(Chapter - 15)

  [Now is the time]

  The next day at school, students are gathering into their classrooms. Their chatter fills the halls like every morning. Mehaki takes her seat, while greeting Himika. The colorful boys are already there in their seats, except Asroy, whose desk is empty today. They see Mehaki but Karu and Tushar hesitate a bit to go up to her, until she looks at them.

  Mehaki : Good morning, guys.

  Karu : Good morning.

  Tushar : Hello, Inufa!

  Tori, without any words, just waves ‘Hi’ to Mehaki, with a gentle welcoming smile. Mehaki waves back to him with a smile as well. She walks to their desks.

  Mehaki : *Asroy is not here…? Well, maybe I wouldn't even try talking to them if he was.* Colorful brothers but, I see one is not with you today.

  Karu : Yes, he's got a high fever.

  Mehaki : …Out of nowhere?

  Tushar : Yeah! He suddenly stormed out of home after some bickering with Tori. And when he came back after hours, he was just tired and slumped off to bed. Then dad got home, checked Asroy, and we learned he has a fever.

  Mehaki : I see. Any idea why this happened?

  Karu : No. He didn’t say anything at all.

  Tori : We were shocked about it too.

  Mehaki : Hmm… *That's strange, right?*

  Hours pass until it's the lunch break. Students are out on their way to the cafeteria. Some are still in the classroom having their own meal. Tushar is spaced out, resting his face on his palm as he stares at the sky through the window, thinking about last night.

  [After Miraz tells everyone about Asroy's fever, Tori, Karu and Tushar remain shocked.

  Tori : Fever!? But he was all fine before going out.

  Miraz : What exactly happened?

  Karu : It’s… Today after school…

  Karu tells Miraz everything about Mehaki's visit, her argument with Asroy, Mehaki's real identity and how Asroy was disheartened about his mandatory name hiding. Tushar and Tori also add Asroy's frustration shown to Tori and just going outside, only to mysteriously return exhausted, with no clues of where he had been.

  Karu : That's all we know till now.

  Miraz : *Where could he have been… I can't think of anything either.*

  He sighs heavily, like he's keeping himself calm despite carrying loads of many unspoken burdens. However, he does not let his fatherly attitude disappear within it.

  Miraz : We can only know after Asroy tells us. Let him get well first.

  Karu : Okay.

  Miraz : For now, all three of you. Come to my room. I have to talk about something important.

  Three of them glance at each other with curiosity mixed with confusion. Tushar’s usually carefree face suddenly turns cautious, as if bracing for an emergency.]

  Tushar's thoughts break, as he hears Karu's voice. Tori and Mehaki are near his desk too, with Karu.

  Karu : Tushar.

  Tushar : Huh? Wazzup?

  Karu : We're going to the cafeteria. Wanna join?

  Tushar : Nah, I don’t feel like going.

  Tori : Ok, then don’t.

  Mehaki : Come on, Tushar. Let's grab coffee together, all four of us.

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  Tushar's face gleams. The sudden change in his mood makes Tori and Karu doubtfully wonder.

  Tushar : Ah, if it's Inufa asking me to go then, I'll be happy to go! Hihi!

  Mehaki : Great.

  Karu : *What in the world?*

  Tori : *What's this behaviour? Is he trying to flirt or what? Why's he so excited now?*

  Tori furrows his brows for a second, being annoyed by Tushar's sudden interest in Mehaki. Mehaki remains normal as her usual self. They go and grab coffee together. After the school ends, Tori, Karu and Tushar are walking on their way home, chatting casually.

  Tushar : Hey, did you think about what dad said?

  Karu : You mean last night?

  Tushar : Yeah.

  [The moment after Miraz calls the three in his room. They're all standing still in front of him, ready to listen carefully to whatever he’ll say.

  Miraz : I think it's time you tell Mehaki about your lives.

  Tushar : Huh? To Inufa?

  Karu : Why now all of a sudden?

  Miraz : Since you've come to know who she is now. She's no ordinary girl, but a descendant of a powerful family.

  Tushar : But will it be ok?

  Miraz : Of course, since I myself told you to.

  Karu : Dad… I remember you telling us tales about how special the Ariya flower is, and how it glows when the related person is nearby and all… Did you by any chance, know all along that it was Mehaki?

  Miraz : Well, it will be a lie if I say I didn’t. I knew since very long ago, even before I had found you four.

  Tori : …! *He knew about Mehaki??*

  The three boys, struck by Miraz's words, stare at him with eyes filled with endless questions. Miraz doesn’t seem bothered, rather he's quite calm.

