The Journey

“No no no…! Shit. What do I do now? This stupid car!”

A frustrated Maya started hitting the steering wheel of her car with her open palms. It’s been raining nonstop from the past two days. Oh why did Lena had to get a house so far into the countryside.

It’s ok. Nothing to worry. Her house is just 2 Km away. “Come on……….Maya you can walk for half an hour. The rain’s not that bad. Yup, I can walk.”

“And once I get there, will ask Rob to get my car. He’s a good mechanic. He’ll fix it.”

With that cheerful thought Maya zipped up her windbreaker, took her umbrella, opened the driver side door of her dented Toyota and splashed her feet into one of the many puddles on the road. Next she slung her bag cross body, locked the car and started walking.

Ten minutes later the rain started to get worse. The GPS was still showing half an hour to reach the destination. Can’t walk in this rain. No option now. Have to ask Lena to pick her up now. “What! Not this…please. Shit! Dead. The damned battery is dead.”

“What do I do now?” Miserable, soaking wet in the rain, in the middle of road with no way to contact anyone. Then all of a sudden she sees a dilapidated old barn to the right side of the road.

“Hmm….will have to wait there until the rain slows down.” Maya unsuccessfully tried to manoeuvre around the puddles and muck.

Finally, she got to the entrance of the building. It looked like the place was abandoned years ago. Rotting wooden doors, walls and floors. The barn did look in a bad shape. But as soon as she entered the building, the scene changed.

Contrary to what it looked from the outside, the barn aka the cabin was very well kept. Nothing broken or rotting. It looked like she had entered someone’s house. And a very nice one at that. Feeling like an intruder she called out- “Hello! Is someone home?”

She wanted to leave but the rain didn’t want her to. Standing at the doorway she was gazing at the road and the sky with longing.

“You should shut the door.” Came a voice from behind her.

Startled she spun around too quickly. Slipped and would have fallen flat on her back if the very tall man in black clothes hadn’t held her steady.

“You alright? Sorry to scare you like that.” He said.

“No no. I’m the one who has entered your house uninvited. Actually my car broke down. And I thought I could walk to my friend’s house as it was just 2kms. But as soon I walked some distance it started pouring hard. I thought to call my friend and ask her to pick me up, but my battery died. My phone’s battery. I swear it was fully charged when I left my car. And then I saw this old barn and I thought I will wait here until the rain slows down and will leave then but….”

“Slow down slow down. I’ll get some water for you.”

From the crate sitting at the side of the door he got a sealed bottle of mineral water and gave it to her and closed the door. She gratefully gulped down the contents.

“I’m Aarav.” He said when she was done with the water.

“So….. I’ll ask again. Are you feeling alright.”

“A little embarrassed and soaking wet but overall I’m good. Sorry again for barging into your house like that.”

“You must be visiting Rob and Lena. Only their house is that close.”

“Oh yes. Do you know them?”

“Not personally no. But my acquaintances, who are their friends, know them. They talked about them. That’s how I know. Not many people live in these areas so it’s better to know who resides in your neighborhood. Just so you can help each other in the time of need.”

“True.”

“So….your name?”

“Oh! So sorry. I’m Maya.” And they shaked hands.

“ Ok Maya. I’m sorry I can’t help you with your mobile phone as I don’t have electricity or generator in this place. But I can give you ride a to your friend’s place as soon as I am done repairing my car. It’s just about 5 minutes drive.”

“No no there is really no need for that. I will walk. I just needed the rain to slow down a bit.”

“It’s alright Maya. Not many people come this way. You just sit and relax. I’ll get a towel for you and some coffee if you like?”

2 hours later.

“Here….you almost forgot your umbrella.”

“Thank you so much Aarav. You sure you don’t want to come in? Lena is a very good cook.”

With a beautiful smile he said, “Thank you so much but I have to go now. Make sure to stay happy Maya.” And with that mysterious goodbye he and his black Mercedes vanished into the rain.

Next Morning

“Are you sure Maya?” A perplexed Lena asked.

“Why are you looking at me as if I’ve lost my mind. And stop asking me the same question again and again.”

