THE FINAL BREATH

The old woman smirked and went back into the carriage so did the rest of them and drove away.

"It is your lucky day" the soldiers said and went away and soon the crowd dispersed too leaving the girl alone.

Gagansahu ran upto her and tried to help her. But she didn't move. He realised that she is still breathing. So he took here into his arms and looked around for help. But the once swamped place was now deserted and he couldn't find a single person. So he carried her and started walking out of the town until he reached the outskirts. There he enterd the forest and started looking for a shade. The scorching sun and the weight in his hands are making him thirsty and weak but he was determined to save the woman. So he kept on going until he heard a small rustle. He observed closely and realised that it might be some water body so he rushed towards it. And soon enough he found himself in infront of a big waterfall in the midst of a mountain. The water on the ground looked so clear and pure that one can see the entire marine nature underneath. So he slowly walked towards it and laid her down by the shade and went to bring some water.

He bent in and washed his face then he took out his tiny bottle from his travel kit and filled it with water. After drinking to his hearts content, he refilled it and turned back to walk towards the woman. But she is no where to be found. He searched all over the place for her but in vain. After a few hrs of searching, he realised the sun is going down and that he should find her as soon as possible as there is no way that she herself could walk in that condition. And the thought of something happening to her somehow made him really really sick to his stomach. So he started running around like crazy when he came across a hut. He barged in searching every nook and corner and came out of the hut through the back door. He realised the stream from the waterfall flowed through the back of this hut and suddenly he heard a cough. He turned around and was both shocked and relieved to see the woman there. She was lying on the grass beside the stream right by the fire. He ran towards her. She could barely open her eyes. He went and helped her be comfortable and gave her the water.

"How did you come here.! I was so worried" he said

The woman slowly opened her eyes and looked at him and smiled heavily.

"Don't worry! You are going to be ok!" he said

She just kept smiling.

"You seem to be very capable of budging your nose in every trouble possible" he turned back to the voice saying this. It was the girl who disappeared in the crowded place.

"You!" he gasped

"I know!" she sighed

"I am the same as you. Cant keep my hands out of trouble" she said sitting down while handing him a big plate full of fruits.

Gagansahu just stared back and forth at that girl and the woman. "Do you two know each other?" he asked the girl.

"Amira" she said

"what?" he asked

"I am Amira! You are?" she replied

"You seriously cannot answer one question straight can you?" he said

She raised her right eyebrow and looked at him funnily.

"Alright! Am Gagansahu" he introduced himself

"Huh! what a casual name!" she said haughtily

"You! None of your business" he became defensive.

"You are cute" she said and he blushed no matter how hard he tried to control

Meanwhile the woman groaned in pain and both of them looked at her anxiously.The girl leaned in looked into the womans eyes with a worried expression. She turned away and went back inside and didn't come out. Gagansahu just held the womans' hand and tried to comfort her. But he could sense her body getting colder by the minute. He wondered if there is anything he could do to help her. As he looked at her, he couldn't help but think if she came from a noble house.

"She might have had a decent life. I wonder what her story was" said Gagan to himself.

She slowly turned to his side and muttered forcefully "Thankyou Olly" at which he turned around bewildered as to how she knew his nick name. But before he could ask her she slowly closed her eyes and never opened them again. "Hey! Hey lady! Open your eyes..Hey!" he started yelling at her but in vain . Meanwhile hearing these sounds amira came out and walked towards him. She sat on her knees and said " Calm down..the puppet is free now from all the threads" at which he looked at her sadly.

It was already dark by then so they waited out until the next morning and they cremated her body near the stream and gagan carved a stone and it read.. "The woodland mermaid rests here"

Amira and gagan both stood infront of the stone and prayed. All the while one thing running in his mind. "How does she know my name..only a very close knit group of people in my family knew it."

"The woodland mermaid?" His thoughts were interrupted when Amira curiously asked him.

"I don't know..i just coudnt for some reason think of anything else. Only this keeps popping up in my head." He replied and turned aside but she is no where to be found.