IT WAS springtime again, born on the earth as the seasons changed in all its splendour and glory. The laughter of the two young girls playing in the garden and the beautiful friendship they shared, blossoming as the flowers did, was a wonder to behold, for, even though they were from such different backgrounds (Kate, a white, blonde-haired girl from the Estate Master’s House and Rani, a dusky, dark- haired servant girl), there was something really special; something unique about their relationship.Rani was not just an Asian girl; she was a snake-girl who could change her form to human. Kate knew this, because Rani had shown her form to her one day when she was picking flowers in a field of daffodils, wanting not to hurt her but to befriend her.

Rani’s family had worked in the Master’s house a few decades ago when she was a little girl, and when she had died after been bitten in the cherry orchard by an angry black cobra, the master had buried her in the field of daffodils. But that night, a miracle happened after the cobra regretted biting her, an innocent child; it gave it’s life to save her to the Snake Goddess, a religious dynasty that had crossed the seas from India to these South American shores. It was she who had given Rani back her life, but for eternity, the girl would live as a snake and a human.
Rani had lived in the daffodil field all alone, afraid to be seen, and had watched, saddened, as her family left and others came and went as the years went by, until Kate came to live with her family. On seeing Kate, Rani felt in her heart she could now have a friend.
Kate had been afraid at first, seeing her as a snake but in human form; she liked the beautiful, dusky girl with the long, thick tresses of black hair; the pleasant smile and mellow voice, and she soon overcame her fear, and they became friends.
Rani told Kate’s family she was from the village, and even though they couldn’t understand how she came and went most of the times out of the blue, they liked her and were happy that their daughter found a good friend. Kate and Rani became close friends, and Rani’s true form stayed a secret.
It had been a long time since that night, when the powers of the Snake Goddess performed a miracle; it was just like tonight, when the moon hid behind heavy clouds and Rani, sitting under the Flamboyant tree plaiting her hair, mused about her life.
She had often wondered what would become of her when Kate’s family left the estate house to go to another island; she would be all alone again; a lonely life in eternity. She sighed deeply, then looked around sharply as her snake senses detected a strange presence. She gasped in fear when she saw a long-haired, bare-chested boy staring at her. In a flash, she changed and disappeared between the sleeping daffodils; but the boy walked towards her and said, “You don’t have to be afraid; I’m of your kind.”
She looked at him closer, and saw he was indeed a Nagin. She had never been close to any of her kind before, and wondered why he was here, as she transformed into human.
“My father was right; you are indeed beautiful,” said the boy.
“Who are you? And why are you here?”
“I’m the son of the Cobra King, and it’s his wish that you come to live with us.”
“Why?”
“You have become too close to humans, and you don’t belong in their world; you belong to the Nagin world, and you have been chosen to be my future queen.”
“What!! I don’t even know you!”
“It doesn’t matter; you have been chosen.”
“I cannot leave; this is my home, and these humans are my family.”
“Nagin is your family!”
There was anger in his cold, black eyes, and a glint of danger as he whispered in a low, controlled voice:
“No one disobeys the Cobra King! I will give you some time to think of this!”
With that, he disappeared, and Rani slithered into her adobe to rest for the night, truly disturbed. How did the Cobra King know of her?
Since the Snake Goddess had breathed life into her, she had lived in that field, season come, season go. It was the only home she knew and felt that she belonged to, for, in that field laid her empty grave.
The next day, she did not go to the house, so Kate came to her and they sat talking. That Saturday was Kate’s birthday, and her mother was planning a birthday party for her; and Rani was to be honoured that same day as her best friend. Kate was happy and excited, but Rani couldn’t share her joy, for her mind was worried.
“Are you okay?” Kate asked her.
“I’ll be fine,” Rani said.
“Please be, because we have to go shopping tomorrow.”
The planning and the shopping took up Rani’s mind so much, she thought not of the snake boy until till late in the afternoon as dusk settled in, when she saw him in the shadows of the trees. In a flash, he was gone. She saw him every day after that, and she became scared, not for herself, but for Kate.
