The boy minding the cow grazing on a patch of green grass next to a wooden hut standing lonely by the main road to the village thought nothing when he heard and then saw the jeep ambled in, its tall, well grooved tires, sending gravel plopping into the wide monsoon drains running alongside. He had seen the vehicle before, parked by the roadside near the junction into his village; finding it both amusing the two men in the jeep stayed at the same spot for hours.
About time they start moving somewhere, anywhere. I'd be sick to stay so stationary for even one hour.
His eyes met one of them, and wondered if they were looking for someone, but since they never stop to ask, he didn't feel like volunteering any help.
Anyway, what could a boy like me know, eh?
His palm flicked to shoo away at some flies buzzing around his packed lunch. He didn't feel like eating as the midday heat bothered him. Instead, his eyes trailed the jeep's passage as it travelled deeper along the village road until it became but a speck in the horizon leading towards the mangrove and hillside-flanked coastline.
The boy then lay on the hut's floor, fell asleep, and dreamt he was riding one such jeep, Sapee riding along on the rear cabin. The two men in dark shades jogging alongside, their leather jackets flapping in the air as villagers cheered and clapped.
And he, he acknowledged their cheers, raising both arms in jubilation.