BLACK BIRDS IN MAHLA'S EYES
Black birds in Mahla's eyes

Mahla is no ordinary girl. She was never a normal girl like she always was. He could not speak until he was three years old, then the first words that slid in his mouth were, “Mother, soon he would die.”

He said it plainly, while one of his hands pointed towards his father who was constantly glaring furiously at him. Mahla will not remember how her father's leather belt slashed her mother's back, nor how her mother's lips would be torn from being hit with her hard hand. He only knows, Nana will rush to take him with her twin sister into their safe nest.

The nest was a separate little hut located in the forest. They have a house whose back is bordered by a small river and just opposite it there are forest lips whose trees are hundreds of years old. Nana builds a safe nest there for him and Melekh hides, when things get so unbearable at home.

The cottage is tiny, like a tree house, but not on a tree. Nana sets up her cottage just below the giant phon baobab whose trunk diameter is larger than the hand span of the grandmother and her two grandchildren when put together.

“Here no one will be able to touch you.” Said his great-grandmother to calm Mahla who curled up in fear. He wanted to help his mother, but his father was too big and rude. Usually Nana would mumble

slowly while peeping the two grandchildren alternately. The older woman with silver hair would then swing Melekh in her cradle, while Mahla let him

touching her unique things alone.

Melekh could not walk, and Mahla did not speak.

The situation was very difficult for Marya, her granddaughter, while her husband was a light-handed evangelist. Perhaps the concept of the Most Merciful God did not apply to him, the silent man always believed that sins could only be cleansed through mere pain.

*Sickness is good. Pain is redemption. *

Nana suspects that this will end the life of her granddaughter.

“You wait here with your sister, understand Mahla?” Nana asked gently as she placed Melekh on her wooden floor covered in a circular mandala with paintings of flashing stars and a giant red moon. “Nana should see the state of your mother, and, well, your father.” The old woman continued after seeing Mahla nod. He used to leave his two grandchildren in the middle of the forest, complete with various spirits that protect their families.

Mahla would usually fall asleep as soon as she placed her head on one of Nana's large round pillows, while Melekh would play around with her hair while playing with various spirits who visited them on purpose.

However, that day, despite a long time lying down, Mahla could not close her eyes at all. Instead, Melekh immediately snored loudly once his head touched the pillow that had been smeared by his great-grandmother.

That day was the first day Mahla made the words. However, his words about his father's death are true. Not until a month passed, in one of the branches of the baobab tree that was used as the backrest of Nana's cottage, Mahla's father ended his life by hanging himself on one of the branches.

Mahla's childhood was never similar to that of her peers.

Mahla will not forget how the flock of black birds began to nest in her eyes. That afternoon, as he was left inside the cabin in the forest with his sister, there was a pack of pitch-black winged spirits that surrounded him.

Their bodies were just dense globs of air that were black like smoke from a burning old tire. Mahla could not see her face clearly because it was flickering alternately like the ripples of shadows on the water.

He recalled, the herd of spirits swirled like a mini hurricane inside Nana's cabin. Mahla sees her brother falling asleep, completely unaware of what is going on inside the cabin at the moment.

In fact, even though Melekh was awake at the time, there was nothing he could do either. Melekh was no better than Mahla, his younger brother was not even able to walk. However, since childhood Mahla had believed that Melekh, with all his limitations, was actually one of his protectors.

Mahla feels, somehow, her life is always threatened. He always felt that someone was watching him, this was what made him always act carefully, for years to come. The girl always held herself back, she never poured out her thoughts or strength too deeply, for she was afraid of being caught by a creature that she herself did not know who, and how she looked.

“Whose are you?” Ask Mahla again. He's not afraid. He is used to seeing things that are not necessary. Most of the other creatures were so terrifying, with shapes that were scabbed everywhere. Half a rotten body. Some are slimy like being submerged in a puddle of water. The head that is not in its place. The legs are twisted through the thighs. The eyeballs are released. A lipless mouth with an outstretched tongue, complete with blood dripping on the tip.

Mahla has seen it all. Mahla is not easily afraid, on the contrary, she always feels curious about everything. The people who came to him were completely different. They were just like a wisp of smoke if not a dense fog. His presence was dangerous but not threatening enough. Like alarms

which is a warning. Like the manifestation of energy that Nana used to protect.

But they all seem alive. With alternating faces and plumes of smoke as the body and black wings that do not stop flapping. Like a flock of crows that wail one over the other.

“What are you guys doing?” Ask Mahla again with growing curiosity. The creature just floated in front of him. He tried to reach the creature with his tiny hands, but only empty air felt there. His hand just moved through that wisp of smoke.

Little girl, can we come with you?

Mahla heard those voices there were many. Not one. Except in layers and overlaps. Like a choir, but not at all melodious, but not enough to make pain. Mahla only felt that it was the most bizarre sound she had ever heard.

“Why?” Ask Mahla wonder. In his innocent mind he imagined that a crowd of very noisy and twisting spirits would be followed behind him. Will it move in a shadow like a flock of angry wasps?

We just want to be with you.

Mahla really doesn't understand. He is too young to understand. However, in the ancient understanding he had, as long as the creature was not threatening or harming, Mahla finally agreed.

“But you guys won't bother me, right?”

The spirits slowly faded away. For the first time, Mahla first saw the wings in her eyes. After that, his world felt sharper, brighter, he could hear everything. He could feel the air. He could see the coming day more clearly and in color. He could also see more spirits and ghosts and spirits without feeling a headache, as he had experienced before.

“Who are you guys?” Mahla asked in amazement.

He just got the answer on the last day Nana was in the world.