After an hour of running towards he unknown, with tightly hugging his infant sister. He was very far away from that area of infection. He was now in a village ten kilometers from his home. The village was a normal looking place. Nothing extraordinary. The villages were busy with their day to day life. He saw kids his age going to the local ground nearby to play cricket. He saw two people quarreling in the nearby tea-shop.
That was when he realized that his little sister was hungry since noon. He quickly went near the tea shop.
Trojan knew that if he were to request for a favor from the shop owner, there is a chance of him not being able to get some milk.
So, Trojan went away from the shop before anyone gave him any attention. He went to a nearby tap and cleaned his body and face, which was covered with dust and mud. He cleaned his wound on his knee, he brushed his hair with some water. He cleaned his sister little hands and face with some drops of water.
He noticed he had some green blood on the lower back side of his shirt. He put some sand on it to make it look like he has dirt in his clothes.
Now, After around ten minutes of cleaning himself, he went back to that tea seller, and sat on the nearby bench confidently. He observed the mood of the people there, and as he realized that the mood was positive, he quickly went near the tea seller, and explained the situation to him.
"Sir, My name is Trojan. My father's name is Aristranath. We have been separated from our father, and my little sister is hungry. If you don't mind, can you provide me with a little of warm milk. I do not have any money on me, but as soon as my father finds me, I promise to pay you back for the milk."
The shopkeeper looked at the eyes of the kid, who had an infant with him. He had noticed him from earlier, when he had stood near the tea shop. He was surprised by the wisdom of this little kid, and played along.
"Okay! No need for any money. I'll warm some milk of you. Sit here, feed your sister, and I'll provide you with some food as well. "
Trojan didn't rejected his kindness and sat back to the previous bench he had sat earlier.
The nearby people who were drinking their evening tea were looking at the kid and his sister. Trojan didn't let it mind him.
After some time, the owner came with a glass of lukewarm milk. He handed it to Trojan and went back and started taking care of the new customers who just arrived for some tea.
Trojan slowly placed his little sister on his lap, and touched the milk with his finger to see if it's not too hot. After confirming that it was okay to drink it, he helped his little sister drink it from that glass, slowly and patiently.
The owner and the other villagers who were there felt a sense of peace watching him feed his little sister with such care.
After nearly twenty minutes, nearly half the glass was finished, and his sister didn't want to drink anything else..
After making sure his sister was satisfied, he drank the rest of it himself.
As soon as he finished the glass of milk and wiped that milk mustache from his fore lips, the owner came to him with a cup of tea and some snacks.
Trojan thanked him and accepted the food, as he was hungry as well.
In a few minutes, he had finished the snacks and now he walked towards the basin to put the utensils near there. The owner told him to leave it there and soon sat on the seat opposite to him. By this time, the tea shop was empty as every other customer had left.
He sat opposite to him and said,
"So, where are you from?"
"Mahawa Village. We went to the nearby town for some shopping for my father, and was on our way to go back to that village. But suddenly, when we reached here, At the bus stop, he suddenly got panicked after talking to someone and ran off somewhere. I'm sure he'll be here soon."
The tea shop owner was surprised when he heard the name of the village. He had an idea now that these kids were never going to meet their father now.
He whispered to himself silently, "Mahawa village...huh!"
Trojan noticed the tension on his face, and caught on the fact that he might know something.
There, he started devising his own plan.
After a moment of awkward silence, the shopkeeper, awkwardly suggested that it's already evening now.
Now that he knew that there kids were from Mahawa Village, he didn't want to be associated with them any longer.
"Kid, Now that you had your fill. You can go now, right? Wait for you father somewhere else, I have a business to run. I'm sure he'll find you soon." said the Owner.
The owner gave him some food and some travel expenses, some milk in a bottle and bid him farewell.
Trojan knew something was wrong here. he thought , 'Why does it feel like his behavior changed ever since I mentioned the village?'
Trojan thanked the owner as he was really grateful for the owner for helping him at the moment of crisis, and he then left the shop.
He had a goal now. To survive with his sister for now. And later, to find out what happened in his village that people outside knew but his people weren't aware of it.
He had a hunch it was related to the forces not coming to his village's aid since a month now.
