The air was filled with the soft clinks of spoons and the comforting scent of home-cooked food.
Chapatis puffed gently in the basket, steam curled from the dal, and Avantika was halfway through her third bite of aloo-tama.
"Seriously, Aama," she said, "you cook like a secret five-star chef."
Sarvani chuckled, adjusting her shawl. "Eat more, child. You're all bones."
Everyone laughed.
Just then—Rrrring Rrrring.
A phone buzzed on the table.
Shapra frowned, wiped his hand, and picked it up.
"Unknown number…"
He answered hesitantly. "Hello?"
"Ho ho ho, is this young Shapra?" came a warm, grainy voice.
Shapra blinked. "Uh—yeah, this is him. Who's this?"
"It's me, Arvind," the voice chuckled. "The handsome old man you've never met."
"Hey, where are you guys? We thought you'd be coming today." Shapra said, eyeing the phone.
"Change of plans, champ," Arvind said cheerfully. "We'll be there after five days. Got a few things to take care of on the way."
Shapra raised a brow. "Wait—what happened to Gramps' phone? We tried calling him earlier."
"Oh, that antique thing?" Arvind laughed. "Battery died. You know him—he thinks electricity is just fancy lightning."
Everyone at the table snorted with laughter.
"Tell your Grandma I'll bring her favorite sweets," Arvind added.
"I will," Shapra said with a smile. "Take care on the road."
Click.
Shapra put the phone down and sighed, amused.
"They'll come after five days," he announced.
Sarvani nodded. "Good. That gives me time to finish knitting the covers."
Ridhir leaned back, arms folded. "Five days, huh? Perfect."
Shapra looked up. "Perfect for what?"
Ridhir grinned.
1:00 PM – Shapra's Room
He had just flopped onto his bed, belly full, eyes closing, the world slowly fading into peaceful nap time…
BANG!
The door swung open so hard it made the window rattle.
"Training time!" Ridhir declared like a battle general.
Shapra sat up like a startled cat. "HUHH?! I just ate!"
"You'll digest through motion," Ridhir smirked. "Come on, let's see if that food made you stronger."
Avantika popped her head in, trying not to laugh. "This I gotta see."
1:20 PM – Backyard Arena
The training field behind the house was quiet—until it wasn't.
"Stand firm!" Ridhir barked. "Balance is the base of all Mudras."
Shapra, still bloated and half-asleep, wobbled on one leg like a sleepy flamingo.
"Why is the earth spinning?" he groaned.
"It's not. You are," Ridhir said, poking him in the forehead. Shapra nearly fell.
3:00 PM – A Peaceful End
After two hours of push-ups, falls, fake punches, real punches, chicken dodging, and being tackled by a goat named Bhunti, Shapra lay on the grass, staring at the sky.
"...I'm dead."
Ridhir stood over him with a proud nod. "You'll thank me in five days."
Avantika placed a cold bottle of water beside him. "Still digesting?"
Shapra didn't answer. He just grunted.
Somewhere in the distance, a bird chirped.
And somewhere beyond the clouds, the storm of fate slowly stirred.
To Be Continued...