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Inspired by Tagore's 'Atithi' (The Guest).
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Merchant Kim considered the boy with a scrutinizing gaze. He was quite young, definitely not older than his own son. Infact, he won't be surprised if the boy turns out to be younger than Seokjin.
His clothes looked overused and worn out, a bit tattered at places but they were clean and tidy.
The poor boy didn't even have a single hat to cover his eyes from the scorching sun.
"Name?"
"Taehyung.", The boy answered, swift and spontaneous.
"Do you live here?", Kim inquired, a small frown appearing on his forehead when the boy hesitated a little before answering with a smile.
"No, My Lord. My village is actually far away."
-"So what are you doing here?"
Taehyung twirled the sleek flute in his hands. "I was thinking about staying at Gunwi for some day."
Kim laughed heartily. "Gunwi? We are from Gunwi only! Very well then, you will be our guest."
"That would not be needed, My Lord! I have habit of living by the streets. And besides, I believe the villagers will give me shelter too if I request them-"
The older man cut the boy off by raising his hand.
"I am the Lord of Gunwi, young boy. A guest of Gunwi is my guest. You do not need to worry about it, you saved my son's life, you can live at our house as long as you want; And leave whenever you want to. Is that alright?", he gently asked, giving Taehyung a genuine, assuring smile as the boy fidgeted for a brief moment.
"Sure, My Lord.", Taehyung nodded this time, showing his sweet, boyish, box shaped smile to the older.
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Gunwi is what they describe in the lores as a small yet happy village. The population is for sure not more than two hundred.
A few small houses, a river bank, four ponds, a market, and a very small amount of land being used for farming, this is all the village had as her own. Very few villagers had chosen farming as their occupation here, most of them being merchants and businessmen, just like their Landlord himself.
Speaking of the Landlord, Merchant Kim's mansion was not overtly huge either, Taehyung noticed.
He has come across a lot of mansions and palaces before, but this one felt as humble and welcoming as Gunwi and her people are.
Even Kim's family, his mother, his brothers, nephews, nieces and the Lady of the house, Merchant Kim's wife has been nothing but warm with him.
Part of it comes from their nature, and the rest of it, Taehyung knows, as a gesture of gratefulness towards him for saving their son.
