Nature's Comeback

28- An Innocent Crush

"Cows and Buffaloes."

Ahana's fingers of one hand fisted and unfisted by her side continuously, while her other hand held the lighter Avan had brought with him.

She was trying her best to maintain a smile on her face. Her temper was on the verge of overflowing, however she couldn't take a risk of showing it, not after having hurt Avan just a few seconds ago.

Avan could see Ahana's fists as they were in the direct line of contact, because of the height difference. He was a kid, but he knew that very few people would put an animal's life over their own, especially when the animal wasn't their own pet.

"You are angry," He concluded.

"No, not at all," Ahana refused adamantly, however her tone gave it away.

"You are. I can feel it," Avan said, before moving to hold her fisted hand. "See you are hot."

Ahana raised an eyebrow at his choice of words.

"No, no, not that kind of hot," Avan clarified.

"Not that kind of hot...How do you even know the meaning of the other kind of hot?" Ahana asked, flabbergasted by the situation.

Avan giggled, not answering her question.

"And here I thought you were innocent," Ahana muttered, causing Avan to palm his mouth as he giggled uncontrollably🤭🤭.

Ahana noticed a red hue spreading on his chubby cheeks. "Don't have a crush on me kiddo?" She warned, as they resumed walking.

"Crush? I am not that powerful to crush you. And even if I was, I wouldn't hurt you," Avan responded, making Ahana chuckle.

"Not that crush. I meant like, don't like me, okay?"

"Yes Didi," Avan agreed instantly.

His instant reaction made Ahana aware of his naughtiness.

"I am being serious, Avan."

"Yes Didi."

Again with 'Yes Didi'. A smile plastered on Ahana's face. Everything had a first time. Ahana would have never thought that a lie could be this cute.

"Why don't you have a crush on girls of your age?"

"They aren't cool like you."

Avan's breath hitched as he realized that he had blurted out the truth. He wanted to run far away, thinking Ahana would be angry. But seeing that she held the only source of light in her hand, Avan didn't have much choice. So he resorted to covering his face instead.

Ahana just ruffled the kiddo's hair, letting him know that he didn't need to fear. She knew that it was a harmless crush, just like the one the students had on their teachers in school days.

"Let's hurry and save your friends." Ahana diverted the topic, helping Avan breathe easily.

"This way." Avan guided her, as he sensed the panicked calls of the animals.

Ahana nodded as they picked up their pace. As they brisk-walked, Ahana felt grateful for Avan's presence. If not for him, Ahana would have crumbled, fearing for Neer's safety.

She was mindlessly putting herself into harm just to save animals, but it was fine as long as her mind didn't go back to make dreadful scenarios of Neer somehow dying on his way to come back.

☯☯☯☯☯

Gyaan finally reached the place where everyone had gathered. He craned his neck up to find the researchers and Sameera.

He moved past the people as he saw the team leader and soon enough the whole researcher group came into his view.

"Gyaan, you made it. Where are the twins?" Tej asked, noticing him first.

"They will be back soon. Everyone else is here right?" Without waiting for the answer, Gyaan started counting to see if everyone returned safely.

"Yeah, Sameera led us here safely," Reyansh answered. As they moved according to her directions, the heavy wind slowly started disappearing. They all were able to move freely after walking some distance.

"I don't see Avan here," Gyaan remarked, looking for the Earth element.

"He went to help Sameera," Payal replied, pointing at the starting point of all the groups.

"Oh okay, I will come back after talking with them."

Gyaan moved past the groups and came to the front where Sameera was pacing around.

"Sameera."

"Gyaan, thank God you are back." Sameera was relieved to see him. She was confident that this place was safe from the windstorm but she had no idea about finding a proper resting place where all these people could stay.

What she had found was just a barren land. There was no place or equipment for the people to sleep and eat.

Sameera relayed the problem to Gyaan who assured her that he would take care of the matter.

"By the way, where's Avan?" Gyaan asked, while looking here and there for him. Gyaan didn't know why but his sixth sense was warning him about a problem.

"Avan? Why are you asking me about him? He must be with his parents."

Noticing Gyaan's clenched fists, Sameera understood that something had gone wrong.

"Avan isn't with his parents, is he?"

Gyaan shook his head with a sigh. He was getting tired of these continuous problems.

"Stay here and don't tell his parents about this. I will go and search for him," Gyaan instructed.

"No, you stay here and I will go."

"Sameera, not now please. You can prove yourself somewhere else. The situation is dire right now. We won't even survive if I don't manage to bring him out within 10-15 minutes."

Sameera rolled her eyes, making Gyaan shocked by her response. He knew that his words would cause a negative impact. But that was on the lines of sadness rather than...this.

"Let's be honest here, Gyaan. Who has more chances of surviving a windstorm, you or me?" Sameera asked with raised eyebrows,before continuing, "I agree that you are mostly right and leading everyone is as easy as drinking water to you. But you shouldn't look down on others. Especially, when you are talking with an Air Elemental during a windstorm."

The words 'You shouldn't look down on others' reminded him about the conversation he had with Ahana. He didn't like it one bit but yet he had to agree, these elements weren't below him. He made a mistake of not treating them as his equivalents.

Gyaan nodded, and silently moved aside for Sameera to leave.

"Gyaan," Sameera called him, turning her head back. "Don't feel bad. You are needed here much more than inside."

"How come? These people are already in a safe place while those three...those three are...." Gyaan trailed off, not wanting to jinx anything by speaking negatively.

Sameera smiled gently. "These people still require your assistance Gyaan. They are helpless right now. They are scared. A safe place means nothing if they are unable to survive on this barren land.

"Talking about the other three, you are forgetting that they are elementals. Even if we don't come out unscathed, there's no way we are going to die so easily."

This was the first time Sameera felt like an adult to herself. She didn't have to be overly intelligent for being able to comfort and encourage someone. Being there for people was something Sameera could do effortlessly, even if she lacked in every other thing.

Taking one last glance at Gyaan, Sameera increased her speed. She ran yelling out the names of the fellow elementals.

Although it seemed impossible for her to find them in the massive place, she kept running with determination. Soon a bubble formed around her body, flying her over towards the cowshed.

Sameera didn't need to know the directions, air was there to guide her.