Prithvi enters his room and shuts the door behind him. He bolts the latch and looks around, his hands on his hips. He begins pacing around nervously. He grabs his phone from the side table. No network. He still makes futile attempts to turn on the internet to no avail. He throws his phone on the bed in anger. Moments pass before he makes another attempt. He picks up his phone and tries making a call, only to get the message that he is out of the coverage zone. He throws his phone on the bed again.

From his room, he sees Akash shoveling the yard. He cannot let any harm come to his brother. He should have sensed danger with Meera's arrival, but he kept ignoring his instincts. Was Meera trying to implicate Akash? Probably not. She wouldn't have come alone if that was her aim. But what did she want? Why was she bringing up something from the past? How did she know? How much did she know? The questions keep popping up in Prithvi's head.

Prithvi gulps and sits on his bed, putting his head in his hands. He begins massaging his temples. He sighs and stands up. He opens his window and yells out Akash's name.

Akash stops shoveling and looks at Prithvi. He scorns upon finding the window open. He fixes his shovel in the snow and goes closer to the window. "Shut the window! It is windy out here. I'll have to clean your entire room."

Prithvi dismisses Akash's words. "Do it then! You keep cleaning stuff the entire day anyways."

Akash makes an irritated expression. "What is it?"

"Will my mobile ever get a signal here?"

Akash nods. "They are planning to put a tower here after the winter ends. Maybe then."

"I need it right now. I don't have time until spring. It's urgent."

"What's stopping you? Who's stopping you? Do what you must." Akash turns to go back to shoveling.

"Give me you jeep keys." Prithvi yells.

Akash sighs. "On the fridge." He returns to his work.

Prithvi shuts the window and rushes out of the room with his phone.

***

Prithvi parks the jeep on the road opposite the internet café. He steps out and crosses the road, clutching his jacket tighter. He opens the door and goes in.

Once inside, he stops by the counter and a man directs him towards a computer. He café is quiet and dark, having no more than 10 computers in all, with only 2 of them occupied at present. He takes a computer in the corner and starts looking for what he wants. He tries logging into the police officers' portal but is denied access. He sits there, his hands behind his head with his fingers interlocked and stares aimlessly at the computer screen and its wallpaper. Slamming his fist on the table, he goes to the counter, makes the payment and leaves.

Prithvi exits the café and looks around. He removes his phone out of his pocket and dials a number. It's Prithvi's junior officer who from his team.

The officer's voice comes through with some disturbance. "Sir!"

"I have an assignment for you. Keep it under wraps. I need you to find information on someone. Conduct a background check. And make it quick."

"Background check? On whom?"

"Remember the Noida case from 6 months back?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember officer Meera Sethi?"

"The computer one?"

"Yes. I need information on her."

"Information on an officer? Is everything alright?"

"I can't give you the details right now, but I need the info. Find it for me. Asap."

"Okay." There's a pause at his end. "It might take a day or two. The workload here is driving me crazy. I have to do your share of work too...."

Prithvi interrupts him. "Two days. Find as much as you can. I'll call you back."

"I understand. Then..."

"Another thing." Prithvi speaks before the call ends. He takes a deep breath and says, "While you are at it, check if there's a Dhara Sethi around her. Must be a close relative."

"I'll check it. I need to go now, Sir. I'll get back to you with the details."

Prithvi ends the call and takes a deep breath. A smell reaches his nostrils and he sniffs. He looks around. At a very short distance from the internet café, is a stall selling noodles. Prithvi's mouth waters. He places his hand on his stomach and feels a grumbling sensation. He looks at his watch which shows 10:30 a.m. He came down on an empty stomach.

"Let's just have this today. I am done with having eggs and bread for breakfast every single morning." he mutters as he marches towards the stall to order two servings for himself.

***

The door of Akash's cupboard is ajar. He's standing in front of it, his backpack in his hand. He takes out a photo from the bag and moves his thumb over it. It is from his teenage years, with some female beside him. He purses his lips tightly as eyes moisten. He stuffs the photo back into the backpack before he begins crying.

He notices the keychain on the backpack. Two swans. He takes it in his hand and observes it carefully. Hearing a knock on the door, he hurriedly stuffs the backpack in again and shuts the cupboard. He opens the door to find Meera facing him. "Do you need something?" he asks.

"Hot cocoa. Do you have it?"

Akash nods. "I'll make it for you." He excuses himself and shuts the door to his room, making his way to the kitchen.

