Apparently, food can unite everything in this universe.
After Luca's reply, the man started off in the direction of his so-called 'home'. Everyone was wary of him in the beginning just like me. But Luca, like the foodie he was, followed him without a second thought.
Gradually, everyone's empty stomach caught up to them and they also followed Luca and the man. I just followed them to make sure everyone was safe.
And yes, I am just going to call him the man. Deva, his name is so long! It is a mouthful to pronounce.
As I was saying, food can unite everything in this universe. And now everyone is chomping down on the fruits that he served us even after my continuous warnings.
"Swastik, you've got to try these apples. They are so different from the ones back home." Anya says with her mouth full of food.
"I'd rather starve to death than eat any of this man's offering." I shoot back at her.
"Man, you don't know what you are missing out on." Gregor moans.
Everyone else just nods along with.
Anya swallows and scolds me, "Swastik, don't be so mannerless. That person is older than you. Have some respect. Thank God he didn't hear you."
"I don't care." I scoff.
"I know you are hungry and that's why you are whining like a starved puppy-"
"I don't whine!"
"-so I insist you should eat something. Pretty please. For me." She bats her long eyelashes at me and tries to move me with her innocent, worried look.
I'm not gonna be moved.
I'm not gonna be moved.
I'm not gonna be…
"Fine. Give me an apple." I say, resigned.
"Yay! Here take these!" Anya hurriedly puts some apples in my hands.
I crunch on one of them. Hmm. They are good. Not like I'm gonna admit it. Otherwise Anya and the others would look smug and tease the hell out of me.
The door of the hut opens and the man returns with a bag and some logs of wood. He proceeds to place them on the tabletop he has in the corner of the room. With a long, unkempt beard, he has tan skin and wears ugly but clean clothes. His hands look rough and have calluses and the condition of his feet is not so different. I'm surprised his feet are not bleeding as he has no footwear. I guess he is used to it.
"Okay. I have everything I need for the day." He murmurs something else too and then turns towards us.
"Do you need some more?" He asks as he raises his brow at our food.
"No thanks." I grunt out.
"What he means is he is thankful for your generosity as are we." Anya rushes to say and then glares at me. I just ignore her and continue eating.
"By the way, Sir, you have such a long name. So what can we call you?" Grace asks the man shyly.
"Oh, Harsh is probably fine." He replies.
"No! No! You are older than us and deserve our respect. How about we call you Uncle Harsha."
"That's fine too, little lady. Whatever you are comfortable with. So what are your names?"
"Oh! Oh! Let me tell you. I'm Grace with beautiful blond hair and baby blue eyes. Everyone calls me a Barbie doll but I don't like it."
At that everyone laughs and chuckles.
"That guy over there with dirty blond hair and black eyes is my brother, Noah. And then the muscly, big ogre with black hair and black eyes is Gregor. The gal beside him with reddish brown hair and hazel eyes is my BFF, Anya. Next to her, with black hair and hazel eyes with a lean body and zero brain development is Luca,-"
"Be careful how you speak, Barbie." Luca snaps.
"Don't mind him. As you might've guessed Gregor, Luca and Anya are siblings. And the last guy with black hair and blue eyes is Swastik. You know he has a very beautiful tan skin that I would die for. Even Anya and her brothers have lightly tanned skin. But my brother and I are cursed with this pale skin."
"I love my skin as it is." Noah says quietly.
Before any of us could say anything to cut off Grace's non-stop chatter, Uncle Harshsays, "Thank you for that generous introduction, little lady. But, if you don't mind me asking, how did you get stuck on this blasted island?"
At his question, everyone including Grace falls silent. There is no sound coming from any one one of us. Even the noise of eating is silenced.
And then there is nothing but silence.
Empty, sick silence.