To Yearn for a Family

Standing before Ahanlem in the midst of the bustling market, was a very tall young man. His handsome face was staring at her, looking kind of displeased, with his dark brows furrowed slightly and his clear cut lips pursed in displeasure. Other than that, he appeared fine as always dressed in a tan brown coloured robes. He was Prince Lamyanba of the Ningthouja house.

For a minute, Ahanlem was utterly confused as well as surprised. Why is here? And why does the prince looked angry at her? Did she do anything wrong?

"You have kept me waiting for a long time, boy." The prince said in a cool tone.

At his words, Ahanlem finally remembered. She had made an appointment with him to meet last Friday and she had completely forgotten about it.

"Ah, my lord...I'm sorry!" she immediately apologised.

"Hm, it's alright now that you're here. Let's go." He said.

And before Ahanlem had any chance to protest, she was pulled by her hand and dragged to a little house located at the far end of the street and then, she was brought right into the kitchen room.

"..."

"..."

"Um, my lord, I have something to say..." Ahanlem uttered carefully, looking away from the heap of fresh ingredients laid before her.

The prince standing right besides her, looked down at her and said, "What is it? Are some of the ingredients missing? I told my servant to get all of them that I possibly recalled from that last time. Tell me, if there is any other item missing."

"..."

Ahanlem was about to refused him, saying that she won't be able to cook it today. But seeing the prince's excited face, she didn't have the heart to reject him. Actually, she didn't think she could refuse a nobleman's order anyway. So, she decided to cook after all. And besides, she thought she might need this distraction after that crazy antics she had earlier. It would be good to calm down awhile.

She smiled weakly and told the prince, "No, it is alright. I think everything here is enough."

Soon, she started cooking. At first, she steamed the rice perfectly and then prepared the chicken stew after. She even roasted some chicken pieces with salt, chilli flakes and few other spices. She also boiled and mashed a few ripe tomatoes to make an acidic sauce and squeezed some drops from the lemons she plucked from the lemon tree growing in front of the cottage.

After the dishes were finished, Ahanlem brought it out onto the veranda where the prince was sitting. He had been reading from a stack of pamphlets rather ostensibly. When the aromatic meal was laid out on a table before him, he stated casually, "So, it's done."

Ahanlem can't help but be amused. He had been eagerly waiting all these while, secretly peeking into the kitchen room like she wouldn't notice.

After she laid his meal properly, she sat away from him. The prince asked her, "Are you not eating?"

"No, my lord. I'm not hungry." She answered.

"Is it because you mind my status? It's alright, we are alone."

"Ah, I don't feel like eating that's all. Eat up please while it's hot." Ahanlem told him.

"Join me. I don't like eating alone." He insisted.

So, Ahanlem took a little amount for her share from the kitchen and ate alongside him quietly. She watched as the prince savoured every morsel like he hadn't eaten for days. Watching him eat and enjoy the food, Ahanlem was reminded of Tomba and became depressed.

After the prince was finished, he cleaned his mouth with a handkerchief and said, "It is not as good like last time but those roasted spicy chicken and that odd tomato dish made up for it."

"Thank you, my lord."

"Really, how do you come up with these new recipes that I have never known. Are you secretly a chef?" He asked her, his eyes almost glinting in curiosity.

"Ah, nothing like that my lord. It's just, um, I like to try out and create new things, that's all." She lied as she laughed awkwardly. No way, she can tell him they are foreign recipes from the future.

"Well, you are quiet the talent either way." He said as he got up and stepped outside. Ahanlem followed him, both of them stood underneath the rich green lemon tree.

Ahanlem began softly, "My lord, I'm grateful for our meeting today but I must go now."

"So soon." He said arching his brows. "Alright, let me reward you for today and you can go." He added reaching for his money pouch.

Ahanlem shook her head and said rather hurriedly, "No need, I will not take it, my lord."

The prince looked at her skeptically and said, "Are you sure? Didn't you say your brother was in trouble last time? Some money will help, so better take it."

