Chapter 7
Kelsey, or Angry Chick?
Kishan carried me, listening to the directions of the tattooed group, to a tent in a dirt clearing, where the girl from before, Kelsey, and a man with white hair sat, shuffling through a back pack.
Kelsey looked up at Kishan, then she looked at me, and I looked away immediately, trying to look hurt.
Kishan whispered down to me, "What are you doing?"
"Don't know, not sure, so don't ask." I acted like he had just asked me if I'd be alright, so I nodded meekly.
I was brought into a tent, and I saw set on a stretcher next to Ren. Kishan placed me on the small, dirty green stretcher, and I looked over at Ren.
A heavily tattooed woman walked over to me and asked, "Tuma kara rahē haiṁ ṭhīka hai?"
I replied, "Hām̐ , maiṁ ṭhīka hūm̐."
She nodded, and pointed to Ren. "Āpakē dōsta kā kyā?"
"Maiṁ usakī dēkhabhāla kara sakatē haiṁ, lēkina tuma saba kucha āpa aura āpakē lōga kiyā hai kē li'ē bahuta bahuta dhan'yavāda." I smiled at her.
She smiled back, bowed, and backed out of the tent.
Ren sighed and whispered, "Hi."
"Oh, thank goodness, Ren! I thought you'd be out for days! Oh, your nose!" I said, concerned.
I tried to move over to help him, but my ankle just would let me.
"You're acting strangely all of a sudden. Something wrong?" he asked.
"I thought I'd try something new. I guess I'm not too good at it, huh?" I asked, and we laughed.
I decided he needed to meet my gift. I needed to heal his nose.
"Ren," I whispered.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Close your eyes. The tattooed lady left me some ointment that helps heal broken bones. You should be healed really soon. Like, half an hour max soon." I said.
"Alright," he whispered.
He closed his eyes as I looked around for some blood.
I'd healed my leg, so that was a no-go, but my arm was still bad.
I scraped some blood off of my arm; gold included, and started rubbing it in small circled on his nose.
"You have to keep your eyes closed, no matter how much it hurts, okay?" I whispered tenderly as I kept rubbing in small circles.
He nodded, and I almost rubbed my blood in his eye.
I decided to start healing his black eyes, and I slowly worked on those for a while.
I gradually began to heal all of his wounds and bruises. After about half an hour, he was completely healed, except for his fingers, which had already started healing on their own.
"How's your nose?" I asked.
"It's a miracle!" he opened his eyes and sat up dramatically. "I can smell again!"
We started laughing, then Ren whispered, "Thank you. For everything."
"Okay, I will say your welcome, but only if you close your eyes and lay back down on the stretcher for a full minute, okay? I'll be counting!" I said sternly, as he laughed and followed my directions.
I started counting out loud, and Ren just sighed.
As I counted I rubbed my blood on my arms, and they healed. I rubbed for a while, then I thought of a nice thing I could do for Ren.
I let some liquid gold bleed onto the stretcher, and then I immediately started molding it into a special shape as it hardened.
Satisfied with my craftsmanship, and my body healed once again, I poked Ren in the arm, and hid my creation behind my back.
He opened his eyes and looked over at me. "Yes?"
"This is for you," I handed him the chunk of gold that I had skillfully molded into a small diamond shape.
"It's beautiful. Where did you find it?" he turned it in his hands and asked, "Is this real gold?"
I decided to tell him the truth. "Yes."
He admired it, then Kishan came in and said, "Kelsey and Mr. Kadam have set up a feast. Are you ready?"
"Yes, we both are," Ren glared at him as he slipped the golden jewel into my hands again and whispered, "Hold it for me for a second."
Kishan looked puzzled, but I waved it away as Ren took my empty hand and lead me past Kishan, out into the tent.
As soon as Kelsey saw my hand in his, her face turned red, and, did her hand turn red, too? That can't be good, I thought, alarmed.
Ren sat next to a white haired man, who seemed to be old enough to be their dad, but he had a kind smile and some laugh lines, and he ushered me to sit next to him.
Ren introduced me to a couple people. "This is Mr. Kadam. He's been watching over me and my brother since our parents' death. He's like a father to us. But, he does have a… daughter, but she's not here," He gestured to the white haired man, and I smiled. Ren continued, "And I assume you've met Kishan, my younger brother, by a year." Ren smiled at Kishan as he walked angrily over and sat next to Kelsey, and he started talking to her and answering questions.