  Tushar : Whaaat!?

  Miraz : Do you guys remember what I said on the first day Mehaki came to our house 5 years ago?

  Tori : …To let Mehaki know about our powers, that it’s safe to tell her, and that she's different from others…?

  Miraz : That's right.

  Karu : You knew everything!

  Miraz : Not everything, but I know as much as needed.

  Tushar : Then how come you never told us anything?

  Miraz : There's a specific time for everything, Tushar.

  Karu : …

  Miraz : That's why I'm saying, now is the time for you all to open up about your pasts to her.

  Karu : Then… You also knew that Asroy is from one of Mehaki's enemy families, right?

  All of the three boys’ hearts start racing with anxiety at Karu’s question. All eager to know the answer. Miraz stays quiet for a few seconds, before conveying the shock.

  Miraz : Yes.

  Tori, Karu and Tushar are now stunned and unable to say anything. They feel like the room is shrinking, trapping them inside. After taking a moment to process, they finally speak.

  Miraz : Also, that he means no harm to Mehaki.

  Tori : *I… Can't believe it. How much more does he know? I'm piling up with so many things to ask!*

  Tushar : B-But! How did you know all this?

  Miraz grins gently, his calm demeanor unwavering.

  Miraz : That's a secret I can't tell you yet. It also needs a specific time to be revealed.

  Karu : Then, we'll just have to wait more…

  Miraz : Yes. Now keep in mind what I told you to do.

  “Ok, dad.” echoes in their voices, obedient, calm and understanding.]

  After remembering Miraz's words, Tushar eagerly brings it up again to Tori & Karu, his restlessness never fades.

  Tushar : About finally revealing our past to Inufa.

  Tori : I have no problem with it. *In fact I've been waiting for this time to come!*

  Karu : Well, I don’t see any issue either. Since it’s dad who asked us to tell her, of course we can trust on it.

  Tushar : Okay then…

  A while later, they get home. Asroy is sitting on his bed, having water. His eyes still look dazed. The 3 come into his room to check on him.

  Tushar : Hey Asroy! Got any better?

  Karu : How is your fever now?

  Asroy : It came down a bit, I guess.

  Karu : Did you have trouble staying home alone?

  Tushar : Got scared? Haha

  Tushar's cheerful mocking does not affect Asroy at all.

  Asroy : Nah, it was peaceful and I just slept.

  Tori : You did good.

  Tushar puts his bag down on his table.

  Tushar : Well, you have to be alone again for sometime.

  Asroy : Why? Are you going somewhere?

  Tori : Yeah.

  Asroy : Where?

  Karu : Probably somewhere very important. Don't bother, just take a rest. You’ll hear about it later.

  Asroy : …Fine.

  Asroy speaks in an indifferent tone, though deep down, he’s quietly curious. Tori glances at him, expression unreadable. Maybe he's feeling sympathy, or maybe concern, that Asroy still hasn’t said anything about what happened last night. Asroy wraps himself up in the blanket again as the three leave his room. They arrive at Mehaki's house. Minaki opens the door after they ring the doorbell, Mehrab follows behind her.

  Mehrab : Hi!

  Minaki : Hey Colorful brothers! How’ve you been?

  The three : Hello. We're doing good.

  Tori : How about you, Minaki?

  Minaki : Me too.

  Karu : Uh, we have something really important to talk about with Mehaki.

  Mehrab : Please, come in. Sis is in her room upstairs.

  Karu : Ok, thanks!

  The three boys go upstairs and knock on Mehaki's room door. Mehaki opens the door and sees them standing.

  Tori : Hi Mehaki.

  Tushar : Inufa!

  Karu : Hey.

  Mehaki : Oh, Tori, Karu and Tushar. What a surprise! Come in.

  Karu : Thank you.

  They sit on Mehaki's bed while she takes the chair opposite. The room feels as cozy as always.

  Mehaki : So… What brings you here?

  Tushar : C'mon Inufa! Can't we visit our friend?

  Mehaki : Of course you can. That's not what I meant.

  Tushar : I know, chill.

  Tushar smiles at her cheerfully.

  Karu : Actually, we have to tell you something… About our pasts.

  Mehaki : …Your pasts?

  Karu : Yes, since you’ve shared your real identity with us, you deserve to know about us too. And this is the perfect time for it.

  Mehaki : Oh…

  Tori : You do know that we're adopted by our dad, right? I was the first one whom dad took in. I'll tell you what happened to me 12 years ago…

  Mehaki's eyes lock on Tori. The eagerness to know it all glimmers in her gaze. She sits still, focused, waiting for Tori to share his story.

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