Safal had been working hard all morning, sweat dripping from his face. His hands were rough, his muscles ached, but he didn't stop. That's when his uncle came into the workplace, shaking his head.
"Enough, Safal. Go take a break. I'll handle the work for now."
Safal hesitated. "Uncle, I'm fine. I can keep going."
His uncle gave him a stern look. "Go. You need to rest. Don't argue."
With a sigh, Safal put down his tools. "Alright."
He dusted himself off and walked toward the small shop in the market square where his friends always hung out. The smell of fresh fried snacks made his stomach rumble as he approached. Sure enough, his friends were there, sitting under the old banyan tree.
"Safal!" Ramesh called out, waving him over. "Finally taking a break, huh? Or did your uncle chase you out?"
Safal smiled faintly and sat down. "He forced me to stop. Said I work too hard."
The group laughed, teasing him as they always did. But as the laughter settled, one of them asked the question Safal hated the most.
"Your brother still hasn't come back?" someone asked casually.
The smile on Safal's face froze for a second, but he quickly forced it back. "He's probably busy with some business somewhere. You know he had just came once —he may have forgotten the way to the village."
But the words tasted bitter. He didn't know where his brother was or why he hadn't returned. And before he could change the subject, some men sitting nearby decided to join in.
"Business? Ha!" one of them scoffed loudly. "Kid, face it. Your brother left you. He's not coming back."
"Yeah," another man added. "Better stop waiting. You're just a poor kid—live your life as it is."
The words stung like needles. Safal's fists clenched under the table. Anger bubbled inside him, but before he could say anything, Ramesh jumped up.
"Oh, look who's talking!" Ramesh pointed at the first man. "Sharma Ji, didn't you send your son to the city because you couldn't pay off your debts? Should we remind everyone about that?"
The man's face turned red. "W-what nonsense—"
"And you!" Ramesh pointed at another man munching peanuts. "Weren't you caught hiding behind the temple last week playing cards when you told your wife you were on a 'business trip'? Should we tell her?"
The man choked on his peanuts, coughing furiously. The others burst into laughter.
"And Joshi Uncle!" Ramesh turned to a third man. "Didn't I see you sneaking extra sweets from the shop while you were 'fasting' for a festival? Should we let the shopkeeper know?"
"Ramesh, stop making up stories!" Joshi stammered, clutching his bag.
"Am I?" Ramesh grinned mischievously.
By now, everyone was laughing, and the gossipers were too embarrassed to say anything. They muttered excuses and walked away one by one. Safal's anger melted, replaced by a small smile. His friends patted him on the back.
"Don't let those fools get to you, Safal," Ramesh said, grinning. "They just like talking because their own lives are boring."
"Yeah," another friend added. "We're here for you, always."
Safal looked at them, his smile growing warmer. "Thanks, guys."
As the laughter faded and the square settled back into its usual calm, Safal leaned back and looked up at the sky. The questions about his brother were still there, but for now, they were quieter.
At least he knew one thing: he wasn't alone.