Zen stood near the fireplace watching the simmering water. The wooden logs were stubborn as they refused to catch fire. He added dry leaves and crispy twigs to quantify the fire. Scarlett sat at the edge of the mattress, her hair seemed like someone had ploughed it during the night.

"What's the music?" She asked uncurling her body. Rhythmic notes of drums and flutes and trumpets strolled into their ears. Children giggling and elders loud babbling was distinctly heard.

"A morning custom I guess. It's been over 10 minutes." He stirred the boiling water, kindling the flames.

"And the water is for?" She asked rubbing her eyes.

"I found some tea leaves, why not try making some fresh tea?" He let out a deep 'ahhhh' sound as he breathed the refreshing aroma. It draped him with pleasantness beyond the brutality of past days.

"Scar! Make yourself look a little presentable," he let a giggle slip through his words, as he started at her dishevelled hair.

"I'm making an effort." She washed her face from the container outside. Combing her unruly hair from a wooden comb, she drank the tea he had formulated. They stepped out with strange thoughts on seeing the islanders buzz with glee.

"These islanders have a lot of energy in store!" Zen remarked.

"This is unusual, feels like a not so daily custom."

They walked in silence, absorbing the chaos outside and feeling their happiness. Sparkling ribbons and tapes were hung all around the place. Shimmering bands were worn by little lads. Men and women festooned in colourful robes and shawls. They saw Opeul standing at the far end, talking to some men. His polished white teeth sneaked out every time the leader grinned.

"Did it rain last night?" Scarlett questioned as she felt the moist soil.

"No?" He answered with uncertainty. 'Was I so deeply involved in my thoughts that I didn't notice the rain?' Zen mulled over it.

They finally saw Opeul's image. Zen almost dashed into a woman carrying a pot of milk, her reflexes were quick enough to save the pot from shattering into pieces. It was Trar, standing beside Opeul that made him lose his core focus.

Opeul stared at them with a mild smile embracing his lips although the eyebrows stayed weaved in the centre.

"Nice to see you lads..safe and sound!" He said with an emphasis on 'safe'.

They smiled back politely. How odd that they had no words to return his pleasantry.

"Keep wondering, kids! I see the novelty in your eyes. The Great Annual Festivals start from today- A three days feast."

"Oh! So the celebration has started?"

"Yes, you got it! Today is the 'Festival of Water'. Water, an element of nature we are kept in. We remember the significance of water, award the annual prodigies and educate people. The festival is set by our ancestors accurately the month it rains heavily. But we are disappointed this year as it didn't rain for so long like the previous years. Nevertheless, we have fatigued waiting for the rain. Can we bargain with the rain? It reveals itself in its own time. I ordered my men to water the soil. Do you smell? The essence of tingling smell when soil meets water."

"Fascinating! What about the other two days?" Zen interrupted which was followed by Scarlett sneezing so loud that the men around flinched as the women carried baskets of flowers along their way.

"Tomorrow is the very anticipated 'Festival of bread', a festival to mark the abundance of food and thanking God for all the provision. The third day is the 'Festival of havens'.
And the celebrations end after that!"

"You keep amazing us with these pieces of information!"

"Now go! Explore this meek island. Only a few minutes left for the Great Gathering near the pine trees. Later, we have arranged a special meal for you at one of these houses."

"Yes! Thank you, sir!" Scarlett said as they walked towards an art piece made of ocean-blue hydrangeas, set up in the shape of a wave. The petals, oriented to wriggle and lay according to the twirled wave of the sea was a mesmerising scene to the eyes. The ombre effect created by the contrasting colour palette stood out as a masterpiece.

"I wish I had my camera!" Scarlett mumbled.

"Ah! Yes, me too. Right now our eyes are our camera, perhaps the best camera, tracing down the things it sees in a memory so absurd."

As they were gobbling its sight, the giant trumpet thumped in a particular melody, twice. Islanders from all the corners plunged their way to the huge gathering. Loud 'booms' and 'clicks' were heard as the mass gathered. Scarlett turned to join the crowd when Zen clasped her wrist, signalling her to stay back.

