Vishwa looked but no details were present about the figure. It said the figure was extremely secretive and his city was a royal place where people prospered at the epoch of the Golden Age.

But the city had vanished along with its people and the king. In its place, the whole world was greeted upon the most fearsome terror of its time.

But when Vishwa skimmed some more. There was a caution. It was written in bold letters. The account of this incident had been denied from time to time by the people who lived. There were no traces when asked about it. But the traces of existence couldn’t be found as stated by the old explorers. But they still couldn’t find anything concrete about it.

‘But how did the author know that such a city existed. And how had he found the picture? When no one knew about them.’ Vishwa thought. This author was very mysterious.

Vishwa was quickly reminded of something he had forgotten. The face of the being came in his vision. It had said something. But Vishwa couldn’t remember it. Vishwa tried to force himself to remember but he just couldn’t.

Was this his imagination?

What if all of it was the consequence of him reading too much of these. Yes, this must be the case right?

Vishwa closed the book. Put it back on its shelf and headed for his home.

The consequent days weren’t very much different. Of the occasional tidbits from time to time. Vishwa had no time to spare. Such that he even had forgotten to think about the time in his nightmare.

The Castos was working fine, he would go everyday for sometime. Though he wasn’t able to find something much interesting as of late. It might have been due to him engaging more of his time in his father’s shop.

Vishwa was quickly getting the hang of all of it. He would help his father in his repairs. Sometimes, he would just sit there watching his father work hard. It made him realise how much his father had sacrificed for him. Vishwa took an oath, on that day, he wasn’t going to make his father regret anything.

With everyday, coming and going just as fast. VIshwa for the first time felt he had too little of time. Well it was his imagination to think so. If he tried he could find himself more time to spare. But Vishwa wasn’t someone who would think so much for stuffs like this.

Vishwa had started one more new thing. Visiting the library he would go through the language and literature section. He would get himself a dictionary and as well a grammar book. He wasn’t able to understand the structure and function of those grammar clearly as much. But Vishwa saw himself definitely improving day by day. Vishwa had also left the Joseph’s books for the time being. Instead he was looking at the the manual. ‘Steam and the revolution.’ It told about the various machines, that came with the result of new inventions and discoveries from different scholars and such. For the first time, Vishwa realised he didn’t disliked other kind of books.

June would occasionally come to his house. His father always greeted him with a smile. His father had told him that June’s father was someone like his friend. Now that he wasn’t no more, he still felt extremely glad when June came our home. Sometimes, he would even tell us about various machines and such. It seemed like June had a deep interest in machineries too.

Vishwa had asked him about it to which June had said, that it wasn’t anything that he did as a hobby, but it was something related to his work. So he had developed a good knowledge about these things. His father would also join June and both would talk about things for long amount of time that didn’t made any sense to Vishwa.

One day Vishwa reached The Castos. He realized, they were very happy discussing about things. The owner was also present. He too looked in a good mood. When asked about it . He found, that a bull fighting competition was going to be organized in the Main Town. This was the first time he also found the name of the town, it was called ‘Flaming Town.’ When he heard it for the first time, it felt like such an odd name. Watching his expression, the owner had told him about the significance behind the town name. ‘There was some kind of history associated with it. Very old history. Though he didn’t know any specifics.

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Very quickly the day arrived when June would return back to his work. Vishwa felt very sad by it. He was angry too. Why couldn’t he take a longer stay in his village.

When his father had heard that June was going back. He had invited June to eat with them. His father had asked June about his nature of work, but he hadn’t told the truth. Vishwa’s father too, didn’t ponder much about it.

Vishwa and June were standing near the road. The road was made by flattening the soil and hardening it with sand and such. There was a suitcase in June’s hand. They both were waiting for something.

‘Ah, I forgot something to tell you,’ June said, with a smile.

‘What?’ Vishwa asked.

‘You know I work in the underworld area.’ June said. Vishwa nodded his head. ‘You also know it isn’t exactly good work. I have to work so that I can earn money. There are many things I want to do after getting from there. After I have enough money I want to study in a university. That is why I take more risks than most people.’

