In the morning sunlight, Viriya and Pannavo were sitting on chairs outside of their house. Ownad lay beside them and Ridhra was in a bucket of water, like yesterday.
Makriva had left for Parira Watchtower already; Dhrikita had stayed behind. She would go to her home bit later.
Pannavo wasn't sure if he would go to the watchtower that day or not, because Bhavakari was still not back.
Bhavakari didn't come home last night, because she wasn't at home, dad decided to talk about what happened at the University. He already knew what had happened there from the watchtower, but he wanted to listen directly from Viriya.
Viriya stayed mostly silent, but she did explain what happened at the University. The reason for her being silent was, first of all, she had acted a bit too spoiled and made the relationship with Makriva worse, and also because of the incident at the University.
When she explained the hand strength, dad told her to be careful about it and to be deliberate while doing anything. During that, dad was very composed, maybe a bit too much — he had most likely practiced that by now.
Viriya intentionally didn't mention the hand strength discrepancy, thinking that if dad already knew, he could have pointed it out.
Pannavo knew Viriya had a great amount of strength, and she could absolutely break a ribcage if she wanted to, but she was normally careful about how much strength she used. But in that emotionally heavy time she could have just been overwhelmed. It was almost like dad was making excuses for Viriya.
And Viriya had been using less strength while pushing, only using her right hand, but when she used her left hand, her CPR instinct kicked in and she pushed pretty hard.
Viriya — or actually Anish, avoided calling Pannavo "di" or "dad" in this conversation, but did so when it was necessary.
Also, among the conversation and from the memory flood before, Viriya picked up that Bhavakari wasn't actually a Parira, but she worked with them. She didn't have any formal title, so most people called her Thenra. According to dad, she shouldn't wrap herself in these situations now.
Apparently she had said she would stop working in a few months because she was pregnant, and later she would start again.
After a while of them talking, Viriya stayed alone — not alone; she stayed with Ownad. She did want to test her arm more, but also wanted to know about the tree, the tree with leaves made out of wishes.
She didn't want to ask directly. Especially not Bhavakari, Pannavo, or Makriva, knowing it could backfire in some way.
Viriya - Anish's main conflict then was maybe they already knew about the tree somehow? Or not.
Anish hadn't experienced anything like that from dream Viriya's memory flood. Was there any possibility that yesterday's memory flood could have been dream Viriya's? But the persona of yesterday had a male voice. Anish was almost sure that it wasn't Viriya, but didn't want to take any risks.
So, finding Dhrikita at home, she thought of asking her, but decided not to, at least not while she was at their home. Asking Dhrikita wasn't the first option because she was Makriva's partner, but she was only somewhat of an outsider there, and also familiar enough that she could answer without much problem.
So when Dhrikita was finally leaving their house, Viriya made an excuse of walking the pets to go out with her.
Dad stayed alone at the house, and Viriya and Dhrikita both went out.
For a while not much talking happened, just simple questions and answers back and forth, which Viriya mostly answered shortly.
After passing through a relatively crowded path with concrete buildings on both sides, the place became somewhat empty. Ownad was at her side and Ridhra was on Dhrikita.
Viriya was supposed to walk back from there, but before that, acting casual, Viriya asked, "Professor Shokre talked about a tree with leaves made out of wishes. Is that...?"
Viriya hadn't wanted to bring up the Professor in this conversation, but she didn't know what Dhrikita knew about it. So she asked an open-ended question.
Dhrikita, hearing that, replied, "What? The imaginary tree? Now don't try to run behind that."
After saying that she stopped for a bit, with slightly widened eyes, composing herself very quickly, then continued, "Yesterday wasn't good, I know. Want to undo yesterday completely? Or the last few days?"
Viriya was surprised hearing that. The tone of Dhrikita was normal, but the last questions — those might have been a bit accusatory. Maybe a little anger towards Viriya because of her memory loss acting?
Viriya just wanted to say something, but only murmured, "Wh— wh? Ahh..? Maybe, but..?"
"Yes, don't run behind those things, you won't get any actual peace from that. Even if it was there," Dhrikita replied with a sigh, fixing her trench coat a little.
