The next morning dawned bright and beautiful, sunlight streaming through the windows. The boy, now referred to as Jack, stirred, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. A yawn escaped his lips as he swung his legs over the side of the bed.
He shook his head, trying to clear the fog. Had it all been a dream? The carnival, Indra, their laughter and adventures? It felt so real, yet impossible.
Jack's gaze wandered to the clay puppet on his bedside table, a tangible reminder of the previous night's escapades. A faint smile crept onto his face.
Jack's fingers wrapped around the clay puppet, its small, colorful form bringing a wave of memories. He stared at it, lost in thought, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
"No," he whispered, "it wasn't just a dream."
**KNOCK KNOCK**
The sudden knock jolted Jack out of his reverie, and he swiftly hid the puppet under his pillow, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and secrecy.
"Raghu!" Jack exclaimed, beaming with excitement, as he opened the door to let his friend in.
Raghu entered, a warm smile spreading across his face and asked Jack to tag along for the work today with him.
Jack asked for some time to freshen up and, hurried to the bathroom to splash some water on his face and compose himself.
Raghu settled onto the bed, waiting patiently. His gaze wandered around the room, and his eyes landed on something poking out from under the pillow.
Curiosity piqued, Raghu pulled out the clay puppet, examining it with interest. His brow furrowed, wondering why Jack had hidden it.
"I'm ready!" Jack called out, emerging from the bathroom, looking refreshed.
Raghu's eyes darted toward Jack, and he swiftly concealed the puppet under the pillow again, his expression neutral. "Hmm..." he nodded.
Together, they headed to work, leaving the puppet under the pillow.
As they arrived at the stables, Raghu's curiosity about the puppet lingered, gnawing at his mind. He wanted to ask Jack about the small, intricately crafted figurine he had discovered under Jack's pillow.
However, Raghu hesitated, aware of the language barrier between them. Their friendship had grown despite this obstacle, but Raghu worried his question would be misunderstood or lost in translation.
He imagined himself struggling to find the right words, Jack's confused expression, and the potential awkwardness that might follow.
Despite being consumed by curiosity, Raghu decided to let it go. He focused on their task, helping to groom and saddle the horses. The familiar rhythms of their work together provided comfort.
As they worked, Raghu occasionally glanced at Jack, his mind still pondering the mysterious puppet. What was its significance? Where did it come from?
The questions swirled in Raghu's thoughts, but he kept them to himself, respecting the silence between them.
"Oye!" Raghu called out, his voice breaking the morning calm.
The boy's eyes snapped toward him, a correction ready on his lips. "No, not Oye Jack, JACK," he said, his voice laced with excitement, eager to share his new name.
Raghu's expression turned puzzled, his brow furrowing. "Huh, Jack?"
The boy nodded emphatically, pointing to himself. "Hmm, Jack."
Raghu's face lit up with understanding. "Oh! Jack Kutta!" he exclaimed, unaware of the impending storm.
The boy's eyes widened in alarm, his face flushing. "Kutta, no! Only Jack, not Jack Kutta!" he protested, his voice rising.
Raghu's brow furrowed, searching for the right words. "Kutta is... umm..."
The silence stretched as Raghu struggled to find the elusive word.
Then, it clicked into place. "DOG!" Raghu announced triumphantly.
The boy's confusion deepened, his eyes clouding. "Dog?" he repeated, his voice laced with unease.
Raghu attempted to clarify, oblivious to the hurt he had unleashed. "Rajkumari ka dog – Princess's dog."
The boy's face darkened, anger and hurt welling up like a stormy sea. He felt betrayed, thinking the princess had been toying with him, calling him a dog. All their moments together seemed like a cruel joke.
"You mean... she called me a dog?" Jack's voice trembled, his eyes blazing with pain.
Raghu's expression turned apologetic, realizing the misunderstanding. "No, no, Jack! I no... ummm—", Raghu don't know what to do to explain this misunderstanding to the boy.
But Jack's anger had already boiled over, his mind racing with painful thoughts. He turned away, leaving Raghu to wonder what had gone wrong.
Jack sat on the lush riverbank, the gentle lapping of the water against the shore creating a soothing melody. His gaze wandered across the serene landscape, but his mind was elsewhere.
Lost in thought, he mechanically plucked blades of grass, his fingers moving in a rhythmic motion. The soft earthy scent filled the air as he broke the grasses, his actions mirroring the turmoil within.
The princess's words echoed in his mind: "Jack." Was it a name, or a mocking jest? The uncertainty gnawed at him, fueling his anger and hurt.
As the river flowed effortlessly, Jack's thoughts remained stuck, tangled in a web of emotions. He felt like a small boat adrift, tossed about by waves of confusion and doubt.
The warm sun on his skin and the gentle breeze rustling his hair couldn't calm the storm brewing inside. Jack's eyes remained fixed on the horizon, searching for answers that seemed as elusive as the river's disappearing currents.
To be continued....