"Light,I'm scared. What if I cannot actually gain vision? What if it's all a dream?"
"Don't be, everything is going to be alright. If it is indeed a dream, I will never let you wake up."
As soon as she felt that cold embrace, Diya instantly relaxed. Light is her solace, her defence, her strength, her source of warmth. He is her imagination yet he is also her miracle. Everything Light says miraculously becomes true. She didn't know when it exactly started, but everything has changed gradually. Her father, the uncaring man whose voice she rarely heard once a month and even that one time would be the result of her continuous tantrum and blackmail, that very man has suddenly become a loving father. It was absurd. One morning, he suddenly came to her room and apologised earnestly to her for his previous indifference. He literally sobbed for an hour hugging Diya and swore he will never neglect her again. At first, Diya thought he was pretending for some purpose and will soon become indifferent again but it has already been three months. He visits her before going to work, he calls her from work at least three or four times and they have dinner together. He sometimes even tells her bedtime stories. She is 16 and it is really embarrassing but she also secretly enjoys it, the feeling of being loved. He also took her to an eye specialist and now she can hope of seeing the world for real. It is almost like a dream. And everytime she fears that it would break and she would wake up to face the harsh reality, she finds confirmation from her imagination, from Light. Although she no longer can say that Light is her imagination. How can an imagination help her eat or bring her doll from the closet? She has asked Light about it. He said he was a guardian angel formed from her desperate wish, it is absurd but what else can explain his existance?
"May I come in?"
"Yes,sure."
The one who came in was a middle-aged woman called Salma. She is Diya's caretaker. Even just a few months ago,she didn't raise a finger even when Diya was crying for water and now she has become so attentive like she cannot bear to see Diya having the slightest discomfort. She didn't verbally asked to be forgiven but she has always shown it in her efforts. Diya's anger wasn't really directed at them so she didn't really care. As long as she is treated properly, she was okay.
Salma handed her a glass of warm milk.
"Drink slowly, Mz.Diya. Please don't burn yourself."
"Hey aunt Salma. It is almost always you who come to help me where are the others?"
"The others?"
"Yes,the Lyla girl who always called me a burden and her mother who never cleaned my room despite being a cleaner and others, where are they?"
"They are...were...took vac...I mean they were fired by your father for neglecting you."
Diya was happy. All baddies got their punishment, what a nice ending. She didn't really hear the muffled cry.
It was Salma. She just couldn't stop her tears from falling yet she is not in a position to cry, not in front of her. Last few months was pure hell. It was so cruel that she was left traumatised.
It was an ordinary day. Nothing different from any other day, the unwanted lady of the house throwing a tantrum, they ignoring and silently enjoying bullying her. She was thinking of taking some money from Diya's closet. There was nothing wrong with it. It wasn't stealing. She was just compensating herself for the emotional damage she never suffered. Everything was fine. The crazy lady stopped talking to herself and slept. But the moment she enter the room she froze immediately. What was that thing? She can never explain. A bundle of black? Darkness?
But one thing's for sure. The things covering Diya was anything but human. Salma's first reaction was to scream. But she couldn't, it was as if someone had sealed her mouth shut.
'Try doing that a second time and I will be feeding you your vocal cord.'
A cold chilling voice echoed in her mind. No doubt, that thing had said it. She wanted to know what that hideous thing wanted from her and it answered.
'Call every single being in this house in the hallroom. Tell them they will be tried for the sins they have committed. Also disobeying or trying to escape will kill them instantly. '
That day including Lyla and her mom, 13 workers had died escaping. At first some did not believe her and got killed under the pretext of disobeying. Then some died for attempting to flee. As for the rest, they have lived to wish for death. But the right has been taken away. Without the self-proclaimed Light's permission, they cannot even die. Every moment, they are expised to countless sufferings and the only moment of solace is when they are in front of Diya. Most of them tried to vent their anger on Diya and now they suffer endlessly without a chance to repent. They continue to live yet it is worse than death, they look scarier than zombies. Only Salma who managed to please Diya is sometimes released from pain.So she butters her up without using flattery. She knows if Diya is evil slightly annoyed from their overly good behaviour, another hell will be unleashed upon them. Diya's father is greeting example for that.
Salma figured that Light thing has only one soft corner and that is Diya. But why? Can in human things feel emotions? Not that it matters. Managing to stay painless is what matters,the only goal of life.
Ironic! The one bystander enjoying Diya's agony is now dying to please her to ease her own agony. Maybe this is what karma is. Karma is Light.