“Is it safe now?” asked the little girl and Aadi nodded in reply. He knelt in front of her and smiled broadly. The next moment, the little girl threw her arms around him. Aadi, partly shocked by her innocent trust, embraced her and rose to his feet. “It’s safe,” he said and looked at the young one in his arms. She stared right into his eyes and grinned brightly. Aadi couldn’t help laughing and the girl joined in the mirth. “You’re safe,” repeated Aadi after he stopped laughing and looked at the girl’s mother near the cottage door. The good woman was still looking at him and her daughter in his arms.
“Let’s go,” said Aadi and walked towards the woodcutter’s wife, “Your amma is waiting.” The little girl nodded sharply at him and turned her head towards her mother. “Mama!” said the little one excitedly and stretched both her hands towards her mother. Finally, the good woman began to move and approached them. By that time however, Aadi had already covered most of the distance between them. She had hardly taken two steps when he stood in front of her. With a smile still fresh on his lips, he handed her daughter over and said, “You are both safe now. It’s all right.”
The woman smiled at her daughter and then, looked at Aadi. Her gaze was fixed on his eyes. He knew she was wondering whether he was trustworthy. He didn’t blame her. Out here, far away from town, in the middle of a forest clearing, the family had learnt to be cautious while Aaron Flint was away. Aadi couldn’t help but glance at the law keeper’s corpse and think, “They had good reason to be wary, too.” “Thank you,” said the good lady and he turned his attention back to her. Her words were sincerely spoken and Aadi nodded, saying, “My pleasure.”
“Was it really?” asked the good woman. Her words surprised him and he almost stepped back. He didn’t reply and the woman asked again, “Was it really a pleasure? To save the family of the one who killed yours; did you do that willingly?” Aadi was taken aback. The question itself was surprising, but he would never have expected to hear it from the Unflinching’s wife. He stared at the little girl’s mother for a moment and then said, “Yes.” The woman’s eyes widened ever so slightly and Aadi repeated, “Yes. I did it willingly. I’d do it again, too.”
The woman’s eyes softened almost immediately. A gentle smile played on her lips as she looked at him and she asked, “Do you speak the truth?” He nodded and she sighed, “I see. Then, you are a far better man than I ever was.” Aadi simply stared at her. He wasn’t sure what to say. What was she talking about? “I am not sure I could’ve done it,” said the good woman, smiling sadly at him, “Saved your family, I mean, had I been in your position.” He kept his peace, confused by the good woman’s words. He began to think, “How does she know about…” but before he could finish his train of thought, his surroundings changed!
The cottage, the clearing, the forest in which they stood, and the sky itself began to fade. Everything shimmered, waved, and dematerialised like vanishing fog. Almost immediately, there was a faint flash of light. Aadi blinked but once and then, found himself standing in a kitchen with open windows that let the bright sunlight in! There was a small table that could seat three, perhaps meant for a tiny family. Standing next to one of the chairs was a tall man, well-built and attired in the fashion of a woodsman. “Aaron Flint,” said Aadi deadpan.
The woodcutter’s face bore none of the hostility that it had had back in the cave. He was a rough man, with a rugged complexion, but he didn’t exude any hostility. Aadi, still surprised by everything that had happened, simply looked at the foe he had killed earlier, but who now stood before him, hale and hearty for all he could see. He finally asked, “Are you real?” The Unflinching replied, “What is real? I am not sure myself. I know I am.” Aadi didn’t understand and said, “I killed you, earlier in the cave. I know I did. You lost your head.” Flint simply said, “I know. I remember.” “Then how?” began Aadi, but was interrupted by the woodcutter with a raised palm.
“Come,” said Flint, pulling one of the chairs back and taking a seat, “Sit.” Aadi followed suit and looked at his former opponent. He wasn’t sure what to make of the Unflinching. Was this even the Unflinching? He couldn’t say. Aadi remembered the evil that he had fought. He remembered the roaring voice of the blood facet of Flint’s soul. But here, in this Aaron Flint, he couldn’t sense any enmity. He found it easy to let his guard down with the woodcutter, though he was conflicted. A part of him urged him to be cautious. It suspected an imminent attack. However, none came.
The woodcutter returned Aadi’s gaze casually. To anyone who was ignorant of recent events, it appeared as though two strangers sat facing each other, meeting for the first time. There was nothing wrong in this. Nothing at all, except… Aadi broke the silence. “You killed my family,” he said, “I killed you. Now, you are here.” “I know,” replied Flint. Aadi asked, “Why?” The woodcutter remained silent for a while. He looked out the window at the bright sunlight and the verdant green. Finally, he let out a sigh and said, “I feel empty. The world around me holds no purpose anymore. Why do I exist?” Aadi didn’t reply.
Flint kept quiet for a moment and then, continued, “I have no answer to that question, just as I cannot tell you why I am here. All I can remember is…” The woodcutter never finished the sentence. He simply sealed his lips again. Aadi prompted him, “What do you remember?” The woodcutter shook his head and replied, “I am sorry. My memory is hazy. There was something I had to do at all costs. It’s at the edge of my mind, but I can’t grasp it. Do you know what that feels like?” He looked at Aadi with apparent confusion. The latter simply shook his head. Flint sighed once more and said, “I remember; no, I know that I wanted to say that I am sorry.”
Aadi was dumbstruck, not for the first time this day. Was he supposed to simply accept this apology? Should he reject it? The woodcutter didn’t give him time to reply, “I am. I am sorry. I killed many people. I killed your family, I know. At the time…” He fell silent again and then, mumbled, “I can’t remember.” “What did you say?” asked Aadi and Flint reiterated, “I can’t remember what I thought at that time. All I know for certain is that I felt angry. I don’t know why.” “You don’t know,” whispered Aadi audibly and the father sitting opposite him nodded. Aadi said gently, “I wonder if what I did caused you to forget.” Flint looked at him curiously and he continued, “I saved your family. That… changed things.”
He stopped short of explaining why Flint had become The Unflinching. Aadi saw no need for that; not now. The woodcutter smiled at the mention of his family. He said, “Thank you for doing that. I feel a sense of peace and I think I owe you for that, too.” Aadi nodded and asked, “What now?” Flint looked around and shrugged mightily, for he was a man with heavyset shoulders. He said, “I don’t know. I suppose we’ll just sit here.” Aadi couldn’t help smiling slightly upon hearing that. He asked, “And do what? Talk?” Flint nodded curtly and said, “You’ll be leaving soon.” He replied, “Yes. I need to take my family home.” Flint said, “That’ll be hard.” “Hmm?” asked Aadi. The woodcutter clarified, “The bodies. They’re heavy. How will you carry them?” He shrugged, “Somehow. Do I have a choice? I can’t leave them in that cave.”
Flint nodded slowly and asked, “How far is home?” Aadi shrugged, “Not too far. Not near either. I have to traverse a forest first.” “A forest?” asked Flint again, “The one outside?” He shook his head, “No, but it’s similar. I walked through it before I reached a clearing. That’s where I suddenly found myself in that cave… with you.” The woodcutter nodded again, “Then, it’s going to be tough. I wish I could help you somehow.” Aadi looked at Flint and felt a sliver of gratitude. He couldn’t forgive the woodcutter. He couldn’t forget whom he had lost. However, Aadi wasn’t able to hate this man either.
This man wasn’t the Unflinching. There was no trace of that rage-filled, unrelenting monster in him. All that Aadi saw was a father, who was glad for his wife and daughter. Had they met under different circumstances, Aadi thought he might have taken a liking to the woodcutter. Under different circumstances. Aye, there lies the rub in all things human.