I wouldn't have thought

Written in response to: "Someone’s most sacred ritual is interrupted. What happens next?"

Fantasy Friendship

Sarai stared at the dragon made of fire. It glared at her, and she, wide-eyed, got up, backed away and balled her fists.

"I'm taught to pray to our ancestors' gods. We're supposed to be protected from evil. And you show up, interrupting me!"

"What you're doing is the very evil you've been told to pray for protection from! Would you rather get in huge trouble knowing you're wrong?"

"How is this practice wrong? Every year after someone’s fifteenth birthday, they need guidance from the gods to guide them through the good, sticking with them, and avoiding evil, challenging it and overcoming it, defeating it. But since I’ve been interrupted, don’t think I’ll be covered today!"

Sarai ran into her bathroom, ripped her toothbrush out, filling the cup with bathtub water. She chucked the water right at the dragon. It didn't even become vapor. It remained a dragon of fire.

Sarai bolted out of her bedroom. Cassandra would have the perfect solution. Besides, her father said that should anyone disturb someone’s prayer time, the gods would know. Well, how could something interrupted bring forth good? It was never the same after it broke.

“Cass, the wildest thing happened!”

After running into her room, Sarai going on and on about the fire dragon. Cassandra was at her desk, muttering that she was busy studying for a test tomorrow. When Sarai said that she needed to pull her head out, Cassandra jerked around. “You don’t understand! I need to pass the final exam. If I don’t, I’ll—”

“What? Be doomed to repeat the class forever? I’m telling you about something that happened—”

“Keep reading those fantasy books, Sar. You’ll never convince me to shut this textbook— “Hey!”

Sarai bounced around Cassandra’s room, dodging her. When Cassandra, fuming, promised she wouldn’t give her lunch money anymore, Sarai just chucked the book in the trashcan under the desk. Cassandra grabbed it, returning to studying, the textbook open. Sarai rolled her eyes, and collapsed onto Cassandra’s bed behind her.

What you're doing is the very evil you've been told to pray for protection from!

“What does that mean?” Sarai said aloud. When Cassandra shushed her, she fell silent. But she couldn’t figure it out. She knew the gods protected her, but every time she asked Saraswati to grant her an A on a hard test, pass a final, begged her for some iota of creativity in her writing class or silently invoked her to grant her calmness and peace during a solo in music class, worry consumed her. She didn’t feel peace. She never received higher than a B. And her creative writing teacher simply shrugged at her stories, noting Sarai always had to get inspired first. And then put pen to paper.

Sarai took that to mean she was a failure. She smirked. Well, I can always come up with reasons why Saraswati isn’t answering my prayers! She’s busy, or indifferent, or cold. Yeah, she’s not there! Never was, nor will be.

The last part, yeah, she’s not there! Never was, nor will be was spoken out loud.

“Sarai? You okay?” Cassandra picked up the book, and jabbed at it. “Studying!” Dropping it, she continued.

"Well, do they?"

“Do who what?”

“Does Saraswati listen?”

Cassandra, figuring she was never going to study in peace, joined Sarai.

“Every time I pray, Saraswati is busy. I ask for peace, but I’m sweating bullets in front of everyone—”

“That’s because you won’t let yourself calm down. I’ve asked you a million times to look at me, but you’re looking at everyone around you!”

“I’ve forced myself to calm down. I’ve even attempted to relax. However, I don’t feel any calmness from her. She’s too busy for me. She doesn’t care!”

Sarai yelled this last statement. Tears welled up in her eyes, and Cassandra jumped off the bed, pulling her up into a hug. “Girl, you got to calm down now. Saraswati will offer you peace if you just calm down yourself. She can’t work if you don’t listen.”

“You don’t understand. She’s not granting—”

“Because you’re not giving her what she wants.”

“Why should I care?” Sarai sighed. “My ritual was interrupted. Maybe…there’s a reason?”

Cassandra sighed a long dramatic sigh, and went over to the closet, whipping it open. Hanging from the handle, she arched an eyebrow and said, "How about you go and talk to the gods themselves?"

