Beyond the Fence

Chapter: 14 ~Sanjay

The dinner was quite the feast they had had since they left for the mission. And Sanjay had filled his plate with everything that was placed on the table out in the huge garden. The buffet looked like it was placed for the entire village and he didn't mind as long as he was getting good food. A huge table was placed in the centre of the garden for the eight of them. Ojas was explaining their work while Itis didn't bother looking at any of them as he silently ate. Itis sat at the head of the table while Ojas sat to his right.

"I hope you like the food," Ojas said after he had finished explaining to Lavi about how they have been trying to overthrow the Potion Master.

"Oh, it's quite delicious, sir, thank you," Lavi said. Sanjay rolled his eyes at her very 'elegant' language and she smirked at him.

"You didn't have to cook so much, sir," Asav said.

"That's fine. You all had a very tiring journey, consider this a thank you for helping us with our-" he paused as a boy not older than Sanjay was- filled water into their glasses, "mission." He said.

"If it's not too much trouble, can we discuss our next move?" every eye fell on Itis. Itis did not stop eating or did not look up at them as he spoke.

"Itis! Stop being rude. They have had a long journey, give them some time and we can talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Ojas said.

"That's fine, sir. We were thinking of taking a tour of the village, talking to people to get more information before we plan further if that's alright with you two," Lavi said.

"That seems to be fair. We'll make arrangements for tomorrow then." Ojas replied.

The rest of the dinner was so dull that Sanjay did not bother to pay attention. He had to train Kashvi from tomorrow and he was worried they wouldn't have much time for her to be stronger or faster. And he had to come up with a plan to keep her safe. He jumped as he felt Kashvi's hands on his thighs.

"Hey, you alright?" Kashvi asks and he nods.

"Do you want to get out of here?"

"Okay."

~

They walked farther away from the buffet. Though the cottage was small, the garden was too big. There was a stable at the back of the cottage and there were a couple of horses sleeping. The boy who had filled their glasses was fast asleep, resting his head on one of the horses' legs. Kashvi sat down, leaning against the stack of hay and Sanjay sat down beside her.

"Okay, talk," Kashvi said.

"What?"

"What's on your mind?"

"I have no idea what we are supposed to do. I know Sir Robert might have told Lavi and she is prepared, maybe the rest of them are prepared too but none of them is ready to talk about it. And I have no idea how I am going to keep you safe. You have been so weak and so slow that you won't stand a chance-" He stopped in the mid-sentence and looked up at Kashvi. He cursed at himself internally, how could he be so stupid talking like that to her. "Sorry I-"

"It's okay, Sanjay. Go on."

He hesitates but goes on, "I am scared, Kashvi. Not for me but I am scared for you. It is just so hard to go into a war not knowing what to expect."

To his surprise, Kashvi chuckles, "now do you see how it is to be in the dark?"

Sanjay sighs and leans his head on the hay, "I don't care if I live or die-"

"Don't be so stupid. Will you for once stop blaming yourself? I know you are good and I know you are noble and all that but for once stop regretting everything and start thinking about the future. Start planning on how you are going to survive instead of planing to die!"