"Tch! Why can't I make them hate each other?" Dhritiman said to himself as he slammed his fist on the table.
***
"Come here, you traitor! All of you were laughing at me!" Aniket shouted, lunging across the bed to catch Chandra.
"SirmynameisAniketRai!" Chandra mimicked with a mischievous grin.
"I—I will beat you to a pulp," Aniket said while looking around for something to throw. Ipsha, tired due to travelling, was lying in her bed.
"I wonder what kind of festivals people celebrate out there," Ipsha murmured, gazing up from her bed.
Aniket and Chandra stopped, caught off guard by her words.
"It's beautiful, nothing like we've ever celebrated the harvest. There are stalls full of shiny bangles, vibrant clothes, and all kinds of sweets. Wealthy people from far-off kingdoms come, either to buy the finest Gayal or to participate in the hunting event for the Gor," Chandra said.
"I can't wait to visit there," Aniket said excitedly.
" We will be going there tomorrow morning. But for that you will have to sleep first," Ipsha said.
***
The next morning, King Hi'um and the three children left for the festival before sunrise. It was Ipsha and Aniket's first time in the world outside the valley, and they were so excited to explore this "unknown" world. On their way to the festival, they saw many new landscapes, crops, that they had never seen before. People were working in their fields. Meanwhile, Chandra was chatting with Hi'um.
"So, is Uncle Tenzing still strict with big brother?" Hi'um asked.
"Grandpa Tenzing? He scolds Father a lot if he makes any mistakes," Chandra giggled with Hi'um.
"…"
"Did brother ever tell you the story of how he and your mother got married?" Hi'um asked, to which Chandra replied with a "No."
"Your grandfather and Uncle Tenzing were friends from a young age, so he naturally knew big brother and me since we were children. When brother entered the army, Uncle Tenzing had high hopes for the son of his friend, but big brother was in love with a girl who often came to the castle," Hium said. "And guess who it was?" he asked.
"Mother?" Chandra guessed.
"Yes, your mother, uncle Tenzing's daughter, someone whom I used to call 'sister'," Hi'um said with a sigh.
"And whenever she visited, brother would skip his training and go look for her, watching until she left. Seeing brother Desma absent from training, Uncle Tenzing got really angry and complained to Father. Father called brother and that girl. Big brother asked Uncle Tenzing for permission to marry his daughter, but Uncle denied it without thinking twice. After Father requested him to consider it, Uncle said that if brother could live up to his expectations, then and only then would he allow this marriage. And I still remember those four months when brother would come back half-dead from training." Hi'um and Chandra both laughed.
Ipsha and Aniket, overhearing their conversation, came over and sat beside them.
"Soon, brother got married, and 'sister' became 'sister-in-law'," Hi'um said with a slight smile.
But suddenly, the air around him shifted; it was as if his energy had been drained.
"A month later, Father died during the invasion of Chengdu forces." "Mother took over the kingdom's duties, and brother began to help her. People soon began to cherish him. I also started training with Uncle Tenzing. I thought everything would be fine again, with brother helping Mother... and Father watching over us from the heavens. But the heavens had other plans. Mother was poisoned by one of her maids, who later committed suicide," Hi'um said, as his chest tightened.
"I am sorry," Hi'um said, with a chuckle, as he realised the environment had become gloomy.
"..."
"Why did you never visit us? I know you want to, but how come you never came to see me?" Chandra asked, shifting his gaze from outside to his uncle.
Hi'um, who didn't expect Chandra to ask this question, was at a loss for words.
"Whenever I try to ask Father about it, he always comes up with an excuse and ignores the question. I don't want an excuse from you, Uncle," Chandra said, looking Hi'um in the eyes.
Aniket and Ipsha, unaware of what Chandra was talking about, remained silent.
"I—I am sorry. I can't answer your question, but I can promise you that I will visit you more often from now on," Hi'um replied softly, his voice filled with regret.
Before the environment got any more emotional, Hi'um tried to distract them. He started to talk about various places they could visit—the circus and the delicious foods they could experience during the festival.
"I am already drooling just hearing about it," Aniket said, causing Ipsha and Hi'um to burst into laughter, while Chandra giggled a bit.
"While we don't have those dishes at the moment, you can eat what Sir Dhritiman prepared for us," Hi'um said, pointing to the wooden box beside him.
"These are just fruits," Aniket pouted.
Hi'um giggled and patted Aniket's head. "You can eat tasty food once we reach there."
While Ipsha and Aniket started eating, Chandra sat quietly, looking outside.
"Chandra, take this," Hi'um said, extending his hand toward Chandra offering an apple. Chandra took it and started taking bites, still gazing outside.
They reached the festival after sunset. The kids stuck their necks out of the window, looking around at a town full of colors, lit by lamps and candles.
"Look at that man, wrapping snakes around his neck!" Ipsha exclaimed in awe. Aniket got his head outside to look around.
"Boo!" A masked figure suddenly leapt into view at Aniket's window.
"MONSTER! MONSTER!" he screamed, startled.
"It's not a monster; he's a mimic," Hi'um explained calmly. "He wears masks to entertain people."
"O—okay," Aniket stammered, still a little shaken.
"We'll come back here later after we drop off our things and change at the inn," Hi'um said.
After they reached the inn, the kids ran to their rooms to change.
"Uncle, I don't feel like going to the festival. I'm tired from the traveling," Chandra said to Hi'um.