"Heer..."
"Heer beta wakeup, its getting late." I hear a sweet voice and my eyes flicker open.

Bright light falls on my face and I notice a face hovering over me.

I cannot see clearly, and I blink twice till the blurry face becomes clear and my breath is snatched out of my lungs.

Blue eyes, warm smile, wrinkles around her eyes and smile lines adoring her beautiful face. Maa.

Am I dreaming ?
Did I die ?
Am I finally in heaven ?

"Heer wake up." Her fingers touch my hair and I flinch, getting up abruptly while my mouth hangs open. My jaw literally hangs open wide as I stare at her.

"Heer ?" She looks at me, confusion lacing her eyes.

Tears flood my eyes and I lunge towards her, hugging her so tightly and hiding my face in her embrace.

"Maa...M-Maa..." I sob. My fingers clutch her blouse.
"Heer-" her palms rub my back but I interrupt her.

"N-Now we c-can be together m-maa, y-you don't have to w-worry. I-I left everything." I sob loudly and frown when I see the surroundings.

Does heaven has a mud stove ? Or does heaven look like a hut ?

"Heer what are you talking about beta ?" She breaks the hug and I humor-less-ly smile at her in confusion.

"W-what ?" I look at her, taking her features.

Her eyes narrow and she places her hand on my forehead.

"Heer are you sick ?"

Sick ?
What is she talking about...

And who is Heer ?

"Maa, w-we both are dead. R-right ?" I ask and her eyes widen.

"Hey bhangwan ! ( oh God ), what rubbish are you talking Heer ?" She scoots away from me and for the first time I notice something wierd.

Maa never liked to dress in sarees, and even though everyone in our relatives taunted her for it she always dressed in plain kurti's. And now... now she is dressed in a strange clothing.

A red dull mud color saree, black blouse with withered edges as if worn multiple times but I don't even remember her owning such piece of clothing.

And then her words ring in my ears. If I am not wrong then she just called me Heer. She called me by that atleast ten times.

"H-Heer ?" I shake my head, chuckling and try to make things a little senseful.

I am dead, and so is my mother.
I gave my life in the lake, lake nearby our house.

I saw her corpse being lifted my bunch of men, carrying her body to cremate her.

"Yes, you. Heer. I am talking to you, what are you talking all nonsense early in the morning ? Tell me beta, is anyone bothering you ?" Her eyes soften but my head begins to feel heavy.

"Maa stop." I flinch at my own tone laced with exhaustion. My eyes trail down my own figure and I not recognize the outfit.

I remember wearing a white kurti and pants last time, last time when I sat near the lake. But what I am wearing is different, a green blouse, red skirt and red duppata.

"Maa, you don't remember me ? Tara, Tara your daughter." I palm her cheeks softly and she laughs softly.

"Stop this Heer. Not early in the morning we have to go for puja at Maa Kali's mandir to take blessings for your future." Her eyes scan me.

"Never realized how fast kids grow, two more months left for marriage and you will go away from me. And then I am all alone." A sad smile covers her face and I shake my head.

"Maa, whose marriage ? Don't y-you get i-it we...w-we are d-dead..." I say and this time she slaps me on my shoulder making me wince and my eyes go wide.

Aren't ghosts supposed to be cloudy ?
Transparent?

"Stop it. I am old but I still have strong bones, I will live atleast for two or three decades more and see my grandkids marriage. And what is all this strange talk Heer ?"

I move away from her, fear creeping into my bones for the first time as I look around.

No, this isn't heaven. Nor my house in the first place.

"I am not Heer, I-I am Tara. Stop calling me Heer." I silently yell at her for the first time and see tension flooding her beautiful features.

No, my Maa was weak because Cancer had mentally and physically drained her out.

And my Maa didn't wear Sarees, but those eyes, those eyes are my mother's without any doubt.

She is my mother but not my mother.

"Come with me, we are going to temple. Maybe we can cure you if head priestess is still there now early in morning. You are scaring me Heer." She grasps my arm in hers and pulls me out.

My eyes widen when I look around,

Why are there fire lamps everywhere ?
And huts ?

I don't remember our town having even a single hut or anyone using such fire torches.

My anklets clinck as I walk and my chest heaves up in uncertainty, frustration, exhaustion and mostly fear.

"Stop ! I-I have to go..." I shake my head and jerk my hand out of my mother's hold.

I rush back and run away as I hear her calling desperately behind me.

"Heer ! Don't go in the forest ! It's forbidden...." her voice fades as I run with everything inside me and tears prickle my eyes.

My legs pain.
I am not in any fucking heaven.

And if not then where the hell am I ? Why does my own mother keep calling me Heer when I am Tara ?

Where am I ?!

I run so fast, stepping on the fallen branches of trees, stones, mud. Tall trees are everywhere and not a single sign of any person.

My legs give up after some time when thirst for water takes over me and my head starts to throb in pain.

My phone ?
Where is it ?

I search my pockets but no, I don't have pockets in the first place.
And what kind of hideous cloths am I even wearing ?

I slide down against a tree, on bare ground as tears flow down my eyes.

"What is this God ? Why ? Why me ?"

What strange dilemma is this even after I took my own life.
Even after I thought all my struggles were over for good.

A sound of hustle comes and my head snaps  back.
"Who is it ?!" I yell, my voice echoes in vast forest but I fail to see anyone.

The sky is dark, clouded.
Only sound of birds and my own breathing can be heard.

I get up slowly.

"Is anyon-" and an arrow strikes bark of the tree, right in front of my eyes, missing just by few centimeters.

"Aaaahhhhh!" I scream in genuine fear.

To be continued...