Hansa & Geeta
Chapter IX

I rubbed sweat on my forehead. Then look at the swamp.

The kitchen connected to the backyard is bounded by large windows and glass doors.

I could see the view outside.

It's night. I remember what happened that day. When I slipped, and finally fainted.

When I woke up, Dad nagged me all out. It was my fault, but it was true.

I'm a five-year-old boy, and I just woke up after fainting for four hours.

They took me to the hospital. My head is bleeding. Fortunately not bad.

Mother was crying at that time. While Grandma, as usual she just smiled gently.

Seeing me realize it already makes him relieved. So said.

I walked into the kitchen. Open that big glass door, and walk into the courtyard barefooted.

Just like seventeen years ago.

The wind tickled my face. I closed my eyes for a moment. Enjoy the countryside at night with its distinctive aroma.

So missed. I can feel what happened seventeen years ago.

Opening my eyes again, I saw in the middle of the courtyard there was still a white round table. With an umbrella in the middle.

The white color has faded. The legs of his desk are a bit rusty. I approached and touched the surface of the table with my fingertips.

It feels like going back in time. Everything is exactly the same, nothing has changed.

The reason I brought my own plates and cutlery so that the old plates did not change places, and were not easily damaged. Stay durable.

The old dishes come out just to be cleaned from dust. Other items are treated the same.

Auntie said she was trying to take care of the house as best she could. He knows why Dad, and his two younger siblings won't come here.

He said he understood that.

I think I know why she was so happy that she hugged me this morning. If it was in his position I would react the same.

Just imagine, none of us have visited this village since the last ten years.

I smile at the smile. Tomorrow I have to make a nice breakfast and thank Aunt and her family.

By the way, does he still keep a bear keychain from me?

Sighing deeply, I took out the key of the house with the leaf hanger from the bag of pants.

I could hear Grandma calling out to me. And my voice called to him.

It was as if time travel was real.

Nope. If the journey of time was real. I must have gone back in time.

Then won't my heart hurt as much now?

I turned to the stone wall that separated Grandma's house from the swamp area.

Among other houses in the vicinity, Grandma's house is the most jutting into the swamp. If the rainy season, swamp water can go up to the first rung.

Never flood, just calm down.

I sat on a wall that was now only as tall as my waist.

I suddenly remembered the old man's words this afternoon. Diwa, said?

If according to the story of the man, Diwa is like a mermaid huh? The marshy daughter?

I used to trust mermaids. But all of that disappeared with my memory.

After all, the more mature your belief in such stories will also be depleted.

I looked at the swamp in front of me in silence. My gaze was locked on the reflection of the moon and the stars on the surface of the water.

It was like being hypnotized by something.

I shook my head and pulled out the necklace Grandma gave me hidden behind my black shirt.

Grandma promised to show me her secret box, but I forgot if Grandma did it or not.

From a long time ago, the liquid inside this oblong glass never stopped glowing.

As far as I know, there is a liquid that glows in the dark, but this liquid from Grandma is luminous even in the sun.

That's why I hid it behind my shirt.

Answers that don't help.

Amidst my attention towards the necklace, I felt something appear in the middle of the swamp.

I looked slowly. There's a lump in there. Like something that wants out.

Same, like when I was five. That thing, that thing. He's the one I saw that day, right?

I'm standing. Sharpen eyesight. But it seems that he will not immediately show his form.

I'm going downstairs. The ground is still as muddy as it used to be.

Of course, what can I expect? The land turns to sand?

Unlike her response to Grandma, the creature or thing did not dive even though I tried to get close to her.

As if this was what he wanted. He really wanted to show me his form.

I stood right on the line with him. At that moment, the liquid in my necklace grew even more radiant.

What did the old man say was true? What if I was gonna be kidnapped? Then he's been setting targets since seventeen years ago?

Or more than that?

It'sit's okay. I'm all set. If he approaches me quickly, I hope, I can get away with it.

The creature was approaching the land.

My legs are a little trembling. I don't carry a cell phone, flashlight, or any lighting device.

The creature's movement is getting faster. I took a step back.

Should I run?

The bump went up, I could see that it was hair. And yes, there are eyes.

That is the head.

That instant also my whole body was goosebumps. Is this what is called Diwa?

I thought I could just run back upstairs. But my legs can't move. Either it's the creature that's holding him back, or I'm too scared.

I don't know.

To be sure, I was so shocked that my voice didn't even come out.

The creature reached the lips of the land. I think he's starting to stand up.

My feet are so limp. I fell down. My eyes wide.

The creature was standing, looming high before me. Wait, didn't the old man just say that this swamp creature looks like a mermaid?

The moonlight was not bright enough to see his face clearly.

From the hair, and others just like the man explained, but this one I saw had a pair of legs!

Just like humans!

I'm riveted. Can't be anything. Is Diwa going to kidnap me?

Is this karma because I'm too dismissive of the legend of this village?

In my heart I kept praying. So I can survive and the creature goes.

But, he didn't leave! He kept approaching me.

I retreated with the rest of my strength, until my back touched the stone wall.

I can't go anywhere anymore. I secretly apologized to the old man, for underestimating him.

Karma comes too soon. Regrets always come too late. The perfect combination to give the fragile soul of man a lesson.

Lessons that will never be forgotten in a lifetime.

I promised to never underestimate anything, even if I didn't believe it.

Diwa. His body is full of mud. But it doesn't smell. When we are left less than a meter.

Consciousness disappeared.

.

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