Nature's Comeback

17- Water for Pinky

Sameera was conflicted about her decision. She was afraid that she was yet again making a wrong decision by going with the scientists just because she had nowhere else to go. But she knew she wasn't capable of living in this world alone, at least not for now.

She had to get her hands on the colourful book. Once she knew how to control her power then she would have an upper hand. And by chance, these researchers turned out to be like that scary scientist couple, then she would make them regret their decision. However, that would be only possible if she perfected her power.

Sameera prayed that these researchers were able to convince the other two elements. Unlike her, they could use their powers within a blink of an eye. If something went wrong, those twins were the only ones who could get her out. Avan was too young to be able to understand the cruelty of the world. She needed the twins on her side to survive. And for that she had to befriend them, make the twins feel that she was worth saving.

"Soooo, when are we leaving?" Sameera asked, faking a curious expression.

"Actually...we still haven't been contacted by the higher ups. So let's wait until we get any information about our stay," Reyansh muttered sheepishly.

Sameera scoffed, "You don't even have a place yet you kept going on and on about us staying together with you," she said, making sure to point out the twins and herself in one setting.

Ahana and Neer looked at the researchers with raised eyebrows. Even if they had denied going with them, this situation was far from amusing.

"Wow!!" Ahana clapped her hands sarcastically, "Where were you planning to keep us if we had agreed to come with you?"

Neer added to Ahana's question, "How could you make promises of unity and beinh together in the air without having any means to provide anything for us?"

"We will get the place soon," Sarika spoke, trying to dissolve the tension.

"What if the place you are provided is not enough for all of us?" Sameera asked, while pointing towards everyone who wasn't a part or a child of the researcher's team.

"Ah! Don't count us in," Ahana said, before turning towards the researchers, "But yeah, you all should first make sure that you have enough accommodation before trying to convince us."

"With great regret, I do agree with Ahana," Gyaan said with a shudder. "Are there any back up plans? What are you going to do if there's no extra space for elements? And of course for me too."

"Let's cross the bridge when we come to it," Kriti muttered, hoping they would just stop.

The researchers didn't have the time to stop and think. They were just being optimistic in the dreaded situation. Was it too bad of a deed that these people kept making researchers look like fools.

"Kriti is right. Let's leave that part to the later and first find out a place to stay," Payal spoke up.

"Let's go and ask the locals," Reyansh said, signaling the youngest researchers to come with him, while others would stay with the children. Payal's husband too joined the researchers.

"I will go and call a mechanic for our bike," Neer whispered to Ahana and moved in the different direction of the researchers.

"I will go and help them find a place," Gyaan said to the remaining researchers and went behind Reyansh, only to take a U turn and follow Neer.

Neer gave the mechanic directions of where the bike was stranded and left after giving his contact number.

Just after Neer had left, Gyaan approached the mechanic. Paying him off, Gyaan made sure that the repair took way longer than needed.

Completing his task, Gyaan went off to actually search for a place to stay and unite with the researchers.

Neer came back to see Ahana had gone back to sit beneath the tree. Neer joined her, and sat down resting his head on her lap.

"What did the mechanic say?" Ahana asked, while ruffling his hair absentmindedly.

"There's no one else in his shop right now. He will come after half an hour to take a look at the bike after someone takes over his shift," Neer informed with closed eyes.

Ahana too closed her eyes, after resting her head on the tree trunk. Both of them were immensely tired with all the happenings.

"Let's just hope that we can get away from this mess in a few hours," Ahana mumbled in a sleepy voice, still playing with Neer's hair.

They were silent for a few minutes, when suddenly a small, soft pat caused Neer to open his eyes.

Neer sat up in a proper position, looking at the kid who was looking at him with puppy dog eyes.

"Bhaiya, can you fill this bottle with water?" Avan requested, praying that Neer wouldn't be too angry for breaking his sleep.

"Sorry, I know you were sleeping. But I need water ur...urgen....ah! very fast, yes very fast." Avan changed his wording, after finding spelling out 'urgent' an impossible task.

"What do you think he is? Your personal water filter?" Ahana scoffed.

"Please, Pinky is hungry," Avan pleaded.

"Who is Pinky?" Neer asked, while looking for a Pinky in the group of kids.

"There she is. She badly needs some water. See, she is even pleading," Avan said, pointing towards the pink flower that had grown in the patch of grass.

"Pinky is a road flower," Ahana stated with bafflement clear in her voice.

Neer nudged Ahana, looking at her pointedly. He knew she would blurt about the strange situation, which would eventually lead to the dimming of Avan's bright innocent eyes.

"Use it wisely. I won't create water every now and then," Neer warned, while filling up the bottle.

"Thank you, bhaiya," Avan said cutely, even going as far as to climb on Neer's lap to hug him.

'Thank you for not fearing me,' Neer thanked internally, while hugging Avan back.

Avan soon ran off to provide water to Pinky. Ayaan too joined his brother and they both ran around providing few droplets to the requesting flowers.

"Oh no! Avan, look at this plant. It looks like he is sick. You should help him," Ayaan called Avan, while caressing the shriveled leaves of the plant.

"Avan, what are you doing? Come fast and save the plant," Ayaan yelled, seeing that his brother was still rooted in his place.

Ayaan's loud voice earned everyone's attention and they all came to see what was happening.

"Avan," Ayaan called out yet again.

"I can't help him," Avan said in a tearful whisper, feeling helpless.

"But whyyyy?" Ayaan frowned, not understanding why his brother wasn't coming to help his friend.

"He can talk or request for their help. Creating them or saving them is not in his hands," Gyaan informed as he joined everyone.

"Avan," Payal called out his name gently as Avan cried silently, feeling helpless.

The plant called out to him for help. It kept whimpering, requesting for someone to help. It wasn't the right time for the plant to die. Someone had poured some chemical water, causing it to shrivel down.

Avan could hear every plea yet do nothing. What was the use of being an earth element, if he couldn't even save his dying friend?

It would have been better if he couldn't hear the cries. He wouldn't have felt so guilty upon not being able to help the plant.

This was the first time Avan had despised his power.

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Bhaiya- Elder brother.