‘Ran’
“How I love Basmati rice. I can’t go a meal without having some on the side; it’s probably the best rice in the world. I may be a bit biased, though. You see, my mother loves this rice just as much as I do. And so, she makes it whenever she can. Ah, I’m talking about food again.
Light filters into my room from a small glass window. I frown as rays hit my eyes, interrupting my precious slumber. Another day. In just a week, I should be out of this house. Yeah, I live with my parents, what did you expect? I’m going to get myself an apartment so I can finally be that independent, lovable single that people like these days. Not that I have any game, that is. I’m just pulling your leg. The most I’ve ever done is hold hands 5 times, and most of those times were just my mother walking me to school. Or all of them”
Oh, and by the way, I’m not the main character. Just decided to give you a little description of my brother, who is the actual main character. That was my impression of him. He’s a lot more boring than that, sadly. Why does he get to be the important one? All he does is study and eat food. And study more. But I shouldn’t take up any more of your time, I’m sure you didn’t come here to hear me yap about how monotone my brother is. So I bid you adieu.
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Ran
My name is Ranjeet Das. There is nothing remotely interesting about me. All I do is wake up, eat, study, eat, study, and sleep. I have no acquaintances and no friends. I’m as boring as they come. Well, I’m moving out soon, so that’s something. Maybe then I’ll find a friend.
“It’s time for dinner!” my mother shrieks from downstairs. I sigh and stand up from my chair, gazing lovingly at my latest assignment. I am currently in college. I absolutely love education. It is quite entertaining! All those surprising and new lessons I get every day…I love it all. Breaks from school? I’d rather not. Sure, family is important, but think about the new information for me to process!
“Get down here this instant, Ran!”
Aw man. I race downstairs to find the table set with patterned plates. And then I see it. Basmati rice! I sit my ass down and grin. My favorite. I am about to dig in but my father glares at me.
“Ran, you surely won’t eat before I recite, right?” he sighs, watching for a reaction. I sulk in my seat and cross my arms. I keep forgetting about it.
I listen to my father recite a prayer, blessing the food. To be honest, the food should feel blessed simply for being the chosen few grains of rice that get to be eaten by me. My father continues to drone on, and I genuinely never really memorized the prayer. I mostly hear Brahman being repeated and then followed by other things. He stops speaking and starts eating. Perfect. Get in my belly.
I practically devour my food at this point. My mother shakes her head but I hear a small chuckle come from her. My sister, Tanvi, squints at me and rolls her eyes. As expected.
“My dear brother, if I may ask, why is it that you never socialize? I mean, do you really expect to find a wife like that?” Tanvi muses in a posh voice. Her favorite topic is how much of a loser I am. I’ve never really thought about getting a wife, at least not so young. I’m only 24, I have time. I want to get my degree first…
“Oh, yes! I do hope we get to attend your wedding sometime soon, Ran!” my mother chimes in. She has a big, goofy grin on her face. I’m not sure how she expects me to get married when she of all people should know how awkward I am. She’s always talking about how I’ll find the right person soon enough, but will I? I’ve never been good at talking to girls, or anyone for that matter.
I’m about to say something when the doorbell rings. My dad immediately stands up and walks to the door, frowning. We can hear him speaking with someone, and he switches to English. I don’t usually care about these things, but I decided to go watch. My father is speaking with a man I can only describe as handsome. I mean this in a factual way. He has shaggy brown hair that parts just enough for his eyes to peek out. They’re a pale blue, so pale they match his white skin. It’s not that I’ve never seen an American before, I just never saw one that looked like this. Like he had come out of an action movie. He wore a dark suit with a tie that matched his diamond eyes. In retrospect, he may be English. The Americans I’ve seen in movies are never this pale unless they’re a vampire or something. How silly. Vampires.
“I simply need permission to enter your home. My team has detected odd radio waves practically surrounding your house. It could even be called supernatural,” the man explains, an amused expression on his face. He notices me, tilting his head. A thin smile spreads on his lips and he looks away. I shudder. What a creepy guy.
I can’t hear the rest of the conversation, but my father soon closes the door. He massages his temple, sighing. “Well, we’re being investigated because…because of radio waves? I don’t even care, I’m just hungry.”