Meera follows him into the kitchen. In the kitchen for the first time, she looks around. She finds two trays of eggs on the counter opposite the stove and two packets of bread beside it. Akash removes milk from the refrigerator which is in the line of the counter and pours some into a vessel.

"Two." Meera says abruptly. When Akash looks up, she repeats herself. "Make two cups, please."

"If I make both together, it'll go cold. I'll make the other one once you are done drinking the first."

"Make one for yourself. I want to speak to you." Meera looks at Akash, who shows no response even as an expression. "I won't poke around. It's just too lonely here. I want to speak to someone. I wouldn't be very comfortable if I was the only one drinking while talking. So make one for yourself if you will."

Akash stares at her for a while with a contemplative look. He then nods and pours more milk into the vessel and puts it on the stove. Meera sits on the bench where Prithvi usually sits. She waits for Akash to say something. He, who is used to the silence more than conversation, says nothing.

Meera clears her throat and Akash looks at her questioningly. Meera finally goes first. "Why don't you speak?"

Akash shrugs. "You wanted to speak. I'll listen."

"Not just right now. I have seldom heard you speak. Usually, lodge and hotel managers tend to be the chattiest people on the face of this planet."

"I don't speak much. Not used to it."

"Ever since you were a kid? Doesn't look like it when I see you. You give off the impression of having been a notorious brat." Meera chuckles.

Akash says nothing and focuses on the boiling milk. He turns off the stove and mixes hot cocoa powder into it. He pours it into two mugs and hands one to Meera. He sits diagonally opposite her and looks out of the window.

Meera blows on the hot cocoa. "How is it to live alone here?"

"Never thought about it. I am used to living alone."

"Why are you used to everything?" Meera's comment finally brings Akash back to the conversation, making him look at her. "Not all habits are good; at least not the ones that you deem normal. Making this silence and loneliness a habit is harmful. It's hollowing you from within." Meera takes a sip of the cocoa, burning her tongue in the process. She speaks again. "When nobody's around, one tends to have bad thoughts."

Akash scoffs. "One cannot always exercise a choice. Some decisions are taken owing to circumstances one does not have control over. And until one is actually driven to the point of no choice, one cannot understand others' perspectives, or decisions." Akash takes a sip of his cocoa. "And I'd say it's a bad habit of forming judgements on others' decisions without knowing their circumstances." He sighs. "If talking about my situation makes you feel contented about your own, then I'll let it pass." Having had his say, he drains his mug empty. Putting his mug in the sink, he leaves the kitchen.

Meera's mug remains full. She takes out her phone from her pocket and looks at the message she sent Dhara when she went to the market with Prithvi and Akash.

'It's him. I am sure of it. Get here as soon as you can. It's Kailash Lodge. Sending you the GPS location.'

Meera sips her cocoa. "I've heard it so often that I think it wasn't you there, but me. Oh, Dhara..."

***

It is night. Prithvi is sitting on his bed, deep in thought.

Akash enters Prithvi's room and shuts the door and sits at the foot of the bed. He hesitates for some time before speaking. "Don't reject my request this time. Return."

Prithvi tries holding his tears. "Why? Am I bringing in bad memories?"

"A policeman with a criminal. It can't get worse."

Why do you think you are the only criminal? And why do you think you are a criminal in the first place?"

"I am just saying the truth."

"Truth!" Prithvi chuckles. "Who even says the truth here?"

Akash looks at him without saying anything. He sighs.

Prithvi continues. "Everyone is a criminal here. The one who conceals a crime is a criminal equally."

Akash smiles to himself while looking at his hands. "Back then you called it a mistake. Now it has become a crime."

"Back then we did what was was right. Or at least seemed right in that moment."

"How does it matter now? There's no point discussing whether it was a mistake or a crime. You should know that I wouldn't be able to do anything if you take me back to the society of those people." Akash pauses and sniffs. "Eleven years, Prithvi. I have spent these eleven years as a hermit. Everyone went ahead with their lives. I have tried too, but for me, time has stopped. I am stuck."

"Says who?' Prithvi leans forward and holds Akash's hand. "The world might have changed in all these years, but it is also the same place you once inhabited. It's not impossible for you to..." Prithvi takes a deep breath. "Return with me. Forget this place."

Akash frees his hand. He smiles sadly, shaking his head. "It's too late. Too late."

Prithvi pleads, barely containing his tears. "Akash..."

