs trembling, head slung low as he refused to look at Aarushi. “…dost banaay.”

“Aapane kya kaha?” Aarushi’s voice was dangerously low. A warning.

“Mainnai aik dost banaay.” Aadhira said again.

“Ek dost?”

“Haan.” Aadhira admitted softly. Aarushi said nothing. Silence filled the gap between them as they dust their hooves stirred settled. Aadhira lifted his head slowly, testing the waters, as if waiting to be attacked at any moment. Eventually, however, he was able to glance at Aarushi. He was able to meet her gaze – though he looked every bit of a frightened mouse and she the cat debating whether to pounce again. “Vah hamaare jaisee hai. Ek hee kaan. Lekin hamaare registaan se nahin.”

Aarushi frowned, but because she had not become outright enraged, Aadhira jumped on his chance. “Salem ek registaanee dveep hai! Vah vahaan rahatee hai.”

Another long pause and then… “Nahin.” Aarushi said with a note of finality in her voice. “Chalie chalate hain.”

“N…Nahin?” Aadhira blinked as his sister turned and began walking the opposite direction as she.

“Aadhira. Chalie chalate hain.” Aarushi said, stopping a few steps away from him.

“….Nahin.” Aadhira said.

Aarushi’s head snapped upright and she looked at him, rage burning in her eyes. A string of curses and rants flew from her tongue as she turned about, clearly ready to descend upon him and harm him until he complied with her desires. For the first time in his life, Aadhira ran. He ran from his sister. Aarushi stopped short in surprise to see Aadhira’s retreating form – it bought him some time.

And then she followed.

He was afraid to stop, thinking she’d win if he did so – she’d corral him back the way she wanted to go, further and further away from the islands. So Aadhira ran and ran and ran with everything he had. Sweat lathered his skin and blood stained his nostrils… but still he ran.

And his hooves splashed into the ocean. And he stopped, choking, his lungs desperate for air.

Aarushi splashed into the water beside him, looking straight ahead. Her lips were pressed in a thin, tight line, clearly displeased, but she said nothing. Aadhira caught his breath and though he wished he could find fresh water to drink, did not want to delay or leave the sight of the islands ahead. He would go to Salem tonight. He would apologize to Priya for leaving her. After that… Aadhira wasn’t sure what he would do. Aarushi was enraged with him, he knew… but he had to do this…

He could be a father.

The pair of marwari’s walked onto the sandy shore of Salem when night was black and the world was thrust in sinister shadows. Aarushi snorted, pawing at the fine sand beneath her hooves. Traveling at night made her nervous and while Aadhira knew this, he could not stop – he was seized by an almost possession. He would not stop walking until he found Priya. He would not drink. He would not eat. Any pause would give Aarushi a moment to drive him away from his mission and that he could not afford.

So the pair started forward, walking quietly into the desert, marveling at how much it looked like home, but was not.