Nature's Comeback

33- Getting suspicious

Gyaan had managed to find a dharmshala (public rest house) for the villagers and researchers. However, he was in a hurry to return for the elements and so Reyansh had taken the lead of conversing with the people of Dharmshala and guiding people inside.

There were too many people and too few rooms. It was fortunate that everyone was understanding and ready to adjust in such a dire situation. After settling in the rooms, the first thing they did was to charge their phones one after the other.

Reyansh had first called the helpline to let them know about the disaster, before calling their Director to know about the whereabouts of their work.

"You might have to be patient, but I assure you that the Government will come to your aid. They have started the process, and you might receive a proper place for food and shelter until tomorrow," Reyansh announced to the villagers, before going to the corner where other researchers had gathered.

"We might have to wait for two more days. They are done acquiring a place for us to work, but food and accommodation are work in progress," Reyansh informed as he sat beside Rewa, who immediately rested her head on his shoulders.

"Let's hope that we won't have to face another disaster in these two days." Kriti sighed, tired of everything.

"We didn't even get a proper one night's rest and here you are talking about two days," Sarika scoffed.

One disaster after another, it had left them empty. All these events had taken a toll upon their mental health.

"It's nothing new. Everyone has been going through all this for so long. You all were just being protected by the highly equipped research building. Now you all are on streets too, just like others," Payal's husband pointed out, offending the researchers.

Yes, they were protected but they weren't living lavishly. They had forgotten their sleep and missed so many breaks, just to try and help the world. They didn't get to contact their children for days even if they were in the same building, unless the children broke the rule and came to the labs.

The tone which Payal's husband used made them feel like shit. It was like the outsiders thought that the researchers were enjoying themselves when everyone else was fighting the disasters.

Sarika was about to counterattack those harsh words when Sarah held her hand and blinked her eyes, gesturing to let it go. "Don't fight with the ignorant people. We all know how much work and effort researchers have been putting in. Don't waste your energy on him."

Sarah had spoken to calm down the situation. However, Payal's husband listened to everything and stood up as he got offended. He started shouting and scolding Sarah, igniting the fury of other researchers.

Payal was angry with her husband and thoroughly embarrassed by the situation. She knew things were about to go out of hand. Even if Sarika and Sarah fought relentlessly, no one else was allowed to put them down. Only they had the right to fight and look down upon each other, no one else. If her husband didn't stop soon, then Sarika wasn't going to spare anybody.

"Sir, I don't know how you have so much energy. But everyone else is too tired," Sarah coolly interrupted his yelling. "Let's pick a date later and fight on that date. Right now, just go to sleep. We don't know when the next disaster would hit and we would get to rest peacefully again. So...," saying this Sarah pulled Sarika with her to lay down for a while.

Payal's husband stood open-mouthed, shocked by her behaviour. Shaking his head, he came out of the shock and was about to shout again when Payal stopped him in a stern voice. "Enough." And he stopped. Not because of her sternness, but because of her sad eyes. She was ashamed of his behaviour and that was enough to put him on line.

"Alright." Reyansh clasped his hand, "we all know that no one is a bad person. And all this is an outcome of our tiredness. As Sarah said, let's sleep upon it. We will deal with this later."

"True, everyone is tired and cranky," Payal agreed, knowing her husband didn't usually behave like this.

"Apparently not everyone," Dhruv's mother commented.

Everyone followed her eyesight to see Dhruv and Ayaan running around playing the game of catch.

"Where do they bring so much energy?" Tejas asked out loud in an awe filled voice.

Not only the elders, but the teenagers too were feeling so tired. However, the eight year old, Dhruv and six year old, Ayaan were still going strong.

"That's the beauty of childhood. They find happiness even in tough situations," Sarika remarked, as she watched the children run happily from her lying position.

"Careful," Payal shouted as Ayaan tripped over an abandoned bag.

"I am okay," Ayaan reassured, waving his hands to his parents as he tried to look cool in front of others, instead of being embarrassed by his fall.

Smiling once more at his parents, he stood up to run again, but was stopped by Payal's stern voice. "Pick up the fallen contents of the bags first."

Ayaan looked back sheepishly, before sitting back to do as instructed. All his coolness vanished as he heard everyone chuckling and laughing.

"Bad elders, laughing at the innocent me; Bad Momma for scolding me in front of them," Ayaan huffed.

"Ayaan come fast," Dhruv called him as he impatiently waited for Ayaan to come and catch him.

Ayaan didn't reply as all his attention was on the book he found inside the bag. He carefully pulled out the heavy book.

"What is taking so much time?" Dhruv stomped towards Ayaan in anger, but was astonished when he saw what Ayaan was holding. "The Colourful Book," Dhruv exclaimed in surprise.

His words managed to grab the attention of older kids too. Rewa, Sarah, Asha and Tejas sat up. They all glanced at each other for a second, before jumping off and running towards Dhruv and Ayaan.

"Show show," Rewa forwarded her hands eagerly.

"Man, I totally forgot about this," Sarah commented with a laugh. However, her laugh didn't last long when she saw Rewa's furrowed eyebrows.

"What's wrong?" Sarah asked, feeling dread.

"Did you see Gyaan reading this book?" Rewa inquired, looking at all the kids.

"Multiple times," Tejas answered, while others nodded at his words.

"Was there a translator machine around him?" Rewa questioned again in a suspicious tone.

"I don't think so," Sarah muttered, trying to recollect.

"The machine is rare and expensive. Plus it needs a plug. Gyaan was reading the book in the open," Tejas informed, what they already knew, before asking Rewa, "Why are you asking all this?"

Rewa's questions had made Tejas and Sarah suspicious. The other three kids were confused too but they didn't look shaken like the older ones.

"This book...this book is in the same ancient language that was used in the book we found," Rewa informed with a stutter as things didn't make sense to her.

Sarah immediately grabbed the book from Rewa, moving pages hurriedly. Sarah, Tejas and Rewa stared at each other with bewilderment, with only one question in their mind.

"How was Gyaan able to read this ancient book?"