A smile spread across his face as he exhaled. And suddenly, he looked at me.
Fear washed over me, and I stammered, lowering my gaze.“Um, di…dinner.”
I took uncertain steps forward, kneeling to place the plate before him. I could feel his intense gaze on me.
“Soyi nahi abhi tak?”“Why didn’t you sleep yet?” he asked dryly, washing his hands in a nearby bowl and pushing aside the items he had used to reach for the plate.
I gulped nervously, lowering my eyes.“Neend nahi aa rahi thi.”“I couldn’t sleep.”
He wiped his hands with a cloth, and my heart skipped a beat when I noticed the small cracks on his fingertips, stained with grey powder that had turned black.
“Kyun? Ullu ho?”“Why? Are you an owl?” he sneered, catching my attention with his face, making me grit my teeth and take a deep breath.
“Aap bhi to jaag rahein hain—aap ullu hain?”“You’re awake, too—are you an owl?”I couldn’t help but counter.
He brought the plate closer, tearing off a tiny piece of roti and setting it aside.
“Hum to aur bhi bahut kuch karte hain... Tum karogi?”“I do plenty of other things… will you do that as well?” he asked neutrally, showing no emotion on his face as he took a bite and then glanced at me.
I lowered my gaze and gently shook my head as I poured water into his glass.
The silence lingered as I sat across from him, resting my hands in my lap, and directed my eyes low as he ate quietly.
I didn’t fully understand why I was here, but it felt comforting to be around him.
“Chintit ho?”“Are you worried?” he asked slowly.
I raised my gaze to see him licking his fingers, then nodded.
He nodded slightly and spoke calmly,“Go to bed…nothing will happen.”
I lowered my gaze, feeling a gentle wave of comfort wash over me with his words. I didn’t get up; I couldn’t. While he ate silently, his soothing presence sent waves of comfort I hadn’t felt in ages.
He didn’t ask me to leave again and continued concentrating on finishing his dinner.
I watched him clean his fingers in the bowl, then pull the plate toward me as I stood up with it in my hands.
Glancing at him briefly, I turned around to leave, but he called,“Suno,”“Listen.”
I halted and turned to see him placing small stones into the mortar with unwavering focus.
“Ji,” I responded slowly.
He went on,“Bhojan mat banaya karo.”“Don’t cook.”
I blinked in silence, curious to ask,“Why?”
He lifted his lazy gaze and replied flatly,“Dar jaaogi,”“You will get scared.”
I gulped at his words and lowered my gaze.
“Jinke sir par kisike saaye nahi hote wo dar se darkar nahi reh sakte, Kunwar-sa.”“Those who do not have shadows over their head can’t afford to be scared, Kunwar-sa.” I said, watching him take a deep breath and nod as he stood up.
He was tall and well-built, and his dark-dusted outfit suited him perfectly.
Approaching slowly and silently, he stopped two feet from me.
He gently touched my head over my dupatta, caressing it slowly while whispering,“Kuch nahi hoga… hum hain,”“Nothing will happen… I’m here.”