Viriya didn't reply, it was more like didn't know what to reply to that.
Dhrikita then walked towards Viriya and said, "It's past for a reason. You can't change it." Her voice had been calm before, but now it seemed even calmer than before.
Coming closer to Viriya she said, "Everyone makes mistakes. Just don't try to repeat them. Everything might be better. Or not.
Makriva, he was. He will come around, don't worry."
Dhrikita could have thought Viriya was asking about the tree because of Makriva or the situation yesterday. Some of that was true, but it had vastly different reasons.
Dhrikita then told Viriya to go back safely, and she started walking forward again.
Viriya then asked, "What if it wasn't anyone's mistake?"
Dhrikita looked back and, after looking at Viriya for a bit, said, "Then, then just — do whatever you think is right, not what anyone else says.
'Try to help yourself and others, it's the good thing to do.' I think everyone should do this, but everyone won't."
Then, looking at Viriya, she started walking again.
Viriya didn't really get any information from that, just that the tree might exist. And all the other motivational things Dhrikita said were good, maybe relevant — but weren't too much for Viriya right then.
She had thought of asking about how Dhrikita, who worked with the Pariras or Police, could think like this. Not wanting to stir the pot even more, Viriya didn't.
Walking back, she decided she would ask Maam Khanti about the tree, if she could say anything. Viriya did remember fragments of how she could transfer a letter — something with burning it, which was faster, and there was normal hand delivery.
A little while later she heard Dhrikita calling for her. She was shouting Viriya's name. Looking back, Dhrikita was running towards her.
Viriya wondered what it could be. When Dhrikita was closer, Viriya noticed Ridhra was still with Dhrikita, sleeping. Coming closer, Dhrikita took Ridhra off her shoulder and put her on Viriya's, and Ridhra just kept sleeping.
Ownad barked towards Ridhra, maybe trying to wake her up? Only Ownad knew. And was that the first bark Viriya had noticed in the last few days? Or had she just missed them? Viriya thought, hearing Ownad barking.
Dhrikita went back towards her house again, and Viriya started walking back towards their house.
On the way she contemplated going to the University — maybe asking someone else there would be better? But thinking about the situation from yesterday, she decided not to. She would get to know the situation at the University at home, from Bhavakari, and then maybe later she would go there.
With Ownad and Ridhra she contemplated going to a nearly empty field nearby. Mainly so she could test her arms more, but with the pets she was a little uncomfortable? Worried? She wasn't sure. But in the end she went downwards towards the field.
While going down she also thought of the killers who had killed Viriya initially, or tried to kill? Viriya didn't have the full picture then, or now. But because this place was far from Ramarana, she was less worried about that. It wasn't like she got the time to worry about any of those from the start she got there.
When she reached the field she found out, it wasn't empty, two men and three women eating something from a metallic container. They had long shirt-like cloth which was tied at the waist with some different fabric.
Near them there were some grains — not grains, crops were laying in bundles.
It sure was kind of an awkward moment for her, but she didn't let that reflect outwards. She stayed at the side looking at the cut down crops laying on the field. And some machine, maybe somewhat looking like a saw?
The people there sometimes looked towards Viriya, but didn't say anything.
After the people there were done eating, Viriya went towards them and asked, "What are you doing?"
One lady there looked at Viriya like she was saying what do you think we are doing? Isn't it obvious?
A man there replied, "Bringing those bundles to the front, for the pick up."
The woman from before had already gone towards the farmland.
Viriya had already guessed that was the case, she asked that to start the conversation at least, after hearing the answer she asked, "Oh good, do you mind if I help?"
Viriya asked that because she did want to test her arm, but testing in front of a bunch of people was kind of weird, and while the people were already doing heavy labour, it was a good chance to test her arm and also help someone. As someone said.
The man with a smile said, "Sure? But will you work in those clothes?"
Yesterday she had tried wearing a little flowy cloth of Viriya's, but it was awkward for her. She had worn clothes given by Kavith today, just not the capelet.
After thinking a little she shrugged and said, "It is what it is..."
Another woman there said with a rough voice, "Sure, come on. Faster for us. Just get those. Bring those here," pointing towards the pile near where they were standing.
