Nia calmed down from recent happenings, she took a deep breath as her mind wandered remembering the streams and fields they played in, in her childhood with Shaan. As these thoughts rose, her emotions welled up.
Shaan wanted to lighten up mood. He said patronizingly," You used to be alert and intelligent, when you were small. But now I see that you have only grown dumber". He teased
Nia glared at him, and spoke mocking him,"Maybe because I didn't live in city and learn in foreign schools".
Shaan was speechless. He mumbled, this girl is still shrewd at arguing.
Soon they continued to fields after the brief rest. The workers had already started their job. As Shaan accompanied Nia, they greeted and got introduced to Shaan.
Shaan helped them weeding the fields. After sometime he walked and settled under the banyan tree.
Cold wind blowed under the hot sun, he drank cold water qunching the dry throat caused by tiresome physical work, he experienced inexplicable peace as he mused in his own mind which was under nature's spell.
And continued sitting there till the evening.
He remembered that when he was a kid he met an quirky old man.
He appeared in the village out of dark, nobody knew his background. He wandered around schools and streets.
Shaan was met with this character when he was playing with other kids and Nia. The old man looked like a beggar with his attire with his face swollen from pimples. But his walk with stick in hand had certain rhythm to it, like a programmer has with his keyboard, Pianist with his piano, Chess GM with knight etc.
Back to old man, Shaan looked at him and started thinking why does this old man has to live like this, did his children leave him, didn't he secure some property, is he diseased or is he last of his family. Many thoughts wandered his mind.
He decided if I don't want to end up like him I need to make lot of children or earn lot of money. As he thought this, he was taken aback with what's happening.
When Elderly man neared the Shaan and kids, he had already started mumbling random words.
It was half audible. He neared them as he mumbled, "Too less time, symmy bulgerr.. , find it, Dkrim enough, .....tens or more..... tomorrow last ....".
He was moving towards them, seeing this, Nia shouted,"No food old man, we already ate it all".
Other kids, shouted, "No food", "Ask your wife"
One threw his sandal, saying,"Eat this".
But quirky old man wasn't halted by this, he still came at them, children scattered seeing him not stop.
As children, with loud shout and few laughter, ran like garlic splitting into pieces, Shaan too ran away looking at them, and also was afraid that he will get infected by disease old man might have.
Hearing the screams and shouts, few parents appeared and rebuked spooky old man. He was scared away by public like street dog is done.
Soon old man, walked off slowly and sat on edge of a well, looking deep into water. The public didn't want him there but it was already better with him away from children.
The game and the play ended and as parents took their kids away, scolding and giving them earful. Shaan and Nia too went homes, helplessly.
Shaan thought if everybody avoids the old man, scares the old man away, what is old man was gonna eat. He might die hungry soon. Thoughts crossed his mind, afraid that old man would die, and somehow it made him feel bad.
Shaan left Nia home and started running towards the circle where main markets and shops of village were there.
He bought two buns of bread from shop from pocket money he had gathered, relatives giving him now and then. With bun pack in hand, he started running to well, towards old man.
His pace quickened as he imagined old man at edge of the well, he thought old man might have committed sucide due to hunger or depression or both or none but with realisation of sheer emptiness of life.
He saw that on well the old man wasn't there as he reached. He was stunned with fear gripping him. He went nearby and peeked into well and saw nothing in the water, but clear bottom.
He was relieved. He soon started looking around searching for old man.
Soon he found old man, far away, sitting below the shade of water tank, his weak back against it's wall. His head hanging down, as if lost control. As Shaan neared old man, he felt more and more terrified.
He stopped running and stood breathing heavily.
He shouted,"Hey old man",
He heard no response. This time he thought the old man had really died.
It seems the old man sought to drink water but well was too deep, but this water tank too was empty, heaven delivering it's verdict.
The old man who was still as rock, gave two loud coughs and with it he opened his eyes. His eyes were bland, with emptiness. He looked surprised seeing Shaan standing facing him.
As Shaan pushed pack of buns, slowly, old man went ahead and grabbed and started biting into it, looking intently at Shaan.
Shaan at once was taken aback by scene and realised that old man was really hungry. When old man started coughing, Shaan ran to the well, brought a bottle of water and threw it near old man.