(Chapter - 3)

  [The Colorful Brothers]

  Mehaki feels terror-struck, clueless and anxious, for she is unable to understand anything that has happened to her. The 4 boys may be the only ones who have the answers for her. But what are the odds of meeting them again? She rushes to the nursery, with the tiniest bit of hope that she might be able to meet them there if luck is on her side. But Alas! None of them are here. Her distress keeps rising. She comes out of the nursery gates to ask the guard, again with a bit of hope...

  Mehaki : Excuse me, have you seen 4 boys? They had blue, green, yellow & dark red hair. A bit taller than me.

  Guard : Ah yes. They were here & left just a while ago. They're a regular here.

  Mehaki : Oh, I see. Can you tell me which direction they went?

  Guard : I saw them taking a turn to the right of the street.

  Mehaki : Ok, thank you very much.

  Guard : *They must be playing hide-n-seek. Huh? Such playful kids.*

  Mehaki runs in the direction told by the guard. As her feet are hurrying, she glances over here and there lest she should miss the 4 boys. After following the street for a while, she notices Tori, Karu, Tushar and Asroy walking a distance ahead of her. "There they are!" her conscious mind says to her. She runs towards them. Karu has an Ariya flower in his hand which starts glowing as Mehaki is almost near them. Upon hearing the running footsteps, all of the 4 looks back & sees the person they were looking for as well. It's Mehaki.

  Tori : Hey, Mehaki! We were looking for you.

  Mehaki catches a breath before she speaks up...

  Mehaki : It's me who's.. Dying in search of you!

  Asroy : Oh, uh...

  Mehaki : What kind of flower did you make me take!?

  Her face is full of fear. Gentle yet stern, an eagerness for answers to be given right away. The boys are taken aback by this expression.

  Karu : H-Hey, cool down. It's a special and rare flower.

  Mehaki : It's not special at all! It's weird!

  Tushar : Um, why do you-

  Mehaki : It suddenly grew into a big tree the moment I touched it with my bare hand!

  Asroy : What?

  Karu : Huh? We didn't know about anything like that..

  Confusion takes over them 4 as they take a glance at one another.

  Mehaki : It's in the backyard of my house. It's so terrifying..!!

  Her eyes become teary, like she's on the verge of tearing up. The 4 boys nervously try to calm her down.

  Tori : Mehaki-..

  Asroy : H-Hey, Inufa. Look, we really don't know why it grew up like that. But we do know a bit about the flower. We'll tell everything, ok?

  Karu : Please calm down. Since we can't talk about it in public, let's go to our house. We can explain everything to you.

  Tushar : Yeah, I'm sure you'll like our place. Come with us!

  Tushar insists with a cheerful smile. Mehaki softly wipes her teary eyes and looks at them, like she's convinced.

  Following them, Mehaki goes to their place. It has an entrance surrounded by a garden. The nameplate at the main gate says "Miraz Monjil". From the gate, the medium long path that leads to the house is designed with trees, and bushes on both sides. The colorfulness of flowers will soothe anyone's eyes and bring their mind at peace. The sweet smell filling the air, makes one feel that even breathing is delightful. Same for Mehaki. Her eyes are mesmerized from the scenery, as well as her mind. She glances around while walking with Tori, Karu, Tushar and Asroy.

  Mehaki : Wow! How beautiful!

  Tushar : I knew you'd like it!

  Tushar shows a confident smile.

  Mehaki : Why do you visit the nursery everyday when you have such an amazing garden?

  Asroy : Just to explore the varieties of flowers. But how do you know that we go there everyday?

  Mehaki : I asked the guards about you. He told me.

  Karu : Oh, the perfect person to ask. Haha!

  Tori : That was a smart move, Mehaki.

  Mehaki : Thanks.

  Mehaki smiles subtly. Tushar interrupts them.

  Tushar : You're welcome.

  Tori : Hey! That was for me, Tushar.

  Tushar : So what? I said it before you.

  Tori : What a rascal!

  Tushar : What? You are a rascal!

  Tori : You are more.

  Tushar : Shut up! You are!

  Tori : No, you are!

  Their childish argument eases the environment and everyone laughs a little. How cute they are.

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  At Miraz Monjil, in the living room, Mehaki sits on a sofa while the others sit on the opposite sofa of hers. The interior glamour of the house is no less than the outside. An example of a perfect house.

