Chapter 8
1036 Words
Mallika shivered in fear as her body touched cold flesh.
What was this happening? A nightmare coming true?
Her heart raced a thousand miles in a second.
Was this really a dead body?
But there isn't any stinking smell.
Mallika soon gathered few dry leaves and branches and lit the fire with the help of pebbles. She tore a part of her stole (dupatta) and blinded it around a long branch and let it catch the fire. Soon the cloth caught fire and Mallika had now her own fire torch.
She stood up again and went to the place she tripped and fell.
Her eyes widened in shock, and the color drained out of her face. As she looked at a dead body lying on the ground. And the most striking feature of that corpse was the thing that she remembered him.
This was the man who had saved her that day. The same handsome features, healthy and strong physic dressed up in royal attire.
The only difference was he was lying there lifeless, with many wounds.
Mallika's mind pondered on the situation. How did he end up here? Like this?
Mallika's eyes left the body and studied the surroundings. Unknowingly she heaved in relief because there was no one.
Mallika slowly came down on her knees and put a finger below the man's nose.
He was breathing!
A feeling of delightness ran through her body.
I need to save him. She thought. Just a few days ago this man have saved her life and she haven't even said a thank you properly. Mallika felt guilty, but now God have given her the chance to do the favor back.
And it was the time when she could test her medicine studies.
She looked at the man closely, he had many wounds, one in his right hand, a deep cut in the back of his skull and another cut in his broad back. But the reason of his unconsciousness wasn't the cuts but something else.
Mallika had a hard time pulling out the shirt he was wearing. Once she did that she found the cut in the back going blue.
Poison! Her conscious mind told her and to confirm that she examined his lips. They were purple as well!
She concluded that he was attacked by poisonous arms. And to cure that she needs to find the medicinal plant.
In the middle of the night she walked in a dangerous damp parts of forest holding a fire torch firmly in one hand and examining the plants and herbs on her way. Known of the fact that she is risking her own life for a complete stranger.
One wrong step and she could become prey of a wild animal or the victim of a poisonous crawling creatures. Keeping count on the direction from where she left the half dead man, she put each step with caution. Watching where she put her feet.
Suddenly she heard a muffled sound which made her forget the things around her and run but then she stepped on the branch of pricks. Her feet hurt with the pain as she felt the cold liquid running down her feet.
At that moment she wished to let go of everything, and give in the darkness. But then she remembered him. She remembered the uneven breathing and cold body. He don't have much time left.
With this once again Mallika continued her hunt in the dark corners with a hurting feet.
***
She came into a abrupt halt as she looked at the known long pointy leaflets of a plant. And her face beamed in happiness.
It is madhavilata. A plant which is boon for poison.
Carefully plucking almost a dozen of it's leaves she hurried back to the wounded man.
His breathing was now almost nil. Only the slight beating of his heart told that he is still alive. She wasted no time in crushing the leaflets with the help of stones around and forcing the semi solid green liquid into his mouth to his throat.
***
She opened her eyes and blinked twice to remember where she was. As soon as her eyes set with the morning rays she sat up from the ground and went near the man.
He was still unconscious, though he was better now. His breathing was normal and his wounds have also been better.
But his face was heated red.
After a inner battle within herself she put a hand on his forehead and then instantly took it away. He was burning in fever.
'Pani' she heard the faint mumbling from the unknown. Even her throat was dry as a desert and ached for the magical liquid of heaven. Water. She wasted no more time in getting up and walking again on a hunt.
Hunt of water!
Carefully putting each foot on the narrow bridge of a tree trunk she walked further into the forest. Away from her home!
And then the faint tingling sound of water was then music to ears. She increased her pace and almost jumped up in joy on finding out one of the wonders of the world. Maybe the scene wasn't a wonder of the world but it was no less for her.
After long hours of continuous walking the beautiful waterfall and the small pond surrounded by the long trees, was heaven for her.
Feasting her eyes on the breath taking seen she slowly walked and stood at the bank of the pond.
The crystal clear blue water took her attention which reflected the bottom of the pond where hundreds of colorful little fishes swam in peace. Putting her feet into the water she sat there relaxing after she had her stomach filled with sweet water. Enjoying the scenery!
***
Smiling all the way she took the last turn to reach the place where she left the unknown man. After so many days she was happy with no reason but still she was! With the broken coconut shells filled with water she made her way back.
Well, this peace and happiness was definitely not long lasting.
"Stop right there! " someone said and everything froze as the coconut shells fell from her hand.
- Writer
