The mornings were indicated by a rooster's cock-a-doodle-do and everyone got about their work. The sun rose gradually by the time villagers finished their breakfast and marched to their respective workplaces.

Staying in the village for about three months now, Ismail was a transformed human. He no longer complained about air conditioners, the smell of stables, the spicy food or the villagers' ignorance. Instead, the rooster became his alarm, the natural wind became his air conditioner and the villagers, his friends.

"Babu, the breakfast is here. Have you bathed already?"

Kumar addressed Ismail with the same name as the villagers called him. He was a senior in the company and now, served as a personal assistant to Ismail in order to handle company's affairs.

"I will be there in ten minutes. Please start eating."

As Ismail made his way towards the concrete-built bathroom, he smiled at his words. Kumar took care of him as a father and always ate with him. He taught him their company's basic rules and how their industrial plant passed on electricity to each house in the village.

In the past days, Ismail learned something new every day. The villagers found excuses to celebrate happiness and unlike the city, the whole village was invited to join. Be it a new baby or someone who passed their class with average grades – every occasion was celebrated. While men drank alcohol without control, women gathered and danced to enjoy. It was not a display for men rather it was done in an auditorium of only women. Because men, Ismail learned, were very strict when it came to females. And he better knew not to get involved with them.

Reminding of women, he recalled Hayat, his colleague who managed to pull a few strings of his heart. While he was focused on work, she arrived with her resume, and her dedication and wit swept him off. He was formal with her but before he could propose for more, he was assigned the Kolar project. In fact, proposing Hayat for marriage for one of the top things he had to do when he returned to Bangalore.

For now, he simply needed to focus on providing electricity 24/7. They were almost there and he could already taste the sweetness of his goals. Once this dream was over, he would be an achiever.

*****

As soon as the main door opened, everyone greeted the arriving duo - Ismail and Kumar. Kumar nodded to every person while Ismail directly went to check the circuits himself. With him, Rahil worked as an electrician who managed a lot of circuit boards and was one of the kindest people Ismail ever met.

"Boss, the circuit boards are on point. We will make sure this wire here doesn't touch that one, or else, it's a short circuit."

Ismail nodded and suggested, "We need to make sure the system gets grounded instead of catching fire. Can you take care of that?"

"I can try."

Ismail patted his back in appreciation and moved on to the other department. Few workers were gathered, discussing something and upon seeing Ismail, they quickly scattered.

"What was going on here?"

Though Ismail was a friendly person, he was the boss and nobody ever rose their voice in front of him. It was only when he questioned, they answered. Otherwise, they rarely talked to him.

"Boss, we were thinking of a wedding gift." Ramesh, the bold one amongst them, replied.

"Whose wedding is it?" Ismail inquired, "Yours?"

Ramesh's ears turned pink and he chuckled to himself. The others laughed aloud and bumped their shoulders to his. Ramesh blushed harder and replied, "Boss, there is no woman who can handle me yet, it is not my wedding."

"That's true! Boss, you know Ramesh sleeps like a horse and won't wake up even if there's a volcano or hurricane. If he sleeps this way, the woman will die without happiness."

"Yes! Our Ramesh is waiting for his sleeping beauty but the thing is neither will kiss each other to wake up. They'd rather sleep all day and night."

Ismail shook his head at their blunt replies. It took some initiation for them to loosen up to him.

"Stop it, ya!" Ramesh finally sobered, "Boss, it is Rahil's wedding."

"And what have you guys planned?"

"Boss, for starters, we thought we'll give money. He can spend it for whatever purpose."

"Or we could give him something useful instead."

"Like what? Your unused brain?"

Another laughter emerged and Kumar marched their way to seek whatever humour they had to share.

"A wedding gift should be memorable, man! Let's smash him with tomatoes."

"Macha, keep your ideas with you only da. World's worst ideas you're giving!"

"Why ya? My Amma (mother) is giving me almonds. Memory sharp and better."

Before the debate crossed a different track, Kumar interrupted, "You can discuss the wedding gift later on. Get to work now."

"Yes, Boss!"

And when they parted, Ismail turned to Kumar and repeated, "Actually, what do we gift Rahil?"

"Babu, you also get to work, we can talk later."

Ismail laughed and walked away while Kumar shook his head. Kumar knew that he got along the workers and there was no way he could go to the city without tears. Such was the beauty of a village.

*****

It was late at night when Ismail opened his eyes. After a heavy dinner, he was sure to get sleep but somehow, he was awake. He checked his phone and saw Hayat online. Well, there was one good thing out of this.

With a smile on his face, he sent a casual text message to Hayat. Never had they chatted on social media and exchanged pleasantries, it was always about work and they called each other rather typing texts.

Ismail – Hi.

