(Chapter - 22)

  [Tushar Nobin Nishan]

  A trace of empathy appears on Mehaki's face after hearing Asroy's story. The cheerful side Asroy shows now was once buried in silent suffering. As Tori finishes speaking, Mehaki finally talks.

  Mehaki : That's just… Terrible! How could one's own brother be like that?

  Tori : Yeah.

  Mehaki : *So Asroy has 3 brothers and I have met his youngest brother, Shomoy. Now this clears up a lot of things. Asroy is definitely not a wicked guy despite coming from the Newaz family. And… Tori and Asroy have one thing in common — both of their misfortunes were caused by someone with fire powers.*

  She turns her eyes from Tori and locks them on the floor, thinking seriously only for a second.

  Mehaki : *So, could it be…* Then… What happened after that? I mean, who came next?

  Tushar : I did. I came to the Miraz Monjil after Asroy.

  Tushar lets out a small sigh and smiles faintly. Karu stays still, listening to the stories he knows very well and quietly reminiscing about the past.

  Tushar : And my experience was a bit bittersweet. As far as I remember, I arrived 15 days after him. Before that, I used to live happily with my family.

  [“I come from Himanikul city. I was born and raised there, too. My little sister Tulshi Nobin Nimayra was 3 years younger than me. Our parents loved us so much and we had a peaceful family. Himanikul is the city where people with ice powers usually come from. But of course other powers can be there too.”

  6-year-old Tushar peeks at the room from behind the door. Tulshi, sitting on the mat, is trying to draw something on paper with colored pencils. Just like Tushar, she has yellow hair and eyes. Tushar calls her lovingly.

  Tushar : Tulshi!

  Tulshi : ! Brother.

  Tushar : What are you doing?

  Tulshi : I can't draw…

  Tushar : Huh?

  He walks to Tulshi and sits on the mat with her.

  Tushar : What do you wanna draw?

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  Tulshi : Here, a tree.

  Tushar : Should I help you?

  Tulshi : Ah, take this green and you draw.

  Tulshi clumsily hands him the green pencil. Her cute request makes Tushar laugh a bit.

  Tushar : Haha. Alright. Look carefully, ok? You draw it like this…

  Tushar draws a tree, and Tulshi attentively keeps observing it.

  Tulshi : Draw me! With the tree!

  Tushar : Okay.

  He draws himself and Tulshi under the tree, and some grass. Then he holds up the paper and shows it to Tulshi properly.

  Tushar : Look! It's us.

  Tulshi : This is brother?

  Tushar : Yeah. And this is Tulshi.

  Tulshi : This is Tulshi?

  Tushar : Yes.

  Tulshi takes the paper and looks at the drawing carefully. Her soft, yellow eyes gleam with joy.

  “Tulshi looked like me, but we had different powers. Dad had ice powers like me, whereas mom and Tulshi had light powers.”

  Tulshi : Wow! So pretty!

  Tushar : Yup! You are pretty.

  “My sister was so cute that she literally seemed like a doll to me. I loved her a lot and couldn’t stand any harm coming to her. Mom and dad always admired the bond we had. Though Tulshi learned to speak late, she was intelligent and a fast learner. Her memory was sharper than mine.”

  Their father, Mr. Himayat Nobin, returns home and their mother, Mrs. Konika, calls the siblings. Tushar and Tulshi come running to them.

  Mrs. Konika : Tushar! Nimayra!

  Tushar : Yay! Dad came home early today!

  Mr. Himayat : Yes, son.

  Tulshi : Dad! Brother drew me. I'll draw brother next time.

  Mr. Himayat : Sure, sweetheart. Draw dad and mom as well, ok?

  Tulshi : Ok dad!

  Mr. Himayat : I brought treats for you. Here you go.

  He gives chocolates to the siblings and they jump with joy. Tulshi notices a peanut symbol on one of the packets and offers it to Tushar, for she knows Tushar loves peanuts.

  Tulshi : Brother. You love peanuts? I have it. Do you want it?

  Everyone's eyes sparkle with awe. Such a sweet child, caring so much for his brother at such a young age.

  Tushar : Aww! It’s ok, cutie pieee! I have those too. You can have it.

  Tulshi : Ok!

  “One day, we heard news of a house getting caught on fire mysteriously. It was rare for such incidents to happen in Himanikul. We thought of it as an accident. But then, more houses started to burn down, causing severe injuries and deaths. It was obvious someone was behind it. And the creepiest part was… That person only targeted those who belong to ice powered families, or those who have yellow, orange or any warm-toned hair. There were also rumors of that person wearing a dark red cloak. Investigations were going on, but the culprit couldn’t be found.”

  “We were always terrified and alert. Because we fit the exact description — yellow hair, ice powers. But we didn’t want to scare our little Tulshi. So she was unaware of any of it. Mom and I would panic internally, because dad had gone out of the city for work just days before the house burning incidents became severe. Mom worried about me more, since I used to go to school.”

  Tushar : Mom. You don’t have to drop me off at school. It’s dangerous for Tulshi.

  Mrs. Konika : No. I can't let you go alone. It’s risky for you.

  Tushar : You know me. I'm too mischievous. No one can even get near me. I'll run away so fast.

  Mrs. Konika : Enough.

  Tushar : Please mom. You won’t be able to protect Tulshi and yourself alone if you come outside. But I'll be just fine.

  Mrs. Konika : Tushar… *Sigh* Please be careful. Ok?

  Tushar : Don't worry mom. I won't let any of us get hurt!

  Tushar waves at his mother and little sister, and sets off to school.

  “One day… When I was coming back from school, I saw something that made me feel as if the ground had split beneath my feet. My heart sank in terror as I saw Tulshi in our front yard, and beside her was standing… A boy, wearing a dusty, dark red cloak. Just like the rumors…”]

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