That night, the secret lab shifted from an arena of rigorous practice to a warm haven. The three of them—Rudra, Yang Lee, and the two children—sat together at a humble table, the aroma of a humble curry wafting over the metallic bite of the lab.
Yang Lee bit into a big piece of rice, chewing slowly, then surveyed Rudra critically. "You have to learn to cook, you mother..." He bit his tongue, his gaze darting to Dhruv and Anika. His grin remained unwavering. ".....mother-loving person."
Rudra rolled his eyes, a patient disgust on his face. "The kids are here, you have to behave, you father-loving person."
Both men erupted into a fit of laughter, their deep, thunderous guffaws echoing in the cavernous room. Dhruv and Anika, catching good humor, joined with their own little, shy giggles.
"How did you two meet?" Dhruv asked, intrigued about the relationship between the brilliant scientist and the quirky martial artist. "You're so different."
Rudra and Yang Lee shared a look, and the laughter subsided, overcome by a soft, mutual smile.
"It was in China," Rudra started, his tone low with memory. "I was a young scientist, just out of university, and I had gone there to purchase some of the rare utilities for my next major project. It was late night, late street, in a dark alley, when I was mugged."
Yang Lee took up the narrative, a dramatic tone creeping into his voice. "I was walking to a street fight when I encountered this crazy guy, yelling at the top of his lungs, running after a girl. He was yelling, 'Stop or I'll kill you!' like a madman. I thought, 'This girl is in danger, and this man needs to be taught a lesson.' I rushed to rescue her, grabbed the collar of his shirt, and told him, 'Do you have a death wish or something? Why are you bothering a girl?'"
Rudra laughed. "And I went on to tell him that she had stolen my bag containing the things of the project. But he was too self-important, the great 'King of Street Fights.' He began going on about all the things he was going to do to me if I didn't let her go. I saw his arrogance and decided to teach him a lesson of my own."
Rudra gave a sly grin. "I drew out one of the small gadgets I had invented, a high-voltage shocker, and stunned him. He was unconscious before he reached the ground."
Yang Lee's eyes grew wide in feigned horror. "I woke up and I was in the hospital. And there he was, sitting beside my bed, pretending to be worried. I said to him, 'Why did you chase that girl?' He said that his project stuff was in that bag. I felt so guilty, I offered to reimburse him for everything. But he didn't. He just said, 'Get me a good cup of chai.'"
"I was so moved by his generosity," Yang Lee explained, his voice now a gentle respect, "I gave him a tour of China. We spent days together, just talking and exploring the country. We became excellent friends. Our friendship just began like that."
The tale of their improbable friendship hung in the balance, a testament to the connection born in respect and humor. Dhruv, his eyes open in awe, shattered the easy silence.
"Wow," he shook his head. "That story is worthy of a movie. It's so great. You have to share more of your stories with us." A new thought then flashed in his eyes, something he had been pondering for some time. "And why are you two still unmarried? Why didn't you go get a girl and settle down?"
The question, so innocent and blunt, hung in the air. Rudra merely raised an eyebrow, a flash of amusement crossing his face. Yang Lee, however, paused mid-chew, his fork suspended in air. He glared at Dhruv with piercing eyes, a graphic change from his previous laughter.
"Leave all the stories until later, young one," said Yang Lee, his voice hard and stern for a moment. He didn't shout, but the silent intensity in his voice made Dhruv sit up more upright. "Now, both of you, go to bed. Tomorrow, training starts. And you should know this about me."
He leaned forward, his eyes locked on Dhruv and Anika. "I do not like failures."
With that, he leaned back in his chair, the sudden shift in his attitude quieting the room. Dhruv and Anika rapidly conclude their meal, a new air of gravity settling upon them. They understood, with a knowledge that defied words, that tomorrow would be an entirely different type of day.