The first man there said, "Come on then."
Other than them everyone else was already in the field. After settling Ownad where they were standing, and keeping Ridhra, who was awake by now, on Ownad, she followed the men into the field.
The third man from there was standing near the piles. He was helping others to balance it properly on their head. All of them had a rough torn piece of cloth wrapped on their head.
After going closer, the earthy-musty smell grew stronger. The place was kind of muddy, balancing was a little harder, but manageable.
After observing them for a while Viriya rolled and wrapped her baggy pants around her calves. And went closer to the third man. He was about to put a pile on Viriya's head, but seeing nothing was there he stopped and gave her his own fabric from his waist. He set that up on Viriya's head. Viriya saw others there talking, but he didn't talk once.
After putting the pile of sorghum bundles, or what it seemed like, on Viriya's head, it was a little hard for her to balance at first. Seeing her wobble, the first man said to her, "Be safe, it's heavy."
"Yes, sure, it's just a bit awkward," saying that Viriya kind of took the full load in both her hands, it was touching her head, but it was more as support than anything. At first both hands seemed similar, until she thought of using more force or strength. As soon as she thought of that, it was like she was holding the whole thing with one hand, her head and right hand were like supporting the bundle.
Of course the man there didn't know that Viriya was a Daitya, so it was a normal reaction for him.
But hearing that, Viriya thought about how the people at Ramarana understood that Viriya was a Daitya. It clicked that they healed Viriya using voodoo, so they must have their way.
Then she followed others outside and dropped those like everyone else there.
After that it wasn't much of a problem, it went in a flow. Sometimes Viriya took some bundles by herself, sometimes helped the third man there. At first her pace was obviously slow, but it was slower, but similar to the people there.
Before evening, all of the bundles from the farm hadn't been taken to the front. And behind there, many plants were still standing, which were sorghum-like but also covered in thin translucent looking leaves, or something else.
They hadn't purposefully carried all of them forward, just a specific amount. Which would be taken that day.
And the lady who had given Viriya a side eye at the start was the most talkative with her at the end.
Ownad stayed near where he was, but Ridhra — Ridhra was just soaked in mud by now.
The lady asked about Ridhra, like what it was, when Viriya was about to go. Viriya replied that it was her brother's, she wasn't completely sure, but it was something similar to an S-lizard. Snake-lizard.
The S-lizard slipped out from her, remembering Kratshi saying that at the train stand.
The lady invited Viriya back to come the next day. Viriya just replied, "Will see."
Viriya this time didn't take Ridhra on her shoulder, Ridhra just glided and walked along them.
It was late, not sure what the reaction would be at home, hopefully nothing major.
While working on the field, she now understood her arm better. The left arm specifically.
The theory was because he was in Viriya's body, it had somehow weakened one hand or strengthened another.
The strength wasn't in her whole hand, not the palm. Mainly in the arm, forearm. And it wasn't strongest all the time. It was stronger than the right arm normally, but mainly just when it was intended.
And after using that intended strength she felt exhausted much faster than without using it.
These were the main things she could think of while walking home. She still had her pants folded up, and they had still gotten dirty, as well as her nice shirt from Kavith.
After reaching home Viriya first washed Ridhra off outside, with a bit too much struggle, because she was already pretty dirty. Bhavakari was home by then and Pannavo had left for the Parira Watchtower. According to Bhavakari he would return late.
Viriya explained why she was so late to return home. Bhavakari accepted the explanation without any problem. Her behaviour was softer towards Viriya then. Most likely because of the incident yesterday. And thankfully she didn't bring up any of that. Viriya thought that most likely Bhavakari had gotten her answers from Pannavo. Viriya and Bhavakari had talked in the morning about the incident, not in too much detail, but yes, many questions.
After washing Ridhra, and before going inside to take a bath, she called Bhavakari, who was inside. After coming out Bhavakari asked, "What?"
Viriya then wanted to say something, which kind of got stuck in her throat, and her eyes watered — it could have been original Viriya's emotions or maybe it was Anish's own, he wasn't sure. With a broken normal voice she said, "Sorry.
I am sorry, for yesterday.
Sorry for everything."