Earth's Child Ch 3 Pg 6 - Page 2

To her intense relief, he picked it up on the first ring.
"Bhai!" she said, almost sobbing in relief.
"Hi, little sister," said Karan, a smile in his voice, before he heard her tone. "What happened? Maasi and Maasa?"
"Yes, Bhai. Can you come? Please?"
"I am there in ten." He hung up. Leaning against the closed door, Janani allowed the tears to fall. She slid down to the floor, curled up and sobbed into her knees. She didn't know how long she sat there, but she heard voices in the living room, after a while.

Wrenching the door open, she ran out and threw herself into her brother's arms. He hugged her tight.
"Again?" he asked softly. She nodded into his shoulder. He frowned. "Come with me," he said, leading her into her room. "Tell me what happened."

Janani sat up in bed, shaking and sweating. She looked around. Her room was pitch-dark, and no one was awake in the house. She got out of bed and went to the kitchen for a drink of water. Her palms were sweaty, and she wiped them on her nightshirt. Turning on the lights in her room, she sat at her study table.

Her hands automatically reached for the leather bound journal she wrote in, and she opened it. She had a collection of small anecdotes, memories and stories that she and her best friend, Dharani were writing. Her eyes found the page she had written that story in, and she began reading through it. Suddenly there was a flash of white light.

"Pragati?" a soft melodious voice called to her. She whipped around to see Lord Krishna.
"Pa?" she said, softly, tears forming in her eyes. Before she knew it, she was crying in His arms.
"What happened, my baby?" He asked, gently, rocking her.
"Pa, I miss Bhai so much."
"I know you do, my child. But Karan is always with you, I promise. And?"

"And? Pa, is Ma okay?"
"She is fine, baby," He said, cuddling her. "She asked me to give you a big hug and tell you she loves you."
"Can you tell her I love her too?" she asked, looking up at Him.
He nodded and kissed her head. "Look after yourself child."

The vision faded. She was sitting at the table, her journal held in her hands. Slowly, she got up and went back to bed. Sleep seemed far off, but she was, nonetheless, reassured. Tossing about it in bed, there was a lot for her to think about.

"Hi, kid!" said Dharani, as soon as she picked up the phone the next morning. "How are you? Better?"
"Ma! How do you always know?"
"I am Ma. I always know."
"You are. Ma, I had that same thing, same dream again. Karan."
"I know, Swami told me. Better now?"
"I am. I kind of had an argument at the house again."
"And, what did Aunty do?"
"Later, she is yelling again. I love you, I will call you when I leave."
"No, text me, if I am out, I will call you. Amma."
"Okay Ma. Amma. I love you. Bye." She hung up to stare into the frowning face of her mother.

"Who were you talking to?"
"No one, as in, trying to find out if we have college or not."
"Who were you talking to?"
"Class rep. Vishal. I have to bathe, I am going."

She went into her room and latched the door, sighing. Why couldn't she just leave her alone? She was fed up with the restrictions, the taunts, all of it.
Pa, can I just go and live with Ma?' she thought, closing her eyes in prayer.