Cold, that is the first thing Risha felt. Endless darkness, that is the only thing Risha saw. Confusion was the emotion Risha felt when she opened her eyes. Where on Earth is she?
"Oh, I'm not in Earth to begin with."
"Actually, you almost are."
Four words,enough to shake her. Noah is once again talking using telepathy.
"Goodness Noah!! Are you seriously trying to give me a heart attack? "
Noah laughed loudly. That was his response to Risha's question. He is standing not more than three steps away from Risha. His attire is same as before and he have that usual smile on his face. But something was different. His loud laughter earlier, it had life in it.
"Don't laugh! I demand an apology," Risha said stubbornly.
"Alright, I'm really sorry for scaring you. I didn't mean to. I just don't have much experience in talking without telepathy. I sincerely apologise. Please forgive me."
Noah sounded sincere and Risha wasn't too angry. She bit her lips, "Alright, I forgive you. But don't do it next time. Also what did you mean by we are almost on Earth? "
"We are only a few thousand kilometres far from reaching Earth's atmosphere. Last time I knocked you unconscious, you were so angry and disappointed you didn't get to see exactly how we time travelled. So this time I waited for you to wake up. You may witness us descending to Earth."
"Really?" Risha was extremely excited. And Noah, for the moment, he decided to let her be. It may seem weird that a girl who lost her family getting excited for something so small but it is actually quite natural. She was given hope that everything can be reversed, hope that she can save her family and have a 'happily ever after'. It was what enabled her to keep going. To protect her sanity, her brain was deliberately keeping her thoughts away from her family. Cruel as it is, it was her mental defence mechanism. No doubt her action was cowardly.
Actually, Arisha Haydar has always been a coward. She never tried to face the harsh reality, instead she always succumbed in rainbow bubbles. She is practically walking on thin air, so carefully. Because even in unconsciousness, every fibre of being knew a single wrong step can pop the bubble.
It has always been like this. Never once, was there an exception.
If not for that then why? She has long known that nothing was okay. Her perfect life was always flawed. Risha has never forgotten that yet even to herself, she will never admit it.
A child's cradle, a small baby is sleeping inside it. The baby was born a few weeks ago. It was Risha's baby brother. Seven years Risha had no idea what a brother is but she didn't care. She got a living doll,that's all that matters.
"This doll is named Shaon,"saying the sentence, she got confused. They haven't named the doll yet, so why is it that she knows it? What does the name even mean? And then,she had a thought. What is she doing here? Wasn't she about to land on Earth with Noah in the past? But who is Noah? And why would she go to the past and is that even possible? She thought hard but there wasn't a single word she could recall. She is just a seven years kid. So she forgot. But what did she forgot?
" Don't think so hard sweetie, you will get to know it in time."
The woman's voice was tje same one as the one she heard inside her head. It was this voice that asked her to call Noah. Again! Who is this Noah? And who is this woman? Risha didn't recall meeting her before. She looked at her face and it was even stranger. Clearly the woman had a face and she was seeing it yet even while seeing she couldn't really tell what it looks like.
"But Nila, I want to know now."
"Oh R----, you cannot have every answer just because you are stubborn"
"How mean!" Risha pouted.
"It is useless, girl. You cannot get any answer out of me until I decide it is time. And you have stayed here for so long. Time to go back to where you belong"
"But this is my ho..."
"Arisha!" Risha's eyes opened immediately. Noah's worried face is above hers, only a few inches of distance remain.
"Oh right, Noah. It's you." Risha is fully awake.She seems to have witnessed something but couldn't remember it.
"Maybe it wasn't important," she said yet a feeling of strong discomfort washes over her, "By the way, where are we? Weren't we going to.."
"You had a seizure."
"I had a sei..what?"
"Yes,no matter how I think, it is strange. You had a protection barrier and the door was closed. So you were not exposed to radiation. So how come..."
Beneath Noah's worried voice, there was a slight suspicion and a hint of anger. Risha blabbered without much thought, "H-how can I know when the great Noah doesn't? "
"Great?" Noah raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"What else if not great? You can use telepathy, can turn back time and even own a time capsule."
"That is nothing, with a few conditions attached, even someone like you can do those."
"Really, how?"
"Now that's business secret."
"Humph!"
Risha was overly annoyed so much that she almost wanted to show off her own time magic. Only at last moment did she remember Shaan's word of forbiddance.
"So where are we?"
"In the void, waiting for you to wake up so you can enjoy the portal traveling."
As soon as he said that, a bluish smoke swallowed them and threw her in hand ground. Of course it was Risha alone who lost her balance and fall. On the contrary, Noah's entrance was grand almost like a supervillain. He was calm amd elegant, a small mocking smile curved on his face.
"Ah I forgot to tell,the pull of gravity would be hard and unless prepared, one might fall."
"Thanks for your late warning," Risha gritted her teeth.
"Oh, you are welcome. Now let's move."
As Noah helped her stand, she looked around. She was dumbstruck. Earth? No way! Where is she?