Vira got done with cooking. Uncle Karn was great company. He was also extremely curious. 

Vira had whipped out fusion food considering the limited availability of ingredients, and uncle Karn seemed to have fallen in love with his menu.

He took notes, made Vira feel like he was extremely invaluable. Vira felt happy.

"I can cook for you any time you feel like it."

"Why don't you come over every Saturday? We can have lunch together. You seem to be important to both my sons."

Vira's eyes widened. "Oh no, I'm just a colleague, but I don't want to be too much on their face."

Uncle Karn retorted, "Colleague? This is the first time Saka and Laika have called a person outside of their closed group for a sleep over. Do you know what that means?"

Vira gave him a puzzled look, while waiting for him to answer.

"It means," continued uncle Karn, "you are now part of that closed group."

Vira did not react, because he did not know how to. He didn't know if uncle Karn was saying things to just please him, but he didn't have a reason to bluff. Was he such a good company that people liked him?

Uncle Karn helped carry the dishes to their low seating table. He glanced at the wall clock.

"I think Saka ended up sleeping upstairs. It's been over half an hour. I'll go check and see what he is upto. "

Vira nodded. He went and sat at the table, waiting for others to join.

Uncle Karn went up. He knocked before entering his bedroom. Though it was a bedroom, the practise of the priests were to sleep on hay mats, which were rolled and kept when not in use. The room had no other furniture, so it was convenient to use as a discussion room.

He observed that Saka was not there. The atmosphere in the room was heavy. Rin's reddened eyes didn't go unnoticed. He didn't comment. Instead, he smiled and said, "Food is ready, please go down. The chef has come up with a classic concoction."

Maw Lava nodded and smiled. He got up and walked down without saying anything.

Uncle Karn proceeded to his study and peeped inside. He found Saka curled in a corner, his face red.

He saw his father and hugged up, weeping uncontrollably, but without making any sound.

Uncle Karn stroked his hair, waiting for his son to open up.

Saka told him what he had eavesdropped.

"My heart hurts dad, why would such a nice person be subjected to this sort of cruelty?"

Uncle Karn did not reply. He was not expecting something this horrid to be discussed. He let Saka weep till Saka naturally stopped.

He then looked as Saka and said, " He didn't have you then, but he has you now. Won't you do everything you can to protect him?"

Saka nodded. "Then fight against his insecurities. Show him that there is one person to whom his existence matters more than their own."

Saka looked at him, his face lighting up when the meaning behind his father's words registered.

"Dad, you don't mind me pursuing him right?"

Uncle Karn looked at his son. "As long as you don't do anything your conscience won't regret, I will have your back."

Saka hugged him tightly. "You know how much I love you right?"

Uncle Karn smiled. "Only half as much as I love you."

He could feel Saka smile. He pulled Saka away and said,"Now go wash your face, change your clothes and come. Your crush has made some amazing food."

"Wait till you try it," replied Saka, "you will get addicted to his cooking."

This was more like his son, that ball of enthusiasm.

Uncle Karn joined the others. Vira was a bit taken aback by the heavy mood but he did not comment. Other than Maw Lava who made light conversation, no one else uttered a word. But when uncle Karn joined the table, things became lighter. He spoke about his kitchen adventure with Vira, about the weird lady who visited the temple last week, the play schedule, the costume planned and so on.

"Say maw Vira .."

"You can call me Vira, uncle Karn." Vira smiled at him.

"I can? I mean I will! You are a son to me after all no?" He laughed.

Vira was a bit taken aback by the statement. "Priests were nice people," he thought to himself. "Everyone in this family is nice."

Saka came down after a bit. He looked better.

He sat next to Vira, but didn't say anything. "Did you sleep?" Vira whispered to Saka.

Saka gave a sheepish smile but did not reply. He was not a good liar anyway.

After the meal Saka disappeared. Rin helped with the dishes and Laika cleaned the table.

Maw Lava took his leave. 

Roma caught hold of Vira. "Do you play cards?"

Vira shook his head. His grandmother was a bit old school who believed cards were played only by gamblers.

Roma smiled his wicked smile. "Time to corrupt an innocent soul, mwahaha."

Vira couldn't help but smile. Others did too. Laika and Roma taught him some basic card games.

Uncle Karn joined them for sometime, before going off to do the conclusion rituals at the temple. Saka was no where to be seen.

It was almost nearing sun set. Vira was starting to get worried.

"Laika, Saka has been gone for some time. Do you know where he could be?"

Laika looked outside. "Normally, he sits on the cliff right behind the house. Walk in the direction  of the sea, you will find him."

Vira went, as instructed by Laika, and indeed found Saka sit on the edge of the cliff. 

He walked and sat next to Saka. He did not say anything but just sat there, staring at the sky as the sun went down.

As the evening star shone on the night sky, Vira decided to break the silence.

"Saka, are you okay?"

Saka looked at Vira. He was backed to his composed self. He smiled. "Yes sen."

Vira looked at him for a couple of minutes. Saka stared right back, without hesitation. His eyes were clear. 

"Looks like he has found the solution to whatever was troubling him," Vira thought to himself.

"You can tell me whatever is on your mind. I may not be able to help, but I can listen."

Saka looked at Vira. He said, "Sen, I love you like crazy."

Vira didn't expect that response. He didn't know what hit him. 

"Sen, I know this is the third time this week that I've said it, you probably feel uneasy about it. But the more I see you, the more I fall for you."

"Is it my good looks?" Vira asked jokingly. He really did not know how to handle Saka.

"I'm more handsome than you are," Saka told bluntly, "but you are a better human that I am, or for that matter, anyone I know."

Vira didn't know if he should laugh at Saka's bluntness.  Saka always put him in a spot with his direct, yet unpredictable response.

Saka stared back into the ocean. "Sen, starting today, I'm going to work harder to make you fall for me."

Vira gulped.