The Firangi Gurukul

Edwin

"Where's Grayson?" Priya, Grayson's girlfriend, asked Ethan.

Bandana, Sameeksha and Ethan were at Veer Savarkar International Airport to meet Priya. Bandana and Sameeksha decided to wait in the jeep and Ethan went to see Priya.

Ethan and Priya were sitting in a café, "He didn't want to come" Ethan answered Priya's question, "I'm sorry Ethan" Priya said. "Listen, I'm here for my brother's child, not to listen to this bullshit" Ethan said.

Priya looked at her child, sleeping in her arms. "I know you and Gray will take of him" She said with teary eyes, "tell him I was helpless...I never wanted to end our relationship" She said. "Priya, you didn't try hard enough" He said. She kept quiet, trying to end the conversation there.

She stood up and gave Ethan the child, "here are some clothes that I bought for him" she said giving him a small bag and then, before leaving, placed a kiss on her child's forehead.

"Priya" Ethan stopped her, "Grayson's ring" He said returning her the ring she gave to Grayson. She finally brokedown after holding the ring.

"Goodbye" Ethan said and left.

Sameeksha was on her phone when Bandana spoke, "aa gaya" she turned on the engine.

"Sam look at him!" Ethan said excited, Sameeksha looked at the baby and smiled, "doesn't he look exactly like Grayson?" He asked with an ear to ear smile, "uska beta hai to uske jesa hi dikhega na?" Bandana asked.

"Ab beth jaao warna yehi chod ke chali jaungi" She said, Ethan sat in the jeep and they left.

"Guys" Bandana said, Ethan looked at her, "he's a newborn right?" She asked, "hame to pata hi nhi tha" Sameeksha said. "Abey eh! Newborn hai to breastmilk kaha se milega isko?" She asked.

"You are so smart" Ethan said amazed, "oh shit" Sameeksha said, "Ethan!" She said as Ethan was still looking at Bandana. "Come back to reality man! Where's he gonna get breastmilk from?" She asked.

Ethan looked at the baby, "shit. Of course! Why didn't we think about this before?" He said panicking, "what are we gonna do?" He asked, "isko chup kara yaar" Bandana said to Sameeksha.

Suddenly, the baby started crying, "yeh lo" Bandana said, "why is he crying?" Ethan asked, "hey, stop crying. Look who's here! Uncle Ethan!!" He said smiling, but the baby started crying even more. "Bechare ko bhook lagi hogi" Sameeksha said, "bas thodi der me pohonch jaenge" Bandana said.

"I'm pretty sure there are substitutes to breastmilk" Ethan said, "me Manjot ko call karti hu, campus ke bahar ek store hai, waha se shayad kucch mil jaae" Sameeksha said.

Sameeksha dialled the number, "shitttttt" Bandana yelled as she pressed the brakes of the jeep, "kya kar rhi hai?" Sameeksha asked annoyed.

"Woh dekh" Bandana said pointing at the road in front of her, "kya?" Sameeksha said, Bandana looked at Sameeksha. "Dikhta nhi kya? Itna bada bhediya nhi dikh raha saamne?" She asked gritting her teeth. "Nhi dikh raha" Sameeksha replied.

Bandana looked at the road, there was no wolf there, "kaha gaya?" She asked herself, "kasam se yehi betha hua tha" She said.

"Tumhe bhi nhi dikha?" She asked Ethan, "what's a bediya?" He asked, "bediya nhi yaar, bhediya" She said changing to first gear, "matlab wolf" She said. "I didn't see anything" Ethan said.

"Arey, chup ho gaya" Sameeksha said, Ethan looked at the baby, "that was weird" Ethan said.

They reached home and Sameeksha and Bandana got out of the jeep, while Ethan was trying not to wake up the baby and get out of the jeep at the same time. Sameeksha pressed the doorbell and after some moments, Grayson opened the door. He looked at Sameeksha and then at Bandana, "he's with Ethan" Sameeksha said as she understood that he was looking for his baby boy.

Ethan went to Grayson and smiled, "he's sleeping" he said. Grayson looked at his son and forwarded his arms, Ethan gave him the baby. Grayson smiled, "he looks like me, doesn't he?" he asked Ethan.

"What name do you want to give him?" Ethan asked Grayson, "Edwin" He said still looking at Edwin. "Here are some clothes that Priya bought for Edwin" Ethan said, Grayson's smile lessened. He looked at Ethan, "I don't want them, Edwin will wear clothes that I will buy for him" He said. Ethan sighed and nodded. 

"Manjot kaha hai?" Bandana asked, "he's gone to buy milk for Edwin" Grayson said as he sat on the couch, "fir to ho gaya" she said. 

******

Bandana went to the terrace to put the mattresses in place, she saw Ethan standing in a corner, looking towards the jungle. She cleared her throat to make him aware of her presence, but he didn't move. She started walking to him and then coughed loudly, still he didn't turn.

She tapped on his shoulder twice, he suddenly turned, she took a step back, "oh hey" He said. "T...tum yaha k...kya kar rahe ho?" She asked gathering some courage, "kucch nai" He replied, "kucch kese nhi? Waha kya dekh rahe the? Aur tumhe mere aane ka pata kese nhi chala?" She asked, "woh jungle se kucch noise suna, have you ever heard any weird noise coming from there?" He asked.

"Kucch animals hai jungle me, unki awaaz suni hogi tumne" Manjot came there, Bandana looked at Manjot, "I see" Ethan nodded. "Sone ke lie mattresses daalne ya nhi?" Manjot asked Bandana, she nodded. "Can I help you?" Ethan asked smiling, "nhi, Manjot help kar dega" Bandana replied. Ethan looked down, "okay" He said before leaving.

"Me bata rhi hu, iske saath kucch ajeeb ho raha hai" Bandana said to Manjot, "kyu? Isko bhi bhoot dikhte hai?" Manjot asked making a poker face. "Yaar, mene sachme Gautam Budh Fountain ke pass kisi ko dekha tha. Fir yaha terrace pe bhi dikha tha koi" She said. "Bandana waha fountain pe boht saare tourists aate hai, hoga koi" Manjot said. "Tourists raat ke 2 bje dhoti pehenke fountain pe nahane aate hai kya? Aur unke chehre pe khoon laga hota hai?" She said. Manjot rolled his eyes at her.

"Tumhe kisne kaha tha waha 2 bje jaane ko?" He asked, "research project pe kaam kar rhi thi" She gritted her teeth, "haan theek hai yaar, bhoot dekhe tumne, khush?" He asked and left. 

Bandana looked away, "yaha sachme kucch hai" she said looking at the jungle, "koi meri baat maan bhi nhi raha" She said shaking her head. "Ho sakta hai Ethan ko bhi yaha kucch dikha ho" She said, "nazar rakhni hogi uspe".