(Chapter - 11)

  [Separate Ways]

  “Your… Enemy families??” Asroy’s tense voice finally breaks through. His eyes hover over the grass, confused, struggling to grasp what he just heard.

  Asroy : But… H-How? No, why!?... Me? Your enemy? I've never done anything to harm you! Neither did my family, I'm sure of it. They're even far away from you! How could they-

  Mehaki : I don’t know why! You didn’t harm me, it's true. But none of us knows whether your family members or ancestors harmed mine in the past, do we?

  Asroy : They… They probably didn’t! I don’t think they did… Do they even know you?

  Mehaki : How much do you even know about your own family? You haven't even lived with them since you were a child! What do you know!?

  Mehaki's stern voice shakes Asroy. He can’t bring himself to trust what he’s hearing. Though he has lived apart from his family until now, is this really how his family is? Words linger in his mind. Tori, Karu, and Tushar watch in tense silence, their hearts racing with every word exchanged.

  Asroy : I… Can't believe it…

  Mehaki : That doesn’t make the past a lie, does it?

  Asroy : No… But-

  Mehaki : Enough now. Listen everyone…

  Mehaki glances over the 3 boys, she puts her right hand on her chest and relays her words with a strong voice. They all look at Mehaki eagerly with worried faces, to hear what she wants to say.

  Mehaki : There’s no point hiding it anymore, since it’s been revealed in front of you… I am from the ‘Inufa Zaman’ family. The 12th descendant, Anami… Who was told to keep her real identity a secret until the right time comes.

  Tori’s eyes tighten with concern. He never doubted her, he had always been waiting for Mehaki to open up on her own. But not like this. Karu's breath hitches upon hearing that confession. Tushar is just processing everything. Their eyes lock on Mehaki. Asroy stares at the grass, unable to say anything.

  Mehaki : I was going to tell you someday, but I was too scared… Scared that maybe I couldn’t trust you guys yet. Please, don't misunderstand me… I had to keep it hidden for my safety.

  Tori : It's okay, Mehaki. We trust you.

  Karu : We didn’t misunderstand.

  Tushar : But… Is Asroy really your-...

  Mehaki : Since the time of my earliest ancestors, we have had the 3 families as our enemy.

  Mehaki’s voice, which carries a weight, cuts off Tushar's words midway.

  Mehaki : And one of those lifetime enemy families is…

  Mehaki looks at Asroy, eyes slightly narrowed. Asroy’s breath halts midair, the faint sound of the wind is the only thing that dares to move.

  Mehaki : The Newaz family… That means our bloodlines have been enemies for generations.

  Asroy : …Haha… Enemies…

  Asroy laughs with disbelief, carrying an unspoken burden, a pain.

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  Mehaki : It's a huge family history. But I have to say, Asroy, you've been a good friend to me since the beginning. And I'm grateful for that…

  Asroy : You've been trying to avoid me… Just because you came to know that, I'm from the Newaz family…?

  Mehaki : That's true.

  Asroy : …Maybe, this is the reason I was told to take a new name… This is-…

  Mehaki : It’s better for both of us. Now that we know who we truly are, you and I should go our separate ways. We shouldn’t interfere in each other’s lives anymore.

  The air turns cold. Even the wind seems to hold its breath. Asroy finally looks up at Mehaki, eyes filled with despair and confusion. Mehaki looks away and her eyes, for a few seconds, meet Tori's. Tori parts his lips to speak, but stops, hands clenching. Mehaki turns around to walk out.

  Mehaki : I should leave now… Goodbye.

  Tori : *Goodbye…?*

  Asroy : Inufa..

