نجلۍ وتښتېده

 

Justin Vera      English 232     February 4, 2018        Image description

Green is the color of the Heart Chakra, also known as Anahata. This chakra is located at the center of the chest area and is linked to the heart, lungs, circulatory system, cardiac plexus, and the complete chest area. The Heart Chakra bridges the gap between the physical and spiritual worlds. Opening the Heart Chakra allows a person to love more, empathize, and feel compassion. The color Red is the base or root chakra. This chakra is located at the base of the spine and allows us to be grounded and connect to the universal energies. 

The sounds of the marketplace drowned out my thoughts. I walked along seeing the boys playing and the men selling. I saw the animals in cages and the doves overhead flying, but where? I began thinking of the countless places that I would prefer being other than here. Perhaps the coast, or on the mountains or maybe in the jungle, maybe on the moon, or past the sun. I daydreamed over most of the journey back, then I realized that I was taking too long I rushed home and shut the door behind me.

“Leinaj,” her mother said, “where have you been? Do you want to get us in trouble?”  

“No mother” she answered, “I apologize for going outside again.”

“One of these days you will not come back!”

“But mother it is not fair that we must stay here as if we were prisoners!”

“Outside is not for us. I do many things for you that if others knew I would not be able to keep you with me. I have taught you of the things outside and of the things in books.”

“It is not fair mother!”

 “Do you want to discuss this with your father? He shall know what to do.”

“No mother please, I promise this was the last time. I won’t do it again.”

“Very well, you know that I love you Leinaj, and I don’t want anyone to hurt you.” She looked at her growing daughter and a tear slowly slid out without consent and caressed her cheek. “Now eat your food before it gets cold.”

The Everyday food usually consisted of flat bread cooked on an iron plate in the fire. The Bread would often be dipped in a light meat stock. Some of Leinaj’s neighbors would eat rice scrambled eggs prepared with tomatoes and onions. Cooked with various types of oils, including the fat of a sheep's tail.  They would drink tea all day. Sugar would be used in the first cup of the day, and then sweets would be eaten and kept in the mouth while sipping tea.

. Leinaj’s mother on the other hand secretly made wine for consumption at home. Her daughter would take the trade a little further and sneak bottles and sell them in exchange for rabbit or hare meat. This forbidden delicacy along with many wonders of the outside world would draw Leinaj out of her home and into the vast world that was just beyond her front door.

Despite her mother’s warning and with her father knowing none of her little strolls in the outside world, she went. She opened a window and let the first rays of a new day come in as she

left. She jumped out and heard in the distance the callings of freshly awoken world. She decided this time to take only one bottle. She began walking but heard her mother’s voice in the distance.

“Could she have discovered, nah it is not likely maybe it is with father that she is speaking.”

She ignored her thoughts and went speedily past the roads where there were many small restaurants that also function as teahouses and inns to the outskirts of the town. There lived a man by the name of Divad. He was the owner of many rabbits and hares. Many people disliked him because he openly disobeyed.

“Hello Mr. Div!”

“Hello there Leinaj. What do you have for me today?”

“Rhubarb cherry wine!”

“Your mother out did herself today.”

“LEINAJ!”

“Father?”

            Immediately her pupils constricted and revealed her emerald green eyes filled with terror. She saw her father approach with malicious intent and saw no signs of him slowing down.

“WHY IS IT THAT YOU ARE OUT HERE? HAS YOUR MOTHER NOT TAUGHT YOU OF YOUR PLACE?” He lifted his hand to strike her. Then…Mr. Divad grabbed him by the forearm.

“What is her place? Maybe you can enlighten me at the same time.”

“You dare hold me old man?”

“You dare strike your daughter for wanting to be human? Are you not ashamed that an old man needs to open your eyes to the obvious?”

“LAITAJ LET US GO!”

“Why? So that you may impose your rule behind closed doors?”

“I MEANT NOW!”

“Yes now is when you will end this!”

            Mr. Divad grabbed Leinaj’s father by the arm and twisted it until he made his face wipe the ground. He took out a pair of shinny handcuffs and bonded both hands together.

“Mr. Atilsnia you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You were a hard and tricky bastard but Interpol has been tracking you for years on account of your various crimes against humanity. You murdered, enslaved and experimented on so many people and thought you could get away with it?”

“What? What is happening Mr. Div? Why are you doing this to my father?”

“Leinaj, you see this man is not your father. He met your mother and promised her freedom if she pretended to be his wife. It had just so happened to be that she was pregnant at the time. She agreed but saw who this man really was as time passed. We got in contact with her just in time. She agreed to start making wine and push you to venture outside by teaching you to read. This would give him reason to come looking after you. The arrest could only be made on international grounds so… here we are, mending the wrong he had done. As for you Leinaj go to your mother, you now are free citizens and will have protection for the rest of your lives.”