Charu, this story is such a breath of fresh air, and I mean that both in the transitions of settings into the country where tradition and technology could be juxtaposed and weighed against their roles to true happiness, and in the OMG WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING HERE ways.

Seriously, I was so ready for the favored sister's hand to catch our narrator and a sibling rivalry redemption story meets realizing that family is the ultimate support in an otherwise tumultuous life where people get lost looking for happiness in all the wrong places - you built it up so incredibly well!

Then to have that rug completely pulled from under me, with not even a branch to hold on to as I went out on wet stones I didn't even know were there - man, floored me.

The sheer insanity of... well, the loss of sanity was like a gut punch and reminded me of the key to humor: do something your audience least expects. Your semi-dadaist approach to narratives makes reading you so much fun and, even though I'm not usually one to comment on short stories since I can't wrap myself around composing one and feel intimidated, I had to tell you how much I enjoyed this read.

Thank you for sharing, @diebitch, absolutely crushed it.

_{P.S. couldn't help but notice that mate in your comments, was wondering if you might have selected him? He looks like he would be an ample and pleasing tribute for the ritual, don't you agree?}