Even when he waited for so long, they didn't come. Tejas decided to walk back to his cubicle. He took the path through narrower roads, where trees and grasses were in abundance. To cheer himself up, he bought a 'Chocolate Kulfi' from a small shop. The owner, a bent old man with a moustache, seemed to know him because he grinned and asked, "Your buddies?"
"Didn't turn up today," he licked his Kulfi as he said that. With one hand he was trying to slurp everything without it melting in the heat and with the other he was scanning his id to complete the transaction. "Son, slow down," the owner said. Tejas sat on the ground but in the middle of him completing his Kulfi, he broke down.
"This is the third time they have abandoned me. Am I not their friend anymore?" his tears and snot were about to mingle with his Kulfi when the owner offered him a tissue. But Tejas, took his handkerchief from the breast pocket of his saffron Kurta. He began to feel vulnerable so he said to the owner, "Uncle, can I pay you tomorrow?"
When the owner had agreed, he took the short path again. There were more people, in black, saffron and other monotone shades, as if every single person was in a uniform.
He reached his cubicle very soon. It was a small wooden cabin, surrounded by plants and shrubs. There were a few hundred of these cabins and they were all equidistantly placed from each other.
Since it was 6 pm already, his dinner was delivered at the doorstep. It was carefully packaged in utensils made of leaf and terracotta. It contained balanced proportions of rice, dal, vegetables and curd. Every hot day needed curd.
When he opened the door, the hologram's platform in his room was already blinking yellow. His father must've been waiting for a chat. "Hello dad!"
The image of a man with a head full of black hair and a pair of safety goggles hovered on the platform when he sat on his chair.
"Hello son! I have talked the nutritionist out of bitter gourds. Don't waste any food today," saying so his father came closer to the screen.
On the speaker someone's running footsteps was heard. A bald lady with huge glasses and thick lips wearing a lab coat waved her hand. "I have requested for the sweet curd and your father asked the nutritionist to not give you bitter gourds. Don't waste food today."
"I said most of that already!" His father leaned towards her and smiled. The lady smacked her head lightly and chuckled. But their son was quiet.
"You're thinking about something, aren't you?" his mother asked.
"I met two girls today in the park. One of them was able to tell right away that I was adopted. How did she know?"
His mother sat down beside his father. "No idea, Tej. But why does it bother you?" She leaned towards the screen to see his face more clearly.
Tejas opened his mouth as if he knew why but for the next 2 minutes he was silent.
"You can tell us later. But, we want you to know that we are very proud of you. Just two more days to go, right?"
That brought a grin on Tejas' face. He had been training hard to work in his mother's lab. It was one of his dream to walk in her footsteps.
"Intern Tejas Raman!" His father grinned and crossed his arms, imagining the day in his head.
"I'll try not to be too strict." His mother suppressed a broad smile but her cheekbones gave her away.
"Don't know about that," his father pretended to be clueless as he casted a look at his mother. She pinched his nose and moved away swiftly from focus.
"Sometimes I forget that we are not kids." His father laughed softly. "Alright, son! Eat well and take rest." Tejas nodded. The screen of the hologram collapsed quickly.
He loved these conversations with his parents. Each time, it left him feeling cheerful.
As Tejas leaned back on his chair swinging his head, he replayed the scenes with the sisters. This made him realize that he had forgotten to ask why his friends weren't in the park that day.