It was around 5.15 Am when Arjun opened his eyes. He blinked his eyes collecting all the yesterday memories . He saw that the lights of the corridors were back to normal. Ritvik was still asleep.
'Rhythm'
He looked for Rhythm.
As if Rhythm heard him, he flew to him and sat over his lap. Arjun felt happy to see him. His light was back to normal.
" You… alright."
" Yes"
Rhythm replied to him.
Ritvik also woke up, he found Arjun was awake and he also saw Rhythm. He felt assured to see them both. He saw the time. It was already 5.25am.
"Let's get out of here." Ritvik suggested them .
Arjun nodded. They both were recalling the footsteps they heard. They both had only one question.
'Were they locked inside?'
Ritvik went to check the door. They were not locked inside. The lights of the corridor were normal too. It seems like there was no one other than them.
Before anyone comes to open the Office door or Rithvik's room in his home they need to get out of there.
Arjun remembered about the helicopter that was left in the Power source room. He asked Rhythm to stay with Ritvik and he himself went to the Power source room.
He found the helicopter but his eyes were looking for the wire that had sparking last night. He was unable to find it. He wanted to look for it more but then he heard Rithvik's voice, so he put his thoughts aside and came out.
They carefully came down, closing the door back. They came down. They found there was only one Guard, who was snoring on his chair. They went to the key room. As opening the door could alert the guard so they simply slipped the key inside. Ritvik was hoping that the key could be found by Guard before anyone else.
They slowly picked their bicycles and found the passage to the road..
Morning was making its way in the sky. It wasn't dark anymore, but it was still cloudy. As they moved forward they saw the birds going around the sky. Some of them were flying in the flock making beautiful patterns in the sky. Some birds were playing around with each other.
Though they weren't saying anything to each other , all of them were occupied with their thoughts. Arjun's eyes were fixed on the clouds and a thought came to his mind.
Arjun knew himself, he was little upset because they failed to find anything last night but this does not mean that he would give up.
"Sometimes light is just behind the clouds and we fail to see it. Though it is far from our reach it can still be pursued."
Even this little thought was sufficient to cheer him up.
Ritvik and Rhythm were both looking at him with disbelief. Arjun sheepishly smiled and changed the topic.
Rhythm, "have you ever got to ride on birds?"
" yes"
Rhythm swirled around him with his bright purple light.
" Then, would you like to imitate them?"
" Imitate them"
Rhythm repeated Arjun words.
Arjun directed him to see in the sky.
Rhythm and Ritvik both directed their gaze on the sky.
Two birds came from two different directions, both were flying at a very high speed and they crossed each other's path. They were flying, maintaining a certain distance with each other and crossed their path once again. After that they both went out of their sight
Rhythm was looking at Arjun.
Ritvik was helplessly thinking about what Arjun was upto this time.
The path they were in had some down slopes on different turns.
"Just follow me"
Arjun said with amusement. He increased his speed. He always had fun riding his bicycle,taking the crossings specially at down slopes.
Rhythm increased his speed as well. It didn't take him much time reaching him. Just when Rhythm reached Arjun, Arjun took a turn coming to his opposite direction.
This really amazed Rhythm.
He wanted to do that too.
" Are you going to stay there?"
Arjun asked Ritvik who was still behind them restraining himself from getting involved.
Ritvik was staring at him with his fixed gaze as if he was asking him not to test him. His looks can scare anyone but not Arjun.
Rhythm actually went further. Arjun was having a hard time catching him. Little did he know.
While he was taking his full strength to reach him. He was surprised when he popped up right before his eyes.
Rhythm saw Arjun to be very far so he came back to him.
Arjun hardly halted himself protecting him from falling.
"My Dumbo18, you never fail to surprise me"
Rhythm wondered if he did something wrong.
This time Ritvik crossed their path. He swirled his bicycle around both of them.
" I told you, don't test me"
At this all three of them laughed out loud.
Ritvik laughed and paused looking around if they hadn't woken up anyone.
When he saw..
" You forgot home is still on the other side."
Arjun had already taken his bicycle forward.
On hearing it, Ritvik sighed..
" O-ok you won."
Arjun had already gone further. Ritvik followed him. In no time they reached their home.