  Mehaki : Your house is really nice & artistic! Miraz Monjil, right?

  Asroy : Yeah.

  Mehaki : Is Miraz your dad's name?

  Asroy : Right. Miraz Muzaif, our dad.

  Mehaki : I see. So, about the flower..

  Karu : Yes.

  Karu leans a bit ahead, resting his elbows on knees and clasping hands one over another under his chin. Mehaki listens intently.

  Karu : You said the flower grew up suddenly when you touched it?

  Mehaki : Not only that. It also wasn't glowing until I stepped towards it!

  Mehaki exclaims with a slight restlessness.

  Karu : Ok, so.. Remember when Tori said you're a special person? You actually are. You are somehow related to the Ariya flower. Just like how your name matches with it.

  Mehaki : That doesn't make any sense.

  Tori : We have an Ariya flower tree in our garden as well. Dad only said that, when a person related to this flower comes nearby, it glows up. It sounded weird to us at first. But the day we met you, we were also surprised to see it was true. You are Ariya flower's related person.

  [A glimpse of memory flashes in his mind again, Miraz talking about Ariya flower to little Tori, Karu, Tushar and Asroy as they're hearing it attentively, so amazed.]

  [The moment of them seeing Mehaki for the first time as the flower glowed, comes to Tori's mind.]

  Mehaki seems confused and unable to process anything correctly.

  Mehaki : B-But.. How can I be-..

  Tushar : Well, it's better to ask your parents about it. That's all we know so far.

  Tushar cuts off Mehaki's words since there are no more answers to give her from them.

  Asroy : Uh, maybe the flowers love you so they glow up! If you were a flower like them, I bet you'd be the prettiest one.

  Tori : *What nonsense is he saying?*

  Asroy shows a playful smile, while the others make a weird expression for this statement. What is this? A flirty line? Who in the world says stuff like that in the middle of a serious topic? Though it puts no effect on Mehaki because she is more focused on her unsolved problem right now.

  Tushar : Oh, look who's misleading her with the sweet-talk!

  Tushar objects but Asroy nonchalantly brushes it off..

  Asroy : What? I was only telling the truth.

  Tushar : Ha! As if.

  Asroy : What did I do wrong?

  Mehaki : Umm.. I had to ask one thing.

  Everyone's eyes are on Mehaki. After observing the 4 boys all throughout the time, she asks a question out of mere curiosity..

  Mehaki : Are all of you.. Brothers?

  Silence takes over the situation for a moment. How are they so different despite being siblings? Karu breaks the silence with affirmation.

  Karu : Yes, we're brothers.

  Tori : As you know, the colorful brothers!

  Right then, Miraz comes home from the grocery store.

  Miraz : I'm back, kids! Oh..!

  He notices Mehaki sitting in the living room with them. For a moment he freezes in thought "I.. I can't believe it! Is she..." He quickly comes to his senses and speaks nicely as Mehaki greets him.

  Mehaki : Hello uncle.

  Miraz : Hi there. Are you a friend of theirs?

  Karu : Yes, from the same school as us and also the same grade.

  Tushar : But in a different classroom!

  Mehaki : I'm Mehaki. Nice to meet you.

  Miraz : It's a pleasure, dear.

  Mehaki : Um, I shall go home now. See you tomorrow at school, bye!

  "Bye!" She and the 4 wave at each other. Mehaki leaves. The 4 boys stand up from the sofa. Miraz wants to talk with them.

  Miraz : Boys, there's something I need to talk about with you.

  Karu and Asroy look at Miraz with attention mixed with curiosity. Tori and Tushar glance at each other in confusion.

  Mehaki looks for her parents when she reaches home. But they aren't here. She asks her sister Minaki, thinking she would know.

  Mehaki : Where's mom & dad?

  Minaki : They left a few minutes ago. Mom said that, mom & dad suddenly got an urgent call for a meeting and they had to go to the neighbouring city.

  Mehaki : On a Saturday!?

  Minaki : Yeah, bad luck. Dad said they'd return at around past midnight. Since it's in another city.

  Mehaki lets out a sigh. "Maybe I'll have to talk to mom tomorrow, about my connection with the Ariya flower." she thinks while slightly moving her head to the backdoor of the house. Little did she know now that this is no weird flower, rather it's something she's related to. She feels oddly safe about it.