Kelsey looked over to me, and gave me the stink eye, and it was probably something Kishan said about me and Ren, so I decided to make her feel worse, just because I was weird like that and I smiled sweetly and placed my hand on Ren's arm.
I shook Mr. Kadam's hand and he formally introduced himself. "Hello! Yes, I am Mr. Kadam, but Ren here forgot to mention your name. What would that be, Miss?"
I wasn't sure I was ready to reveal my identity, so I simply said, "You can call me whatever you want."
"Don't you have a name?" Mr. Kadam asked, slightly confused.
"Yes, but I barely know you guys, and little miss person over there doesn't seem all too happy about me, so I don't want her knowing my name." I lied.
"I see," Mr. Kadam looked over his shoulder at Kelsey, who looked over and him and they exchanged looks. "Well, I'm happy to see you have at least one person who you can trust. Does, Ren here happen to know your name?"
"Nope," I said with a smile. "Just because he's my first friend doesn't mean that I have to trust him right away with my identity."
Mr. Kadam seemed smart to me, so I was pretty sure he would be able to find out all kinds of information on me, just by knowing my first name!
Kelsey looked back over her shoulder at us, and I started talking with Mr. Kadam and Ren.
We talked about lots of subjects, including math and sports, but I seemed to be the only one who knew about sports like football or soccer.
When I first brought them up, and told them more about how soccer was played with your feet, Mr. Kadam asked, "Well, what's the difference between the two?"
I started explaining how I thought that football was improperly named, when I was interrupted by another tattooed man, and was he carrying his hair? What was up with him?
He came over to Ren and bowed a deep bow. He held out his hair and began talking to Ren. "Namaskāra. Maiṁ kyā maiṁ āpa kē li'ē kiyā thā kē li'ē māphī cāhatā hūm," that was when I realized this was the man that had twisted my arm and dragged me and Ren to our torture sessions with Lokesh. My jaw automatically tightened, and I placed my hand back on Ren's arm, to warn him.
He placed his other hand on my hand and squeezed slightly, telling me he knew who he was, and that he wasn't affraied, and he smiled and continued to listen. Unfortunately for this man, I wasn't very forgiving, but I let him continue. "Namaskāra. Maiṁ kyā maiṁ āpa kē li'ē kiyā thā kē li'ē māphī cāhatā hūm̐ . Maiṁ cāhatā hūm̐ vahām̐ vaisē bhī mērē li'ē vāstava mēṁ vyakta karanē kē li'ē kaisē maiṁ tuma aura tumhārī mām̐ aura pitā aura bhā'ī mujhē aura mērē janajāti kē li'ē kyā kiyā hai kē li'ē ābhārī hūm̐ . Tuma dēkhō, vaha mērī patnī para kabjā kara liyā thā aura mērē baccōṁ kō māra ḍālā... Maiṁ tō basa... Kō'ī cārā nahīṁ thā. Maiṁ māphī cāhatā hūm̐ , kr̥payā, āpa apanē dila mēṁ vaisē bhī pā sakatē haiṁ mujhē māpha kara dō?"
I looked away from the man in a huff, and I heard Mr. Kadam begin to tell Kelsey what the man was saying.
How did she not know? He was speaking English. Maybe she doesn't speak English! I thought.
Ren nodded, then the man said, "Yahām̐, mērē du: Kha aura kr̥tajñatā kā ēka saṅkēta kē rūpa mēṁ mērē bāla rakhanā," and he held out his hair to Ren.
Ren nodded and said, "Śukriyā, maiṁ apanē bālōṁ kō aura māphī svīkāra karatē haiṁ," And took his hair gracefully.
When the tattooed man walked away, to the other side of the rug, covered in various "But, I already know what he said. He said, 'Hello. I am so sorry for what I did to you. I wish there was anyway for me to express truly how grateful I am for what you and your mother and father and brother have done for me and my tribe. You see, he had captured my wife and killed my children...I just...had no choice. I'm sorry, please, can you find anyway in your heart to forgive me?'"
Ren nodded. The man walked off, being hugged by his fellow tribe members.
I looked around, and noticed everyone in this tribe was covered in piercings and tattoos! It was scary, actually, but kind of cool!
"Who are these guys?" I whispered to Ren. "And why did you take his hair?"
