Akhilesh hated farming and not only because it was strenuous. She felt uneasy so close to the woods. When she was younger, she imagined demons biding their time until she made a fatal mistake. Her Father waved that all away as simple nonsense but Akhilesh still believed in it ... even now.
Her father always traveled through those woods to town, a rifle kept handy. The woods were not safe and they were forbidden. But that didn't mean she couldn't draw them from her home. She drew them with tall broad trees and instead of their being a simple house, the family lived in a mansion like the Lord.
It wasn't reality, but a delusion. A falsehood she had to embrace sometimes. Pa always said that truth was better than lies, even if it was a painful truth. Lies brought discord and darkness, truth brought healing and peace.
But Akhilesh would rather live in a lie. A sweet,comforting lie rather than a cold, harsh truth.
Her Ma made her toast with jam and she took this outside, along with a leather bound journal Pa got her long ago. She used it sparingly, knowing how expensive those kinds of things were. Her pencil was sharpened to a point.
The wind was strong but cool, the heat of the sun made more tolerable. She looked into the woods, seeing nothing but darkness between it's trees.
When Akhilesh drew it, light was present in the forest and pretty humming birds flew. There were flowers and not the dirt of the farm. No one had to work hard. She was darkening in the leaves of the trees when she heard the bushes rustling.
There was again no wind.
Akhilesh could feel fear take hold of her heart again and couldn't help but feel pissed off, was this some prank or twisted game?
Maybe she was being unreasonable, yeah that had to be it. Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when her mother called her in.
"Akhilesh!"
"Coming!" called the girl and she left her drawing down as she ran inside, all thought of it gone.
When she entered her Ma was at the table, her cloth and needles thrown all over the place.
"I made you something," Ma said.
"Mittens?" Akhilesh asked sceptically, "It's not even fall Ma."
Her Ma shook her head.
"No fool, something far better. I always felt troubled that I didn't make you one. Every woman should have one Akhilesh."
Urgh! Ma was getting sentimental, just like the time Akhilesh first got her period. It was embarrassing and the young woman couldn't help but blush.
"Ma what is it? You are worrying me a bit."
Her mother smiled calmly.
" It's nothing to fear,only to rejoice."
She stood up onto her feet and motioned her daughter to follow. Akhilesh did so, eager to know what was in store for her.
Her Ma was taking her to her room,and laid out her bed was one of the most spectacular sights in the world. It was a sari, with shiny gold embroiders on the hem of the skirt and a solid black color. A matching black scarf laid across it.
"Ma... you made this for me?"
Her Ma nodded.
