Aaranya picked up the pace, spurred on by the watchful eye of the waking sun. She left the streets to power-walk through the shadows of an orchard. The girl was about to leave the shelter of nature when she froze like a doe, eyes twitching around her environment. She swore she was
being followed.... oh yeah, it was Danielle. Okay.
Aaranya took one more side street to avoid passing by the library (did those people ever sleep?) and nearly sobbed as she rounded the corner to her own rustic cobblestone road. Her feet rushed forward of their own accord until she found herself tapping at the door. Aaranya stood there for an eon, or perhaps two minutes. Her eyes caught Danielle's at this time, and Aaranya responded with a nod, grateful that the woman chose to stay close rather than tell the whole town what she saw.
Worry rose like floodwaters near the end of the eon. This was not like Kabir, ever polite and formal. She pounded on the door this time. Finally, some muffled evidence of movement filtered through the walls. A minute later, a disheveled man in his mid-twenties opened the door with a look of exhausted indignation. His expression turned to blank shock when he registered the woman.
"Aaran...
WHAT?"Both siblings tried to think of words to say. Neither got a chance before Kabir embraced his sister, face remaining a mask of shock. Aaranya's own face scrunched up in tears, her limbs grew heavy and soft, finally able to let her guard down in safe harbor.
"Come- come inside," Kabir breathed, halfway dragging Aaranya across the threshold. His wide eyes seemed to look through Danielle rather than at her, but he acknowledged her presence and left the door open for the other woman who accompanied his sister for who-knows-what reason.
"What happened?" Kabir asked as he led Aaranya to the couch. "You're... of course, it's wonderful that you're here, but you're supposed to..."
Both Singhs were wordless, one seeking a proper way to speak the unspeakable, one struggling to make any sound other than squeaky sobs. Kabir directed his eyes toward something, anything else, and noticed his other guest again. Proper hospitality... that was an easier way to help.
"...You look like you had a rough night," Kabir addressed Aaranya, a little warmth returning to his voice. "Why don't I get you some breakfast, and then we can talk about it?"
Kabir breathed a sigh of relief as Aaranya answered with a silent nod. He gave his sister a kiss on the forehead and then headed to the kitchen. His racing thoughts slowed to a more manageable pace as the mundane task gave his mind something productive to do. At least, that's what Kabir tried to tell himself. Even as his quivering hands caused the bowl of oatmeal to harshly clink against the bottom of the microwave.