They silently went to the place where all the vehicles were kept and placed their bicycles. They followed the same path to reach back to their room hoping not to be found out. They successfully entered their room through the window.
Finally they settled themselves.
Arjun put down his bag from his shoulders.
"Wash your hands first Arjun then do as you wish."
Rithvik has always been hygiene conscious. Whereas Arjun always needs to be reminded of these things.
"Okay-y"
Arjun complied with him. He washed his hands. He put aside all the pillows he had placed and layed over the bed.
" Okay, I am going to take bath first, you pack your bag, settle things a little bit here."
" yep"
Arjun replied in half sleepiness.
When Ritvik came out, he found Arjun to be asleep. He wasn't very surprised to see his friend. This was very expected from him.
He heard someone on the door.
He immediately went and opened the door. It was his mother who came to see if both of them were awake. She felt assured that her son was already awake and almost ready. Her son has always been very obedient to her. But she felt disappointed to see the room. The bed had many unnecessary pillows and she looked at how Arjun was asleep. Then his things were still scattered.
"Umm Maa don't worry, I will settle things here before we leave. We still have some time."
Ritvik told her mother with his pleasent smile.
Smita bent upto Rithvik's height and she caressed his head.
" Okay, settle it soon. I am preparing breakfast."
"Then, Come down both of you."
"Yes Maa"
Ritvik nodded
Smita left the room to prepare breakfast.
Ritvik closed the door. He looked over to Arjun. He thought to give him more ten minutes. Till then he thought to get himself ready.
When Arjun woke up, he found Rithvik was tying his tie. His tie was perfectly ted. He was ready with his uniform. He had short hair and blue eyes. .His uniform was perfectly ironed without any crease. He was wearing square frame spectacles. He was taller than Arjun. His face had cold expressions. But he holds a pleasant smile. He seemed very smart in his uniform. Even Arjun admires him for the way he carries himself.
"Ahh.. What time is it? You are already ready?"
"Yess, Go and take a bath soon. You will be late otherwise."
Ritvik thought it was good that he woke up himself.
Arjun was looking at him with astonishment, he couldn't believe that he didn't wake him up.
By the time Arjun returned, he found the room felt very clean and organized. Everything was at its own place. His uniform and bag was also ready.
He scratched his head looking at things.
" You have 10 minutes. Get ready fast and come down. I will be waiting downstairs."
" Yaa okay"
Arjun also got ready. Rhythm stayed with him. They both got down, took their breakfast. Smita gave them their lunchboxes and water bottles.
Ritvik was looking for his father.
" Arav is still in his room. He is busy with certain things. Don't worry about him. You remember what we told you right."
Ritvik took a deep breath. When all this started Arav and Smita had a conversation with their son. Ritvik didn't want to make them worried.
"Yes Maa"
"Okay then, focus on studying both of you and return on time okay."
"Yes aunty."
" Yes Maa"
They both left the home and stood outside waiting for the bus to pick them up.
School Bus arrived in no time. It took them about half an hour to reach their school.
There was an alleyway they had to walk through to reach their school building. As it was a big school which had greenery everywhere and different buildings holding different classes.
Just after they crossed the alleyway.
Ritvik was in his thoughts. Thinking about night, thinking about his father's trial and everything. He felt very worried and disappointed.
"Keep your head high". Arjun said while patting on his head supportingly.
Ritvik looked over him with amazement.
" Why are you looking at me with amazement?"
" You should feel proud of yourself as you are walking by my side."
Arjun said with a teasing smile.
" Proud of what, walking by side of the great Arjun who always gets in trouble huh"
" The one who is in trouble is you!"
And he ran towards the class.
" let me show you who is in trouble!" Ritvik ran after him.
" Try catching me first!".
He said while running.
" Just you wait!"
Ritvik followed Arjun while running. He thought he was really foolish to hide things from him. Today because of him. He is not scared anymore he felt that even if worst comes to worst he is prepared. As long as Arjun is by his side he can handle it all.
After running a while they both waved their hands to Rhythm to join them.
In no time Rhythm flew to them. He went around both of them. It feels they got acquainted with each other and got tied in a special bond that none of them understands themselves.