Asha & the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan

Author:Jasbinder Bilan
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781911490784
Publisher: Chicken House

It’s been four nights. Divali is only a little more than four weeks away and we must leave for the temple today if we’re going to have a chance of reaching Papa on time. Jeevan’s fever has gone, but is he really strong enough to carry on?

It’s morning, and while he’s still sleeping, I untie my bundle of things pulling out my journey clothes; the jeans and green hoodie. I yank them on before trying to wake him.

‘We have to go,’ I say, shaking Jeevan gently. I try to be as patient as I can but hardly sound it.

He doesn’t stir, so I shake him some more. ‘Jeevan . . . Jeevan.’

He wakes up, traces of the dark fever circles still visible below his eyes, and I feel bad for not letting him sleep longer.

‘Jeevan,’ I say, with a pretend lightness. ‘What if you stayed here . . . and let me go on by myself?’

‘What?’ He sits up suddenly. ‘You can’t do that—’

‘Look,’ I say gently, kneeling on the rug. ‘I’m worried about you . . . you’re not that strong and it’s still a long way to Zandapur.’ I stand up, turning away from him, because I can’t bear to look him in the eye. ‘Maybe you could stay with the family for a bit longer.’ I pause. ‘A-and then get the train back to Sonahaar.’

‘No way, Asha – I’m coming with you,’ he says fiercely. ‘All for one and one for all – remember? I heard how you built that shelter in the forest . . . and the way you fought off the tiger.’ He sounds annoyed. ‘And I know you’re getting so good at doing things by yourself now . . . but we have to stay together till the end.’ He gives me a hard stare then tosses his head away. ‘Unless . . . you don’t need me any more.’

‘No! You know that’s not true, I can’t manage without you. I’m just really worried that you could get ill again.’

Jeevan turns away from me. ‘Only if you’re sure . . . I don’t want to be a burden,’ he mumbles stubbornly.

I force him to face me. ‘Yes, of course I’m sure . . . please, Jeevan, I need you . . . let’s collect our things and get ready.’ I feel so guilty for even suggesting he stays behind. I put my hand on his shoulder. ‘You must tell me if you need to rest . . . I promise I’ll listen.’

‘And we have to stay friends this time, be kind to each other,’ says Jeevan, spreading the scarf out on the floor. ‘ However hard things get.’

‘Yes . . . you’re right,’ I say, giving him a hug. ‘Here, you load up while I pass you the things.’ I pick up the mango stone, still safe in its banana-leaf pot. ‘It hasn’t grown any shoots yet.’ I hold it up to the light just in case I’ve missed something. ‘Tuck it in safely.

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