"Stop inviting flies into your mouth."
A voice said beside him. He turned around and met with the face of the one and only, Pratap Roy.
"We're sitting and listening to the cultural stories of the villagers. You know, for our 'heritage project.' Wanna come?"
Ishar nodded and they both went back to the bonfire, where the rest of the group was sitting on the warm grass and wooden benches, engrossed in a story that some middle aged man was telling. Venkatesh sat beside them.
Aniket turned and asked him, "Venku, you introduced us to your entire family, but what about your mother."
Venkatesh sighed and said,
"First of all, never, ever, call me Venku again. And secondly-", his voice suddenly dropped, with a familiar tone of dread, "My mom passed away when I was little."
Ishar's head whipped up at an alarming speed.There was a desolate silence.
"I-I'm so sorry." Aniket said in a timid voice.
So, Venkatesh had experienced the agonizing pain of losing a mother. Ishar had never felt so guilty for imagining his own mother passing away. It must've taken Venkatesh a strong resilience to cope up with such a petrifying loss. He had suddenly gained an even higher form of respect among the group.
"Do you children want to hear a story that is fit for your project?"
A voice snapped them out of their hypnotic silence. It was Harini's voice. She was seated beside Adinath and a few more older women.
"It is a resilient story, connected to the very beliefs, the very roots of India." For some reason, Venkatesh's eyes widened and he looked desperately towards his father. Adinath looked back at him with a defeated posture.
"Sure, grandma. We would love to hear the tale." Gargi said, smiling warmly. Naren nodded enthusiastically beside him.
Soon Pratap, Ishar, Gargi, Anjani and Aniket had positioned themselves on the ground, with a paper in their hands to 'note' down their observations. In truth, they were just getting into a better position to receive the bonfire's warmth- it was getting quite chilly and dark.
But hey, as long as no one knows, right?