  When the night falls and Mehaki is ready to go to bed, "How about I check on the tree again tonight?" an instant thought comes up in her mind. Doing as she thought, she comes out through the backdoor, confidently walking to the Ariya flower tree. As she is almost near, the flowers on the tree glow up, she had to look up to see such a mesmerizing sight. Mehaki feels some kind of closeness to it now. She gently wraps her hands around the tree and hugs it. "Ariya flower" this name flashes through her mind.

  Suddenly, she can hear footsteps on the grass. Who can be here at his hour? Her parents are supposed to be home later than this. Mehaki turns around hurriedly. Only to be surprised seeing the people standing before her, are none other than Tori, Karu, Tushar and Asroy. Totally unexpected!

  Mehaki : You?? What are you guys doing here at this hour? And how did you find my home?

  Asroy : I think it's you who's outside at this hour, Inufa.

  Mehaki : But how did you-..

  Tushar : We have something great to show you.

  Mehaki : Huh?

  Asroy : Promise that you won't scream.

  Mehaki : What?

  Mehaki feels hesitant and nervous. What such thing could it be? Her curious mind wants to know as well. She musters up some courage.

  Asroy : Okay?

  Mehaki : Um.. O-Okay.

  Asroy : Here we go in 3.. 2.. 1!

  Asroy swings his hand upwards and a whirl of wind blows. The wind surrounds & pulls them up high from the ground. Mehaki is shocked, she holds her mouth with her hands and mumbles...

  Mehaki : I might fall! I might fall! Aaah!

  Mehaki flails her arms to seek balance in the air since they are 3 stories high from the ground. She is frightened. Tori reassures her by gently placing his hand on hers...

  Tori : Don't worry, Mehaki. You won't fall. Look.

  Karu : You're safe here.

  Their reassuring words calm Mehaki down a bit. She looks around. It's really happening! They're floating high up in the air. She feels incredible yet frightened.

  Asroy : So, what do you think, Inufa?

  Mehaki : This is.. Amazing! Kind of scary too. But how did you do that?!

  Asroy : Let's get down on your rooftop and talk.

  Asroy puts everyone down on the rooftop of Mehaki's house, which is 2 stories.

  Asroy : Actually, we got these special abilities from our family. I was born with wind powers, like you saw.

  Mehaki : Do you all have magical powers?

  Tushar : Yes. Lemme show you my powers!

  Tushar freezes the surface of the roof around them with ice. Then swirls a rope of snow around Mehaki, sparkling with ice crystals & soft light that lights up her face a bit. Mehaki is amazed.

  Mehaki : Ah! The power of snow!

  Tushar : Well, that's what my name means! Snow. I have ice powers.

  Tori : You know, Mehaki. We're famous in school for our hair colors, but we're showing our other specialties only to you. And now, it's my turn.

  Tori lends a hand forward to Mehaki. As she holds it, Tori runs off the rooftop taking her along. She gasps from shock, then suddenly realizes that she's standing on a floating surface, made of water! Karu, Tushar & Asroy jump in after them. Tori releases Mehaki's hand.

  Tori : My name means a boat, and boats float on water. But look, there's water to float us all.

  Mehaki : That's so amazing!

  Tori : Haha.

  Tori suddenly stops using his power. Mehaki screams as they're about to fall down from the height. Karu prevents her scream by putting finger on her mouth.

  Karu : No. We're all safe... Now!

  Karu gestures his hand, creating a big, soft mattress of green leaves and they all land on it safely with no harm.

  Mehaki : Uh.. Karu?

  Karu : Hmm?

  Mehaki : Was it flower power?

  Karu : We better call it nature power. Fresh and green!

  Mehaki : You guys are sooo awesome!

  Mehaki exclaims in joy and excitement. The 4 boys proudly smile. Tushar forwardingly shows courtesy.

  Tushar : Thank you, precious Inufa.

  Mehaki softly laughs.

  Asroy : Now, Inufa. Promise not to tell anyone about our powers. It's a family secret, you know.

  Mehaki : I promise. But you guys must promise to show these stunts to me again. Ok?

  Mehaki joyfully glances over to each of them. The 4 boys look at each other, then at Mehaki, with a smile of affirmation. They answer her together...

  "We promise, too."

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