“Hi.I have news for you.We made a list of all those above seventy-five years in the locality.”They point to Sudhanshu, their accomplice, who sent out feelers to his local contacts.“Then we spoke to them and filled out a form, so we have as much information on the local history as possible.You know what they say, right from the horse's mouth.”
“We brought a map.”Kenny nudges Brian.He walks up, takes out a piece of paper from his bag, and shows it to Aditya.“This is an old trail map of the region around Almora.I found the paper tucked in one of the books in our library.The cafe exchanged a few hands after the British family left in 1947, but everyone preserved the books after them.”
Aditya grabs the map like a candy stick and scrutinises it.He looks adorable with his focused eyes, peering at the yellowing paper from behind his glasses.
“I asked my grandfather if he recalled anything from his youth.Dada is ninety years old.He gave me a few leads for the treasure hunt,” Sahil butts in.
Oh, boy, the glare Aditya gives us all.I hide behind Sudhanshu.“This is not an expedition.We are not going on any treasure hunt.Historical discoveries are not made in a day.We will need to do a lot of studies and take many painstaking walks in the forests.”Aditya expresses his exasperation.
“Yay!He said ‘we.’”Kenny high-fives Sahil.Aditya slams his palm on his head.
“We can help you study the Anthropos.”Brian turns to the others, chest-puffed, using the technical term for some of the figures painted in the caves.We all had a hard time memorising some of those in our secret planning sessions.
“Yes,” all of us say in unison.
“Guys, what are antho-antho?”Sahil rubs his temple, trying to recall the lessons.
Aditya smiles.“Some cave painting sites have half-human forms.They are called Anthropos.”
“What would these forms represent?”Kiron latches onto the breach in Aditya's stern demeanour.Smarty-pants.
“Some consider the figures and expression of primitive man's longing to be as fast or strong as those beasts.”Aditya falls for the trap.
“Pfft, you historians are too dry.What if they were paranormal beings roaming the earth tens of thousands of years ago?Like the half-human, half-eagle Garuda in Ramayana.”Kiron pats Aditya's arm.
“Oh yeah.Where did those paranormal beings disappear?Evolution does not happen in reverse.”Aditya scoffs.
Kiron, though, is not giving up on this argument.“They must have fled on alien ships.Haven't you heard about the theory on pyramids and other strange monuments worldwide?”
“Guys, stop this intellectual discourse.We will be late.”Brian pulls Kiron and Aditya apart.
Aditya takes a deep breath.“Okay, if you all insist.But be warned: history is frustrating, patient, back-breaking work.”
“We are all experienced hikers.”Another round of ‘yeses’ follows Kenny's statement.
“First, we must have breakfast.Hungry stomachs make everyone cranky.”Kiron mothers Aditya, and moves him towards the Jeep.
“But I—” Aditya protests.
Kiron silences him.“First stop is your house, where, while you and Jimmy freshen up, we will get the breakfast ready.”Kiron pushes him to hop onto the middle seat, sandwiching him between both of us.
I mouth a silent apology to Aditya.He is still in a daze about being kidnapped.When I broached the topic with Sahil, I did not expect all my friends to latch on, but here we are, ready for our version of Raiders of the Lost Ark.Kenny made all of us watch the movie last night to set the mood.
Brian takes the driver's seat, and Kenny joins him in the front.Sudhanshu and Sahil take the rear seat.Brian's black Thar Jeep thunders as we drive to Aditya's house.I hope he will calm down by the time we reach his place.
***
Everyone scampers totake their places when Aditya emerges from his bedroom wearing dark blue jeans and a pastel yellow polo t-shirt.
On purpose, I called dibs on the shower and made my escape.This way, Aditya and I avoided spending any alone time.The gang had caused this trouble, so they should douse Aditya's ire.
Aditya sees right through our shenanigans.“Sudhanshu, reading a book upside down makes a dumb man.Kiron, the spatula is too big to spread butter on toast.And Jimmy, why are you wearing two different types of shoes?”
My throat goes dry.Is Aditya still upset?
“Come here, hungry tiger.Eat first.Growl later.”Kenny drags Aditya to the dining table, where a buffet-style spread of egg and veg sandwiches and steaming masala chai awaits us.We gather around and eat in silence, no one daring to speak.
Aditya takes pity on us.“Has any of you been toLakhudiyar, the group of rock shelters on the banks of the Suyal River about twenty kilometres from here?”
