Lover's Pit

Lover’s Pit

by Pravinesh Chand

She was the next person to enter the pit this morning. Arathi watched as the young woman below, in a long, flowing, white dress paced frantically, back and forth, back and forth. The Young Woman’s body quivered head to toe, her shoulders stiffened, her breath abated. The Young Woman was terrified, an unfamiliar response to the Remaining. Puzzled by the woman’s behavior, Arathi wondered why this woman hesitated so to offer herself to the Light.

The All-Powerful from above whose Light can dry lands and cause endless flame. He, who burned crops, incinerated animals, and scorched shelter, just to satisfy his hunger. He was a god of glutton and when He was hungry, His Light would consume everything. The Light previously devoured much of this world, leaving only a scorched wasteland for the Remaining, those, left behind who still wandered this world despite it’s extreme conditions.

Long ago, there was a time where there were millions who thrived in lush, teeming wetlands, but now only the Remaining live in His hellish abode, the hellscape his hunger has wrought. How it all started, the Remaining do not know. All that is known is when true love is offered to Him, He brings forth clouds showering water, providing the Remaining a brief respite from the Inferno that consumes the world around them.

The Young Woman fell to her knees grabbing the locket that lay upon her chest; heart shaped, coated in gold, a keepsake gifted to her by the man contained within. A handsome man, with wavy curls that fell down his neck, small dimples, and caramel skin, which glimmered in the sun. As she gazed upon his face, she vividly remembered the moments they cherished. As destruction fell upon the world around them, constantly changing and shifting only one thing remained the same; their love for each other. The true power of love, as the elders would say. She hoped that in the face of such uncertainty, that all her doubts and fears would wash away from the sight of her beloved. She longed to feel his hands on her face one last time, to hear one final “I love you.” Arathi and the other Remaining however grew impatient. Suddenly one of the Remaining Elders approached, kneeling across from her.

“You love him, do you not?” asked the old man.

“With all my heart!” said the Young Woman.

“Do it for him then. Wouldn’t he do the same for you?”, the Elder said, impatiently.

She stared at the Elder and thought of her dearest. The times they would love, the times they would fight, and the battles they faced every day. He too would do this for me, she thought. She nodded at the Elder and stood, resolutely in her love, ready to face the unknown.

“May the lord’s light guide you to him.” He concluded, gesturing towards the pit. They began, side by side, walking towards the Pit.

The Remaining begin chanting, the ancient words hanging in the air, “Et requieum tibi dabit Dominus in lucem.” Each iteration of the chant growing larger, as the Young Woman walked closer towards the unknown. Tears fell from her face; she felt tenderness in the Remaining’s voices. Arathi did not see fear coming from the young woman anymore. The Young Woman reached the edge of the Sacred Pit. The Pit was blazing hot. An ornate, ceremonial pyre sat above the Pit, engulfed in flames, turning to cinder and ash. The old man stopped in his tracks, gave her a kiss on the forehead then whispered in her ear. Arathi and the others could not hear what the elder said but after his words, the woman smiled. He walked back to the crowd. She began reciting the chant under her breath and she jumped. His Flames engulfed her body, turning her to ash instantaneously. Arathi could not describe it, but she felt the woman passed in peace.

“It was her time,” said another elder.

“She has brought honor to her family,” said another.

“Both were a loving couple, A true embodiment of what we strive to attain.”

Within the sacred fire, the woman’s husband was within the wooden pyre. He did not jump into the pit like his lover as he had passed of natural causes. A heat wave caused the Young Man to die of heat stroke, a common death among the Remaining. The Elders say when one lover passes, the other should join them in the afterlife.

Finally, the Elder spoke, “Praise the light! My Lord! May you give these lovers passage to Your abode. We hope their love satisfies Your appetite. We ask only to grant us water from the skies to last another summer. Please, guide us with Your light!”

…

Another hot day passes by, and another couple consumed by the Light. After the ceremony, Arathi and her lover, Raj, traveled their way back home. They lived in a small hut not far from the Pit. There were wooden planks nailed numerously at each wall, overlapping to hopefully keep the heat from penetrating within. The couple reach the doorstep and before they walked through, Raj paused.

