Taran held up a 1 rupee coin, examining the track. The spot had to be flat enough to keep the coin in place, but curved enough to make full contact.
It didn’t really matter where he had got the coin, did it?
Samyuel kept watch. The train would not sneak up on them, but adults might.
Jyoti’s older brothers had, supposedly, been keeping an eye on her. But she was left picking dry grass on the periphery of the track. Samyuel would also shout if she tried to do much else. Her older brother’s collection of smashed rupees was already enough, wasn’t it? Why did one for every year matter if you could not see the dates on them anymore?
She would have much rather gone wading. Check in on the snake holes near the edge of the creek.
“Mashi!” Samyuel called. Taran looked up, but was not deterred. Their aunt had a reputation for being a push-over. Or, maybe, she did enough strange things that she saw no room to call out others.
As Jyoti walked up, the old woman had opened her vintage pocketwatch, time surely set against the one at the train station barely in view on the horizon. She didn’t respond aloud to the numbers she saw. “How long do you think you’ll be waiting for your prize, hmm?” Her look over her glasses looked a bit like a schoolteacher’s, hoping the distraction of the rod could be avoided.
They paid her no heed, Taran finally finding the coin’s position, kicking the rail lightly to make sure it did not budge. Before stepping away from the track.
“How long?”
“Ten minutes, maybe more. Trains can always be late,” The pocketwatch clicked shut. The watch chain – her necklace – let it hang above her bustline, threatening to bounce against or be tucked in if it became too inconvenient.
“Jyoti. I was planning to go on a trip see an old friend for a few days, planning to see how she’s getting along. Els… your mother thought you might be interested in joining me. Seeing a bit of the world.”
“By train?”
“Train will get us most of the way there.”
“Is she in India?” Jyoti jumped to ‘she’, but happened to be right.
“Oh, that’s the strange thing. We have to leave India to go to India. The border is strange around there.”
“Oh. Have I met her?”
“I think you have actually. You’ve grown a bit since then.”
~
The train was a noisy thing, A windy thing. Jyoti wondered if she would see Pa working on the way – and while there were many workers, they only matched Pa in how sweaty they were getting.
Fields came and went, forests came and went. A high bridge over a deep riverbed – Aunt Mina said it was not the fastest train, but that it was the best view. At one point, they had to get out, and some men who thought they were important had to look over the papers Aunt Mina carried – Jyoti had to be very sure Mina was Aunt Mina – but then they got on another train.
Eventually they left the train, and Aunt Mina found a motor rickshaw – the man driving it seemed to know just where she wanted to go.
Another few important men, more paper checking. They seemed surprised to hear that the two ladies had already been on a significant trip – but after a short while the two were let through.
One story houses gave way to tall buildings; at the intersection the rickshaw driver pointed out one specifically – it was painted with the portrait of a woman, though it looked like someone was about to repaint the whole building in green.
Jyoti wondered aloud, under the din of the motorcycle engine, what was so important about the woman. “You’ll figure it out,” Mina didn’t quite answer.
~
The buildings gave way to what looked like a park – a low fence, a wide lawn – a little dry, as the season would dictate – peppered with several buildings, a large one in the center – a cube at least two stories tall, on a tall foundation, with columns by the corners and a large set of red and white chevrons taking up most of the space between them, and a pointed dome raising from it.
It was by a gate to this expanse of grass that the rickshaw stopped, and Mina bid her niece to get the luggage. A moment later, the rickshaw roared away.
~
A man in khaki shorts, quickly draping a short orange saree over his shoulders, came out to meet the two – who had stayed standing on the sidewalk. “Welcome, Namaste and welcome, to the temple of the living goddess Sardari. Have you come for prayer, or to pray?”
“We have come to see the goddess,” Mina raised her hands to return the motion of namaste – then, while letting them fall back to her sides, let her wrists momentarily twist to an inhuman angle, making sure the priest had a moment to observe and consider, “How might we do this?”
“I see. I see. I can not grant you this access myself. However, you may be able to obtain it,” he turned from the east to the south, “Past the south edge to the grounds, you see three stairs; what you can not see from here is the wire hooked to them, leading up to the roof of the temple. It is said that when one walks that narrow path, the true home of the goddess will be revealed, and She will receive you.”