"Because," Ren whispered back, "It is traditional then to receive forgiveness, you had to give a sacrifice in this culture."
"And what is this culture, might I ask?"
"The Baiga. According to Kadam, they found that out before they came here," Ren leaned in and pressed his lips against my ear. "Act like I just said something funny, and laugh, then, when I kiss your hair, act all shy. Can you do that?"
I laughed as Ren pulled his head away. "Sorry, I didn't get it, but I thanks for explaining it to me, I get it now! Really funny!"
He nodded at me and smiled. He bent over and kissed my hair, and I looked down and blushed.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kelsey's face flash red with hatred.
"Ren, I…" I whispered, and he pulled his head away and looked at me.
I bent my neck and kissed him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around my waist, and he pulled his head back slightly, and whispered against my lips, keeping his eyes closed, "What are you doing?"
"Acting," I whispered back. "I know that you were creeped out by that girl staring at you, so I think she'll get the picture and move on."
Ren smelled like Sandal wood and fresh water.
We broke apart, and I smiled nervously at him, and looked down at the ground and started twirling my thumbs around each other.
Kelsey stood up, and stalked off. Before she left, I noticed angry tears streaking down her face.
When she had vanished into the trees, Kishan stood up and walked after her.
The feast went by smoothly, and Kelsey and Kishan did return through half of it. We left with a whole bunch of "thank you"s and bowing. We walked to a Jeep at the edge of dirt road, and I sat in back seat next to Kishan while Kelsey at in front with Mr. Kadam, and Ren sat in the truck part at the back.
"Do you think it's safe for him to be back there without a seatbelt?" I asked as Mr. Kadam started the engine and the car leaped.
Kishan didn't reply.
"Well then," I said dramatically, and Kelsey snorted.
"Excuse me?" I asked, suddenly very angry.
"What? I didn't say anything," she didn't look back at me, though.
I was ready to fight with her, but I decided not to, right then. I would get her back for this later.
The car ride home took an hour, and I was full of insults and things to throw at Kelsey when the time came. But, the time hadn't come yet. I was too tired today. I'd hurt her tomorrow. Well, I'd hurt her worse, I guess.
Sorry, but nobody makes fun of me and gets away with it unscathed!
We walked into a huge house with an awesome kitchen and a dining table and a second floor. There were doors on that floor, and I realized they were probably bedrooms.
To confirm my suspicions, Kelsey ran past us, up the stairs, and into one of the rooms. Kishan ran after her, neither of them even looking at me.
Okay, so I'd get her back tomorrow. No big deal.
I turned around and marveled at Mr. Kadam. "How, this is a really nice place! Where do I sleep?"
"Well," Mr. Kadam started, "You were going to sleep with Ms. Kelsey when I first saw you, but now I'm not so sure."
"I can just sleep on the couch or something, no big deal," I said, and I walked past the dining room and into the coolest movie room I'd ever seen.
"Or," I turned around, smiling, "I could crash here tonight."
"She'll sleep with me," Ren whispered, and walked over to me and put his hand on my back.
"Aw! Fine," I pouted as I walked with him, talking about nothing in particular.
He led me up the stairs and down the hall, into the farthest door.
He opened it and let me in. I stepped in, but I kept my guard up, just in case.
The room was dark, but I could see pretty well as I walked in and sat on the end of his bed.
"It seems you can see," he said, and he walked in, closing the door behind me.
I suddenly got very scared. "Open the door, or I swear, I'll start screaming."
"Relax, I won't hurt you, I swear. I won't do anything," he says, and he walked toward another door on the side of the room, next to another door.
"Where are you going?" I asked him.
"Bathroom. I'll be in there tonight. I don't want to scare you, just, please, goodnight," he whispered, and slipped into the bathroom.
"Okay," I said, and I let him close the door behind him.
My body started to ache, from what felt like tiredness, so I lied on the bed, closed my eyes, and fell asleep.
Okay, there is seriously something wrong with this computer! IT WON'T LET ME WRITE UP THERE! It's probably because I'm such a MURDERER! T-T!
I killed two of my stories, so...
ANYWAY, I've fullied my goal by editing two chapters by the end of this week, so yay for that!
Oh, and this is a really a good chapter for me, because it leads to the all wanted, GIRL FIGHT!
Okay, so I had a pretty good day, except for the fact that I KILLED TWO OF MY STORIES! Okay, well, I hope you enjoyed this! REVIEW!