Vishwa listened to him. He had heard it for the first time. Vishwa had only thought that June wanted to earn money working there. There wasn’t anything more he knew about his friend. It was the first time June was telling him all of this.

‘So you want to go to university?’ Vishwa said, looking at his friend.

‘Yes, and I don’t want to be the only one going there. I want you to go with me.’ June said, his expression serious.

Vishwa was filled with good thoughts. When he heard they could go together to a university. But Vishwa shook his head as June said that. It wasn’t possible. Not in this life anyway. And he wasn’t exactly fond of studies.

‘But you know I can’t go, don’t you, are you making fun of me,’ Vishwa said with fake anger, there was some sadness about it too.

‘No I am not making fun of you. Vishwa you know, there are many universities out there. And special thing about all of them is that, they all search for talented people. If you could become skilled in something, you might be able to take their exam and apply for a scholarship.’ June said.

‘But it is impossible,’ Vishwa liked June’s optimism. But Vishwa knew his limit. At most he would be able to go to the main town. It wasn’t something people like him could just think about.

‘No it is not impossible. If you try… sigh,’ June said he was flustered, he wanted his friend to try. June felt that his friend was capable of doing it. But watching his friend, constantly shaking his head. He sighed. He shouldn’t force someone. Just like others couldn’t force him from not leaving the town.

‘Alright, but if you want to earn money you can join the underworld. Also, the new client I am working for is constantly looking for young people like you. It might just work for you.’ June said rummaging through his pocket.

‘Take this card.’ said June as he handed over a contact card of some kind to Vishwa.

Vishwa was tempted at the prospect of making money. But this wasn’t something that he would like. And if he asked his father, he would just beat him, to get the thought of working under criminals, out of his mind. Thinking about it. Vishwa couldn’t help but laugh. He took the card from June’s hand and pocketed it.

‘Alright.’ Vishwa said between laughter and smiles. His laughter was contagious, such that June couldn’t resist but smile too.

‘What are you laughing about,’ June asked Vishwa. To which his laughter got stronger. June couldn’t contain himself and also started laughing.

They both laughed. They didn’t need any reason did they.

They laughed until they couldn’t handle the cramp in the stomach.

‘Let’s stop.’ Vishwa said, grasping his stomach. His voice came out squeaky.

‘Yeah right.’ June said wiping his tears.

Vishwa saw his own vision, his younger self with June both enjoying fun and games. ‘I wish the time could come back.’

That was when they both heard the sound of horse hooves constantly hitting the road. They saw a cart loaded with people coming near them. The man who was driving the cart, commanded the horses with a stick or what I don't know.

‘It is coming,’ June said looking at the cart.

‘Right,’ Vishwa said, he was getting sad. But he wasn’t going to let it show on his face.

The cart stopped near them. The cart driver helped June keep his suitcase.

June took a seat, near a middle-aged man.

The driver was feeding his horse. And some water too.

‘I guess, I will see you later in the village,’ Vishwa said, trying to hide his expressions.

‘Yeah.’ said June, smiling at his friend.

Hurr

The driver had taken his seat. The horses neighed. The cart resumed its journey.

‘Bye,’ June said, waving his hands.

‘Bye,’ Vishwa said, waving his hands too. He continued by an inaudible sound,’my friend’. Vishwa watched as the cart traversed further and further, he continued to watch his friend. Until he couldn’t see him anymore.

Sigh

Vishwa sighed as he turned back toward the path to his village.

He walked silently.

But a thought constantly appeared in his mind. June’s face telling him he could do it. ‘University. Can I do it?’ He tilted his head as he pondered over it.

‘I can try.’ Determination filled Vishwa’s face. But it was quickly followed by a rueful smile. ‘Only when I can study.’

‘It seems only people who have proper education can think about university.’ Vishwa had said it out loud thinking that no was there.

But someone followed behind him saying, ‘That’s not true.’

Vishwa turned around to see who it was. Watching the person smiling at him, Vishwa couldn’t help but sigh again. The person was extremely familiar to him. It was his school’s headmaster.