"In your closet?"

Cassandra swept an arm. "It'll do ya some good, doubter!"

So you can get back to your studies. Have fun praying Saraswati will bless your test!

When Sarai entered, she found herself in an Arab tent akin to those in fortune telling scenes or Bollywood movies. She looked back.

“Cass?”

She was alone. Sarai swallowed, nervously pushing aside a curtain.

"Um...you're a baby chimp. In a diaper with a rattle."

The startled chimp stared at her, mouth agape. Then, it blinked, stuffed the rattle in its mouth and scampered away.

"Wait—are you sent here by the dragon?"

The chimp didn't answer nor return. Sarai searched throughout the tent for some sign as to why she was here. Come on, she thought desperately, ravaging through Azul and royal purple linen, headdresses, golden lamps, chairs, dresses, hijabs and small round tables. Nothing. What was going on?

Sarai searched for an exit. After searching for what seemed like hours, she cried out for help.

Sarai ran out of the tent—but the more she strived to find Cassandra’s closet, the more she went into the tent. So it didn't end. Or maybe it just got bigger. There were a section of the tent, where dancers, musicians, singers and acrobats performed. Were they getting ready for a show? Who were they entertaining?

Some of the dancers leaped off the stage at Sarai, but she sat in a theatre chair. When she found herself surrounded by a young guy in a leopard costume, a young woman in fushia and black feathers, a guy and girl twin pair with large, begging eyes and folding hands and two other twins smiling quietly, Sarai forgot all about Cassandra.

The smiling twins told her she just needed to relax and watch them all practice for the big show tonight. Sarai made herself comfortable. The twins pursed their lips, looking at each other. Then, he spoke to Sarai.

"Hm. Looks like she needs some cotton candy."

Some pink fluffy stuff—Sarai grabbed it—appeared out of nowhere. She scarfed it down, asking between chews whether they had any soda. He nodded serenely. “Yes!”

Sarai smiled, enjoying herself. Wow! These guys knew her more than Cassandra. They asked, and she got. What better service could she be given? She stretched out, her chair turning into a massage couch.

“Relax, and enjoy the show!” The female twin side-hugged her, her grip tight. “And don’t go after it’s done. We've barely begun!" She had returned her positon of standing in front of Sarai, them looking at each other. Sarai never asked why they were acting this way but lay back, her soda forgotten as the twins put on a play she said she’d never forget. When it was over, Sarai praised them all. The twins grinned, bowing. As Sarai watched another play, she never took her eyes off those twins. They mesmerized her with their acrobatics, dances and ballet. It was like she was at the circus.

But the circus wasn’t kind to her like these twins. The show didn’t seem to end. It just got better every second. Sarai actually sat up, mouth agape, eyes shining, fists clenched with anticipation. She even told the protagonist to grab the sword right now and slay that dragon!

When the show had ended, Sarai leapt up, applauding spectacularly. “Bravo!” She congratulated, needing more.

Laughing, the male twin landing neatly on his toes. His sister landed right next to him. Sarai stared at them. "How'd you two do that?"

"If you stay awhile, you'll know."

Sarai’s couch became a round table, and she found herself at a dinner theater party. The guests all sat at round tables covered with white tablecloth, flowers as the centerpiece and dinnerware between each person's plate.

“Oh!”

The female twin asked, and Sarai wanted some fish and chips. A whole plateful sat before her.

"Go on…"

"Sarai."

"Eat up!"

The female twin flipped and twisted onto the stage, the other performers dazzling Sarai with their moves, costumes, make up and singing. Once the music ended, Sarai applauding unapologetically, she congratulated the performers. Some waved, others nodded. The twins smiled brightly. “Thank you! Thank you!” They bowed dramatically, and Sarah giggled. She didn’t say it, but she had noticed over time that whenever the twins spoke to her, they always looked at each other. Never at her. And their honey-sweet voices and suave demeanor—Sarai didn’t get that every day. She just couldn't leave the seductive kindness of these Two.