My mother raised an eyebrow and gave him that look that meant they would talk about it tonight. So dinner was quiet after that, I guess. I silently put my plate up and went back to my room. I don’t really feel like working on the assignment anymore. My mood is just not there right now. I look outside my window, watching lights go off as people turn in for the night. The familiar few lights that indicated other students staying up to finish an assignment filled the city’s silhouette. I love familiarity.
My eyes droop slowly, beckoning me to sleep. I do love sleep, I guess, so I don’t complain. The mattress trembles as I settle my weight on it and close my eyes. It’s cold tonight. I love cold nights. It means I get to wrap myself up in a blanket like a butterfly in its cocoon. My gaze wanders to the boxes that litter the corner of my room. Some clothes and other items inhabit them, all packed up for my permanent departure. I’m going to miss this, I’ll admit. But for now, I’ll sleep.
…?
I’m awake.
My eyes open slowly. I feel well-rested, though it has only been a minute or two. But something else is off. I gasp and sit up, looking around frantically. Why the hell am I in some extravagant bed? It’s giant! There are at least 10 pillows on this thing. How over-the-top! It has a silk canopy with golden frames that glint in the moonlight. What’s going on? My gaze flickers down at myself and what I see makes me freeze. My hands are delicate and well-manicured. Oh, and I’m pale. I practically jump off the bed and run towards what seems to be a mirror with gold rims. Is everything gold here? And the floors are plush with carpet…
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My reflection is of a blonde man with eyes that scream evil. They’re blue, like that detective’s. And as light as them too. But I look nothing like that man. My face is soft and round and my lips curl up into a seemingly eternal smile. And my hair reaches my shoulders, hanging down in wavy locks. And yet I can still tell I am a man, albeit a very pretty one. My clothes consist of a cotton nightgown that touches the carpeted floor. It has lace patterns on the collar. I feel my face, trying to gauge how real this dream is. But it doesn’t feel like one. Have I gone lucid already? And so fast?
A knock on the door pulls me out of my thoughts and I slowly approach it. The unsurprisingly golden knob turns gracefully in my grip. I probably shouldn't be so quick to open the door to some random person, but it’s probably a dream, so.
The sight that I take in when I open the door is of a well-dressed man, maybe a bit older than me. He reeks of fear.
“Master Varnham. I have brought your clean clothes. I’m sure you’re eager to start your day- I mean, night,” he mutters in gruff English, refusing to meet my eyes. Varnham?
“Alright,” is all I can say. I’ll just play along. I reach out to grab the stack, eyeing it. The man didn’t even try to hide his flinch as I took the clothes away. Why is he so scared? What’s going on?
“Uhm…good night!” he says quickly, closing the door. I stand there for a while before turning my attention to the clothes. A tailcoat, a bowtie, and a pair of old-fashioned trousers. Great. I slip the clothes on. It’s all formfitting. I guess this Varnham guy likes to show off this form or something. I do think women like some curves nowadays.
A thought crosses my mind and I frown. What if it’s not ‘nowadays?’ This all seems so old…
Have I been reborn? I didn’t think you could just wake up in a different life right in the middle of it. This probably isn’t reincarnation. I mean, who reincarnates in the past? And remember their past life, on top of that? Not how it goes, not at all. I walk out of my fancy room and step into an even fancier hallway. Portraits everywhere! Vases, carpets, gold! This is too much! I spot a woman slowly walking down the hall, looking down at the ground. I watch her stop as she notices me, fear once more filling the air.
“M-master Varnham! I didn’t see you there! You’re up a bit later than usual…I, uh, expected you to be out and about by now!” she races through her words, stammering and stuttering. I’m not used to people being afraid of me.
“Out?” I ask curtly, trying to appear posh.
“To town. Like you always do? To find…dinner.”
“Hm. Dinner?”
“Master Varnham, are you sick? You seem to be forgetful!” she exclaims with feigned concern. I sure feel sick.
“Please remind me what dinner I like.”
“Hu…mans…?”
I squint at her. Huh? She looks at me like I’m the crazy one! You’re the one calling me a cannibal, lady! I shrug in response, deciding to drop the topic. She slowly walks past me and I rush to find an exit. I need to know what’s happening and these people aren’t helping.
