Chapter 17 The Taste of Family
The morning light slipped through the high windows of the palace and fell upon Neer face in a golden line. His eyelids fluttered. A deep tired breath escaped his lips as if he had returned from a long journey. He found himself on the bed and looked around.
Near his feet on the floor Agni was sitting. His head rested near Neer feet and his long hair was spread out. His back rose and fell with slow steady breaths. He was sleeping. Neer held his head and blurry memories surrounded him. What had happened two days ago. The fight in the courtyard. The clash of water and fire. And then darkness.
He tried to gently move Agni head away. But as soon as his hand touched him Agni eyes opened. He immediately sat up and his red eyes held a mixture of sleep and worry. He placed both his hands on Neer cheeks and looked into his eyes.
Neer. You are awake. Are you alright. Agni voice was cracked and heavy as if he was speaking for the first time after a night of silence.
Neer kept looking into Agni eyes but said nothing. He lowered his gaze. Agni. Forgive me.
Agni placed his fingers over Neer hands. Enough. Nothing more. Neer. I know everything. What you want to say.
Neer kept looking into Agni eyes again. Agni kept looking into Neer eyes. Time seemed to have stopped. Both of them had silently apologized to each other through their eyes.
Just then Nirag appeared at the door. Agni moved away from Neer and began coughing as if hiding his emotions. Neer also got up from the bed and stood.
Neer looked at Nirag and said. Come Nirag. Come inside.
Nirag came inside and said. Pitashree how are you. Are you alright. And he hugged Neer. Neer also hugged Nirag. For a while both of them remained embraced as if they had met after years.
Then Nirag said. Pitashree now you only tell Tauji. He has not eaten for the past two days. He just sat by your side day and night waiting for you to regain consciousness.
Neer looked at Agni. There was something in his eyes that only Agni could see. An old friendship. A shared pain. And an unbreakable trust that had not shattered even after the fight.
Nirag grabbed Neer hand with one hand and Agni hand with the other and said. Now come both of you will eat with me.
Nirag walked ahead holding Agni and Neer hands. Behind them Neer and Agni walked looking into each other eyes. There was an understanding of surrender towards each other in their eyes. A faint smile came upon Neer lips. Agni looked at his lips and then smiled looking into his eyes.
Nirag said. Now come sit down. See I will serve you food with my own hands.
Just then Anvay arrived there. Nirag said. Oh Anvay. Come you also sit and eat.
Anvay smiled and sat down. Nirag served food on Agni and Neer plates and then served food on Anvay plate and sat down beside Anvay. Anvay began to smile.
Neer and everyone began eating. Just then Anvay started coughing. Nirag patted Anvay back and gave him water. Anvay drank water and said. Thank you Nirag.
Nirag smiled and said. Whenever I used to cough while eating mother also used to pat my back and give me water just like this.
Neer looked at Agni and then got up folding his hands from the plate and went to Anvay. He wiped Anvay tears and said. Anvay I know that I cannot fill the absence of Dharaya. But just as Nirag is my child in the same way I consider you my son too. And just as Nirag is there for me in the same way you are too son. I lost my best friend and you lost your motherland. But this was destiny.
Neer looked at Agni and said. And perhaps ours too.
Agni looked at Neer as if he knew a secret that perhaps only Agni and Neer knew.
Neer wiped Anvay tears and fed him food with his own hands. Anvay smiled. Nirag was also happy for Anvay. Neer extended his hand towards Nirag. Nirag also ate the food. Neer fed both Anvay and Nirag and said. You both always remain as you are. With us and after us.
Nirag said. Are you both going somewhere Pitashree.
Neer smiled and said. No. But one day we will have to go.
Nirag became angry and said. You are not going anywhere. Come feed us.
Neer began feeding Anvay and Nirag again. Agni smiled watching this.
Just then Nirag said. Pitashree you fed us with your own hands. Now feed Tauji too.
Neer looked at Agni. Agni lowered his gaze. Nirag said. Pitashree go and feed Tauji.
Agni said. No Nirag. I have eaten.
Nirag said. Tauji just one sweet. In the name of our family happiness.
Agni looked at Neer. Nirag told Neer to go ahead. Go Pitashree.
Neer took the sweet and went to Agni and began looking into Agni eyes. Both looked into each other eyes. Neer slowly moved his hand towards Agni mouth and Agni opened his mouth. Neer fed him the sweet and started to leave.
Just then Agni grabbed Neer hand and said. Nirag your Pitashree fed us sweet. Now I will also feed him sweet.
Agni fed Neer the sweet. Neer smiled and ate the sweet and began to smile.
Nirag said. Now we will leave Pitashree and Tauji. Pranam. Anvay and Nirag both left from there.
Just then tears came to Neer eyes and he began drinking water. First once then a second time and then a third time.
Agni began to smile. Neer looked at Agni and said. Were you not ashamed. Agni feeding me sweet mixed with chili. Do you know how I stopped myself from screaming. Ahh. Ahh. My mouth. And he took water once more.
Agni came to Neer and looked into his eyes for a moment and then walked away smiling. Neer watched Agni leave and then walked away from there.
All this scene was being watched by someone hiding in black clothes. He stood in a high gallery of the palace and his eyes were narrow. He saw a small black bird fly onto his shoulder and then that bird whispered something in his ear. A cruel smile came upon that man lips. With his black gloved hands he took out a small slip on which was written in red ink. Enjoy the sweet of family. Soon you will taste poison. He folded the slip and tied it to the bird claw. The bird flew away. Straight towards Suryapuri.
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