Fifty Years

Siya becomes Raya's obsession now. Ever since he found her half-dead on the island beach at the beginning of the winter, he found himself uncontrollably sucked into her mysterious form. He was on the beach that morning, before the sun rise, out fishing as usual, plowing his boat out into the sea with his folks. "The weather doesn't look good. The storm is still hovering around the coast," a concerned Raju, his trusted aid, called out, standing on the wooden plank, pulling the ropes that Raya threw at him. "Ahh, yes, thought so," he answered, still trying to push the boat out from the wet sands. Raya's muscular body tightened as he made a final push and released the ship into the water. "Hold the ropes tightly; I am releasing the sails," with a firm grip on the pulley, he set the sails in one go. The white sails fluttered on the windy, choppy waters making a roaring sound. The boat rolled on the waters rapidly, moving towards the island beach. "Raju, draw the nets carefully this time. Save yourself in the caves if you mess with my nets this time. I will hunt you down and kill you, idiot." Raju nodded and kept puffing his local cigarette. "Yes, sir. Chaa- the weed from last night," words fell out of his mouth. Raya sir had a little too much of the pot, he scorned.

They had just reached the island beach after a tiresome sailing in the opposite direction of the wind when he noticed her. He was standing on the boat's arch, aiming to bend over to catch his nets in the waters, when he saw a silvery glow on the beach. He prompted Raju to navigate the boat towards the shiny object on the beach. He jumped into the cold, shallow water and ran towards her on the wet slippery sand. "Ahhhh.." he screamed as he stepped on a sharp rock. "Raya Sir, careful," Raju called from the boat, watching his master fall on the sand. He also saw the mysterious lady on the beach with long golden tresses lying covered in a silver cloth.

Raya bent down and felt her pulse. She was cold as ice with no heartbeats. He bent down on his knees and started blowing air into her lungs with his mouth. After great efforts, she blew a tiny cough and moved her eyelids. "Raju, she is alive; I am bringing her on board, lay the ladder down." He gently picked her up in his solid and wet arms and walked towards his rocking boat. He pushed her inside the boat under the wooden planks, covered her with his blanket, and instructed Raju to set sails for the shores.

They brought her home. He laid her on his bed after drying her with the help of house ladies. Her body grew warmer from the drying and the warm clothing on her. Blood rushed to her cheeks, and she finally opened her eyes. "Oh! Good lord. They are beautiful just like her round chubby face." Raya couldn't help himself admire her lotus-shaped big black eyes covered by thick lashes. "What should I call you, oh lady?" he asked her gently. "SIYA," she whispered and passed out.

*****

Siya spent the whole winter with him; he got deeply involved in her presence, her eyes, her lengthy hair, and her mesmerizing lips. He was pulled in the magnetic vortex more strongly with each passing moment. The mysterious silver lady was playing havoc in his head, "who is she? Where has she come from?" he thought as he drew a long puff from the stuff Raju had rolled for him. "S I Y A," he exhaled.

Raya would ensure she was not left alone and felt lonely staying away from her family; she hadn't yet disclosed her details. She was recovering, and her body was healing as the days passed swiftly. Raya could feel that she longs for his company during the evening, and he never missed a chance to be with her.

But then Raya was also aware of the distance between them and its boundaries. He often had the urge to hug her and get her in his arms, but he resisted doing anything that would damage the good relationship that they had between them. "She seems to be from a respectable family. I should look for her family and ask for her hand. What if she is already married?" he dispersed the thought and restlessly tightened the nets with his nails.

******

Siya was now quite popular in the small town, and people invited her to their homes for a chat and a game of dice. Her beauty cast a spell on the entire town, who competed against each other to get her attention and presence. Bets were cast on who would win her over and take her home permanently. They secretly detested Raya for his proximity and her stay at his home.

 "Raya, Venkatesh Rama has called me for a feast at his place. Will you come with me?" She asked him one afternoon. He was reluctant in the beginning and gave her multiple reasons for not coming with her. "Siya, I am exhausted today. I think I am falling sick. Please pardon me this time. I can't come with you." He said and hoped that she would understand. But, Siya was persistent and wanted him to accompany her to the feast. "Please, Raya, please come with me. I would love to go with you." She pleaded again. Looking at her innocent persistence, Raya couldn't say no. He agreed to go with her. Siya smiled a broad smile and thanked him. Raya couldn't take his eyes off her beautiful smiling face. "Oh! Siya. I wish I could tell you how much I like to see you smile. And what can I do to keep it on your lips forever?" Come here, Siya, in my arms," his thoughts were going haywire with immense pleasure that she would spend the whole evening with him at the fest.