"Wait! Let's stand at the very end of the crowd! Can't risk getting caught!" He reasoned his actions.

"I see your criminal brain sketching a theory, mind sharing?" She said shrugging off the dust on her dress.

"Ha! Follow me."

"And summon death." She completed his sentence.

"NO! Trust me this time. It's a victorious plan."

"Whatever!" She sent her eyes tumbling at him.

When the crowd jammed up near the shore, Zen and Scarlett walked towards the end of the pack. On a rock which seemed to be knocked over and levelled into a smooth plane, served its job as a 'stage' or an 'elevated object'. On it stood Opeul and a couple of other men and women. The pine trees decorated with shimmering clothes made a splendid background. Opeul, like always, was wearing a purple cloak.

Opeul yelled something as the men blew their conch, indicting two men who held wooden bowls, to come forward.
He called out a person and was handing the turquoise band with gold stones and brass stripes.

"I reckon the time has come!" Zen whispered to Scarlett.

She followed Zen, who rushed into the main town. They seemed to walk for a while and then sprint at the same time, all the while making sure nobody suspected them.

They hid by the bushes until a granny, who took forever to walk, caught up with the crowd. Making sure nobody else walked by they strode under the shadow of little trees, searching for the tulip garden.

"Do you really want to ruin this festive day, Zen?"

"No, Scar! Look, this thing will be done in a jiffy. The four-step plan is to take my jacket, -"

"Before that make sure it belongs to you" she plunged in.

"Yes, then search his whereabouts, bring it back to our room and join the gathering....and advice for you: stay composed and don't trip the little rocks!"

"And an advice to you too," she said turning back, "stop shoving bits of advice at me and focus! We have walked past the tulip garden!"

He rubbed his temples in remorse. Zen recognised Trar's house, standing amongst the coconut trees. The walls seemed to trip with excess paint. The roots from the huge tree had crawled into the house walls.

"The beige door seems to yawn any minute!" She commented on seeing the house door.

"Do you realise if I get caught, it includes you?"

"Of course, I do!"

"Then why are you so laid back?" They reached the shabby house.

"Because..I trust you!" She lent a ravishing wink. This time he was the one rolling his eyes. The door was latched from the outside.

"Thank God! It isn't locked!"

They entered the minimalist house with a detailed carpet, a lampshade on a vintage table and a one-person bed in the right corner. To the left, things were kept covered by a veil. The house looked organised recently although there was nothing to organize. It was a one-room house with no traces of a dog or a feeling of home.

"I will search for the jacket, try finding information about that guy Trar!" Zen rummaged through the sheets. A couple of shelves had his clothes. He didn't find his jacket.

Scarlett removed the blanket to reveal common tools like hammers, drillers, steel railings and many other implements piled up in the room.

She was drawn to the papers under the lampshade. There were two printed papers. One read: Hear By, I acknowledge to take up this project and serve the company with utmost loyalty. Any disclosure of the tunnel project will make me guilty of that crime....and his sign on the verge of the paper.

The other paper had a header that read 'payments', the body of the paper read: monthly payment-65 dollars, special luxury treatment on your visit to Dlayok and a leather jacket worth 50 dollars as a boosting advance to the payments.

Before Scarlett could finish reading Zen yelled, "Scar! My jacket, look! This is mine!!" 'Mhmmm' he brought it close to his nose.

"Wait, Zen! Look at this!" She showed him the paper. "an agreement, it seems! Look at your jacket being auctioned off for 50 dollars!"

"So cheap! This is worth more than 50 dollars!" He smirked at his words. "Dlayok" he trailed his fingers along the words

Scarlett started searching the house. Next to the place where the tools were kept, the area looked suspicious, like an opening or something. Was this the result of witnessing too many hidden doors and rooms?- an illusion!

As she moved her feet around the sceptical area, the main door creaked. Both spun their heads in the direction of the sound and found Trar, Opeul and another guy holding a basket of berries standing at the door.

Scarlett gulped as she recalled Opeul's words: It isn't funny to steal, kids!

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A/N: THOUGHTS?
(Will be continued)