The wire, assuming it was starting there at that grey stump, barely visible against the road behind it would be at least 30 meters long.
“If you do not wish to attempt to walk the narrow path uninvited, she may visit this evening. You are free to wait.”
“I see. Does that sound a little like the Muslim’s bridge over hell?”
“It may bear some resemblance to the Sirat,” The man tried not to smirk, “But the goddess is willing to take it to and from our earthly realm regardless.”
“You’ve been there?”
“I once made it half way, and saw the hidden entrance. I dare not go farther, for I have my duties here on Earth.”
“I wouldn’t put it past her… Come on Jyo, let’s have a closer look,” Mina gave quick bow, and started towards the south edge of the grounds.
~
“But hindu gods are fake.” Jyoti stopped her halfway there.
“Ah. Ah. Yes and no. The hindus are more than willing to lie to maintain control, or to comfort each other, or many other things. Especially the Brahmin, who have the most to lose,” Mina grimaced, “This is just, people, though, you know.”
“So your friend is tricking them?”
“Oh, no. Sardari is as real a deal as I am. To her, being a god is just a job. Like being a president, or a railway worker. You are good at it, you keep doing it.”
“But she’s lying! She can’t be God!”
“Look, dear. The hindus think they know gods. The Muslims think they know about a god. If you tell them what they think is false, their only choice is to become christian or go crazy over it. And I have seen the crazy. It’s better to let them think they have gods then have to put them down frothing at the mouth.”
Jyoti didn’t reply. But the troubled look didn’t leave her face.
~
As told, three cement steps – sanskrit etched into the tops of each. Mina immediately recognized she would not be providing a translation to Jyoti – It went something like “touch my lawn and you’re fucked”… no, that was explicitly mentioning the posterior – so, keep it practical.
“What do you think, Jyo? Shoes or no shoes?”
“I say…. no shoes. If we can make it half way, we throw a rock at her door.”
“If you have the balance…”
“Or. Maybe you could just stretch you arm up there and knock.”
“At that length, I think I’d have to be 100% arm to do that. Maybe something else.”
“Maybe… you hold me underneath like a pendulum. So when you fall left I want to fall right?”
“I think that would still lead to you with a face full of grass.”
“Maybe I could learn cricket and-“
“Jyo.”
“Get gloves and climb up like a sloth?”
“You know what, I’m just going to try it.”
Mina tucked in her saree, handed Jyoti her shoes, and took up a sprinter’s starter position on the far side of the road.
And she ran. Past Jyoti, off the top stair, both hands and feet seeming to bend like hands to grab the wire as she went up it on all fours, like she was trying to walk a spinning jumprope – and then she just seemed to disappear.
Jyoti, unprepared, tried not to panic. A hidden door? had her aunt literally just crawled into heaven? Had-
Another figure appeared. A different woman, shorter, long braids, easily walking down the wire, not shaking under her steps at all.
“You’re Jyoti? Meena’s …. girl?”
Jyoti stiffened. “Jyoti Tiyasa Ranjan.” It was like she was about to be questioned or arrested.
“Alright, alright, grab your stuff and come on up.” The woman made a swipe with her hands, at the wire seemed to flatten, spread – like a shadow at sunset, entirely more substantial than it should be.
Bags (and shoes) in hand, Jyoti gingerly took the stairs one step at a time … to find the wire as solid as a paved road up a hill. The woman smiled, and lead the way up to a carved door that suddenly appeared. and just as suddenly, the world around – warped. It was like the world looked like when one lays on their back compared to standing. Bigger. But with some further difference.
“Is… this supposed to be heaven?”
“Sorry hun, this is still just a little corner of Earth,” The door wasn’t locked – but also, Aunt Mina wasn’t there, “Come on in, you want the tour?”
~
The hall of political gifts. The Electrics room – something about converting to battery power and back so that the lights would work. The Lounge. The kitchen – could be cleaner. The entertainment room, which seemed to be a large television and a tape player. At one point she finally saw her Aunt – it looked like the woman had been taking a nap.
“I do apologize, we talked for a good while before I came out for you. Of course, if you want to take a nap yourself, feel free.”
Instead, a wave of tension broke over a dam of propriety and immediately the girl was pinned to her aunt.
