Chapter 13: Community Service
Inaya started her work at the orphanage. She remembered everything Yan had advised her about when he followed her took her time.
1. Never cry or get angry in front of humans.
2. Never get into trouble
3. Never get drunk and reveal the identity.
These were the top three rules and Inaya decided to religiously follow it.
She watched the kids play, eat, and be taken to school, often visited by families who would like to adopt but leave feeling dissatisfied by the way they look or speak. They were not living much of a happy life.
"Why are you working here?" A little boy asked her.
"Because I want to help," Inaya did not want to go into explaining the actual reason.
"Are you also not wanted by others like us?" He meant ask whether she was an orphan like him. Inaya put the broom down and sat down. She looked at him. There was dirt on his face from playing out in the mud. She lightly pinched his cheek. "We are all loved, but in a different way. Maybe we don't know who, but there are people who love us and help us," she said. Inaya then searched her pocket and handed a chocolate she had with her to the little boy.
Inaya felt bad for the children who grew up without getting the affection of their parents. She felt lucky to have received love at home. "I wish they are showered with love," she thought, looking at the children playing in the ground. Only one hour was alloted to them as play time, and children do all sorts of things in that short time.
"Inaya," a sister came searching for her.
"Yes, sister," she answered.
"Mother Superior Mariya is looking for you," Inaya was informed.
'Why?' Inaya wondered. She followed the sister who came for her and waited outside qn office room.
"Inaya, come in," a voice called her.
"Yes," Inaya opened the door and walked in.
"Sit down," Mother Superior told her. She was the head nun who has dedicated her life to service and God. And she appears to control the whole orphanage. "I was informed about the arrival of a new helper sent by the government. Just wanted to have a quick meeting," she spoke politely but had that authoritative nature hidden in the tone. "I heard you are an orphan too," Inaya began to hear those words uttered by others.
"Yes, unfortunately," Inaya said and stopped.
"Why don't you join us, start as a postulant, and then choose your divine path?" Mother Superior Mariya asked her. Inaya remembered well what she was told in the hospital.
"No, thank you. I'm fine living on my own," she said immediately, rejecting the idea of living in the convent.
"Oh my, look how quick you are to deny the offer," Mother Mariya was surprised.
"I'm sorry, I have no interest, to choose this path you are suggesting," being well aware of selling her soul for sorcery, Inaya did not wish to become a nun, a religious person, who would have to preach everyday.
"Such an audacity," Mother Mariya did not like what she heard and stopped being polite. "Go, go," the smile completely disappeared. "Nobody is begging you to be here. Wanted to protect you from the dangers in God's way, but you seem to be fine and do not want the care and prayers," Mother Mariya went on.
"I'm sorry if I offended you anyway," Inaya apologised and left the room.
As soon as she returned, she found someone waiting for her.
"How is the work progressing?" Officer Yan smiled at Inaya.
"Officer Yan," Inaya was surprised. He was the last person she was expecting to meet.
"Don't tell me," she narrowed her eyes.
"I was pretty shook the other day to find someone who is little more than a human," Officer Yan whispered. "So I thought I would pay a visit and see if things are under control," Inaya laughed. It was the first time she laughed in a while. For some strange reason, she felt safe after so long. She looked at Officer Yan gratefully.
"Thank you," she said.
"Tell me how the work is progressing. This is also part of my job. You are supposed to submit a report," Yan added.
"My work is pretty sad, but I am learning a lot from this," Inaya told him, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Thank you for this. I could not thank you the other day properly. Cannot imagine what would have happened, you know, probably even end up in jail," she shivered at the very thought of it.
"You remind me of my old day," Yan suddenly shared. "Had no one I knew when I ended up here too. Tried to go back several times, jumping in the pond that I appeared on, but nothing worked. Someone opened a portal and we ended up here," Yan inhaled staring at a distance.
"How did you become a shape-shifter?" Inaya asked. Yan looked at her.
"Maybe not today. When the time is right, I will tell you," he avoided answering it.
"Yeah, sure," Inaya did not force him. "Up to you," Inaya looked away.
"What's your plan?" Yan asked.
"I actually don't know," Inaya became brutally honest.
"What do you mean by you don't know? School, college, you are at an age to do all these," he scolded her.
"I don't know. How can I? I don't have any proof or ID," Inaya protested.
"Then make them all. You are a witch," Yan reminded.
"I don't even know if I'm actually one witch," Inaya shared her concern.
"Oh my god! How do you think you identified me like I did you?" Yan shook his head in disappointment.
"I only served for half of an evening as a Witch's apprentice and how can I claim myself to be one?" Inaya questioned.
"Why did you survive the fall? The water?" The question to which Inaya amhad no answer. "I don't know," she shrugged.
"You know it, because you are a witch," and Inaya found it a little hard to believe.
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