The twins would always turn her towards the stage.

To face them.

Sarai got comfortable, sitting up to the table and eagerly grabbing her fork and knife, chowing down on the delicious fish. Sarai stuffed her mouth with the chips. She finished with licking her fingers, wanting more.

"Only the best comes from the best."

The twin sister went to her, clutching Sarai's arms with both hands, looking at her over her shoulder. "Do you want to have all your dreams come true?"

Her brother joined her at the hip. "Want that nightmare—Saraswati—to actually give you peace?”

Sarai nodded vigorously. “Yeah! For years, I’ve been praying, and nothing happens. She doesn’t even care.”

The twins looked at each other, and the brother said, “Wish your life had more meaning than simple ritual?"

"Yes! I've always wanted to know whether my prayers meant anything or were heard. I've gone to bed and woken up hopeless."

"Well," the female twin steered Sarai in the direction of the stage, "fear no more; we can distill all your fears." The male twin brushed his hand, wiping the stage away.

Everything was black.

Suddenly, feet pounded down the theater aisle.

"Don't believe them!"

"But they're gods, Cass. We're here to make our lives better. Make my life better!"

"No! They're just trying to enslave you. They're the trickster gods, twins who will chew you up and spit you out faster than you consumed those chips!"

Sarai rolled her eyes. “Like you know.”

The female twin grabbed her hand, leading her up on the stage again. Sarai found herself unable to disobey, and soon she was enrobed in a royal purple robe fit for a sultana, looking down on Cassandra. Cassandra tried prying her away, but Sarai jerked away again, the female twin telling her that she'd be better off here than some place where she'd be miserable.

"Cassandra doesn’t believe you," The twin furrowed her brow, "does she?"

Sarai saw herself as queen, the performers and even Cassandra bowing to her, a golden goblet in her hand. She was looking down at the performers as if she were better. Maybe even better than Cassandra herself.

Better than Saraswati.

"Think of all the things you can do to Saraswati to teach her a lesson. You didn’t deserve to be ignored.”

“To be frustrated.”

The twins stood side by side.

This time, they spoke to her without taking their eyes off her.

That dragon! Sarai asked how she could get rid of it.

The twins looked at each other. "Um..." The male twin said, "we don't know."

"But we do know that he will go away. Just use your imagination!"

Sarai looked around. She saw before her a massage chair, red as royalty and surrounded by waiting servants. The twins looked at each other and then at Sarai.

She walked over and got in, hearing Cassandra in her head, telling her to snap out of it.

But Sarai’s servants crowned her, obeying every whim. Every meal was better than the last, Sarai hardly believing such taste could exist. Cassandra somehow got her attention.

"Sarai, please believe me! I'm your best friend." She imitated the female twin, making the same facial expressions and gestures. Even going behind her and clasping her shoulders, but Sarai wanted none of it.

"The twins are my friends, Cass. You can't change that!"

Other twins appeared, their mannerisms and words resembling the twins. Cassandra said they weren't bent on destroying Sarai like those twins. In fact, they wanted Sarai out.

Sarai ordered her servants around, demeaning them and criticizing Cassandra, driving her out of her sight. The twins asked Sarai whether she needed anything. They looked at each other as Sarai said yes.

"I don't want anyone bothering me!"

The female twin feigned concern. "Who is, your majesty?"

"These two!" Sarai threw a finger at the other twins.

These stood their ground, but even they soon left. Sarai nodded affirmatively.

"There. Gone. Now, male twin. I want my wine."

"Yes, your highness."

He soon returned with it. Placing it in her open hand, he looked at his sister, and she looked at him like she was trying so hard not to crack a smile.

Cassandra's voice came back. "Sarai, don't believe them." But she went ignored.

The other twins saw how the tricksters manipulated Sarai, flattering her. One day, they, watching from afar, shook their heads at Sarai mounting her best horse for a hunt.

"She's pretty duped to not break the spell."

The young man nodded. "Yeah..." he said sadly, tears welling in his eyes.