He knew that there was a possibility that this village might not be safe either, So he went to the nearby bus stop and prepeared to leave for a place far away from here.
***
He sat of the bus which went to the capital city. The fare for the ticket was all the money he had (Future me, take care of the currency development of MDW4).
After a long ride, he reached the capital.
(Dear future me, take care of the description of the geography of capital)
Now, he had one thing to worry about, a place to spent the night. It was soon going to be night, and he knew that no place without a shelter would be safe without a shelter.
He went to the shops nearby one by one to allow him to spent the night there. But, the shopkeepers believed him to be some begger, and dismissed him. After going through more than twenty shops in a span of one hour, it had already turned night.
He was sitting on the roadside near the last shop he visited, and as he was going to giving up asking for a shelter and was getting ready to find something with roof and a cover, he saw a man pass him who looked like an aristocrat.
He quickly got up and ran towards him at a slow paced. He was this close to touch his hands, but then stopped himself, and paced a bit more and reached in front of him.
He said with a smile, "Hello, Sir. Mind giving me a moment of your time?"
The aristocrat looked annoyed at first, but then he saw a kid, in his mid teenage with an infant in his hands. He stopped and said, "Who are you? Move aside, I don't have time for beggars."
"I am not a begger, but a gem, awaiting to be polished." Trojan claimed instantly.
The aristocrat chuckled in annoyance, "A Gem? Haa! Is this a new way of asking for money?"
"I'm not asking for money. I'm asking for a moment of your time." Trojan bowed respectfully again.
"And that's what I'm giving you right now. You do know that every moment wasted here, is being wasted on you right now?" The Aristocrat smiled with a calm demeanor now.
"Sir, Kindly invest in me. I shall swear my life on you. I shall grow into a strong individual and shall follow your every order. My only request is to help me take care of my young sister."
After hearing the beggar kid's request, the aristocrat remained calm for a moment.
"And why do you think you have to potential to be even my servant?" The aristocrat said.
"I just do. Why not test me?" Trojan was ready to overcome every obstacle thrown before him.
The aristocrat liked his answer. He smiled, and said, "Nah! Not interested!" and moved on, leaving the kid with an infant alone, at night.
"WHAT?" Trojan was bewildered. He was in shock for a moment. He didn't chase after him, understanding the outcome if he did that.
He composed himself, and tried to find a place to spend the night, in this cold dark capital city. He was afraid of the cold, dark people here. He was afraid of letting anything happen to his sister.
He went back to the shop which he had visited. The shop owner was a little annoyed when he saw the beggar kid, come back shamelessly.
He was about to shout to make the kid leave, but then he heard a loud voice,
"I'LL WORK FOR YOU FOR FREE. I'LL DO ANYTHING YOU ASK, WITHOUT QUESTIONING. BE IT SOMETHING GOOD, OR EVIL. MY ONLY CONDITION IS TO HELP ME PROTECT MY SISTER AND MINE FUTURE."
That piqued the shopkeeper's interest.
He lived right above the shop. He told them to follow him. Gave them some milk and food, and told him to wash themselves. Gave them some clothes he just bought while they were eating the food. And gave him a small store room to sleep in. He gave him his old kotatsu.
He said that they'll have a talk tomorrow morning.
After he went back to his shop, Trojan closed the door of the store room and put some heavy wooden pieces before the door. After placing the kotatsu on a somewhat clean place, and putting his sister to sleep... Trojan finally decided to relax.
He sat on the corner. Hugging both his knees and silently cried. He cried a lot, for a long time. He wished his mother and father were near him. He finally realized that he was an orphan now. He didn't know what to do anymore? How would he even protect his little sister? How would he protect himself? Trojan was alone. After weeping his tears, he went inside the worn out kotatsu, near his sister. He patted her belly and said,
"Don't worry. I'll protect you by any means possible. Even if I have to be against the whole world. I'll be your big brother, father and mother. I'll give a normal life. A good life. We'll manage somehow. Don't worry, Kirti. We'll manage."
Trojan fell asleep after that. Knowing perfectly well, that life after tomorrow was not going to be in his favor now.
Trojan Slept...awaiting his unknown future.