“Sardari-“
“I’ve been behaving myself. Ok, maybe we should have checked on you first.”
“I’m here, dear. You’re ok. It’s a lot to take in.” Jyoti realized she was gloming onto Mina so hard she was sinking in, “Sardari and I have been friends for a long time. Adult friends – we don’t see each other too often.”
~
“Do you want something to eat? Everything I got is as fresh as just harvested, milk that barely knows it’s out of the cow. Or. I could go order something. I know this one place that does a naan crust pizza-“
“Just. Tea for the moment. I’m sure you have some cakes to try?” Jyoti’s hug hadn’t been released, but it’d become much less… certain.
“Ok, dear. I didn’t really think about how much I might need to explain to you. What are you worried about.”
“This isn’t heaven.”
“Nope. You’re not dead, I’m not dead, we go back home when we’re done visiting.”
“And she… isn’t a god.”
“Rude.” Sardari returned with a tray full of carbs. “I mean, matter of perspective. I get Sufi missionaries coming around every so often trying to convince me I’m a djinn in need of liberation-” She finally noticed Mina vigorously shaking her head ‘no’, “I thought you were Muslim.”
“We’re Christian, dear.” Mina raised her eyebrows
“Oh. That one still has angels, right?”
“And demons.” Jyoti didn’t have that much to say, and they already were not really listening.
“Ah. What else?” Sardari was pouring tea.
“That’s pretty much it.” Mina frowned.
“Hmm. I thought Suleman was Christian.”
“Jewish. With a lot of claims.” Mina sniffed.
“And I thought I was doing good. It’s not my fault I never took a comparative religions class.”
“Only had two hundred years to do it.”
“Hey, keeping border traffic going is a busy job sometimes, ok?”
“From someone who can always make time.”
“Hey. You were the one that founded a university and barely learned anything.”
“Translators don’t found universities, Not on that salary.”
“One of these decades. Maybe give her a scholarship and you two can play dorm mates.”
“Ok, maybe resetting is a bit easier for me-“
“Shirking.”
“Sure, Miss Vaishya. Come to think of it, I’d be happy to step in and give you an actual vacation, but for some reason people expect tricks form you every other minute.”
“It’s not like that. You think I’m above laying hands?” Sardari slapped a palm to the back of her hand like wrestling taunt.
“You were going to say ‘touching’ weren’t you?”
“I was going to say touching,” Both immediately sagged. “Do I wish sometimes that getting a caste was a thing you could actually do.”
“Maybe I should be the proper demon then.”
“I know a certain Sufi missionary school that could use some excitement…”
Another moment of silence. Mina finally turned her attention to her niece. who… yes, had drank some of the provided tea, but now was just staring somewhere behind Sardari.
“Jyo? You didn’t have too much sugar, did you?” She turned to Sardari “You didn’t let her eat one of those stasis things, did you?”
“Of course not, but just let me check…” The shorter woman stood up, put one hand on the child’s head and one on her belly, “Nope, all normal space. Well, as normal as it gets here. Maybe she needs a nap? You were exhausted.”
“We talked for hours before my nap. And I think she’s an age she would insist against taking one.” Mina pondered. “She isn’t used to travel. Maybe train smoke is catching up with her. Or Motorcycle smoke-“
Mina froze.
The air froze.
An air bubble popping on the tea froze, spray suspended in the air, divot frozen in time.
Sardari spread Jyoti’s lips a little, checking in her mouth. Just to check. This of course meant careful orchestration – her body had to be managed separate from her mind, so jaws would not be accidentally broken and needless memories would not be formed. In the past, Sardari had learned that those suffering from smoke might be affected by a certain air – a “carbon monoxide” – but this was something she was still trying to identify visible symptoms for.
She examined the eyes. Withdrawn. Tired, yes. The mind wanted to be ablaze but was unable to settle anything
It moved again. Time. Mina turned to see just what Sardari was examining, but it was already done.
“Yes, let’s just put her in the guest room for a while. “
~
Jyoti woke up. Slowly. Groggily. She needed something to drink. She was still having visions. Demons. Probing for weaknesses. The sun hadn’t moved in the sky. This place was unnatural. Cursed.
Normal. She needed to get her aunt out of here.
Get her some place normal.
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