Both Manu and Srini went inside the shop and sat on the long wooden bench.
"When you both didn't come day before yesterday, I was worried something had happened to you, so I went to your house yesterday. No one answered my shout — I thought you'd fallen into some kind of trouble. Now you're safe; that's enough," Rahim Chacha said as he prepared plates and handed them to both of them.
"If you ever need money, ask me. I will help. Okay? Don't go outside — it's very dangerous," Rahim Chacha added.
Then both Manu and Srini began their meal.
"Did you both really go to the other side?" Rahim Chacha asked.
"Yes, Chacha. A lot happened there," Srini said.
Srini then started to tell everything that had happened on the other side — how they came across the horned sheep and how they were attacked by a group of people. He didn't mention what had happened to Manu on the way back to the settlement.
"You both went through a lot," Rahim said.
Then Rahim Chacha scooped a large ladle of soup from the bowl and moved it toward Manu's plate.
Manu pushed his plate away. "Chacha, no — I don't need it. I'm full," he said.
"Take it… take it… move it toward you," Rahim Chacha urged.
"Chacha, but—" Manu began, and was cut off.
"I said move it! You both need to eat. I know you haven't eaten for two days. You need to recover your energy," Rahim Chacha said, and he placed a scoop on both Manu's and Srini's plates.
Then Manu glanced at the cash box.
After a while, Manu and Srini finished their food.
"Chacha, take this," Manu tried to give a few notes.
Seeing the money, Rahim Chacha turned and took out a wooden stick. He raised it and looked at Manu.
"Do you think you're rich because you got a little money? Now get out of my shop with your money. If I see you trying to give it to me again, I'll beat you until this stick breaks," Rahim said.
"But Chacha, you need to take this to cover tomorrow's food expenses," Manu said.
"Now are you leaving or not?" Rahim said, ready to strike.
"Chacha, okay, we're leaving. Manu, come on — don't anger Chacha," Srini said, dragging Manu along.
While Manu and Srini were eating, Rahim Chacha served other customers. Manu looked toward the cash box and, without telling Rahim Chacha, added few bills into the box.
"Chacha, I know how much you suffer to earn this money. You sell food so cheaply, and you fed us for free until now. I can do only this much," Manu thought to himself.
"Chacha, I don't know how many days I can eat here, but I would be happy if you fed Srini like this every day after I'm gone," Manu thought.
Manu and Srini started walking back to their house. On the way, someone was following them.
Seeing the follower, Manu thought, "'Who can it be? Is it Tarun? If he's come to take revenge, he must face the town's rules about fighting and I need to meet Arvind to confirm something."
"Srini, you look tired. Go rest at home; I'll come after a while," Manu said.
"Yeah, okay. I'll be at the house," Srini replied and left.
"Now I think I need to run around the settlement to confirm about few things ," Manu said to himself