“ But what you are telling me is not possible! That old barn is in shambles since…….I don’t know, decades? It can’t be a home to someone. Only snakes live there. Not humans. The whole barn is rusted and rotted, filled with debris and snake burrows.”

“ You know what… as soon as Rob gets back with my car, we are going to that barn. Then you will see. I’m not discussing this with you until then. This talk is giving me a headache. I need tea.”

Lena was worried for her best friend. Yes, Maya was a loner and anti-social at that. She didn’t want her to leave before the housewarming party. It was really hard to get hold of her these days. She loved her friend and was worried for her. She wanted her to be happy, find love. But Maya being Maya cannot be bound by anything. She was a very sensitive creature. Sometimes it felt like she was not of this world. That she wanted to be somewhere else. Yes. Lena was really worried for her friend. Especially after what she told her about yesterday’s incident. Time to find a shrink. And this time she have to make sure Maya meets him.

3 hours later

“Maya? Are you okay sweetheart.” Asked a very worried Lena driving back from the old barn.

“I’m fine.” Answered a very irritated and morose Maya.

“I didn’t lie to you about that place and that man Lena.”

“Okay.” Lena knew what would be the next words from her best friend’s mouth. So she said what she wanted to quickly.

“ Please Maya don’t leave before the party. I swear I will not talk about this incident ever again.”

Maya took a long calming breath. “Alright. But I leave the very next day.”

Lena let go of the breath she was holding. “ Ofcourse, no problem.”

But there was a big problem. The barn was there. From outside it did look like that same dilapidated building as yesterday. But when she entered that place it was as Lena said. In shambles. Rotting and rusting. She thought she even saw a snake or two there. How is it possible? She was sure she had spent at least 2 hrs in that place talking with Aarav. Drinking coffee and water.

There was no water crate beside the barn door. The inside of the barn didn’t resemble a cabin. The place was completely different.

Looks like I’ve finally lost it. Maya was thinking with a sad smile on her face.

That night Maya went to bed early. Thinking she should lock herself in her house now. Maybe then she will be able to stop herself from being humiliated in front of her friends. She got into the bed and pulled the sheets over her head. She fell asleep in seconds.

In the dream she was back inside the barn. The inside was again converted into a cabin. Aarav was sitting on the couch opposite her. She was confronting Aarav and having coffee with him? He was wearing his usual serene smile.

She asked him- “ Are you real?”

He smiled and said - “ Yes Maya I’m real. But only to you.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means that your car was stopped by me. Your phone’s battery died down because I willed it. I wanted you to come to this place Maya.”

“Why?”

“ Because you have been chosen for a very important task.”

“ What task?”

“You are a very special human. Not many people have the ability for appreciating nature and it’s creatures. And you my dear, have a very pure soul. That’s the reason you were chosen for the protection of the sacred stone. Because you are free from lust, greed and pride.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Don’t you? You have read extensively about us. We are mythological creatures. And you know that. Just want to hear it from me. Right? You have always felt that you belong with us not the humans.”

“Why not tell me this when I’m awake? Why in a dream?”

“Would have told you in the barn when you visited again but your friend was with you. By the way, she is planning for you to meet with a psychiatrist.”

“She’s been trying that for a while now.”

“She’s worried about you.”

“I know.”

“She doesn’t understand you.”

“No, she doesn’t.”

“She’s a good friend.”

“That she is.”

“ So the jewel is in your pocket. Once you touch it, it will embed itself in your heart. Hence you will be the protector of it. The Sacred Stone has chosen you Maya. It has given you the opportunity to learn what you wanted to your whole life. The secrets of life and death. This is the beginning of a new journey for you my dear. I wish for you to be enlightened and to find peace. If you need any help I will always be there for you. In your dreams, in this barn. And please Maya do visit our dimension. You are well loved there. The stone will guide you. And when you need answers or are in some kind of dilemma; meditate. All the answers are inside you.”

With that said, Aarav shifted into the mythical Naga and disappeared.

Maya reached for her pocket and got the stone out. It was shining brightly. Suddenly it disappeared and she could feel warmth inside her chest.

Maya woke up and ran to the vanity to check herself. Yes, she could feel the warmth inside her. Decided, she took a deep breath, sat on the floor cross-legged and started her journey towards the unknown.