Square One

Rasheek frantically scanned his surroundings and clenched his teeth saying “where did that rat go.” He jittered and paused for a moment. He went about examining an array of curtains, displayed against a wall on a street shop. At an opportune moment, he slipped behind the curtains and activated his anchor. Just as Nevin appeared, he dragged Nevin out and walked out, with his arm around Nevin’s shoulder.

He said “Shez slipped off somewhere like a rat. What about him, is he there?” Nevin replied, limping and trying to keep pace with Rasheek “Shibhu? He has fallen unconscious.” Rasheek at once slipped his hand down and with a push, he said “Go that way, ill look here. We’ve got to get her.” Aira stopped short her brisk walk and froze as her eyes met Nevin’s.  

Aditya looked through the thin opening of his eyes as he gained consciousness. “Nobody” he said to himself with a frown. He let his eyelids fall back to close and felt the silence. At once, he opened his eyes, squeezed out his right palm from under the bike handle and looked at it. “How does she do it” he said and tried to recall how exactly Aira would flash out a projection. He folded his fist and opened it several times, making slight variations in how he did it. He jumped up on his elbow when he saw a beam of light coming out of his hand. He dragged his leg out from underneath the bike and sat up. He directed it to the ground and felt confident about what he needs to do.  

With a splash of water on his face, Shibhu opened his eyes and frantically looked around. He saw a number of faces bent over him. He jumped upright and the mob distanced from him, continuing to stare at him without a blink.  

Aira took a steep turn and briskly walked away. Nevin followed saying “She is here.” After dodging a few lanes, Aira ran into Rasheek. She knew she could not turn about, for she would find Nevin behind. “Leave me alone or I will” she said as she saw Rasheek marching forward. She let out a loud cry and ran into a lane in her left. Rasheek and Nevin ran after her. They were obstructed by men on the street, whom they brushed off and chased her. Noise built up, on the street. Soon there were men running after them.

Angry shouts pulled in more people and soon, a mob joined the chase. Aira hit a dead end. Rasheek plunged onto her and held her neck against the stone wall. Rasheek turned back angrily as pelting stones wounded his back. A stone came straight onto his face and broke his tooth. Blood oozed out of his mouth. He let out a shout and opened his fist, letting out rays of light that showered on the crowd. He quickly turned back and tightened his grip on Aira.

The crowd wilted with marks of singed skin across their bodies. Nevin added to their exacerbation by showering more rays on them. “Aditya does not know anything about time travel,” Aira said. “Get me out of here,” Rasheek said dismissingly. “I don't know” Aira said. Rasheek left her neck and slapped her. “I would have gone if I knew” Aira said as her eyes welled up. 

Aditya saw two names on the screen. He touched on the first. Seeing Aira and Rasheek in front of him, he panted. In a moment, Nevin was also there. He quickly touched on the second name and Shibhu appeared.