Nature's Comeback

13- Chits: A way to convince Elements

Everyone's hope was just about to die out when Reyansh suddenly jumped up with glee.

"Having made a joke on the chips packet, I clearly remember what the white chit said. 'Air wants freedom'. Yes this is it!!" The team leader cheered, happy with himself.

"Freedom? Seeing that Sameera was trapped for so many years, freedom does make sense," Rewa concluded.

"So we need to do something that would secure her freedom. She won't help us if she feels trapped or if our presence keeps reminding her of her past," Sarika speculated thoughtfully.

Dhruv's mother took out a pen and started jotting points on the tissue paper she got from the restaurant table.

"What about the others?" Kriti asked excitedly.

"That....I can't really remember," Reyansh replied in a guilty tone.

"Come on, Dad. You have a great memory. Just focus," Rewa encouraged.

Reyansh ate two more bites of his food in response.

"What?! My stomach has to be full if I want my mind to work," he defended, when he saw everyone glaring at me.

"Umm...so the blue paper...umm...I think it was something like being nice...like...like...oh yes! Kindness. Yes, 'Water Rewards Kindness'." Reyansh finally managed to remember another chit.

"Hmm, he was kind. At least more kind than the girl with him," Sarika muttered.

"Saving the world is a kind act, isn't it? Shouldn't he readily help us then?" Tej asked with a frown.

"From what I saw, it was the fire girl who made major decisions for both of them," Tejas answered his brother. "I think we need to persuade the girl first then the water boy would readily follow."

"True," Rewa agreed with Tejas and turned towards her Dad, "What was written in the chit meant for fire?"

"Ah! The red chit, it was the first one I read," Reyansh said.

Everyone looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue.

"Let me eat more," Reyansh spoke sheepishly, and faced down, trying to avoid looking at the disappointment perched upon others' faces.

"Getting angry at him is of no use. Let's just eat first," Payal said with a tired sigh and urged everyone to finish their food.

"Ayaan stop playing with your food. The chef have put so much efforts into making something in these dire conditions. You should at least respect the effort," Payal scolded him, when she saw him wasting the food in the name of game.

"Respect!" Reyansh suddenly shouted, causing Sarika to clutch her heart in fright. Others weren't too behind as they jumped a little in shock.

"Dad!" Rewa chastised as her plate got overturned because of the sudden jump.

"Sorry sorry. It's just when Payal was scolding Ayaan, I remembered what was written in the red chit," Reyansh apologized.

He was easily forgiven as the chit was more important right now.

"What does it say?" Dhruv's mother inquired when she saw that their team leader made no moves to speak further.

"Respect. 'Fire demands Respect'," Reyansh answered.

"What kind of respect would that annoying girl need?" Sarika grumbled under her breath.

"Sarah seems to like her. Maybe she can guide us. What kind of respect would you want?" Kriti questioned.

"Wellll, I think.. a kind of respect where people won't look down on mom for birthing a girl; Respecting the fact that I am different person and not continuously compare me with Rewa," Sarah stopped when she saw Rewa's open mouthed face and reassured her, "Don't panic it's not your fault," before looking pointedly at her mother, "Understanding that not all girls like 'girly' things. Man, there are so many things. I can't list them all," Sarah stretched her arms while yawning, letting everyone know that she was done.

Sarah didn't even know or care that whether these things would coincide with respect, the fire girl was looking for. She just took the opportunity to get things out of her chest.

"I have noted this all down to work up a plan later. Team leader, what about the last chit. What does it say?" Dhruv's mother asked expectantly.

"About that...." Reyansh trailed off.

"Don't tell us that you don't remember again. Please, we don't have much food left now for you to concentrate," Tej requested.

"It's not that I don't remember. I just couldn't check the last chit because of the earthquake," Reyansh responded, feeling sad.

"Dammit!" Tej and Kriti banged the table in unison.

A giggling sound diverted their attention from the sadness. They all looked towards the giggling pair: Ayaan and Avan.

"Why would you need the last chit? Avan is here with us," Ayaan spoke in-between his laughs.

Avan spoke with a huge smile, "And I am already con...veeeen....,"

"Convinced," Rewa completed Avan's sentence.

"Yes," Avan nodded, giving a thumbs up to Rewa.

The researchers broke out in huge smiles at their first win.

"I promise no harm will come to your child," Reyansh promised Payal and her husband.

He wouldn't let Sameera's fear come true. Elements would not turn into experiments. Researchers were just going to take their help, that too after making sure that the elements were safe and comfortable.