Vishwa was on his way to the market. The surrounding was bustling, but it was not that, which drew his attention. It was what his ex-headmaster had told him.

The school was going on a field trip. It was being sponsored by the administrative body of this village. The destination was the main Town. On behalf of the Bull Fighting competition, that was going to be held in half a month time, all school children were sponsored by the Main Town Merchant family.

He heard from his headmaster, that this Merchant family was very rich, and the cost of sponsoring a field trip for the bullfighting was nothing significant in his eyes. It might have been nothing in his eyes, but the village people clearly knew the significance of it, and were very grateful towards the Merchant family. As such HeadMaster couldn’t help but sing his praises.

Vishwa had also heard that were going to be many talents in the tournament. And they might get offered jobs, if they are favourite by a big personality.

Vishwa reached his home. He saw the shop open, but he didn’t saw his father. He heard voices coming from inside the house.

Both were talking in regular voices, but it seemed like there was some kind of argument between the two of them.

Vishwa headed inside his house.

He saw a middle-aged man drinking tea in his house. While he was drinking he was spontaneously also saying something to his father. His father had a dull face.

Vishwa recognised the person, it was his landlord.

Vishwa saw his father looking at him as he entered the house but he didn’t said anything. Just turned in the landlord's direction.

‘It might be the final time I can help you. There is a limit to what I can provide to you. At the end of the day, I had rent this house, so that I could also earn money.’ Landlord said, sipping the tea.

‘I understand, but circumstances are like this, I will pay you the rent next month, rest assured. At Least believe me this much.’ His father said, convincing the landlord.

Landlord sat silent for a minute or so and then said, ‘Alright, but not again. I have respected you. You two have been for around 12 years or so. But you have been delaying the rent of this house again and again. I can’t afford to be so lenient.’

‘Thank you so much, I would definitely give the rent along with the month’s rent before the next month.’ Vishwa’s father said.

‘Alright, but if you can’t pay the rent. I would have no choice left, but to give this place to somebody else to rent.’ the landlord said in a serious expression. He stood up and made his way outside the house.

Vishwa saw the landlord looking at him. But he didn’t say anything. He just turned his head back and walked out of the house.’

After the landlord was gone. Vishwa saw his father’s face crumble under the pressure.

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

Vishwa fetched some water and gave it to his father.

His father took the glass while looking at Vishwa. His father couldn’t help but sigh.

‘What happened father,’ Vishwa knew it. But still he asked, he wanted to know everything.

His father kept the glass on the floor and said, ‘You must know by now, our shop’s condition isn’t good. There are not many customers who come to our shop. On some days, we don’t even get a single customer. I have not been able to pay the rent on time. For the past 6 months. I might have been able to pay them somehow before the next month came. But this time, I might not be able to make it.’ His father said he was somehow still keeping himself together.

Vishwa didn’t know how much father must have faced to be able to keep up with this kind of situation. Even on that day when he was injured. His injury was on the legs. That was how dangerous bullfighting was. One moment of mistake, and he was thrown straight in the air by the bull. Vishwa was just a kid, and he couldn’t help but tear the moment his father was hauled by the bull. Falling on the ground unconscious. At the hospital, Vishwa couldn’t help but continue crying.

‘It is but a small injury it cannot stop me.’ Vishwa’s father had said with a smile, patting Vishwa’s head.

Vishwa sniffed and stopped crying. Watching the reassuring expression on his father’s face. But he wasn’t able to compete again at that tournament. There were many serious fractures, and being from a village. The doctors here couldn’t heal him all the way. His friends and doctor himself had suggested his father to go to a city for further treatment. But he had just shook his head with a smile. ‘Then who will take care of my Vishwa,’ Father had said looking straight in his eyes. From then on their life wasn't the same anymore. Vishwa’s father didn’t show his weakness. But he knew the pain was still there. And in winters it would become so extreme sometimes, that he would catch a fever.

Vishwa saw his father, gathering himself. He stood up. Walked through the door, saying ‘There might be someone at the shop.’

Vishwa sat down as he watched his own father go outside. What could he do?

Night came. Vishwa hadn’t realized when the time was gone so fast.

His father cooked the meal as usual and they both ate in silence.

‘What about your friend, June.’ His father asked after they had both ate. And were free.

‘He is gone to the town,’ Vishwa said.

‘It must be hard for that kid after his parents died.’ Vishwa’s father sighed.

‘Father,’ Vishwa called.

‘Yeah what is it,’ His father asked, he looked at Vishwa.

Vishwa had started rummaging through his items and came out with a pouch. It looked heavy but it was not that big of a pouch, at least the size of a fist big.

Vishwa handed the pouch to his father.

‘What is this,’ Vishwa’s father grabbed the pouch but didn’t open it.

‘This is something I have managed to gather in the past months. I don’t know if it would be enough. But you can use it to pay the rent.’ Vishwa said as he looked toward the pouch. It contained the money he had obtained working for The Castos for months. He might have been getting pocket change, but Vishwa had collected that money. So that it could come in use someday.

‘You,’ Vishwa’s father looked at Vishwa. Various emotions came but at last he smiled.

‘This is something you must have earned after quite some hard work, right, take it,’ Vishwa’s father tossed the pouch back to Vishwa. Vishwa caught it on reflex.

‘But you can pay the rent with it, and we won’t have to worry about getting out of this house,’ Vishwa said, while looking at his father with perplexed eyes.

‘You are right about it. But that is my problem. And I am sure I can find some solution for it.’ Vishwa’s father said with a carefree smile.

‘Use this money for yourself.’ Vishwa's father said.

‘But’ Vishwa said, the pouch in his hand weighed more heavily than ever.

‘No Buts’ Vishwa’s father said his expression was enough to make Vishwa stop.

‘Alright, sleep, we have to wake up early the next morning,’ Vishwa’s father said as he started arranging the mat for them to sleep.

‘Ok’ Vishwa said, he didn’t ask him any more questions.

They both went to sleep. But today they couldn’t sleep easily. Heavy emotions and thoughts ran through both of them. Both of them knew that the other one was awake, but they didn’t try to disturb one another. Finally without knowing, both of them had drifted to their sleep.