She bellowed, clutching the ends of her delicately woven blue gown, "Haven't your mother taught you not to accept things from strangers?" A crescent shaped frown decorated her dark forehead. Her skin was puckered at places, yet it could be said that she was very beautiful. High cheekbones, berry-red lips and her obsidian colored hair with few white streaks. The most dazzling thing was her comb which was neatly kept over her tightly twisted bun. Big, bright and light blue it shone in the dark.

Aditya who was standing near yet slightly behind her, sarcastically muttered, "Yes. She also taught me not to talk to strangers." He rubbed his cheeks, feeling hazy. His green eyes were also hazy and slightly yellow at corners. Apparently the angry lady heard him. She peeked at him, and yelled, "My mother also taught me how to kill idiot boys who talk back. Do you want me to show you a demonstration?" Aditya shrugged, not wanting to irk the lady further.

The scary lady took another step forward; Avika took a step back, slightly imitated by the old lady. She immediately hit a warm body, whose very very warm hands snaked around her waist to steady her. Aditya. He immediately removed his hands from her sides and said, "Sorry." She immediately straightened up, standing extremely still. She gave him a curt nod. Clearing her throat, she asked the lady, "Who are you?"

At this question, the lady snapped her eyes towards Avika. She could hear Aditya let out a sigh of relief. The lady's rainbow eyes (yes, it had seven colors) bore into Avika, as she exclaimed, disappointment evident in her tone, "I at least didn't expect this from Madhulika's great grand-daughter."

Avika hung her head in shame. She felt sad that she disappointed Naanai. But then she realized she didn't even know how she let her Naanai's name down. She defended herself, "Don't use Naanai's name in vain. I didn't even do anything."

Aditya croaked from behind her, "Don't. Just don't. I am already scared of her." The lady met Avika's unflattering gaze, and said, "You got her attitude. I see." But she didn't answer her question. She slightly leaned back. Just like before, both Avika and Aditya looked around. Then, looking at the lady, they yelled together, jumping back, "Who are you?"

Looking at each other then, they exclaimed, "What are we doing here?" And then, in a synchronized way, they both took a step back, and said (together): "Wait, I think I know you."

The lady sighed, and murmured to herself, "Why am I such a good person? Because then I will have to save you both from the fair." After a moment, she cursed, "Morals suck." Then she grabbed both of them by their arms and dragged them all the way to an isolated tent. Often they both uttered sentences like, "Leave us." or "Who are you?" to "Why are we with you? Where are you taking us?"

People often shot them looks, but then again it was The Night Fair. Two minutes later, they all were eating, drinking, or doing something; these two children forgotten. The landscapes changed, from bright colored amusement rides to huge cottages filled with sizzling food. Hot aromas wafted towards them, both spicy and sweet, and they groaned, feeling hungry. But the lady didn't stop there. She passed through all the stalls; juices, starters, dinner, desserts, everything. The rocks here were rather sharp, and the area they reached seemed a bit underdeveloped and there were no colorful lights. People seemed really, really far away, and so did the Night Fair.

At the very end (Avika still found it absurd that The Night Fair can end), there was a huge black cottage. Wind roared furiously, its dark black flaps flying. Thick grass itched their bare legs, small insects buzzing in their ears. A small yellow light flickered from the edge of the tent, yet it provided enough light to see everything clearly. The lady flicked her hand and the wind died. Died.

Avika gushed, still dizzy, "Oooh, magic!" The lady looked angry now, and snapped, "Stop behaving like a five-year-old." Then something dawned on her, and she said, "Ugh! You both got cursed to act like kids because I grabbed your hands."

Then she hurriedly walked inside, and Aditya gulped, "Geez. What a lady." As if hearing what he just said, she yelled, "Say that to my face." She came out of her huge extra large and intimidating tent with a phone? Avika tip-toed to see her. She exclaimed, "Wait. Magic people use technology. That is so cool. Teach me too." and she wriggled her eyebrows. Aditya laughed, his voice honeyed. Another flush crept on Avika's cheeks, and she laughed, trying to brush off whatever feeling passed her heart as usual. The lady scrunched her eyebrows in disgust, and said, "You guys make me sick."

Unfazed, they both replied (very much under influence of The Night Fair) together, "And you make us sick." And then giggled. "That's it. I am removing the curse," the lady yelled, and went back inside. She came out wearing a parka and wearing a bracelet which shone so bright for a moment that they both had to cover their eyes momentarily. White, blinding light filled the air, so vivid and enchanting, that Avika was sure the entire world could see it.

Slowly opening their eyes, they both gasped loudly. Eyes widened and lips parted, they recounted their behavior a few minutes ago. Avika grunted, "Did I gush? I hate whenever someone does that," and Aditya scoffed, "Was I going to drink something? Oh lord, I hate alcohol." The lady smirked, twisting her bracelet, "Don't worry I just saved both of you. You're welcome." She paused, looking around, and then continued, "Please, please, don't ever behave like kids anymore. I hate kids." Her voice was slightly thick at the end. Then the next moment itself, she smirked again, even though her eyes were slightly watery, "Now, all I have to do is to call other Elfelas, to remove their charms."

Avika swallowed and then worriedly asked, "C-charms? E-Elfelas?"

The lady sighed, wriggling the hem of her dress, "Your grandmother didn't teach you anything. About its ways or the people of The Night Fair. Curses spread through looks or touch. That depends on the will of an individual. Elfela--"

Before the lady could continue, Avika blurted, "I am sorry, what were you saying? I can't remember. Again," and Aditya softly said, agreeing with her, "Me too." The old lady was not moved. Then, again, they both said, forgetting everything that happened a minute ago, "What are we doing here?" The lady grumbled, "Yes. I hate it too. I have to answer the same questions twice." With a determined eyes and signature smirk, she went inside, and this time she came out with a big black antenna. Aditya murmured to himself, hoping the lady doesn't hear, "You seem way too old to use this thing properly." The lady shot back, "Watch your tongue, lad. Otherwise, kiss your memories goodbye." Aditya smartly remained silent after that.

She enlarged the antenna and then kept on the grass. Then she removed her white-light-producing blue bracelet and kept next to it. Six-feet wall of fire shot up, as if guarding the antenna and the bracelet. Avika took a step back, surprised by the sudden fire. She coughed, inhaling smoke. The entire rocky area lit up. The moon seemed dull against the intensity of fire. The lady mumbled some mumbo-jumbo and the fire disappeared (literally); so did the bracelet and the antenna. The bracelet went back to her hand, shining brighter than ever. It took a few minutes for their eyes to adjust to darkness again. The air smelt of mist and due, no trace of smoke which had been dancing in front of their eyes.

Four people were standing in front of them. Even with her temporary amnesia, she could recognize them. The big, huge and burly man who was yelling at his child for lying, the pink lady who gave them tissues, the boy and the girl dancing near the dance floor. First they all bowed together. Even with extreme differences of height and weight, their curtsies were perfect.

Straightening up, they all said in unison, as if guessing what the lady was about to say, "We can't remove their charms. At least not here. Because we didn't even curse them." 

~~~~

a/n: thoughts?

also, if you are wondering where she saw these people, read the last chapter very carefully. you  might find it. if not, its fine. in the next chapter, everything while be explained.