A to Z Challenge: Mystery

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Hanged

Insomnia
Jaded

Keeper
Labour

Rini woke up again in the early hours of the morning. This was a definite sign that she had had the nightmare again. Now she was getting a sense of foreboding more than anything else when she recollected the dream on waking up. She was surprised and startled to find Aryan sitting in a chair by her bed. He was clasping her hand in both of his and appeared to have fallen asleep trying to comfort her. She sat up urgently startling him awake in the process. " Oh Rini, you are awake, you seemed to be having a bad nightmare last night. I tried to wake you up, but you wouldn't. I didn't want to leave you by yourself. So I stayed. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not!" She said more snappishly than she meant, secretly flattered that he cared so much about her. " I would like to thank you for staying but I am sure it was not necessary." Aryan narrowed his eyes at her and said, " Something is troubling you and you are going to tell me about it. I will make you. See you in sometime." It wasn't until they had packed and loaded up the jeep to head to Anjeer village that he took up the line of questioning again. They were swigging tea from a flask when he repeated, " You are my friend and my responsibility for the next few weeks. Please tell me what's troubling you."

Rini reluctantly confided the details of her dream between sips of fortifying tea. He asked her to describe the surroundings that she observed in her dream and agreed that it had to be set in India. Then to take her mind off these unpleasant things, he treated her to a meal at a roadside dhaba. The warm butter on the paranthas and the hot chole revived her and made her more like her usual cheerful self. It was late evening when they reached the outskirts of Anjeer village. Rini was in the middle of a sentence when she made a choking noise. Aryan turned around to find her open her mouth in a soundless scream and faint dead away.

A to Z Challenge: Labour

Links to previous parts:

Hanged

Insomnia
Jaded

Keeper

The red sand blew into his eyes as he squinted into the camera. Rini stood at a distance, discussing seriously with one of the village women about how best to run the anti female foeticide campaign. She sure took her work seriously. In the two weeks that they had spent here, Rini had recruited him to build bathrooms for 4 houses, refurbish 3 village schools and coach innumerable number of soccer teams. This was in addition to his day long shooting videos and photographs and recording interviews. He didn't really mind. After a long time, he was finally feeling like he was making a difference.

"Aryan, watch out for your camera. The red sand can scratch and ruin the lens." she screamed across the plain. For such a small person, she sure had an imposing voice, Aryan thought to himself as he broke out of his reverie. She could be such a nag to. But it had to be acknowledged that she was always looking out for everybody else. She was willing to sacrifice anything, give up anything just so others could have a share of the happiness that always seemed to be her portion. No matter what hardship she faced, the challenges that were thrown at her, she faced life with a smile and struggled on. He was finding himself more and more attached to her. She inspired him, challenged him and made him crazy about her all at the same time. He knew now why she had won such loyalty and heroine worship among the village women wherever she went. She was the perfect subject for his documentary.

After a long day at work, Aryan twisted and turned on his narrow makeshift bed. Sleep wasn't coming easy to him this night. The wind whipped at his tent and howled through the gaps and crannies making horrific noises. Through all that he heard a high shrill scream rent the air. There was only Rini's tent next to him. They were at an isolated campsite and there was definitely no one else around. He scrambled out of bed and braving the wind dashed into her tent. Rini was convulsing in the throes of a nightmare. He patted her gently trying to awaken her but she did not cease, nor did she waken. He stroked her forehead and rubbed her hands. Finally she seemed to go back to peaceful sleep.

A to Z Challenge: Keeper

Links to previous parts:
Hanged

Insomnia
Jaded

A week later, Aryan found himself sitting in a cafe which by the looks of it was one which served those airy fairy green teas and vegan cup cakes. Oh my god! This social worker was already living up to every stereotype that he had imagined and he had not even met her yet. Why oh why did people have to drag their beliefs into everything including their food? This meeting was already heading towards a disaster. What a ruins of a Saturday!!

"Hello, Aryan I presume?" A pleasant female voice called out to him from the wicker gate of the cafe. " Would you mind stepping out?" Aryan got up and walked out irritably. Now what, she was already late by 15 min. She was a surprisingly tiny person, her elf like face framed by long dark hair. The smile on her face was making it difficult to stay angry with her. " I assumed you would wait outside. Aaron of the Journal lifestyle section should know better than to go in." she said cheekily. " The cafe I wanted to meet you at is just around the corner. I wasn't sure that you would know it."

Over pancakes and the yummiest truffles he had ever eaten, Rini outlined their plan. They would leave next week to India. Aaron would be filming and recording her work. They hadn't decided if it was only going to entail only print coverage or video show as well. They would evaluate that once they had a significant amount of material.

A to Z Challenge: Jaded

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Hanged

Insomnia

Aaron aka Aryan sat at his desk, staring intently into his screen. He couldn't focus on the article he was writing. It was three years since he had joined at the Journal and he was still writing about which fire escape had failed city codes with more than the allowed number of potted plants, which new loft restaurants were the best and which speakeasy was the one to be seen at. This was not the dream of journalistic ideals that had burned in his heart when he left NYU. " Dreaming of overseas war postings again?" Jim swatted his head from the neighboring desk. " That's asking for a bit much. I at least want to get off the lifestyle pages, " sighed Aryan. " Man, I don't understand you. If I got anything like the fan mail you get from those women, I would expire from joy." "I wish it had more to do with my writing than my byline picture." "Narcissistic much?" " Nothing but plainspeaking truth. I have had enough for the week. Leaving now."

As Aryan swept his belongings into his leather bag and swung it across his shoulder, he heard someone call out from behind him. It was Sean, his boss, mentor and now permanent bearer of bad news. He was the one who had informed him that thanks to his great skills on the lifestyle page, he would get a permanent byline and fixture. This week had been a long one as it was. He wondered what new news he would get and how it would affect him. Would this weekend give him reason to rejoice or mourn?

Aryan headed out of the office with a confused expression. "Hello, are you there, Aaron" Jim's cheerful tone went unnoticed. He did not know if one should be happy or sad with what he had heard just now.

A to Z Challenge: Insomnia

Link to previous part:

Hanged

"Close your eyes and think about a space that makes you feel safe. Go to the happy place in your mind and enjoy these moments that your mind is at peace." The instructor walked around the room whispering among her students in her mellifluous voice.  Rini fidgeted in her cross legged pose. She flicked her long dark hair away from her face and tried to refocus her attention on the task at hand. She could feel the instructor at her side, laying a restraining hand on her shoulder. " It was easier said than done, Rini thought to herself.

Later, when she lay awake in bed, she regretted not paying more attention in her meditation class. The teacher was only trying to help. If this continued any longer, she would have to consult a therapist. That wasn't something she wanted to do. It was the absolute last resort for her. As an international aid worker, neither than luxury of staying in one location for long nor the money to afford the therapy was available to her.

These were sudden episodes she has become prone to soon after her visit the  previous month to India. Her insomnia was making her less functional at work. Her boss Linda had stopped by her desk the previous day. "Rini, I am postponing your next trip back to India. You can go next month. I am not sure you can handle the stress again. You look like death boiled over." "I agree with her" Rini thought. "I am not sure why but India is getting into my bones. Probably I am taking all its problems too personally, After all its home in a way."