"Heer !" I hear voices shouting and I finally step out of the forest.

I somehow manage to spot my mom admist the other villagers and run to her.

Her eyes widen when she sees me and then she hugs me, tears cling to her eyes and her arms clasp me in her embrace.

Soon she snaps out of the hug and then hits me hard on shoulder, making me wince.

"Where the hell were you ? Do you how worried we all were ?" She glares angrily at me and few people gather around.

"Jiji hamari suniye aur iska tatkal vivah karwa dijiye, ladkiya paraya dhan hoti hai. Jyada dino tak ghar par rehna shobha nahi deta, log tarah tarah ki bate karege."

( sister listen to me and get her married at this instant, girls are not our wealth. If you keep her with you for more days then people will talk. )

A women dressed in dark marron saree comes up to my mother and says that loud enough for nearby people to hear.

I clench my fist.

There is no way my mother will believe her. No matter where I am but I have enough confidence that my mother would believe no one other than me.

"Aisa kuch nahi hai, Heer ki tabyat thodi theek nahi hai kuch dino se. Aur vivah ki kya jaldi ? Do mah ka samay hai abhi shubh muhurat ke liye. Chalo Heer."

( nothing like that, Heer hasn't been well since past few days. And what's the rush for wedding ? There are still two months for the auspicious time. Let's go Heer. )

My mother practically drags me away from the crowd after thanking everyone who helped to find me and closes the door behind her after bringing me back to house.

"What's all this ? Why did you run off to forest, what if someone saw ?" Her eyes are terrified and I gulp.

I want to ask her about all this, why is this place so strange but she already thinks I am sick. Me asking all strange questions will not only tarnish her reputation in this village but she will not accept me, because I am not Heer.

"Why should I not go there ?" I choose to ask.

Her eyes narrow, in suspicion and I clear my throat.

"I mean forest belongs to everyone right ? Why do you care if people get to know about me going there ?"

"Are you out of your mind ? Or did you forget that behind that forest lies the vast land of kingdom of Ratnagarh , we are not allowed there. We are mere tribals. If you go there and the treaty breaks then not only you but the whole village will be punished."

What ?
Tribals ? Ratnagarh ? Kingdom ?

Nothing makes sense, what is she even talking about ?

"Who was the other women ?" I ask, fidgeting with my fingers as I take the information in.

Her speyes furrow but then she chuckles.

"You forgot your own bua ( aunt ) ? Don't be angry at her, you she just wants you to be married and then be happy. Maybe the stress of wedding has gotten over you."

"Wedding with-"
"With Ranvijay ofcource, he is cheif's son. Please don't tell me you forgot that too." Her eyes twinkle with mischief and I spot a shadow of my own mother.

Maa was like that before cancer. She was happy, tired yet full of life, and loved me.

She is my mother, there is no doubt in that. I can recognize her in any world, any outfit, any skin but at the same time she is not.

Or she is but I am not her daughter.

My voice trembles as I ask the last question.

"Maa ?"
"Hmm.." she blows into the fireplace and then looks at me, with a warm smile on her face.

"D-Do you know a-anyone n-named Tara ?" I blink and she shakes her head.
"No, never heard of that name before."

My eyes widen in realization.

She is my mother, but I am not her daughter. Her daughter is Heer, and she thinks I am Heer.

She doesn't know anyone named Tara.

Tara doesn't exist in this world.

Because this isn't my world....

To be continued...