  Asroy reaches out instinctively to stop her, but Mehaki pulls her hand away before he can even touch it, not even glancing back once. She continues to walk out of the place. Everyone keeps looking as she leaves, except Asroy, whose face looks down, eyes darkened and hopeless. Wind flutters, tagging along the dried and fallen leaves. Tori’s eyes narrow from the aching of heart, he didn’t wish for their friendship to tear up like this. Asroy is shaking, with a mix of feelings–sorrow, frustration, emptiness. A memory flashes through his mind…

  [6 year old Asroy, Tori, Karu and Tushar playing with each other in the living room. They tumble onto the floor, rolling and laughing.

  Karu : Gotcha!

  Tushar : Hahaha!

  Tori : Oh no! Not Again.

  Asroy : You're fast! Karu Arfan Rafin.

  Karu : Hihi.

  They lie down on the floor, finally resting from all the banter, breathing to calm down. Tushar sits up cheerfully, full of curiosity.

  Tushar : Hey, Asroy! What's your full name?

  Asroy : Huh?

  Tushar : Or, do you not remember?

  Asroy : I do.

  Asroy sits up, as well as Tori and Karu. Miraz is walking by the door and stops to check up on the kids.

  Asroy : Haven’t I told you yet?

  Tori : No.

  Karu : Yeah, we really don’t know.

  Asroy : Well.

  He stands up proudly, to announce himself with a smile.

  Asroy : I am Asroy Onil Newaz! Now you know.

  Miraz : !

  Tushar : Oh, I see.

  Tori : Nice name.

  Karu : So, does everyone from the Newaz family have wind powers?

  Asroy : Not everyone, but mostly yes.

  Miraz : Asroy.

  Miraz comes in. All 4 boys look up at him; his expression is tense, deeply concerned.

  Miraz : You're… From the Newaz family?

  Asroy : Uh… Yeah.

  Miraz : *Sigh* Listen… Since you've separated from your family now. Let's make a new name for you.

  Asroy : Huh? Why?

  Miraz : It's for your own good. Except us, do not tell anyone about your origin, that you’re from the Newaz family. It’s not safe, not good for you.

  Asroy : W-What do you mean?

  Tori : …!

  Tori's eyes flicker, as he too had experienced this moment. Fortunately, he didn’t have to conceal his real name. But this time, it feels different, as if this is something Asroy must do.

  Miraz : There are reasons behind every decision, every situation, every event. One day you’ll understand why I chose to hide your family name. You’re too young to carry such heavy thoughts in your little head now.

  Asroy : But! Others aren’t hiding their names!

  Miraz : You trust me, right?

  Asroy : Of course I do!

  Miraz : Then have patience. In time, you’ll learn everything… So, from now on, your name will be… Asroy Bin Miraz. After me.

  Asroy stiffens his lips and nods with confidence. The last words keep echoing in his mind…]

  As this flash of memory ends in Asroy's mind, he clenches his fist. Tori, Tushar and Karu are going inside the house, feeling upset. Asroy looks up at the orange-hued, fading sky and lets out a bitter scoff of disbelief.

  Asroy : Ha… Have patience?... Is this it? Is this the reason why I had to keep my name hidden? That, my family is the enemy of another family? Is it…

  Karu : Hey.

  Karu's words bring Asroy to reality. He tilts his head to look at Karu, though his dejected face remains intact.

  Karu : Let's go inside. Don't just keep standing here outside, it won't fix anything. Let's calm ourselves down and think it through.

  Asroy says nothing, just follows Karu inside. In the meantime, Mehaki is walking down the quiet street, devastated by the outburst she had moments ago. “Why did things have to turn out this way?” Her heart aches. “I still can’t wrap my head around everything that’s happened...” Thoughts come out as a deep sigh, she clutches to the notebook she has been holding. A short distance ahead, an unknown boy with bright red hair and red eyes stands by the fence of the sidewalk, holding an Ariya flower in his hand. As Mehaki comes a bit near, the flower glows, as a signal of her presence. Shocked, the boy moves his head left and right, only to notice Mehaki walking towards on his left side. “For real?” He thinks as he keeps staring at her, with surprise in his eyes.

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