Big double doors swing open as soon as I approach them, giving me a clear view of the outside. Barren land is all I can see. No, wait, I see buildings. Is that the town the woman spoke of? It’s so far away…
I close my eyes and the moment they open, I feel hot air rush past me. I stand at the entrance of the town. Oh, so now I have powers? Could this get any worse? Though it’s night, the town is bustling with activity. And yet it is quite small. Hey, this looks like one of those cowboy towns-
…It is, isn’t it? I’ve traveled back to the yee-haw era of America?! Karma could have given me any other era in history, and she chose this one? Where people don’t take baths?
I inwardly groan and look around. A bar stands nearby, people going in and out. Cowboys. Of course. Hell, this place is probably filled with gunslingers and do-gooders. But if there’s anything I know about bars, it’s that information practically thrives there. So I go. And I regret it immediately.
“Oof-” someone breathes out as I crash into them. It’s a rough-looking dude wearing a wide-brimmed hat. His mustache droops over his full lips that are now twisted into a grin. “Reed, glad to see ya!”
Reed? Is that ‘my’ last name or my first name? Reed and Varnham both sound like last names. “Uhm, hey…?”
“It’s been a while! For a second there, I thought the vampires gotcha!” he chuckled heartily, “You’re my favorite inhabitant here by a longshot!” He wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into a side hug. I smiled awkwardly in hopes that he’d let go. I notice a glint and look down at his chest, where a badge sits snugly on his pocket. A sheriff’s badge. Oh boy.
“Ah.”
His eyes rake over me, and his smile widens. “Have ya thought about my offer? 30 bucks for one night?”
I feel more uncomfortable than before. I shake my head, since I didn’t feel like finding out what he meant by that. He fake-pouts and lets go.
“I guess I’ll wait until ya decide to give me a shot. It’s not every day I decide I wanna break some church rules,” he waves with a wink, whistling away. That was not awkward at all. Should I even go into the bar or…? A crowd pushes me in with a shove, muttering something about getting out of the way. Guess that settles it. I’m going in. It’s busy here, and a bit dark. Suspicious figures watch from the shadows and cowboys drunkenly joke with each other. And then I see the bartender. He’s a friendly face in the sea of odd strangers. His face is set in a warm smile as he serves people drinks. The man’s skin is dark and his hair is thick, clean-cut and curly. Now this is a guy who won’t disappoint.
I sit in front of him as casually as I can, smiling politely. “Sup.”
He frowns with a smile. “Sup…?”
“So. What’s been going on, hm? Got any new news for me?” I’m literally pulling this shit out of my ass for this. I’m not acting natural at all.
“If you’re looking for Beck, you should check the church. I’m surprised you’d check here first,” he replied nonchalantly, “you two always come in here together. Y’all’s friendship go down the drain?”
“Uh, no?” Who are all these people I’m supposed to know?
He shrugs. “Then I’m not sure why you’re here.”
“Alrighty then. Just making small talk.”
“You’re too ace-high for this place. I’d expect you to be cozied up in your little mansion right about now. In fact, I wonder why nobody’s tried to get in there. You’re just a lucky fella, huh?” he smiles, cleaning a glass.
I smile just a bit back and stand up. “Guess I’ll be taking my leave.”
“Yeah, you better. Some of the guys here are real curly wolves.”
“Okay…” I reply, backing away towards the door. This mission was a bust. Retreat. I walk down the street and decide to just get back to that fancy old house. I’ll figure something out later. This dream must mean something. I mean, it’s too interactive not to.
As I leave the town behind, I see someone standing outside watching me. He wears a cowboy hat but the silhouette doesn’t match the sheriff’s. Hm. His shoulders hunch and he walks away, out of my sight. And now, with no witnesses, I close my eyes and will my magical powers to bring me back to the mansion. And they do. I’m all the way back in the room I first woke up in. How fast. I crash into the bed, already feeling terribly exhausted. It’s only been an hour…but my body fails me. I feel myself drift back to sleep and let it happen. They say you’re not supposed to sleep in dreams, but whatever
I wake up to the sound of Tanvi jumping on my bed and telling me to wake up.