“It seems we will survive another summer,” he laughed sarcastically. His eyes fluttered then his body collapsed on the doorstep. Arathi immediately caught him. Face was pale, cheeks, a bright shade of red. Raj has not eaten for days, therefore most of his body Arathi could see his bones under his skin. My poor love, she thought. The fatigued man was carried to their bed, she lays him down and quickly opens the lid of an underground pantry beneath their bed. Three pieces of bread, a half-eaten apple, and two cups of water were stored inside. The water was from a previous river that the Light later devoured, eliminating most water supply nearby the Remaining’s village.

“Drink!” Arathi scolded him.

“Why must you fight with me when I am barely hanging to life?” Raj always found a joke in their despair.

“I will fight you even in the afterlife my love, now drink!” She scolded again. “You need your strength.”

“Ha! Strength! Who is making jokes now? For all I know, my strength has withered by the endless heat our so-called god gifted. For what? Countless deaths? Starving souls? The pain to have to sacrifice more of our brothers and sisters to the bottomless pit to find salvation?! Why do we follow a god that gives us nothing but torture?” Arathi could not believe the shocking words coming from her lover’s mouth.

“You fool, do not say such words. The Light can see us.” Arathi caressed his face and gently poured sips of water to his lips. Raj then moved the cup to her insisting she drink to. She sips then gazes her eyes to his. Arathi was a woman who cared for those she loved. When her father and mother were out to hunt or gather, she took the responsibility to care for her little siblings. She made sure their lives were before hers, always feeding them, bathing them, and nurturing them until time soon became difficult. She could not save them. She regrets it til this day. She soon found Raj and together they make each other feel alive from this blazing hell. Raj grabs a hold of her hand.

“My love, you worry too much. You have lived a life for others, when have you ever lived for yourself?”

“It was til I met you, my love. Your smile, your perspective, your jokes gave me life. You gave me a chance at life Raj, so every day I will always choose to be with you.”

Raj smiled. He always wondered why she chose him. He could not speak. A faint cough erupted to a heavy one and soon Arathi laid his head on the pillow, his hand grasping hers. His eyes fluttered again, body shivered. He looked at her face, still smiling, called her to come closer. She bends her neck down to his length, and a sudden kiss startled Arathi.

“I love you.” He said as he went in a deep sleep. She cried. But tears could not drop. The weather so dry that it absorbs any living moisture.

He died smiling, his hands were wrapped tight around hers. She wished he had more time but subconsciously she knew it was his time. Is this where I too will end? She asked. Will our love finally give our people a chance to live? The Remaining sacrifices a couple’s love in hopes of rain. She cradled her lover’s corpse in bed, pondering when she will tell her people about the news. Was she ready to give herself to the light? A memory of the young woman flashed her eyes. She recollected the images of her shaken body before jumping, the sight of her fears and doubts spurring. Arathi asked herself, Am I ready? She recalled her lover’s words.

You have lived a life for others, when have you ever lived for Yourself?

And as the Remaining’s voices overwhelm her mind, she knew. She knew she wanted to live. Arathi felt guilt, but also relief. Relieved for telling her truth. Would her people understand her and let her live, or would they still go their way to sacrifice her? She could not bear to know the answer. She instantly grabbed what she could find. Dried food, old water in mason jars, anything she could fit in her blanket. The blanket was tied to a sturdy branch she later broke off, then she set her bag on the doorstep. She took a long stroll around her hut, then paused at Raj in bed. Before she stepped out and she gazed at one last time, she wanted to stay. She knew she could not. “I love You Raj, more than you will ever know. I promise to live. For you, for me. Do not worry my love. I will find a way out of this hellish ground. Just wait.”

She walked out of their room to the doorstep then carried her bag, she closes the door. “Raju, may your light guide me. I love you.” She went out to the endless inferno of His land. The Light still watching her. But it did not matter to Arathi, she continued her path. Maybe, she thought, there are more of us elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Remaining found Raj’s body in their hut. The Elder’s sent out a few folks to carry him to the pit while some went searching for Arathi. ”We must find her or else the sacrifice would be meaningless.” As for Arathi, she continued. She never looked back. She only moved forward.