The chemist placed the tablet on the counter. "Rs 75 for 3 tablet," she said crisply.
Oda handed over the money, his gaze fixed on the label:
ADMENTA
Composition: MEMANTINE HYDROCHLORIDE-10MG
Manufacturer: SUN PHARMA LTD
"How is your mother, Oda?" the chemist asked with genuine concern.
Oda, still absorbed in the label, replied quietly, "She's doing fine."
Setting the packet on the shelf, the chemist inquired again, "Is she okay?"
Meanwhile, Lhasa sat with Kodam on a large rock, taking in the landscape scattered with modern concrete houses. As he absently examined his muscular arms, he noticed the chemist conversing with Oda and decided to intervene.
"Oda!" Lhasa called out, his voice deep and resonant, snapping Oda back to the present. "Lost in thought?"
"No, not really. Let's go, Lhasa. It's already noon, and we need to hurry home," Oda replied, sidestepping Lhasa's concern as he headed toward Kodam.
Lhasa turned back to the chemist, flashing her a warm smile that momentarily unsettled her. "How are you, Dr. Akilla?" he asked politely.
"I'm well, and... oh, I forgot what I was going to say," the chemist admitted, flustered.
"You mentioned months ago about going to the UK for further studies," Lhasa reminded her.
"Yes, leaving in a month. And you?" she asked tentatively.
"Me?" Lhasa responded.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to ask you," the chemist said, blushing slightly.
Observing the awkward exchange, Oda says Ahh! I almost forgot and gently pulled Lhasa away. "He's only 14. We're running late. See you, Doctor?"
"Wait, I didn't mean—" the chemist started.
As Oda guided Lhasa away, Lhasa turned and apologized with a smile, "Sorry, Doctor, for Oda." The chemist's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Before heading home, they settled down on the large rock, perched at the edge of the village outskirts. The afternoon sun casts a warm glow over the landscape, enhancing the vibrant hues of the wildflowers dotting the meadow below. Lhasa and Oda sat with Kodam, their backs against the rough surface of the rock, soaking in the peaceful ambiance.
The chemist joined them briefly, bringing cold packed juice to quench their thirst and joy. She smiled warmly, exchanging small talk about the day's events and the upcoming changes in her life as she prepared for her studies abroad and theirs too and advised Lhasa to go UK if he wants to study abroad later and meet up with her making it awkward in the middle of lunch.
As dusk settled over the village, casting long shadows across the cobbled paths, Lhasa, Oda, and Kodam finally reached the familiar surroundings of their community. The air had cooled, carrying with it the scent of wood smoke and the distant murmur of evening prayers from the village temple. As they entered the village proper, the elders, seated outside their homes or gathered in small groups, greeted them warmly with nods and smiles of recognition.
Oda, feeling grateful for his friends' support throughout the day, turned to them with a heartfelt expression. "Thank you, both of you, for skipping your classes and helping out with the money. I really appreciate it."
Kodam, with a grin, waved off his gratitude. "It's no trouble at all, Oda. We're friends, after all. Besides, learning in the open air is better than any classroom lecture!"
The conversation flowed easily among them, punctuated by shared laughter and anecdotes from the day's events. As they spoke, a shadowy figure approached from the direction of the village center, catching their attention.
"Hello, my son. " the figure said to Kodam with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes, "You're late today?", his demeanor bearing the air of someone accustomed to authority and control.
"Oh! I am sorry, Father. We had more classes today," Kodam replied quickly, his tone respectful yet tinged with a hint of nervousness.
Lhasa and Oda greeted Kodam's father with polite nods, acknowledging his imposing presence. He stood tall, his gaze sharp and assessing, a testament to his wealth and influence derived from his successful trade business.
"How are you, Uncle?" Oda asked in a measured tone, trying to match the elder's demeanor with politeness.
"I'm fine and rich as always. How about you two?" Kodam's father replied casually, though his eyes flickered momentarily towards Lhasa.
"We are fine too," Oda and Lhasa replied almost simultaneously, their voices carrying a hint of deference.
"Lhasa, what happened to your voice?" Kodam's father asked, noticing a change.
Lhasa cleared his throat nervously, his voice deeper than before. "Oh, nothing, uncle," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
Kodam's father raised an eyebrow, at Lhasa with a hint of suspicion. "Hmm, it seems like more than just nothing," he remarked casually, though his tone suggested otherwise. He glanced briefly at Oda and Lhasa, his eyes narrowing slightly as if assessing something beyond their words.
Lhasa shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny but managed a small smile. "Just a little change, sir. Maybe I'm growing up," he said with a chuckle, attempting to lighten the atmosphere.
Kodam's father nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "Growing up indeed,".
"I must say, it's quite a catchy voice," Kodam's father continued, his gaze not leaving Lhasa's face. There was a pause, pregnant with unspoken questions and a tension that hung in the air like a heavy cloud.
"Hoii, Lhasa" a familiar voice carried from behind, breaking the silence with warmth that contrasted sharply with the tense atmosphere.
"Father" Lhasa speaks out in delight and joy waving at his father.
Lhasa's father, Laho, approached at that moment, leading his yak by a rope. His presence often brought a calming influence, his easy smile and genuine warmth a stark contrast to Kodam's father's more reserved demeanor.
"Ah, Laho!" Kodam's father muttered, his voice tight with thinly veiled disdain. He eyed the yak with undisguised distaste, a silent reminder of their differing fortunes.