10 Kali

In the Virtual World, there was a fierce warrior known as Kali, adorned in a red and black skirt with multiple layers that flowed with every step she took. Her necklace was made of skulls and bones, a reminder of her strength and power, and her headdress was a crescent moon with a third eye, in which she channeled her omniscience.

Today wasn’t about the online war. Kali was able to spare a moment from her duties, for a very special person. Sita finally had access to the Virtual World. And they were going bowling on the moon.

The skirt was made of multiple layers of soft, lightweight fabric that fluttered and swayed with each step that Sita took. The layers gave the skirt volume and movement, the fabric a vibrant shade of pink, contrasting beautifully with the other avatars in the virtual crowd.

The top that Sita wore was a work of art in itself. It was made of the same fabric as the skirt, but it had a tighter fit that accentuated her curves. The top was embellished with intricate embroidery, which covered the neckline and sleeves. The threads were a cacophony of bright colors, intertwining together.

Sita had accessorized her outfit with a few choice pieces of jewelry. She wore a delicate gold necklace with a small pendant that glinted in the disco lights. Kali couldn’t help but appreciate Sita’s traditional clothes. They were a perfect reflection of her friend’s personality - colorful, vibrant, and full of life.

At first, Sita found it difficult to adjust to the low-gravity environment, but as she got the hang of it, she started experimenting with different ways to play the game. Kali laughed cheerfully at the new player, using her four arms to hold two bowling balls at once, and she even tried using her trident to whack the bowling balls at the pins.

Sita was amazed by Kali’s avatar, and the two friends laughed and cheered each other on as they tried silly techniques to knock down the pins. Kali’s competitive spirit kicked in, and she found herself getting more and more excited as she perfected her bowling skills in the low-gravity environment.

Kali found herself laughing and joking with Sita, enjoying the moment and forgetting about the worries that had been weighing on her mind. She was grateful for the chance to let her guard down and have it be just like old times. They had grown up together in the streets of India, spending their days playing in the sun and dreaming of the future.

They recalled the time they had built a makeshift treehouse in their favorite tree, spending hours playing make-believe and imagining themselves as powerful warriors and princesses. They laughed as they remembered the time they had stolen a few pieces of fruit from the local market and had to run from the angry vendor.

But as they continued to talk, their voices grew more wistful. They both knew that everything had changed when the Virtual World had come out. People spent more time in the Virtual World than they did in the Real World, and childhood memories like the ones they were discussing were becoming more and more rare.

As Kali and Sita reminisced, Kali’s thoughts drifted towards an important upcoming holiday - Raksha Bandhan. It was a Hindu festival that celebrated the bond between brothers and sisters, and Kali knew that it was a time when sisters would tie a sacred thread, or “rakhi,” on their brothers’ wrists as a symbol of protection.

Even though Kali and Sita weren’t related by blood, they had celebrated Rakhi together since they were children. Kali remembered Sita tying a rakhi on her wrist every year, and Kali promised to protect her and keep her safe from harm.

Kali watched Sita’s smile vanish, along with the rest of her. Sita disconnected from the game. Kali was suddenly alone, feeling confused and a bit worried.

After a few moments, Sita reconnected to the game, but her demeanor had changed. She seemed flustered and distracted, as if she had just received some unexpected news.

“Kali, I’m so sorry, but I have to go,” Sita said suddenly. “My mother needs me to help with something in the house.”

Kali felt a pang of disappointment as she watched Sita leave the game. She gave Sita a sympathetic smile and nodded her head.

“It’s okay, Sita. I understand,” Kali said. “Family always comes first. Take care of what you need to, and we can catch up later.”

Sita smiled gratefully and disconnected from the game, leaving Kali with her thoughts. She went outside to get a breath of fresh nothingness.

As she leapt and floated in the near-vacuum of the moon’s atmosphere, Kali felt a sense of isolation and loneliness. The moon was a vast and desolate place, far away from the lights and sounds of the Virtual World clubs that she had grown so used to. Looking up at the dark sky above, she could see the glowing orb of Earth, shining brightly in the sun’s light.

Kali felt a pang of homesickness as she gazed at India’s familiar form. She missed her friends, family, and culture, and longed to be back there, in the Real World, surrounded by the sights and sounds that were familiar to her. She knew that she had made a new life for herself in the United States and her work in the Virtual World, but she couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing for how simple it used to be.

Kali eventually connected to a different server, getting back to work. She wanted to distract herself from the waiting. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, but Kali heard nothing from her friend, Sita. She tried to reach out to her through various channels, but she never received a response.