When Veronica and Matthew got tired of making further enquiries, they went to meet Mark at the same spot he had earlier dropped them off.
Matthew asked, "Why didn't you call me?"
Mark looked around before replying: "Just did not. Leave it; I was enjoying nature."
As they all got inside the car, Mark started the engine and headed for the hotel. He said, "Hey Matthew, you came all of a sudden and all this, I almost forgot to ask you about your father. How is he? Does he have the mobile phone number?"
Matthew fumbled a little and then said, "Yes uncle, he is good. But no, he lost the mobile phone."
"Oh, then give me his new mobile phone number."
Matthew said putting his mobile phone, which he was using a moment earlier, inside his pocket, "I will when we reach the hotel, because my mobile phone is switched off. I need to charge it first before giving you his number."
Mark said, "Come on, you don't know or remember your dad's number?"
"No uncle, sorry. It is a new number. So I do not remember it."
"Oh, it's ok. But I thought I would talk to him this moment. That would have been pleasant. Leave it. – How are your grandpa and mom?"
"They are ok."
"Matthew my boy, I must say you have got one sweet, precious family which you must cherish."
Matthew pondered over this before saying, "Yes."
Veronica could not understand why Matthew lied to Mark that his mobile phone was switched off.
While still behind the wheels, Mark asked Matthew another question: "Does your father know you are with Veronica and that you are now a part-time translator cum guide?"
"Yes," was Matthew's reply.
Veronica thought: Perhaps it's interview time for Matthew. Like me, he also hates questions fired by elderly people. That's why perhaps he is not interested. But why he did not give his father's number to Mark? Who knows? There might be something, but that's not my business.
I know his mobile phone lock pattern which I observed him draw in the train. Thus, I can unlock his mobile phone without his knowledge. Then I can get his father's number and probably give it to Mark, to know why Matthew is acting strangely and lying. But it is none of my concern! He is doing good things for me; I need not know all his secrets and private affairs. After all, I am not going to marry him. Haha!
To change the topic Matthew who was sitting with Veronica in the back seat said, "I like these villages as their women enjoy so much freedom."
Mark said, "But when you will know the truth you won't like it."
"What do you mean?"
"Here men are treated with much disdain. You cannot tolerate it dear."
"Like women are treated in our society," said Matthew.
Mark said, "Hmm, but that does not mean that it's fair. Women must have some freedom in our society. The same thing applies to men here! Few had made some wrong rules for selfish reasons, yet their gullible adherents follow them blindly! Making the society rigid is not good."
Veronica waved aside all the philosophical babblings put up by two ignorant males, but this was not her concern. Her goal was her only concern and as she thought about this, the car suddenly pulled up at the hotel.