At the mention of Tomba all of a sudden, as well his words, Ahanlem's tears burst out of nowhere. It broke like a dam and flowed down her face like anything. It all happened so fast, she tried to stop herself, wiping her tears away shamefully but she had lost control. She couldn't stop her tears, neither the whimpers escaping her throat helplessly. So, she just bawled ugly besides him, under the lemon tree.

The prince was utterly surprised. Feeling and looking troubled, he gently touched the crying person's dainty shoulder and said slowly,

"Ahanlem, what's the matter?"

Ahanlem wanted to answer him that it was nothing but she failed and kept crying. The prince more than confused what to do, made her sit her down and just let her cry instead.

Ahanlem cried for a good while then finally stopped and blurted between her last sobs, "It's nothing, my lord. Sorry, you had to see this..."

The prince sighed and said in a tone like he was talking to a child, "It can't be nothing, if you cried so hard like that."

"Come on tell me. I may be able to help." He added meeting her puffy red eyes with his bright dark ones.

Ahanlem was silent for a bit. But the hope at the tempting offer of help from a noble and influencing persona like him made her caved and she spilled out everything at last. She told him from beginning to end about the unfortunate incident, how it all happened with the troupe coming to town and then suddenly Tomba, her brother was unluckily made the culprit by force. The prince listened genuinely to her words, he even asked her a few questions to which she answered properly.

When she finished, Prince Lamyanba, handsome and thoughtful said to her, "When I heard that Nongbal troupe master was murdered in Chengmei and when you arrived and told me your brother was in trouble I had a little suspicion but I didn't think it was true honestly."

"My brother is simpleton. He could have never done such a thing but-" Ahanlem said feeling aggrieved thinking about it.

"Ah, don't worry, Ahanlem. Let me see what I can I do." The prince said.

"My lord, do you have any idea who might be the real murderer?"

"Yes, and I have a guess where the person may be right now."

"Eh?" Ahanlem was taken aback. She had actually asked the question without much thought because she thought he was just trying to comfort her from crying any further.

The noble prince continued, "Ahanlem take the leftover food, go to your brother and sleep properly tonight." Then, he walked towards the entrance where his dark clad companion from that last time had appeared suddenly.

"Well, then. See you tomorrow."

The prince bid her farewell as he took the reins of his dark reddish horse brought by the other man.

Ahanlem was completely puzzled but she went inside the house to get the leftover from the kitchen anyway.

Meanwhile, the prince got on his horse and said, "Let's go."

"Where to, master?" the other man asked as he also got on his own steed.

"To Kongthal." The prince said as he commanded and rode away first.

-

It was night by the time Ahanlem arrived at Tomba's cell. She took out the leftover rice and dishes and laid them out. As it was his last night, the family member was allowed to be together under the supervision of guards.

They both noticed each other's swollen eyes but didn't say a word. They ate quietly instead under the dim lights of the hung up torches on the grim looking walls.

Either of them could barely taste the food they were eating, it felt bland and cold, while big fat of tears dropped onto the dishes. The food almost choked in their throats between their sobs and it was hard to swallow even with the water.

After they finished eating painfully, Ahanlem was cleaning up when Tomba began softly,

"Ahanlem, when you go back home, please look after Sana and Lembi for me..."

"...And the field work, if it gets too rough for you alone, Chaoba and Naoba will help you. They agreed to do it anytime."

"A-and if you, decide to go back to your real home... You can give my land and house to Chaoba and Naoba, until then everything is yours Ahanlem..."

"..."

Ahanlem didn't answer him any of them, she couldn't answer and agree to any of his words. Instead, she put her strength to fight her anger and sadness. Both of them felt asleep crying silently. And it was the first time they slept close to each other.

Yellow rays of daylight seeped through the holes and filled the space inside. Ahanlem was already awake for a while, she blinked open her tired eyes and saw Tomba sleeping soundly. She also saw the guards sleeping deeply and somehow the entrance way was wide open.

