The vendors were calling for people to come to their stalls, drones were flying in the sky for both advertisements and announcements, people of different complexions and face types could be seen everywhere, wearing different clothes from suits to a simple dhoti. This was just as chaotic as Shambhu had seen it on his arrival.
Vajra, who had put his massive golden mace on his left shoulder, was walking on his left, and Daru, who had put his big black hammer on his right shoulder, was walking on his right. Shambhu was in the center. He had put on his gauntlets, which had red padding on the inner side and black metal on the outside. The three of them were leading their group from the front. They did not look any less than actual forces, except for their young faces and academic dresses.
The region they had chosen to patrol was on the far side from where the bus had stopped. So after a 3-mile walk, they reached their designated region and started their patrol.
"It's been almost four hours since we started the patrol. But we have heard nothing else besides creative honks and shouts, seen nothing more than creative advertising displays and people bargaining. It's much more boring than I thought," Daru complained.
"Yeah, man, and I am hungry now," Vajra supported him.
"Yes, the academy has already credited our I-bands. Today is going to be a feast! " Daru cheered up.
"Shambhu, why don't you just stop now at some restaurant? " Vajra pleaded.
" Yes, brother, think about our shoulders. We gotta give them some rest," Daru joined Vajra in his plea.
" Then why did you choose such heavy weapons which you can't carry around? " Shambhu questioned back.
" Brother, you don't understand; your weapon must create fear in your opponents' hearts," Daru said dramatically, puffing out his chest. Vajra nodded and others supported him with a 'hmm' sound.
" Your enemy shouldn't know what your weapon's full power could be. It's for fighting, not for posing," Shambhu countered.
" I can't beat you in arguments, brother. But, please, we have been walking for four hours," Daru reverted to his first request.
" Yes, Shambhu, we are hungry too, mate," one boy spoke from behind.
" Okay, okay. I was just looking for a suitable restaurant," Shambhu agreed. He had spotted a multistory restaurant where different kinds of dishes would be available.
" Since you guys wanted a feast, I think this is the right place," Shambhu said, standing in front of the entrance.
They were there to observe as much as they could, so Shambhu chose to stay on the ground floor. Since they were from the academy, they were treated with respect and were offered an upper floor dining area, but Shambhu rejected the idea. The group followed him and stayed on the ground floor. Having Daru on his side, who had awakened his first chakra in just a week, had made it easier for Shambhu to command the group.
Shambhu, Vajra, and Daru chose to sit at a table just beside the gate. This was the cheapest and outermost table they could get. Shambhu ordered plain cooked rice, some boiled potatoes, and Dal (pulse stew or pulse soup), which cost him less than half the Panas he had been given. He was following the code of the academic life, but Vajra and Daru were not. They ordered everything they could with the money they had been credited.
Daru was vegetarian, but Vajra ordered some chicken dishes too. The whole table was filled with dishes in just a few minutes. And Daru and Vajra started gobbling up the food.
'This doesn't taste bad. It's simple and tasty,' Raktaa said. She could now taste, smell, and feel touch if she wanted.
'Yeah, but you need to have good taste buds to appreciate this food,' Shambhu's mentally agreed.
'What the hell, why are they eating like starved wolves?' Shambhu noticed Vajra and Daru devouring the food, instead of eating.
" Have some decency; you eat as if you guys have not been fed for a whole month," Shambhu tried to save the respect the restaurant workers had shown them.
" I have finally got something to eat besides that grass food. Let me enjoy myself, at least, " Vajra mumbled with a mouth full.
" Yeah, you know, in my tribe, I have eaten actual grass food more spicy than the academy food," Daru spoke after swallowing what was in his mouth.
" By the way, how do you have toned muscles without eating meat? " Vajra asked Shambhu, this time clearly.
"'Secret," Shambhu too decided to have some fun.
Then his eyes fell on a small girl who was sitting at the table, on their opposite side. She was sitting with another girl who was of their age. The small girl was probably seven or eight. She had tears in her eyes while the other girl had a sad but stern look on her face. He tried to hear what they were talking about.
" Please, can I have Rasmalai (a sweet dish)? " the little girl pleaded.
" You know we don't have enough money, Shree. We won't be able to eat in the evening if I spend what I have on sweets," the older one tried to console her.
" Didi (big sister), I won't eat in the evening if you buy me Rasmalai. I'll eat half now and half in the evening," Shree insisted.
" You need food more than sweet dishes, sweetie," the older one again tried to reason with her.