Hayat – Hello. :)

Ismail – Didn't sleep?

Hayat – Nope. I was working.

Ismail – How's everything there?

Hayat – All good. And there?

Ismail – Good. It's fun actually.

Hayat – Looks like you're having a great time in Kolar.

Ismail – Yeah. You should come here sometime.

Hayat – I would. Just not anytime soon.

Ismail – Understood.

Hayat – Thanks.

Ismail – So?

Hayat – So...

Ismail – Get some sleep now. Bye.

Hayat – Sure. Goodnight, Ismail. :)

Ismail – Goodnight, Hayat.

He almost sent a red heart but that'd be too creepy at the moment. They were hardly friends and if it was something else, it was direct marriage. Ismail was too professional to be called someone's boyfriend.

Sighing to himself, he laid on the bed and put his phone aside. He had to plan his return within a month, and also a goodbye gift for the villagers. For everything the villagers did, that was the least he could do.

He recalled the earlier conversation and listed whatever possible gifts he could give Rahil. He was such an honest and supportive man that Ismail needed to gift him something unique. As he canceled out options, a loud noise was heard and he quickly sat up.

The curtains covered the windows and Ismail tiptoed towards the window to check if there was someone outside. Seeing nobody, he walked to Kumar and checked if he was awake. Kumar slept like the dead, hence Ismail wore his shoes to check outside.

With no protection and a racing heartbeat, Ismail crawled outside and locked his door. He could hear faint pants and screams and was surprised that nobody else gave heed. He saw footprints on the muddy road and followed them with caution. He turned left and right and finally, a scream was heard and he knew he was almost there.

There was yellow light from a room and the door was slightly ajar. A groan was heard, followed by some kicking noise and a sigh. Ismail gulped before entering, not sure if he should really get inside. However, his hand pushed the door and a stick was pointed in his direction.

"Who are you?"

Ismail was surprised to find an unconscious man on the floor and a woman on the other side of the stick. The woman wore a long yellow nightie and her veil was on her shoulder, the front buttons open, revealing her cleavage.

The stick poked his chest, the question was repeated and Ismail quickly looked away from her. Vocabulary flew out of his mind and he knew he was in trouble.

"Take your partner with you."

"He-He is nobody. I don't know him," Ismail replied, still on the other side of the stick.

The woman was shivering, he noticed and there was also a cut on her hand. Her hands shook terribly but her eyes still displayed fire.

"You're hurt," he informed and her eyes glanced at her hand before rising to match his. He replied to her unasked question, "I heard a noise and that's what I followed. Are you okay? And why is this man here?"

"Doesn't matter."

Before he could press further on the topic, she released the stick and bent down to grab the lying man on the floor. She pulled his pants and pushed him outside the room on the muddy ground.

"You should leave. It's inappropriate if anyone finds you with a woman."

Ismail nodded but still made no move to return. He said, "You need to wrap it up, there's glass," he checked the broken vase, "You'll get infected."

She ignored him, and looked down at the glass piece. He folded his hands and waited till he was asked for help. She was too stubborn to ask and had ordered him to leave.

"You need help."

"No."

With a defeated sigh, Ismail made the woman sit on the bed and checked for some instrument to use. He found a disinfectant much to his relief and sat in front of her. He felt the woman burning a hole on his back but when he looked up, she looked away as if nothing happened.

Ismail initiated the conversation, "Nobody in the house?"

"Why?"

"Okay, this is going to hurt a bit."

"I know."

He nodded and rose his hand to pick the piece of glass on her arm. To distract her, he spoke, "You should go to the doctor in case there are tiny bits inside."

His words failed when she gasped at the pain and a few tears leaked from her eyes. She stared at the wound as if burning it and gritted her teeth when he applied disinfectant.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded and waited for him to leave. For now, the pain was too much and her eyes rolled inside begging for sleep.

"Please, don't tell this incident to anyone."

"Sure," he waited for her reply but it never came. Just when he turned to leave, he smiled, hearing the little thanks that escaped her lips.

However, that was not the end of it. A number of villagers made up to him and questioned his presence outside. Keeping his promise, he replied, "I was unable to sleep, so I was just roaming."

Though some seemed unconvinced with his one-line answer, they nodded in positive and buried the matter.

"Babu, don't roam around. Not everyone will understand your insomnia. This is not a city, someone will think you're seeing a girl." A young man warned.

Ismail nodded, "I am not seeing anyone. You can sleep in peace."

"I know, Babu. Just be careful."

"Thanks."

By the time Ismail reached his home, he was glad to have helped a person. Though unplanned, he could afford to see a stranger and being there when they needed someone. As he laid on the bed, he hoped the woman was asleep and prayed for her pain to subside. Just before sleep enveloped him, he remembered –

He never asked the woman's name.