Aanvik's eyes were slowly exposed to the ceiling, which was adorned with mild blue rays emitting from the lamp kept beside the bed. The remnants of the dream were reluctant to abandon his mind at once; as the barrier before his consciousness began to evaporate a minute later, he mechanically 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 was unable to keep track of how many times Mayank had caught hold of his wandering soul, 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 fairly 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's head received a vigorous shake. No, he was certain. He had brought them home at the end of the day. Mayank conquered 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; the kid was not there. His desperate feet took him to the balcony next, but it proved to be equally empty. 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 with a perplexed expression that once again invited his lingering fears. Was it a dream after all?

"Were you talking to yourself?" she asked.

Aanvik gasped. "Ma!"

"What's the matter?"

His puzzled eyes led her gaze to the vacant bed.

Mrs. Kumar shook her head. "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 briefly 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.

A couple of moments later, they walked through a door that was left open into a faintly lit room with two beds separated by a narrow gap. One was occupied by Shranav, who appeared to be locked in deep sleep. Their eyes were captivated by the other bed.

Aanvik's apprehension faded at once while a beam of amusement enlightened 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 and let his eyes find a calm Mayank, who seemed to be lost in the remotest corner of dreams. It had been four days since his reappearance. Mrs. Kumar sat by his side with the back of her hand affectionately resting against his forehead. She looked up at her son with eyes buried under anxiety as he walked into the scene.

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

"Don't worry. He'll be alright. It'll take some time, that's all."

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 could not resist a smile. "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 fragile, Nayif says. He clings to Waseef all day. Won't let him walk out of his sight for a single minute."

"Poor boy. How old is he? Six?"

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 those foods 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."