We didn't even realize when daylight faded and night took over. We were just walking-walking and walking-as if it were a silent challenge between us, to keep going without stopping.
Along the way, he shared everything with me. He told me about his life-how he ended up here, who he was before he came, and about his brother, whom he hadn't seen in eight years.
His brother lives abroad and never came back. He spoke about his own struggles too. He told me he could leave this place whenever he wanted, that nothing was holding him back permanently. But he didn't want to leave-not yet.
As we talked more, I began to understand that he came from a wealthy background.
And yet, here he was, working a small, simple job-for his own satisfaction. I couldn't fully understand him, not yet. But I wanted to. I wanted to know him more, to go deeper-to discover the side he hides from the world.
I could tell... he wasn't telling me everything. He was still holding something back.
"Oh, night's here," he said, looking around.
"Today's evening was the best," I replied with a soft smile.
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked up at the sky.
"Do you make a wish when a star falls?" he asked.
"I don't believe in that," I replied honestly.
"Tch... you're so crucial," he muttered, sounding slightly disappointed.
"Do you believe in it?" I asked, curious.
"Yeah... it's pretty good," he said. "I've believed in it since I was a kid. My mom told me to."
"Did you ever make a wish?"
"No. Never." His tone shifted.
"Why? Didn't you believe it would come true?" I asked softly.
He paused, eyes still fixed on the stars.
"If I make a wish... and it doesn't come true... I'd lose faith. Not in the stars, but in my mom. At least now, when I see a falling star, I smile. Because it reminds me of her."
"He held very deep emotions for his mother. The bond between them was truly beautiful you could see in his face how much he missed her. That's why he ate my mother's food so diligently. I can imagine he was a good son, and they shared a truly special mother-son bond."
"Did you miss her?" I asked. I knew it was a silly question-of course he did-but still, I wanted to keep the conversation going. I wanted to know more about him.
"Every second," he replied, a little disappointed.
If he ever got the chance to change everything and bring his mother back, he wouldn't hesitate. He would do anything. But we can't win against death. We can't bring them back. The ones who made us smile, who filled our lives with flowers-when they leave, they take it all with them... wherever they go.
"Death is really mysterious," I muttered.
He glanced at me. We walked along the road toward home - it was already dark, the streets silent.
"The whole world is mysterious to me," he replied not just to inform me, but like everything was a mystery to him... even me.
Humans love mysterious things... don't they?" he said again, as if he wanted to take his words back - like he'd accidentally revealed something too deep.
The hardest thing about men is that they never want you to know everything about them.
And what matters most to them... is their personality - their likes, their dislikes.I knew that.
"Oh really?" I replied casually, as if I believed him.
But he was right. We all do love mysterious things, don't we?
We love solving puzzles... getting lost in mazes... watching detective murder stories.
So yes - he was right when he said it.
We love mystery.
When we returned home, dinner had already started. Mom and Dad were seated, and so was Babu.
"You both came just in time. Sit down - I made your favorite food, Mimi," Mom said, almost like an order.
I washed my hands and sat down. He was already seated. We sat side by side.
He took some chapatis and aalu-chana sabzi - he loves food made by Mom's hands. He even praised her.
Babu stared at me suspiciously... like he knew something.
Every sibling has that instinct.
While we were eating, he started filling my plate. Mom, Papa, and Babu were all looking at us-very suspiciously. I coughed; that was my signal for him to stop doing it in front of my family... but he didn't.
"Eat all the rice. You're too thin," he said.
I chuckled.
Mom and Papa gave me a glare... the glare. The death glare.
Then Babu grabbed my hand and pulled me closer.
"What's going on between you two?" he asked.
"Nothing-just growing friendship," I clarified quickly.
The truth is, we really don't know what's going on between us...
Why we enjoy spending so much time together...
And whatever this is that's happening.
"Tomorrow, you all have to help us with farming. We're going to cut the crops," she ordered us.
By "all," she meant everyone sitting in front of her at the dining table.
We all nodded.
The night passed quietly and smoothly. I slept peacefully... it was beautiful.
I enjoyed it-the talk with Tej kept playing in my mind.
I kept repeating the scene over and over before falling asleep.
The next morning was bright-the sun shining over our heads.
We were all out in the fields, cutting grass and harvesting crops.
Today, everything is going to the market for sale.
I can already assume the profit will be good.
This hard work is finally going to pay off.
If Dad receives the full amount for our efforts, he'll worry less.
"The sun feels too close," Babu complained, irritated by his sweat.
He wished to go drive the car.