Siya met Raya at the entrance of Venkatesh Rama's house, and they both walked inside. For a moment, Raya felt as if he was escorting his wife to his host's home. He had that kind of authority and love for her. He gently tried to push his arm around her bare waist and waited to see her reaction. She noticed his arm around her but didn't mind it. That gave Raya new confidence to claim her as his own. He tightened the grip around her and drew her closure to him. She naturally was drawn near him, and now they were walking close to each other as a couple.

Raya loosened his grip on reaching the house and let her go a little further away from him. Siya noticed the gesture and composed herself, maintaining a distance between them. She looked down and moved away. Raya could feel the detachment physically as if his heart was clamped and stretched by a band. He wanted to pull her back to him. But, no, he can't do that. "Siya, you, your touch is driving me mad. Please help me remain sane in your presence." As always, he talked to himself and followed her inside the house.

Venkatesh Rama and his wife were very cordial, and they looked after their guests very well. Siya was inside the kitchen, talking to the wife, while Raya was outside the veranda with the host. He was stealing glances inside to have a glimpse of her standing near the door purposely; he thought so that she could see him too. Their eyes caught each other several times during the evening, looking at each other. 

The vibes floating between them were very evident. After a delicious meal and a good chat with the hosts, they took their leave to go home. Siya, this time intentionally, continued walking close to Raya while he tried to maintain a distance. Her hands were subtly touching his, but he was pulling them away from her. Raya was afraid of himself and his intentions of kissing Siya so severely. He was counting in his mind to distract himself from her. 

They waited for the carriage to arrive. Siya ceaselessly talked about a few things during her stay at his home and in the town. "Siya, where do you belong from?" he stopped her and asked her directly, gazing into her eyes. His eyes were burning with curiosity, and a sense of emergency rose in his body as he was impatient to know her better. His haunch said that she was purposely hiding her background from him. She opened her delicate mouth to answer, but then the carriage pulled in.

Raya gently pulled her up and helped her get inside the carriage. Siya looked at him lovingly and said, "I will miss you, Raya." 

He signaled the carriage to move and waved at her. "I will miss you too, Siya." He muttered. 

*****

"Raya, won't you come with us to the town for the dance festival? We heard the most talented dancer in the province is visiting the festival. Let's go" Raya's friend Satish was calling him to visit a dance festival in the nearby town. Raya was a massive fan of the dancers and the acts that they put on every year. He liked the various forms the actors enacted to bring out the details in a drama. He got excited this time, mainly as Siya was in town, and he wanted to show this art form to her. "Yes, Satish, I will surely come. Please arrange for two seats for me". Satish was about to question him about two seats. But then he left it at it and rushed to the market to fetch them seats to the dancing arena.

"Siya, please come. You will enjoy the dance drama." Raya was convincing Siya to come with him to the drama tonight. But, Siya was too tired to go. She had already taken off her day's clothes and had changed into a comfortable cotton robe. "I would love to, Raya. But I am exhausted tonight. You carry on with Satish," she yawned. "No, my beautiful lady. I will not allow you to sleep when there's such a big festival running nearby." Saying, so he pulled her arms and playfully pushed her towards the washroom. He picked ice-cold water from the bucket and splashed it on her face.

Siya shivered as the cold water trickled on her face and neck. She pushed Raya away and pulled her robe closer to the chest as she fought the cold. Raya understood the mistake he made and backed off. He could see her chest swell and her womanhood wanting to peak out. He immediately handed over her a clean towel and rushed outside the washroom, still shaking at the sight he had just experienced.

Siya washed her face with herbs and warm water. She applied the sandalwood powder on her face and pomegranate juice on her lips. She then opened her trunk and pulled out a pink silk robe laced with simple cotton wool on the boundaries. She slipped into it and tied the belt around her waist. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and pulled her hair in a bun. She picked up a rose from the vase in the washroom and clipped it to her hair. The rose color and her lipstick colors matched. She then stepped outside the bathroom and signaled at Raya.

Raya was still so stunned at the event that happened a few minutes back that he had to bring himself back as Siya walked out, ready to go for the dance festival.