Akash shakes his head. "I have accepted my defeat, Prithvi. I am done. And once a human accepts his defeat, you can't do much to save him, no matter how hard you try."

"Why did you allow yourself to be defeated?"

Akash shrugs. "Not every question has an answer. As for this, I really don't know." He pats Prithvi on the shoulder. He gets up and leaves after a few moments.

Prithvi attempts blinking away his tears, but fails miserably.

***

13 years ago

Amit came back home to find the boys sprawled in the living room. Akash was sitting on the floor and studying, while PRITHVI was lying on the sofa reading a novel. Amit cleared his throat, making the boys look up. He sat on the other sofa.

"I want to talk." Amit said.

Prithvi straightened himself. "Hmm. What's the matter?"

"I don't know how to say it." Amit said, biting his lower lip.

Prithvi and Akash exchanged nervous glances.

Akash looked at Amit with his eyebrow raised. "What do you mean?" He kept his textbook face down on the floor. "What did you even do for it to not be said out loud?"

"It's nothing like that." Amit defended himself. "I... I remarried." he said, his eyes shut. "Court marriage."

Prithvi balled his fist. Akash gulped, and reached out to place his hand on Prithvi's fist. There was pin drop silence for a while, with nothing but the ticking clock audible. The boys remained quiet, taking in the confession.

Amit slowly opened his eyes, looking at his sons earnestly.

"Why?" Akash measured his words carefully. "Were your desires too overpowering?"

Prithvi sighed, loud enough for Amit to hear it too. "Let's go upstairs, Akash."

They picked their books and headed upstairs, shooting angry glances at Amit till he was out of sight. Amit looked at the family portrait hanging behind the sofa.

Next to the portrait, was another photo of his late wife-- Prithvi and Akash's mother-- with a garland on it.

*

The next morning

A lady, Varsha, came in with her son, Dhruv. Varsha appeared to be in her mid-forties, with Dhruv appearing about seventeen. Amit brought their suitcases in. Dhruv scanned the living room, and gave an approving nod to his mother. Varsha put on a smug smile.

*

Akash and Prithvi were standing at the top of the stairs, fully dressed in white cricket clothes. Akash had the cricket kit on his back. Prithvi was carrying two bats.

They saw Varsha and Dhruv enter, and the disappointment was evident on their faces. Akash leaned towards Prithvi and whispered, "She has a son too?"

Prithvi scoffed in disbelief. "Congratulations. You have a brother."

Akash gave him an irritated look. "Brother, my foot! He is a walking omen."

Just then, Amit called out their names, wanting them to come down and greet their new family. The boys reluctantly descended the stairs.

"Pretend. Just pretend." Akash told Prithvi.

"I am not going to do all of that. I hate this situation." Prithvi emphasized every word.

Varsha and Dhruv gave beaming smiles to Akash and Prithvi, irking the brothers further. With a shake of his head, Amit asked them to smile back, but his sons did not obey.

Amit cleared his throat and introduced the new people. "Varsha, and Dhruv." He then turned towards them. "Akash and Prithvi."

Varsha smiled approvingly. "They are good kids."

'Kids?' Prithvi and Akash exchanged a look which voiced their discomfort.

"You look like your father." Varsha said.

Akash chuckled, not bothering to hide his feelings. "This is the first time someone has said that to me. Everyone just says that I take after my mother."

Prithvi pulled Akash by his elbow and gave a complacent smile to Varsha. "We take after our mother." He grinned and spoke further, emphasizing. "Our mother." Prithvi pointed towards the wall where Varsha's photo was to prove his point, but the colour faded from his face and his smile disappeared.

Amit had taken off the photo of his late wife.

Prithvi glared at Amit, his veins popping from his forehead. Akash held him back. Amit looked away it embarrassment.

Dhruv looked at Akash and Prithvi. Sensing the tension in the atmosphere, Dhruv stepped ahead and extended his hand for a shake.

Akash and Prithvi just stared at Dhruv's stretched out arm without extending their own.

Prithvi glanced at the clock. It said 10 am. "Let's leave. The match begins in 30 minutes. We can discuss this later."

Akash nodded. "Okay."

The brothers cast another angry glance at their enemies and left.

Dhruv however, was left seething in anger with that insult.

***

Akash is making omelette. Prithvi enters the kitchen and leans on the counter behind Akash, observing him.

"He hated eggs." Prithvi said. "Dhruv."

"I make them because mom liked them. And so do we."

