THE VISIT TO OLD MAN HAWM; THE PROPHECY {1}

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'Sayee what's wrong?' Hetul asked. Sayee was lost in thought, she did not hear when Hetul asked about her. 'Sayee!' Carmella exclaimed bringing Sayee back to the normal world. 'Are you ok?' Carmella asked. 'Nothing' Sayee replied downcast. 'You do not look fine to me' Hetul replied. 'It's your sister, she might be in danger, I am worried sick about her' Sayee said. 'Sayee, you told us not to worry right, now why are you worrying? please do not make my sister's sacrifice to go in vain, please' Carmella said.

'You are right, but we need to do something about your leg, it's getting swollen by the minute' Sayee said. 'I know but I do not know what to do about the fucking leg' Carmella said. 'I think I know what to do, I just need some Malisa leaves and a few drops from the River of souls to make her feel better' Hetul said. 'Ok, right after those Rutishi trees are the Malisa trees then down over the hill is the River of souls waterfall' Sayee described. 'So let's go, what are we waiting for?' Carmella asked. 'Anything to make you feel better' Hetul replied and carried her.

'I hope my sister is fine' Carmella said. 'Nothing will happen to her she will be fine' Hetul replied. 'I hope so too, I hope her father does not do something that he will regret' Sayee said. 'But what if he forgives her and lets her go?' Hetul asked. Immediately Sayee and Carmella said 'Not King Caesar'. 'Why? I mean she is his daughter for all I know' Hetul replied. 'Someone who tried to kill him' Sayee said. 'But it was not intentional, she did not do it on purpose' Carmella said. 'Ya right like King Caesar would want to listen to that bullshit' Sayee said.

FEW MINUTES LATER....

'We have arrived at the Malisa tree' Sayee said. Hetul dropped Carmella slowly and gently. Hetul went further to climb the tree and plucked it's already bloomed leaf, he climbed down and put the leaf in his bag. 'I got the leaf' Hetul said. 'Now to the water fall' Sayee said. Hetul lifted Carmella again up into his arms. They walked gradually to the water fall which was in opposite direction. There was a lot of thoughts wondering through Sayee's head that she could not endure. Soon they reached the waterfall which was rushing more than ever this time of the season.

'Go on, put the leaf and collect the damn water' Sayee said. The waterfall is located just over there, Hetul said. If you place the leaf in the stream, you can collect the water. Why does it require time? Hetul smiled and said, "It does require time." "Why? The waterfall is right there. Just place the leaf in the stream and collect the water," Sayee replied.

"Why do we need time?" Carmella asked. "We need time because the water waits until summer before an ice is broken," Hetul replied. "The water needs time to warm up. If the ice is broken before the water has warmed up, it will just freeze again." When are we going to collect the water? Sayee inquired of Carmella and Hetul. Carmella replied, "We need to collect the water and place it in the leaf." "Do you think you can perform this task, Hetul?"

In 10 seconds the water will be frozen solid, Hetul informed Sayee and Carmella. "We can then gather the ice and cast it into the fire to melt it and combine it with the new water of the season." He smiled at them as he spoke. "The ice will cool the water, and the new water will mix with the old water to form the water of the season. And so the cycle of the seasons will begin anew."

Carmella stood on the bank of the river, watching the waterfall roar and the water rush past. She could feel the spray on her face and knew that the river was cold and fast-moving. She was waiting for something to happen, but she didn't know what. Then she heard a voice behind her. "Okay," it said. Carmella turned to see who had spoken, and then the countdown began: 3, 2, 1. The waterfall stopped rushing, and ice started forming on the surface of the river. Immediately, a leaf was thrown into the river.

Carmella asked, "So when do we collect the leaf? I'm ready to go." She shivered as the wind whipped around her, and the water iced over. "It's going to be a cold night," she said as she pulled her coat tighter around her. The leaf, which had been floating on the surface of the water, disappeared beneath the ice. "In twelve minutes," Hetul responded. "Twelve minutes?" Sayee asked, incredulous. "Do you mean that we must wait twelve minutes for the ice to melt?" "Yes," Hetul replied. "But why?" Sayee asked. "Because it will take that long," Hetul explained. "The ice is too thick to melt any faster."

I will do everything in my power to ensure that your leg heals, Carmella. I would wait twelve years, or even longer, if that is what it would take. I would wait forever, if that is what it would take. I would wait a lifetime, if that is what it would take. I would wait as long as necessary, no matter how long it is. 

Before he passed, Kumajal told me that if I didn't listen to him, I would regret it for the rest of my life. When I heard those words, I was shocked. I couldn't imagine what he meant. But now I understand. What he said was exactly what happened. I have never heard of him before. Who is this Kumajal person? Carmella asked, a puzzled expression on her face.

As Sayee spoke, her voice trembled. "He was my lover," she said, "and the only man who ever demonstrated to me the true meaning and definition of love. I will always cherish the memories of our time together."