Raya took her hand and pressed it gently. It was his way of assuring her that he didn't mean to barge into her privacy and expose her this way. He silently said, "I am sorry, Siya." "It's fine, Raya. It happens." She replied by placing her other hand on his and pressing it similarly. Both assured each other that nothing significant had happened between them, and everything was normal.

He smiled and led her outside the doors, into the lane where a carriage was waiting for them to take them to the festival. She climbed into it after him and sat close to him. It was dark outside; the chilly breeze was blowing the carriage curtains gently sideways. She was almost resting her head on his shoulders with his hands in her arms. Raya could smell her hair, and he had to fight hard with himself not to kiss them with affection. His Siya was with him at that moment, sitting very close to him. Raya turned his neck and started looking outside.

When they reached the venue, Siya had already dozed off on his shoulder. Raya raised her chin and blew a breath, "shh Siya, get up; we are here," he whispered. She got up, startled, and smiled at him. They got down the carriage and walked towards the tent.

The tent was a small circular arrangement where the actors performed in the center and sat in the enclosure. The musicians sat in a corner, and high oil lamps were lit at each interval to give the perfect effect of the act. Siya was watching the dance drama for the first time. She was prompted by Raya continuously as he was explaining to her every nuisance. The theatre was fascinating for Raya. He repeated the dialogues with the actors and teased Siya in the process. She was amused to see Raya's involvement and watched him joyfully as he engaged with the actors.

The dance drama ended with a loud cheering crowd gathered around the actors holding them on their shoulders, hailing their names. Raya got up, went closer to the main actress, got down on his knees, and kissed her waist. She was expecting Raya would do this and lovingly layered her hands over his hair. He got up and then kissed her forehead. Siya was watching this and was surprised to see Raya behave in this way. She didn't react, but she found it weird.

After taking the actors' leave, as they walked together towards the carriage, Siya asked him playfully, "Raya, what was that between you and the dancer?" Raya looked at her, surprised, and raised his eyebrows," What?" "Nothing, the way you kissed her tummy, I found it weird." "Oh! You didn't like it?" He questioned. "No, I mean, I found it out of the way." She knew that she was caught and didn't find words to cover herself. Raya looked at her mischievously and laughed. "Are you jealous, Siya?" He asked. She was now red with embarrassment. She nodded shyly and looked at him. He pulled her closer to him and lifted her chin. He looked straight into her eyes and said intensely, "You needn't be.

He left her chin and walked towards the carriage. Siya stood there frozen with hair flying all over the skin. A jungle of butterflies all over her body. She was shivering with extremely comforting warmth inside and the cold outside." Raya," she sighed.

*****

The lust and love were growing like wild flames in a wild dry forest. The quest for knowing her and reaching out to her core was intense, and he had to make tremendous efforts to hold himself from imposing himself on her. He walked towards her room and knocked. The curtains were flowing in the gentle breeze. It was a similar dawn that he had met on the island beach. The night before, they had witnessed a similar storm, and it was still very dark outside.

"Siya, it's me. Open the door." He waited. Seconds seemed like hours. Soft knocks.. One, two, three. No response. He bit his lips and pushed the doors open impatiently to rush towards her bed. He wanted to grab her and embrace her, showering all the built-up pressure within him. "Siya," he called, squinting his eyes, looking at the figure lying on the floor. She laid there in the darkness with loose hair and messy clothes. Her body lay still without breathing near the window, which was flapping hard due to the strong breeze. The rainwater coming from the window had drenched her. Anxiously, Raya walked towards her to feel her. As he bent to touch her, he threw himself back as if electrocuted with thousands of currents. A shiver went down his spine at the sight. Beads of sweat gathered around his forehead as he observed," your legs are attached." They were no longer legs; it was a weird structure that resembled a tail, "yes a fishtail." There was a stench in the room which he distinctly identified as a fish smell. From a distance, he could see scales all over her body and two small gills on each side of her delicate cheeks. Reality struck him like lightning piercing deep within his soul; his Siya was the mermaid that folks around the town talked about and the stories of whom he had heard since his childhood.

She was the island beach mermaid who appeared into the human habitat once every fifty years, to live the life of a beautiful lady for a season and to return after taking away her kill, with her forever. Raya dropped to his knees, gasping for breath-holding his throat trying to release the strong force around them. His eyes popped out, and his tongue hung as he made his last attempt to struggle for his life. But, alas! The predator finally had made her kill. The mermaid found her way out only to return after fifty years.