Aanvik slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the unearthly shade of blue against the ceiling. It was just the bedside lamp, but the remnants of the jumbled dream were reluctant to release their grip on his mind at once. As the hazy barrier before his consciousness began to evaporate a minute later, he turned his head to the right. It took yet another few moments for him to process the sight. With his eyes still on the empty space beside him, he got up to sit.

He scratched his head. It could not be just a dream. Or was it? His heart sank at the thought of the possibility. It was true that he could not keep track of the number of times Mayank had caught hold of his wandering soul at night, but all of it seemed to be too vivid, too earthly to be a mere dream this time.

A pale and weary Mayank. A timid Fayzan, skinnier than ever. The protracted hours in a reasonably comfortable room that was turned into a claustrophobic dungeon with the heartless inquiries of the world. It was all too real, too horrifying, and too blissful to be the hauntings of his restless mind.

Aanvik shook his head. No, he was certain. He had brought them home at the end of the day. Mayank was fast asleep in a room close by with Shranav; he had placed them there himself. And the boy...

The captain jumped down from the bed and rushed toward the washroom. The door was unlocked; Fayzan was not there. His desperate feet took him to the balcony next, but there was no sign of the child. With his heart thumping against his chest, he walked back into his room.

"Fayzan? Oh no, no. Don't disappear now. Waseef will skin me alive."

As he turned to the door, it opened with a faint groan. His mother stepped in, and the expression on her face intensified his lingering fear. Was it a dream after all?

"Were you talking to yourself?" she asked.

Aanvik gasped. "Ma!"

"What's the matter?"

His puzzled eyes led hers to the vacant bed.

Mrs. Kumar smiled. "It's alright. Come here and have a look."

Shooting a quizzical glare, Aanvik followed his mother as she walked out of the room. She turned around with a finger against her lips. The gesture was not necessary; with anxiety numbing his limbs, Aanvik was not quite in a position to raise an uproar.

They stopped by the door of a dimly lit room. A large bed, presently occupied, was placed beside the window. Shranav appeared to be lost in deep sleep, oblivious to the two creatures by his side. Mayank lay flat on his back, equally lost in sleep and equally oblivious to the fact that his chest now held a sleeping boy.

Aanvik's apprehension faded at once and a beam of amusement lit his face. A brief exchange of looks confirmed that his mother shared his conflation of wonder and delight.

"Children are magic," he said in a soft tone.

**********

Aanvik stepped back into his room from the balcony. He sighed as he lay his eyes on Mayank, who looked awfully peaceful in his sleep. It had been four days since his reappearance. An anxious Mrs. Kumar sat by the all-rounder's side, the back of her hand affectionately placed against his forehead. She looked up at her son as he walked in.

"The fever hasn't subsided yet," she said.

"Don't worry. It'll take some time, but he'll be alright."

His mother did not look convinced. "Do you think we should have kept him in the hospital?"

"He'd have burned the whole place down, Ma. Mayank won't hear of it. I'm glad that he is at least staying with us."

"I'll chain him down if he dares to think of leaving this place. Won't take care of himself... Won't let anyone take care of him... and... and... would disappear at his sweet will. What will become of this boy?"

Aanvik smiled. "Ah, calm down, Ma. He hasn't said anything about leaving."

Mrs. Kumar's lips parted for a moment. She nevertheless decided to comply. "How's the baby now?"

"Fayzan? Still a bit pale and weak, Nayif says. Clings to Waseef all day. Won't let him walk out of his sight for a single minute."

"Poor boy. How old is he? Not more than six or seven, I assume?"

Aanvik chortled. "He is fully ten."

"No way that tiny little thing is ten!" exclaimed Mrs. Kumar. "Doesn't your Waseef feed him anything?"

"He is fine, Ma. I am sure he is well fed."

"This Waseef doesn't eat anything, either."

"You could have fed an elephant with all that food you tried to make him eat last time."

Mrs. Kumar pursed her lips. "Why not? Children must eat. Ask these two to eat properly."

"You have grown quite fond of the kid, haven't you?"

Mrs. Kumar sighed. "How can one not grow fond of such an adorable child? And..."

"And?"

"I sort of saw someone in him."

A sad smile took over the captain's lips. "Well, Ma, you aren't the only one who did."