Shambhu always wanted to have a sister which he didn't have, and Shree was almost the same age as his brother. Hearing her cute voice, even slightly, he was reminded of Ananta " I haven't talked to him in two days, huh," Shambhu said to himself.
'Well, let's see what this little one's problem is,' he said to Raktaa.
He had already finished his meal, so he went up to their table. Standing near their table, he first nodded to the elder sister. Just one look at her face, and he could notice her eyes showing the responsibility she shouldn't have been burdened with at this age. She had a beautiful oval face with slight baby fat still visible on her cheeks, round black eyes, and brown hair.
He then looked towards the little girl, who looked just like her elder sister but with more baby fat and brown eyes. Both of them were wearing yellow dresses, the little one a knee-length frock while the elder one was wearing a short-sleeved blouse and lehenga with a yellow dupatta draped on her chest and shoulders.
" What's your name, little girl? " Shambhu asked Shree.
The girl first looked towards her wary sister, who gave her approval with a nod, then replied.
" It's Shree," Shree answered.
" Shree, what a sweet name," he said. " And what's your name, sister? " he asked the older girl. She was still wary of him.
" Umaa," she said with hesitation.
" Umaa, don't worry, sister. I came here after noticing her tears. Is there a problem? " Shambhu asked.
" See? You're troubling others too," Umaa said to Shree in a stern voice, and then turned to Shambhu. " It's nothing much. She wants something she can't have," she said in a low, apologetic tone.
Shree was about to cry again, but before she could, Shambhu knelt beside and caressed her hair softly, and spoke , " Don't cry, sweet girl, what do you want? "
" I wanted a Rasmalai... but Didi said I can't have it... because we don't have money," the innocent girl told everything with hiccups and faint sobs.
" Awww, don't cry, don't cry. This big brother will buy you one, but don't bother and be stubborn with your big sister next time," Shambhu said in a sweet voice. He then ordered a Rasmalai and gave it to Shree. He sat beside her, while she started enjoying the sweet. The other team members were still eating their fill. He decided to use this time to learn about the girls.
" Umaa, what happened? Are you guys alone here? " Shambhu asked Umaa. She was still not completely at ease, but decided to spill the beans seeing his helping nature.
" We are from the outer areas of Prayag. Our parents were private cleaning service providers. During AQUAS, they got a cleaning project for the Eastern Zone here. We were allotted quarters in this zone despite that. During the Summoning catastrophe, they died and we were saved as we were at our quarters. And so here we are." She spoke in a voice getting lower with each sentence.
" And the Administration? What did they say? " Shambhu asked with an unreadable look.
" They let us stay in the quarters we were allotted and gave us the money our parents had already earned here. They have also promised to give us some stable services or to transfer us to an orphanage." Umaa was now fighting with herself to stop her tears. " It is a nice help, but can it really fill the gap caused by our loss? " she asked with a heavy voice and teary eyes, but didn't let a single drop of tear touch her cheeks. She couldn't show weakness in front of her sister.
Shambhu was sitting with his eyes closed and looking upwards. He was also trying to not show his inner emotions.
'Raktaa, why is the world so cruel?' he asked.
'The world itself is neither cruel nor kind. It's the people who live in it,' Raktaa answered in a philosophical tone.
" Bhaiya (Brother), Didi says I can't meet my mother-father again, " Shree's cute but sad voice brought him back to the real world. " Can you fulfill this wish, too? " Hearing such an innocent request, Shambhu's eyes got filled with tears. He took a deep breath, let his neck loose and looked down, then looked at the little girl who was still looking straight at him with an expectant face.
His heart ached at his own powerlessness and spoke in a heavy voice, " Shree, there are some things even this big brother can't do. I am sorry. "
" Don't be sorry, big brother, you let me have this sweet. If they (my parents) don't want to meet with me, then I can also live with my big sister, alone, " Shree said in a consoling yet determined baby voice. Yet a drop of tear still rolled down her cheek despite her efforts of being stoic.
" You definitely can," Shambhu just nodded with a smile and wet eyes. He was looking at two contrasting sides of the world in one place. Both sides were in the restaurant, both sides were having food, and both had tears in their eyes. Difference being the reason behind their tears. One tear was from joy, spice and accomplishment of life while the other one was from helplessness, powerlessness and sadness of life. He was immersed in his thoughts but a voice called to him.
" What happened, Brother? " Daru, who had finished his meal, came near this table and asked him. " You look sad. Why? "
" The world is full of tragedies, Daru. If you have both a heart and an eye, you are bound to be sad someday," Shambhu replied like a knowledgeable sage. He wanted to help the girls as much as he could. So he asked Daru.
" Do you guys have any money left ?"