"You couldn't find, cook or eat eggs in that house after they came."

"What did they take our house for?" Akash asked.

"Their house."

"We shouldn't have allowed them to get too comfortable."

"A bit of discomfort would have been better for them. We almost got kicked out of our own house."

"If he didn't remarry, it wouldn't have come down to this." Akash sighed.

There's a long pause on Prithvi end. He finally stands straight, arms crossed across his chest. "I have decided. I'll leave day after tomorrow."

Akash turns and looks at him after flipping the omelette. He nods.

*

Meera overhears their conversation. She goes to the dining table and sits on the chair facing the kitchen. The brothers look at her. While Prithvi smiles, AKASH focuses on the omelette and bread.

*

Prithvi and Meera are having breakfast.

Meera looks at Prithvi. "Are you leaving the day after tomorrow?"

Prithvi nods. "I am."

"I'll leave too. Vacation over."

Akash brings a glass of beetroot juice for Meera and places it on the table. She looks up and thanks him with a nod. His face appears relieved.

*

Akash is shoveling. Meera comes out, zipping her jacket. Akash hears her footsteps but continues working. He is not someone to initiate conversations.

Meera looks up at the night sky. She can see the stars clearly. She finally goes to Akash. "Are you ignoring me?"

"I heard you coming out." Akash says, fixing his shovel in the snow and turning towards Meera.

"And yet you remained silent. You did ignore me."

"It's not a crime to ignore someone." He bites his tongue upon realizing what he just said. He resumes shoveling.

Meera doesn't mind it. "Can I ask you something?" Akash doesn't respond, but she goes ahead nevertheless. "Do you have any friends? Extremely close ones?"

"Why do you want to know all of these things about me?"

"Nothing." Meera shakes her head. "I have no ulterior motives." She pauses and clicks her tongue. "But you must have friends, right? Everyone has friends."

"Do you find anything worth befriending around here?

"Have you been here since forever? Since birth, I mean."

Akash stops and stares at her for a while. He shakes his head and walks away.

*

Prithvi observes Meera and Akash from the window of the living room. He murmurs, "Meera Sethi. Meera Sethi. You have to be the person I think you are."

He turns and walks towards the kitchen, mumbling 'Sethi'. He takes a glass and pours some water in it. He swirls the water in the glass before gulping it down.

*

Akash is bringing out food from the kitchen. Prithvi and Meera are sitting there, waiting for him to bring everything out.

"Are you going to the market tomorrow?" Prithvi asks.

"Maybe." Akash replies, placing a vessel on the table.

"I have some work. Let's go together." Prithvi says.

"Again?" Akash begins serving food. "You went yesterday, didn't you?"

"You're working on your vacation too." Meera chuckles.

Prithvi raises his eyebrow and looks at Meera. "Some people  keep me busy on a vacation too."

Meera gets the hint. "You'll always find such people around you. They can't sit still, and don't let others sit still either."

AKASH looks at them with some confusion. Done serving, he retreats to the kitchen.

*

The market street is a rather long one. At one far end is a parking lot, where the jeep stands.

Akash is in the first market selling fruit and vegetables. He is haggling with the seller.

Further ahead, is a goods market, where Meera is buying beanies. She has a phone tucked between her ear and shoulder. "Get here by tomorrow." she says into the phone. "I have to leave."

Right where the goods market ends, is a tea stall, where Prithvi stands, sipping tea. Prithvi takes out his phone and makes a call. "Did you get the information? Prithvi says into the phone.

The officer affirms from the other end. "It wasn't that difficult. Just had to dig up some family registers."

"Come to the point."

We don't hear what the officer says, but Prithvi's expression confirms his earlier premonition. He ends the call and orders another cup of tea.

***

Back at Kailash Lodge, it is night, with snow settling all around.

Meera is closest to the fireplace. Prithvi is on the sofa. Akash is at the foot of the stairs. They have mugs of hot cocoa in their hands, which they sip in an agreed upon silence.

Meera glances at Akash for a brief moment. 'The time has come.'

***

Dhara is in the bus. Shadows and light pass across her face as she rests her head against the window. Her eyes appear moist. She bites her lower lip.

Her purse which is in her lap, has a keychain. It is the same as Akash's. She opens the purse and takes out a photo. The photo is the same as the one Akash had. She turns it. On the backside, something it written. When light shines on it, it says, 'AKASH and DHARA'. Hearts are drawn under it. She smiles. "We'll finally meet, Akash."