The Curse

By Naina Mishra

(The sky glows dimly. Lu folds laundry while coughing softly into a handkerchief. Yin storms in, face dark with confusion.)

Yin – (angry) Sister, why is the heavenly emperor bringing another lady in place of our mom?

Lu – (gently, hiding her cough) Yin, I know you aren’t happy about it, but don’t show it on your face on his wedding day. It’s going to be a special day for him.

Yin – (snaps) I don’t care, ok? How could you even accept another lady as your mom?

Lu – (sighs, folding cloth) You should try to understand… even he feels lonely at the end of the day.

Yin – (voice sharp, eyes narrowing) You aren’t even answering me! Why don’t you have words to speak, ah?

Lu – (suppressing a cough, turns away) Stop this nonsense and go to your spiritual cultivation. I have lots of work to do… aren’t your exams upcoming? (she coughs heavily, covering her mouth with a handkerchief)

Yin – (hurt, bitter) Ya, ya… your work is more important than me. Mom never loved or cared about me, so she left me. Now even Dad is doing the same…

Lu – (shakes head, reaches out with trembling hands but stops midway, withdraws) No… no, it’s not like that.

Yin – (shouts, voice cracking with pain) What do you mean it’s not like that?! Now you also don’t care about me. You’re going to abandon me like both of them! I hate… you!

(Yin storms away. Lu stands frozen, sighing deeply.)

(Lu kneels in meditation, speaking softly to her childhood spirit-friend. Yin lingers in the shadows, overhearing.)

Lu – That’s what happened that day… and since then, my brother hasn’t spoken to me.(pauses, clutching her chest)Hmm… tell me, who can even accept all this? But I have to stay strong. I can’t be vulnerable in front of him. A shield… must always be strong enough to protect.

(Yin steps forward hesitantly.)

Yin – (softly) Sorry… I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I just needed some help, so I came.

Lu – (smiles faintly) No, it’s alright. By the way… I’m sorry for that day.

Yin – (shakes his head) No, actually it was my fault. I’m sorry for shouting at you.

Lu – (gazing down) Mom didn’t leave you because she didn’t love you. She… loved you a lot.

Yin – (confused) Then why did she leave us?

Lu – (sighs, voice heavy) It wasn’t easy for her to leave. You were too young then, so I never told you… and now… I don’t have much time left.

Yin – (eyes widening) What do you mean?

Lu – Have you ever wondered why your name is Yin… a girl’s name?

Yin – (bitterly) Yes. I was always bullied and teased for it.

Lu – That name was meant to protect you. From the moment we were born, instead of blessings, we were cursed.

Yin – (bewildered) I don’t understand… what do you mean?

Lu – (voice low, eyes trembling) We were cursed by our heavenly father’s family… because our mother was a demonic cultivator. A union between Heaven and the Underworld was never accepted by the Three Realms.

Yin – (steps closer, desperate) Then what about Mother? Is she alright?

Lu – (shakes head, tears forming) Nobody knows where she is… not even me. I’ve cultivated for years, but I can’t even find a trace of her soul after the Great War.

Yin – (voice breaking) And this curse… what is it?

Lu – (choking back sobs) Every male child will be tortured until death by Mother’s karmic spirits. You never saw them… because of me. I fought them all. But they grow stronger… and I can no longer protect you. (she coughs violently, blood staining her handkerchief; Yin sees it and gasps)

Yin – (alarmed) Sister! What’s happening to you?!

Lu – (weak smile) My spiritual marble… already shattered when I shielded you. I’m no longer alive, Yin… just a wandering demonic spirit. Soon, I’ll fade. But before I do… I’ll cast one last spell, to seal away the spirits from your sight.

Yin – (crying, grabbing her sleeve) No! Don’t do this! Why do you always decide everything alone? Who do you think you are?!

Lu – (voice trembling, stroking his hair) I’m your sister. And my duty… is to protect you.

Yin – (sobbing) But if you cast that spell… I won’t be able to see spirits… I won’t even see you! I don’t want it!

Lu – (tearing up) Yin… forgive me. I want to stay… I want to protect you forever. But I can’t. Those days… when we played with our parents… those days were the most beautiful. But you… you’re the one who can end the chaos in the Three Realms. You must live… even if I can’t.

(She raises her trembling hands. A glowing spell circle forms. Yin struggles, but his body freezes. His eyes shut tight as the spell engulfs him.)

(Yin’s eyes open. The chamber is empty. Lu is gone. He stumbles forward, calling out desperately.)

Yin – (broken voice) She didn’t listen to me… what will I do alone now?

Lu’s Voice (echoing faintly) – I was always there with you… and I will always be. Guarding you from the dark shadows.

(Yin falls to his knees, staring at the empty sky, with sadness in his eyes )

Yin – When she was still around… it was a home. Now… it will only be a house

By Naina Mishra