The weather was surprisingly clear for November, though the smell of rain lingered. It was raining elsewhere. It was bound to pour in the evening.
The day started with the sports activities. Vira touched his pocket. He had the sports drink. He wouldn't fail today.
Akat and Kenta had come over. They were sitting in the audience with Uncle Karn, who found Kenta refreshing.
Kenta had unreserved levels of energy and cheered loudly for everyone. No one would associate him with a doctorate degree. In fact, Maw Lava almost fell off his chair when he heard about it from Akat.
"Do you realize how creepy it is to have so many doctors around me? It's actually bad for my health!" He exclaimed. "Now I feel like an idiot."
"No one could ever be better than our Maw!" Akat laughed and said.
He and Kenta went around, explored the food counters, and wandered around the classess. The enthusiasm of the kids and teachers seemed to rubbing off on the visitors as well.
Two months ago Laika asked his father about Akat, when he heard from Vira that Akat was a Mann-er. Uncle Karn had confided in Laika about Akat's past.
"Dad, I heard Sen Akat was from around here. I don't recall seeing him."
"You were barely six when he left. His father and I were best friends."
Uncle Karn went on to tell about Akat's circumstances leading to the person he was.
Laika, knowing the background, hung around Uncle Karn and Akat to help with the house. He became closer to Akat. Sometimes Akat had dinner with Laika and uncle Karn, when Vira and Saka weren't around.
When Akat had become busy with his project, Laika and Uncle Karn had taken complete responsibility for making his house habitable, and they had succeeded.
Akat was extremely grateful to these two. Thanks to them, Akat and Kenta would be sleeping in his own home. He felt excited. Almost 20 years had passed since he had stepped into what was rightfully his.
Akat was slowly becoming a part of Mann. No one considered him an outsider. He could also easily speak with Mann's accent, which made him all the more endearing.
Uncle Karn was pivotal in getting people to accept him. He introduced Akat to all of Akat's father's old friends and got Akat to help out on occasions Vira wasn't around. Akat remembered the olden days when his dad took him to the temple, and Laika's mom always played with him.
If he had still been here, would he have become a teacher like Laika? Sometimes he wondered. Would he have had the courage to explore the world beyond? He was eternally grateful to the universe for leading him to meet Prapit, who had shaped his future.
*****
Vira stood near the tracks, waiting for Saka to come over. Saka was always surrounded by people. It was worse now that the entire village had gathered.
Vira's grandma could not make it, though she really wanted to. She had promised to make it up to him. Vira didn't mind; he wasn't performing in anything.
He gritted his teeth in annoyance. He didn't get the chance to wish Saka. The gift was in his room; he was planning on taking it later.
He couldn't give him the energy drink either. He wasn't liking his day so far.
Saka's team won the relay event with ease. The musical and the skit were a grand success.Vira was surprised Roma could be such a natural. He had driven Mina crazy with his lack of expressions and monotone. She had given up on him. The performance took them all by surprise. So much so, Mina actually laughed, unintentionally.
The events came to an end, and the kids were busy showing their families around. In another couple of hours, it would be time to go home.
The sky looked gray, the smell of rain seemingly stronger.
Vira ran into a dignified man who looked a little older than Uncle Karn, while trying to look out for Saka.
He looked at Vira and asked, "Say, young man..?"
Vira stopped and turned to look at him, then surprised to see him exclaimed, "Professor Arak!"
Professor Arak had been instrumental in getting him to publish his books. Prof. Arak, a fellow member of the Marina Education Council, sometimes met with his grandmother for advice. He also owned a famous school chain in mainland Marina. He had been a long-term Professor at Phupha himself, before choosing to start a school. If quality education started with school, then it would ease a student's life when he or she entered college was his firm belief.
Vira's grandmother supported his thought and sometimes collaborated with him for college fairs and short-term courses.
In one such event, she had casually introduced Vira and showed him Vira's works.
"Professor Arak, my grandson is majoring in math. He wants to publish this book. No one would provide him with more honest feedback than you, an authority in Mathematics yourself."
Professor Arak read through Vira's publication draft and had taken it upon himself to have it published. He had even taken the books up as the reference guide for his own school students. Vira attributed a good amount of his success to this professor, who had had confidence in his work and even pushed him for the second book.
"Aren't you Dr. Vira? Atira's grandson?"
"It's been eight long years, Professor! How are you?"
Professor Arak gave him a warm handshake. He was genuinely pleased to see Vira.
"I never imagined I'd bump into you here! What are you doing now?"
"I work in Mann High."
"Mann? I thought you'd work in your own college." He looked surprised.
"Our colleges have brilliant Professors, not unlike yourself, but schools on Islands such as Mann, have few teachers for these brilliant students. A person like me could help connect them to a world that provides a better future, don't you think?"
Professor Arak laughed, his hearty booming laugh. "You are just like your grandma. I heard you'll be taking over soon."
Vira smiled. "If I did, Gran would die of boredom. I'll take over when she really wants to retire."
Professor Arak patted Vira's hand, still holding it. "You are indeed a wonderful grandson. When are you planning to publish your next works?"
Vira replied, "I do have some drafts ready, for Transformations, a guide to cracking semester exams. Why don't we catch up during the summer break? I won't know what to do for those two months, but with your support, I could use the time wisely."
Professor Arak exclaimed, "A mind like yours should be in research!"
Vira laughed, "I'm already a consultant for defense. I have my share of research work. Would you like me to introduce you to my colleagues? I believe a person like Professor Arak would certainly be a positive influence on them."
Professor Arak shook his head and smiled, "My dear boy, if only I had known you worked in a school, I would have been the first to pull you in. Lava got ahead of me. Maybe I'll throw the bait to your colleagues."
Vira laughed as he guided Professor Arak to where Akat and Kenta were.