shadows

1 - 09

The restaurant was like every other restaurant she had ever been to. And like every other building in the town she had seen. She was not wrong in her expectation. The building did have a story.

“Gwyer,” Tabby said. Pointing at the front of the restaurant. “You know what that means, don’t you?”

A stare was Emilia’s answer.

Tabby wasn’t buying it. “Really?” She asked. Disbelief all too evident in her voice and on her face. “It’s the ancient tongue. Definitely not specific to our town. So, it’s not like impossible for you to know. You really don’t know? I was quite sure you would know.”

“Why?” Emilia asked. She sounded curious. Even if it didn’t show in the smile on her face as her eyes returned to the restaurant. The front was translucent. And faintly fluttering. Like it was the thinnest paper. It was intriguing in every way.

“Because,” Tabby started. Paused. Looked at the restaurant for a good while, before continuing. “You came to our town. Sure. It was the magazine. You said it. I believe you. But then, after arriving here, you said you felt something. Like this could be home. That’s not something we hear often. In our experience, only those who care a lot for the ancients feel something with our town. Don’t ask why. I don’t know. When you said those words, I assumed you were one of us. Lover of the ancients.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” Emilia said. Meaning the apology. “I am not even sure what the ancients is, or are. I haven’t heard the term.”

Tabby froze. As if startled deeply. She stared at Emilia.

In that moment, Emilia felt more than one pair of eyes upon her. Tabby was the nearest. But it was as if everything on the other side of the paper wall, everything and everyone inside the restaurant was frozen. And all eyes stared at her. It was but a brief moment. All was normal again. And Emilia stood doubting herself. Was it real? Was she being too sensitive?

Again, time froze, for the longest moment. And Emilia was in the centre of all of the world.

“Come,” Tabby said. Giving a gentle push on Emilia’s back. “Let me introduce you to Gina. She’s my oldest friend. And the best chef in the world. She has magic in her hands. In her fingers. She’s a real artist in the kitchen. You’ll see. I can get her to let us in. Into her kitchen. You may not think so, but it is a big deal. Believe me.”

Emilia nodded. They made it to the wooden doorway. And there they paused again, for two reasons. One, Emilia was taken by the brownest wood she had ever seen, that was an impossibly lighter shade than the paper glued to it. She stretched out her hand, carefully. Laid her finger on the wood, the gentlest touch. And felt the smile spread from her lips to all of her face. It was truly beautiful to see and to touch.

And two, Gina had come to welcome them. She looked the same as Tabby, her childhood friend. Not in the features. The two’s features were as distinct as could be. And yet, there was something about them, something alike. Something that was only possible between childhood friends. And it was most evident in their smiles. And their greetings.

“So, this is your housemate,” Gina said, offering Emilia her hand. “In case you are, no need to feel too confused. Small town. Word travels fast. Congratulations. On your boy.” She looked at Emilia’s stomach. Her eyes lingered just long enough. And then she was looking back up, into Emilia’s eyes. “I knew Tabby would be bringing you over. And I had a feeling you would be open. So, I took the liberty of preparing a feast for you. Not just great food, but food that good for pregnancy. Come.”

Emilia looked at Tabby, who grinned back. And let herself be led in by an excited Gina. While Tabby followed closely. Nobody else, inside or outside the restaurant, even as much as looked their way. Everyone had their thing. Some were eating. Some were drinking. All inside relishing the meal. And those outside, were moving about their business. It was just another regular afternoon.

Gina was a talker. And not like Tabby. She didn’t need Emilia’s participation. All she demanded was Emilia’s ear. And since she had it, uninterrupted, undivided, she was happy as a talker could be. And she was alike with Tabby in the way she steered the conversation toward the town and the stories of the town.

“I’m sure you didn’t read this story,” Gina said, as she sat Emilia at the special chef’s table, and served the entrees. “It’s not as well known. At least I’ve known no writer to have known the story and written it. And you haven’t been here long enough for anyone to tell you. The story of how the town came to be.”

“You mean about the gods, husband and wife, searching for a home and finding this town,” Emilia said. And stopped before she reached the end of what she had to say. “No. That’s not it, is it?” She was shaking her head, knowing the answer was a no. “The town was already here.”

“Yes,” Gina said. With a smile. “The town was already here. No. This is much before. Before the gods. When the world was coming around. Just after birth. It was still taking shape. The mountains were rising. The seas were filling. Ice and snow were forming upon these mountains. And life was still in infancy. Something happened on the land here. A natural event. Fire burst out from the depths underneath the mountain. Met with the ice up top. And mist was born. This land was covered in mist for many thousand years. And that mist protected the land from all the changes happening outside. When the mist finally cleared, the world had formed. Life had grown. And creatures nearby found the purest home here. In Avian. Avian isn’t alone. But there are only a few such places. Places that are so much purer. That are much, much closer to the beginning. To the origin. Don’t you think it’s amazing?”

Emilia nodded in agreement. It was amazing. The story. The town. The food. The people. Everything was great. She was so much surer she had found a great place to call home.

-

Emilia went home after lunch. She had eaten too much. Between the amazing taste and the great conversation, she lost track. Only after the meal, when she was on her feet and had walked a few steps, and was outside, did she feel the discomfort in her stomach. The kind of discomfort she was no stranger to. She had experienced both. Starving until she could feel her stomach hurting no more. And eating until she was beyond even vomiting. She didn’t favour either one over the other. They were both terrible. And she tried her hardest to steer clear from both. Only something like today could push over the edge.

She came home alone. Tabby had to return to the clinic. She closed the door behind her. Laid in the bed. And only then, did she feel some relief.

“What’s wrong?” She thought. But too loud. It was as if her voice wasn’t just in her head, but was around her too. Covering all of the room. “What is it? Is something really wrong?”

A ripple of warmth.

Only, the entire room rippled. It was almost as if she was drowning in her head.

And then, she heard him.