On the eve of the party, he appeared and said to her, “Are you ready to come with me?”
Rani looked at him for a long time; then she asked, “What will happen if I don’t?”
He smiled, the danger like a fire in his eyes, a look she was afraid of. “Something bad, to someone you love.”
“No! You can’t do that!”
“You have until midnight tomorrow, when I will come for you, my queen.”
The next day was Kate’s special day, and was supposed to be for Rani, too, because Kate shared every moment of her life with her. But Rani was pensive. How could she tell her, what would she say? The thought of maybe having to leave without saying goodbye just to save Kate’s life tormented her mind all day as she tried her best to be happy, to have fun.
That night as they prepared for bed, Rani asked her, “If I were to go away and not come back, would you be unhappy?”
Kate looked at her, puzzled. “You haven’t been yourself all week. What are you talking about?”
“That I may have to go live with my own kind.”
“No! You’re part of this family, and you belong here with us, or wherever else we go to live!”
Tears gathered in Rani’s eyes, and she hugged her friend, knowing now for sure she would have to leave without saying goodbye, because Kate would never let her go.
At a quarter-to-midnight, Rani got up and looked at her sleeping friend for the last time. She left in tears, and an aching heart. The unique friendship of a snake girl and a human was finally over.
The Cobra King’s son was waiting for her, and as she made to leave with him, she heard Kate’s voice.
“Rani, you can’t leave.”
Rani turned around, completely surprised. Kate had followed her.
“You’re my best friend; please don’t leave me.”
The snake boy had disappeared in the grass, and, knowing the danger he posed, Rani tried to get her to leave.
“No, Kate! No, it’s not safe! Go back! If I stay, you will die.”
“I don’t care!” Kate held on to her. Then she screamed in pain and collapsed. The Black Cobra had bitten her.
“Oh no! No!” Rani screamed. She sobbed uncontrollably as she held Kate. Knowing she couldn’t retract the poison, she screamed for help. She hid and watched as Kate was taken away to the hospital, but Rani knew it would be of no use; the Cobra’s venom was deadly.
The snake boy hadn’t left; he was still waiting for her. Rani turned on him with rage, “I hate you! You have killed by best friend! Get away from me!”
“I warned you.”
“Go away!” she screamed, and collapsed in sheer agony.
“Why??” she cried to the Snake Goddess. “Why did you let this happen?”
She knew that in an hour, the poison would kill Kate, unless the venom can be withdrawn from her body, and that only the Snake Goddess had the power to do so. Rani prayed, as the minutes ticked by.
“Wherever you are, Divine One, please hear my prayer. If a life has to save a life, I will give you mine, but please don’t let my friend die.”
From somewhere, a voice said, “She means that much to you?”
“She means the world to me,” Rani said between tears.
A white light shone, and then a most spectacular vision, as the Snake Goddess appeared before her.
“You have true love in your heart, for you are willing to sacrifice your life for your friend. Your true virtue makes you worthy of living, so I can’t take your life to save hers.”
Rani’s heart sank in despair, but then, the Goddess’s next words raised her hopes.
“But you can save her.”
Rani looked at her, mystified. “I don’t have the power.”
“You do now.” The Goddess lifted her hand, and a shaft of light entered Rani’s body, bestowing upon her a touch of divinity.
“Go now; she doesn’t have much time.”
Rani appeared at her friend’s side, as Kate laid, pale and helpless. Her deeply distressed mother looked completely surprised.
“Rani, how did you get here? Where were you so long? She’s dying!”
“It’s a long story, but now, there is something I have to do to retract the poison.” With that, she lifted her hand over the snake bite on Kate’s leg and slowly, the colour returned to her body, as the venom slowly receded.
Kate opened her eyes, as her mother stared, stunned and speechless at the miracle she had just witnessed. Kate reached for Rani’s hand and whispered, “Rani, please don’t leave.”
“I won’t ever leave,” Rani said, taking her hand.
The power of a friend’s true love will keep them together forever.
Written By Maureen Rampertab