Recap:
This place always reminds me of him. After all, it was here that I met him for the first time…
"Just wait and see—I'll find Aarvan and bring him back for you."
Suddenly, a rustling sound comes from the bushes behind Sai.
(Sai flinches in fear)
Voice: "So, here you are."
Sai jumps, startled.
Sai: "Who's there?"
Zixu: "Scared, huh? It's me, Zixu."
Sai: "Oh, no, no… I'm not scared. I just… uh…"
Zixu: "Stop lying. Anyway, you're really late. We need to go now."
Sai, nervously:
Sai: "Oh, forgive me. Let's go, I know we're late."
Zixu: "Alright, let's go."
They start walking toward the village. On the way, Zixu asks:
Zixu: "By the way, what kind of power do you have? Seems unusual. Can you explain it? I need to do some research."
Sai: "It's nothing special… I'll tell you later."
Zixu: "Oh! I almost forgot. I discovered something about Aarvan."
Sai jumps with excitement:
Sai: "Tell me quickly! Why delay good news?"
Zixu: "First, tell me about your power."
Sai: "Alright… watch this."
Sai walks to the river, dips his hand in, then lifts it. His hand transforms into liquid, like water.
Zixu: "Whoa, it's literally like water… how?"
Sai: "Watch this."
Sai touches a rock. His hand becomes solid and hard.
Zixu: "This is… a really strange power. I've heard powers like this often come with weaknesses."
Sai: "So far, nothing. I even showed it to a doctor. He said sometimes this happens even with Avtaran powers. Oh, and he checked my DNA—turns out it has four shifts too."
Zixu: "Shifts? What's that? I've never heard of it."
Sai: "It's like an upgrade—it boosts my strength further."
By the time they finish talking, they've reached the village.
Sai: "Ah, we're here. It's getting late. Let's go home; Mom must be waiting."
Zixu: "Alright, see you later after packing."
Sai walks home, thinking:
(What's so special about that pendant? Could it be protecting me on its own?)
Sai reaches home.
Mika: "Sai! You're back! Where were you?"
Sai: "Nowhere, Mom. Just stepped out for a bit."
Mika: "By the way, that pendant has been glowing ever since you left."
Sai, astonished:
Sai: "Really? Where is it, Mom? I need to see it."
Mika: "It's on the top shelf."
Sai runs over, thinking:
(Could this really be… I hope it's what I think it is.)
The pendant is still glowing.
Sai: "Madhav… it's you, isn't it? Come forward."
Suddenly, the glow stops. Sai wears the pendant. He tries everything, but nothing happens.
Mika: "Sai, hurry! Lunch is ready."
Sai: "Yes, Mom, just five more minutes."
He walks away, disappointed.
Sai: "Mom, I can't be late. Zixu must be waiting."
Mika: "You were the one keeping the kotwal waiting… now you're complaining?"
Sai: "Sorry, Devi Ji. I'm late. Please give me the food now."
As they start eating, Zixu waits at the village gate.
Sai (calling from afar): "Hey Zixu, sorry I'm late."
Sai's mom brings his bag:
Mika: "Sai, did you forget this?"
Sai: "How will I carry all this? The bag's already full."
Mika: "This is two months' worth of food. Eat on time."
Sai: "Zixu, let's run! How can we carry all this?"
Zixu & Sai: "Bye bye! We'll come back for the rest later."
They take the forest path.
Sai (sensing something): "Zixu, don't you feel like someone's following us?"
Zixu: "Yeah, I feel it too."
Sai: "Water cannon!"
Jai (jumping out of the bushes): "Wait, it's me!"
Sai: "Jai! How long have you been following us?"
Zixu: "Can someone explain what's happening?"
Sai: "Zixu, wait five minutes! Jai, why are you here?"
Jai (pigeon): "You called me."
Sai: "I did?"
Zixu: "Can someone tell me if I should leave?"
Jai: "One second, sit. I'll explain."
They sit.
Jai: "Yesterday, I was on a tree eating fruit when I got caught in a hunter's trap. Sai came and saved me. He said, 'Are you okay? If you want, you can come with me.'"
Zixu: "So it's Sai's doing."
Sai: "I only told him to go to the hospital. Nothing else."
Jai: "Yes, but if I had gone with you, you'd have eaten my fruit first. So I ate it and then followed you."
Zixu grabs Sai:
Sai: "Let go, Zixu! I won't let this pigeon go today… I'll bite its wing!"
Jai: "Are you going alone? Better take me—I'll even show the way."
Zixu: "Good idea. It can fly, makes things easier."
Sai: "Yeah, and if we're hungry, we can cook and eat it too."
Jai: "Help! I'll be eaten!"
Zixu: "Relax, it's fine. Come with us."
They all laugh.
(By now, Sai has two new companions on this journey. Who knows what challenges lie ahead?)
Jai: "Help! Today he's definitely going to eat me!"
To be continued…
Chapter 3 coming soon