12-11-2025, 12:43 AM
## Update 102: The Messenger's Secret (Avi and Monu)
Next day, after working out, I went to Neha Bua's house. Neha Bua made a noticeable face of distaste as soon as she saw me, turning slightly away. But Meena Chachi had specifically told me to be persistently loving with Neha Bua, so I consciously chose to ignore her expression and the cold greeting. Kavita had gone to schoool to give her exam. I went to the study area and started talking to Komal. I knew Komal was diligent and never went outside the house during study hours. I kept talking to her, distracting her gently, for two full hours. Komal was also visibly happy to have my company and attention, the stress lines on her forehead easing.
After leaving Neha Bua's house, I came to my house. Rati was already there, diligently doing the household work, just as Meena Chachi had promised. I quickly ate my food and took a nap, saving my energy.
In the evening, I went out for a walk. I had left the house with the specific intention of trying to meet Mala again. As I walked, I saw the same young boy who used to bring me food during my earlier forced exile playing right in front of Mala's house. I called out to the boy and brought him over to me.
"What's your name, little one?" I asked him, smiling.
The boy folded his arms stubbornly. "Why should I tell you, mister?" he asked, his chin thrust out.
"Why are you getting so angry? I was just asking," I said, pretending to be offended, shrugging slightly. "Never mind." I reached into my pocket, took out a chocolate bar, and handed it to him. "Eat this chocolate and fix your mood."
The boy immediately unwrapped the treat and took a large bite. "My name is Monu," he announced, his mood instantly better.
"That's a nice name, Monu," I said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You don't recognize me, do you?"
He shook his head, chewing. "No," he mumbled.
"You used to bring me food sometimes when I was staying near the well," I reminded him gently.
He snapped his fingers. "Yes! I remember now, the man who stayed in the heat," Monu exclaimed.
"I haven't seen you around this village before, Monu," I remarked, looking around the area.
"I've only just come to my Mousi's house here for the holidays," Monu explained.
"Whose house is your Mousi's?" I asked, looking toward the closest houses.
"That one over there," Monu said, pointing a sticky finger directly toward Mala's house.
"This is Mala's house," I said, confirming the location.
"Yes, it's Mala Didi's house," Monu confirmed.
*He's Mala's maternal cousin, then. He's new here, only visiting. Then how did Neeta Bua manage to use him to bring me food? She must have been coordinating with Mala.* "Do you drink cold drinks, Monu?" I asked, a new plan forming in my mind.
"Yes, I love them," Monu said, his eyes lighting up.
"Come on, then, I'll buy you a cold drink from the shop right now," I offered.
"Let's go!" Monu said, dropping the last of his polite reserve and running ahead.
I bought two cold drinks from the shop. I handed one to Monu and, while we both drank, I started talking to him again, this time to trap him in a lie.
"Monu, you are such a good boy, full of innocence. Then why do you lie to me?" I asked, looking him seriously in the eyes.
He froze, his drink halfway to his mouth. "I don't lie," Monu insisted, looking nervous, shifting his weight.
"Then tell me, truthfully, which is my Bua's house? You said you didn't know the house," I pressed, my voice low.
"How would I know your Bua's house, mister? I'm new here," Monu argued, shifting his feet quickly.
"If you don't know my Bua's house, then from where did you bring the food to me every day?" I pressed, cornering him, stepping closer.
Monu looked down at the ground, defeated, twisting the bottle cap. "It wasn't your Bua. Mala Didi used to give me the food in the morning and told me to run it to you. She used to tell me that your Bua had sent it, but it was Mala Didi who would send me to you every single time," he whispered.
My heart gave a sharp jolt in my chest. I felt a sudden, hot rush of blood to my head, and my hands trembled slightly around the cold drink bottle. *Mala used to give me the food! The lie had been maintained for days, and Mala was the architect of my survival. Then why did she run away that day when I kissed her? She must care for me. I have to meet Mala as soon as possible.* "Where is your Mala Didi right now?" I asked, trying to keep my voice even.
"She went to my village, her original home," Monu replied, pointing vaguely into the distance.
"Do you know when she will be back to her Mousi's house?" I asked, feeling a tightness in my chest.
"Maybe she will come back for Mona Didi's wedding next month," Monu said innocently.
*I have to make sure I meet Mala then, at the wedding.* "Okay, Monu. Thanks for the chat. See you later," I said, patting his shoulder and turning away.
Monu smiled, satisfied with the cold drink and the chocolate, and ran off. I came home lost completely in my thoughts, the news that Mala had been my silent, secret savior dominating my mind.
