When Saka woke up, he found Tobi sleeping next to him. There was no trace of Vira.
Vira's bed was neatly rolled, his pillow and bedsheets folded. The sun was just rising, so it wasn't too late in the morning.
Saka wanted to know more about Vira, but the moment his head touched his pillow, he had been knocked out. He felt irritated with himself.
He vaguely remembered Tobi talking to Vira, but couldn't recollect, about what they spoke.
"Tobi? Wake up! We need to go inside now. We have to get started."
Tobi grumbled as he woke up. They packed their stuff and went back to the house.
Vira was preparing breakfast. He had made coffee for everyone.
Rin was up, but everyone else was still not up, by the looks of it.
"Uncle Karn has gone to the shrine." Rin said, as Saka sat next her her.
"Hmm..I actually came to ask for my coffee."
"Ask for your coffee? You should be making it for your seniors!" Rin threw Saka a friendly punch.
Vira smiled as he brought Saka and Tobi their cups.
"Give me a few minutes, breakfast is almost done."
As a priest, their food expense seemed limited, as more often than not, the people who came to visit the temple brought fruits, vegetables or grains as offerings.
This was used to feed themselves and the animals in the vicinity. However, depending on the day, it could be a bit difficult to coordinate between ingredients available in the fridge.
Uncle Karn was more of a rustic cook, who made the basic food, with available ingredients, he never got creative.
So when Vira churned out new dishes with the same ingredients, with a touch of his imagination, under the label "fusion", people were both amused and awed.
Uncle Karn walked in at the right moment. "I could smell your food from near the well," he commented, as he sat at the table.
Once they had breakfast, Vira said, "Uncle, we will be leaving to Marina now, it's getting late. We'll all be back tomorrow early morning. If there is anything in particular that you want us to get..?"
"Ah! I have somethings I need for the play next month, let me write it down for you."
*****
Tobi declined the invitation, he went back home. It was a little over noon when they set out to the mainland.
Roma and Laika went their ways, with promise to meet at Rin's place in the evening.
Rin went straight home. She wanted to prepare the flat so others could come over.
That left Vira and Saka to explore the streets of Marina Capital, the main city.
Saka usually came with Laika to shop for the play, once a year, and they had never gone exploring. Vira was quite indulgent. He did not directly hit the book street.
"Saka, what do you want to see?"
Saka thought for a minute. Then he replied, "I want to see what Sen likes, about this place."
Vira didn't expect that for an answer. He thought for a second, then he said, "Okay, then let me show you the city of my dreams."
He took Saka by a double decker bus on a guided tour. Saka experienced a double decker ride for the first time. His excitement was unconfined.
They went to the oldest eateries and tried all the local delicacies. Saka was in seventh heaven. Vira felt a sense of fulfillment. He loved seeing Saka having fun.
Saka got to see musical fountain for the first time, he got to experience 3D museum, he had the best time of his life.
While they walked to the book bazaar, Saka noticed a huge building with dark French windows. The building looked majestic.
Vira noticed Saka stop, so he looked at the building, a bit surprised. "This is a five star restaurant, do you want to eat here?"
Saka looked at Vira, puzzled by the strange question. "Sen, we've eaten so much, I can barely breathe! I'll end up looking like the mayor if I ate anymore!"
Vira burst out laughing. "Rin won't like you if you said that about her father."
Saka said solemnly, "You are my confidante, you can't snitch on me."
Vira giggled. "Okay, so what are we looking at?"
"Us! Look at the window!"
Vira saw their reflection. "Indeed!"
Saka sighed. "Sen! Don't you think we look good together? We would be a couple whom everyone would envy."
Vira looked dumbfounded. How did he manage to make everything about them? He wondered.
But he had to admit it. They did look good. Stop right there! What was he even thinking?
Out loud he said, "Stop gawking at yourself, we have shopping to do."
"Book shopping isn't fun."
"Let's buy books, then we need to buy the things for your play."
"Laika and Roma are getting those. Do we have more time together."
"Stop flirting, and focus on task at hand."
But he smiled.
Saka looked at Vira. When Vira smiled, he could feel his heart flutter. How could he do this to his heart. He had the urge to touch his face, but refrained from doing it.
He simply said, "Sen, you look the most handsome when you smile. Don't smile at anyone but me. I don't want to fight over you."
"Stop fooling around." Vira said it lightly but he felt everything but light.
He was in danger. Danger of falling for his student. Was it just him or was Saka just getting cuter by the day?
They bought books and asked the book house to ship it directly to the school.
Vira was impressed by the list prepared by Saka. He said so. Saka looked happy. "Trust in Tobi, I always say." Vira just laughed.
He got them a softie icecream each, which they ate as they walked towards the biggest mall.
"Want to watch a movie?" Vira asked casually.
Saka's face lit like a thousand stars. "I've never seen one before! Let's!"
Vira took him to a superhero movie, and Saka spent the whole evening after that, doing character assassination.
Vira mostly nodded, he couldn't help but be pulled by Saka's enthusiasm.
Now that he knew how much Saka had gone through in his life,he felt humbled by how cheerful and positive Saka was. He didn't want Saka to ever lose that part of himself.
A part of him wanted to protect Saka from all things sad or bad.