Realizing something, she felt wide awake and swiftly turned to Tomba.

"Tomba! Wake up! Let's get out of here now!" she whispered desperately beside his ears.

"Let's escape together to somewhere, anywhere! Come on Tomba!" she continued while checking on the slumbering guards.

"What?" Tomba said looking confused. He was awake now.

"Listen, we will run away together, look!" Ahanlem said gesturing towards the entrance way. "This is our only chance!" she added looking urgent.

Tomba furrowed his thin brows and said quietly, "Ahanlem, what are you saying?"

"Let's run!" Ahanlem almost hissed desperately.

Tomba tilted his head and saw one of the guards waking up groggily, he laughed lightly, then with a sheepish smile on his tear stained face, said firmly,

"No, we will not. Both of us will get killed."

"No, Tomba, it's our chance!" Ahanlem started to cry weakly.

Seeing Ahanlem like this, Tomba said with a tender look,

"Ahanlem, even if I'm gone, I can leave at peace knowing you will be there, taking care of everything for me..."

He continued gently, "Even though, we became close, you are still so secretive. You don't talk much, you say nothing about your real home or family to me or anyone. But you are always there for me, ever since you came to my home. You also cooked delicious meals for me, help me in every way, care for me and even comes to save my life all those times. Ahanlem, you are a brother, a family I always yearned for and wanted. So, I was very happy when we lived together, went through so much together in this short time..."

"When I was young, my grandfather who had promised to buy me a kite but lied and never came back home. I waited and waited for days and nights alone without sleeping, I was sad and worried but I had no one to tell. And one day as I grew up, I knew he was gone and never coming home. I cried and since then I swear I will always live alone. But I dreamt secretly in my heart that I would have a family soon, someday and then you came so suddenly. And I was happy, very happy.

Therefore, Ahanlem I want you to live for me. For my sake. And soon enough, you will too, have a family just like I did with you."

Tomba said with a soft smile as a glistening tear slid down his bruised cheeks.

Ahanlem wept silently hearing his sincere words. She made up her mind to confess the truth about her real home as well as everything. But suddenly, a bell rang loud in the air and four officers barged in the jail room.

"It's time." One of them said as the others separated and dragged them both out savagely. They were brought all the way to the public ground of the market square where a crowd was already gathered. One of the men, finally tore Ahanlem away from Tomba and separated them.

"Let go! Tomba!" She shouted hoarsely as she fought with the officials desperately.

"Ahanlem, it's okay! Remember what I said, live for me!" Tomba shouted with hot tears streaming down his pale face as he was violently pulled away.

In the centre of the public ground, a tall and looming man dressed in black stood with a sharp, long blade in hand waiting. He was the executioner. Another man dressed in official robe came out, he was the man-in-charge of the execution.

He announced in a loud and clear voice before the viewing citizens,

"Today, we are gathered to commence the public execution of the murderer, Yumnam Tomba, who had brutally killed the master of the renown and respected Nongbal Shumang Leela Lup, Maibam Nongbal!"

The official in charge dutifully started informing aloud, the details and severity associated with the crime, stirring the shock and anger of the audience present.

He concluded at last, "On behalf of Our Majesty, the execution today shall be a warning to all of the people in the kingdom! That a severe punishment which awaits anyone, who may foolishly commit such an atrocious crime in the near future, is beheading!"

The man finally turned to the executioner and ordered, "Begin!"

The executioner as ordered, lifted the long sharp blade that gleamed in the light, high over his head. Tomba shut his tearful eyes tightly as his body was pressed down by two strong men while Ahanlem watched wide eyed in fear and terror.

But the blade never came down.

Because all of a sudden, a loud bell rang and an official attendant of the palace stood and raised his hand as he shouted,

"I, a humble servant of the king comes to bear an urgent message!

His Imperial Majesty has ordered the accused, Yumnam Tomba to be released and brought to the trial room immediately!"