The Accidental Pet ✔️

Chapter 17

WuJi looks at Meara questioningly.

Meara smiles, "WuJi, I don't know why, but the book of answers is the first book I have been able to read without trouble."

"Mn?" WuJi blinks with a dumbfounded look on his face.

"WuJi, today on the beach, I tried to write what I had read in the Book of answers on the sand, but guess what, the words looked totally different... Do you know what that means?"

WuJi shakes his head, "What are you trying to say, Meara?"

"WuJi, I think that when I am with you I don't speak in human language." Meara pauses and asks, "You understand me perfectly, right?"

WuJi nods.

"I understand you too. Not only that, I understand Darakt too. But, I don't think anyone else can. And I think that's why no one was able to read your name either." Meara looks at WuJi expectantly, "Do you understand?"

WuJi once again shakes his head.

Meara takes a deep breath, "What I am saying, is that I can read Dragon language, the language of your people. And you said that you can't read it, right?"

WuJi first nods and then shakes his head vigorously, "Yes... No... I mean, yes, you are right... I never realized that you were speaking in dragon tongue." His eyes become sad before he adds, "And no, I don't know how to read." The baby dragon looks at his smiling human friend, and he finally gets what Meara is trying to tell him, "Meara, are you thinking about teaching me how to read and write?" WuJi blurts out.

"Yes, we have time and I love spending time with you, so how about it?" Meara asks with stars in her eyes.

"Really, you would do that for me?" WuJi asks, as if not believing his ears.

"Mn, I can imagine how bad it must feel to not be able to read." Meara recollects her feelings of how helpless, and somehow inferior to others it makes her feel. She wipes a tear that escapes her eye before it can stain her cheek, and smiles, "So yes, I will teach you, but you have to teach me too." She requests.

WuJi's brows knit together, "What can I possibly teach you?" He wonders.

"For one, you can teach me how to fish."

"Done," WuJi says, brightly.

"And I would love it if you could tell me about your kingdom... I mean, whatever you can remember." She adds considerately.

"That sounds good." WuJi agrees, and the two of them make plans to meet in the evening before sunset.

Meara returns to her family's cottage empty-handed.

"Meara, are you done meeting with WuJi?" Som enquires pointing at Meara's empty hands.

"Mn." Meara nods, "Appa, I am feeling a little tired, can you wake me up in half an hour?" She requests.

"Sure sweetie, but why don't I wake you up in an hour of you are feeling tired?" Som suggests.

Meara shakes her head, "No Appa, I can't. I have plans." She answers.

Som smiles, "Do those plans have anything to do with meeting WuJi again?" Som guesses.

"No Appa, I am planning to meet WuJi later. Once I wake up, I am planning to study." She answers.

Som nods and gives Meara an affectionate smile before looking at his wife. Mayura returns the smile and lightly pinches Meara's cheek, "That sounds like a plan. Sweetie, do you need me to sit with you?"

Meara shakes her head, "No need, mommy. I will ask for your help if I get stuck."

"Mommy?" Mayura smirks, and wiggles her eyebrows at Meara, who blushes, "It just slipped out Amma." The little girl explains and lets out a big yawn.

"Excuse me." She squeaks, feeling embarrassed, "I think I better take a nap."

"You better." Her parents' chorus together.

After about half an hour, Som wakes Meara up and she promptly takes out her English literature book and starts reading. When Som asks her if she would like him to stay, she refuses, "No need, Appa."

Meara takes out her notebook and pencil, and concentrating on each alphabet individually, she starts reading it out loud before writing it down.

But after an hour or so, to her utter disappointment, she concludes that her reading woes were far from over.

She closes her book feeling dejected, "Will I ever improve?" she asks herself, when a small voice from within her whispers, 'WuJi did not lose hope of returning to his parents even after so many years. You comforted him and promised him that you will make sure he gets home. How can you give up so early... so easily?'

"Yes!... That's right. I must never lose hope." Meara says, feeling positive once again, "I will keep trying and trying till I succeed."

Come evening, after informing her parents, Meara goes to meet WuJi. Once again, she finds the same boys from earlier, cutting Darakt with sharp blades and knives.

Meara feels anger bubble inside her heart, but instead of approaching them, she goes to the resort's reception area, where she finds Xavier, the resort manager, busy giving out orders to the maintenance staff.

"Good evening, uncle." Meara greets the old man, who stops and smiles at the little girl.

"A very good evening to you, little princess. How may I be of assistance to you?" Xavier enquires, with a kind smile.

"Uncle, Dara... " Meara shakes her head and starts again, "Uncle, the big banyan tree," She says, pointing at Darakt, "It's one of the oldest trees in India, right?"

"It is indeed, princess," Xavier answers sincerely.

"So...should it not be protected and looked after?" Meara asks as if interrogating the old man.

"My lady," Xavier crouches down next to Meara, and holds her hand gingerly, "Please tell me what is bother you?"

Being addressed as My lady, makes Meara blush, "Uncle, not to be a snitch, but since morning, I have been observing a group of boys hurting... I mean damaging, Dar...the tree."

"Damaging? How?" Xavier asks, frowning slightly.

"They are cutting it, trying to carve their initials, and things like that." She informs.

Xavier shakes his head disapprovingly, "That's against the rules...My lady, thank you for bringing it to my notice. I will deal with it." He reassures, and hands Meara a candy, "And this is for you, as a token of appreciation."

Meara bows like she had seen the princesses do in movies before running off to meet WuJi.

{Note :- Word Count 1081}