One day, Sarai questioned the twins. They raised their eyebrows.

"Yes?" they asked innocently.

"Why do you always look at each other?"

"Because…that's who we are."

The male laughed like it was obvious. His sister joined him. Over time, Sarai wondered if it’d be better whether the boar she had caught should be celebrated with Cassandra. She had her come to her table, and Cassandra dined with her. The other twins were invited, too.

“As sultana, I believe I am wrong to exclude you.” Sarai made Cassandra her right-hand woman, while the twins were servants. They feigned agreement.

One day, Cassandra stared in disbelief.

“Sarai…what’s happened to you?”

For it was true—Sarai was a performer, looking every bit like one of those twins who had silently seduced her into the world’s deceptive ways. Her black, pink and white makeup, costumes and performances were not dissimilar to the twins’ acts and looks.

“Like it?” Sarai showed off. “Oh, and there’s a show tonight. You want to watch?”

Cassandra shook her head sadly. Then she glared at her. “No! I need to take you back with me—”

“Where your stupid goddess of education will give you an A? How’d that test go?”

"You're so deceived. You just want—”

“Some kind of recognition, you know? But Saraswati’s too busy giving you academic success!”

Cassandra’s voice was thick. “You’re my best friend—”

“Was.”

No begging changed Sarai’s mind. She left, a hand over her mouth to stifle the sobs. The other twins ran to her, embracing and encouraging her. She nodded, not wanting to even look at Sarai. When Sarai cried out for her twins, they came. They brought Sarai to her courtyard, promising Cassandra wouldn’t bother her anymore. As time went on, Sarai noticed that the twins stopped looking at her. They sometimes ignored her, even snapped at her. When Sarai noticed they talked at her instead of with her, she ground her teeth and snarled at them, leering. But they didn’t care. Not even when she demanded to know why.

She studied the difference between these twins and the others. The others were kind, gentle-hearted, considerate and, sometimes, harsh when necessary. Sarai slowly gained weight, getting so heavy she couldn’t get out of her royal bed. She would get nightmares of suffocating or becoming diabetic. She’d wake up, screaming. The twins would tell her it was only a bad dream.

The other twins would tell her she was doing this to herself.

One day, the twins told her that her prayers to Saraswati were working. Sarai wasn’t getting any peace from being fat. Nor did the nightmares stop, though she prayed for her to take them away.

“And lonely and scared.” She admitted, and cried. Tears of remorse rolled down her cheeks.

"Please forgive me for my indifference, Cassandra!"

"She does. Now go!"

Sarai thanked them. Hurrying out of Cassandra's closet, she begged forgiveness.

"You're my best friend.” Cassandra wrapped her in her arms. “What friend wouldn't forgive?"

Sarai sighed in relief. When she returned home, no dragon appeared. Sarai grabbed her things used for the ritual, throwing them away.

No more, she thought. No more emptiness!

"No more?"

Sarai froze. Then she came alive, relieved to see one of the other twins. It went up to her, swinging an arm around her, telling her to envision a beautiful castle. And then looked right at her.

Her eyes widened with greed. "Don't think Cassie is going to be all alone in this world, do you?"

Sarai looked at her and then shoved her away. "No, she's fine! And so am I."

Sarai looked for the other twins. Where are they? She demanded.

Follow me, and you'll know!

When the twin laughed, Sarai shivered. When the sister disappeared, Sarai found the other twins. “Aren’t I glad to see you!”

They—along with Cassandra—became close friends. They had a picnic in a field one day, Sarai relating her story.

"Think we might want to do what those twins can’t?" The female twin asked her brother.

They were on stage alone.

"No one wants to lose." He agreed.

"No." The female twin visited the field, and was joined by her brother. They watched from a distance as the twins and Cassandra were cheering Sarai on as she chugged a whole jug of cider. Once she had downed it, everyone applauded. Sarai pumped both fists into the air, and Cassandra laughed.

"No, they don't."

Posted Oct 08, 2025
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