Ha Achi

Sangram, Arunachal Pradesh.

"Ha achi", she said, her head bent so I couldn't see her face. Without knowing what it meant, I felt the phrase pull at me.

"What does that mean?", I asked.

"Ask Sister", and she turned and quickly stepped out of the kitchen.

"It means, my heart is aching", Sister said.

And now, gno ha achi.