---
Next day, after working out, I went to Neha Bua's house. Neha Bua made a noticeable face of distaste as soon as she saw me, turning slightly away. But Meena Chachi had specifically told me to be persistently loving with Neha Bua, so I consciously chose to ignore her expression and the cold greeting. Kavita had gone to schoool to give her exam. I went to the study area and started talking to Komal. I knew Komal was diligent and never went outside the house during study hours. I kept talking to her, distracting her gently, for two full hours. Komal was also visibly happy to have my company and attention, the stress lines on her forehead easing.
After leaving Neha Bua's house, I came to my house. Rati was already there, diligently doing the household work, just as Meena Chachi had promised. I quickly ate my food and took a nap, saving my energy.
In the evening, I went out for a walk. I had left the house with the specific intention of trying to meet Mala again. As I walked, I saw the same young boy who used to bring me food during my earlier forced exile playing right in front of Mala's house. I called out to the boy and brought him over to me.
"What's your name, little one?" I asked him, smiling.
The boy folded his arms stubbornly. "Why should I tell you, mister?" he asked, his chin thrust out.
"Why are you getting so angry? I was just asking," I said, pretending to be offended, shrugging slightly. "Never mind." I reached into my pocket, took out a chocolate bar, and handed it to him. "Eat this chocolate and fix your mood."
The boy immediately unwrapped the treat and took a large bite. "My name is Monu," he announced, his mood instantly better.
"That's a nice name, Monu," I said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You don't recognize me, do you?"
He shook his head, chewing. "No," he mumbled.
"You used to bring me food sometimes when I was staying near the well," I reminded him gently.
He snapped his fingers. "Yes! I remember now, the man who stayed in the heat," Monu exclaimed.
"I haven't seen you around this village before, Monu," I remarked, looking around the area.
"I've only just come to my Mousi's house here for the holidays," Monu explained.
"Whose house is your Mousi's?" I asked, looking toward the closest houses.
"That one over there," Monu said, pointing a sticky finger directly toward Mala's house.
"This is Mala's house," I said, confirming the location.
"Yes, it's Mala Didi's house," Monu confirmed.
*He's Mala's maternal cousin, then. He's new here, only visiting. Then how did Neeta Bua manage to use him to bring me food? She must have been coordinating with Mala.* "Do you drink cold drinks, Monu?" I asked, a new plan forming in my mind.
"Yes, I love them," Monu said, his eyes lighting up.
"Come on, then, I'll buy you a cold drink from the shop right now," I offered.
"Let's go!" Monu said, dropping the last of his polite reserve and running ahead.
I bought two cold drinks from the shop. I handed one to Monu and, while we both drank, I started talking to him again, this time to trap him in a lie.
"Monu, you are such a good boy, full of innocence. Then why do you lie to me?" I asked, looking him seriously in the eyes.
He froze, his drink halfway to his mouth. "I don't lie," Monu insisted, looking nervous, shifting his weight.
"Then tell me, truthfully, which is my Bua's house? You said you didn't know the house," I pressed, my voice low.
"How would I know your Bua's house, mister? I'm new here," Monu argued, shifting his feet quickly.
"If you don't know my Bua's house, then from where did you bring the food to me every day?" I pressed, cornering him, stepping closer.
Monu looked down at the ground, defeated, twisting the bottle cap. "It wasn't your Bua. Mala Didi used to give me the food in the morning and told me to run it to you. She used to tell me that your Bua had sent it, but it was Mala Didi who would send me to you every single time," he whispered.
My heart gave a sharp jolt in my chest. I felt a sudden, hot rush of blood to my head, and my hands trembled slightly around the cold drink bottle. *Mala used to give me the food! The lie had been maintained for days, and Mala was the architect of my survival. Then why did she run away that day when I kissed her? She must care for me. I have to meet Mala as soon as possible.* "Where is your Mala Didi right now?" I asked, trying to keep my voice even.
"She went to my village, her original home," Monu replied, pointing vaguely into the distance.
"Do you know when she will be back to her Mousi's house?" I asked, feeling a tightness in my chest.
"Maybe she will come back for Mona Didi's wedding next month," Monu said innocently.
*I have to make sure I meet Mala then, at the wedding.* "Okay, Monu. Thanks for the chat. See you later," I said, patting his shoulder and turning away.
Monu smiled, satisfied with the cold drink and the chocolate, and ran off. I came home lost completely in my thoughts, the news that Mala had been my silent, secret savior dominating my mind.
---
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