"He's an old friend," said grandpa. Somehow, from the set line of his jaw, I did not think hemeant it at all when he called him his friend.
I did not ask him more. He'd tell meeventually. If he thought I should knowabout it. As we sat there chatting andcatching up on all that had happened, Isuddenly heard a distant rumble. Laddoostarted barking madly and I knew that thesmell of the other humans had hit him! Wecould hear them as they marched into thecaves. Would Mayuri be with them? I felt adrop of sweat line my brow.
Shantanu was the first to walk in. Hesaw me and said, "Aha! There you are! I waswondering where…" His voice trailed awayas his eyes fell on grandpa. "Dr. Puranjan!What a pleasant surprise!" he smiled. Inoticed that his teeth were clenched*.Grandpa got up from his place near the rock.He waved his hand half-heartedly and said,"You are too good an actor to be a scientist,Shantanu. Haven't you tried your hand atBollywood yet?"
"Ha-ha," said Shantuna dryly. Laddoowas playing with Nimmie and Harsha, histail wagging so much that I was afraid it'd falloff and go for a walk all by itself. The otherscame inside slowly. I guessed that Mayurimust have given Shantanu instructions andhe must have led the humans inside."
I'm so tired!" said one man irritably andloudly. The others murmured. "What sort ofa lunatic place is this?" asked one woman,her head resting against the wall of the cave.She got no answer. Everybody was tired andbewildered by their journey. Except Nimmieand Harsha, everyone else took a spot andsettled down to sleep.
Shantanu went neargrandpa and sat beside him.I joined them because I wascurious to know how theyknew each other- I did notwant to ask them though."
So have you managedto save the earth yet?" askedShantanu, smiling slyly.
"Well, I guess there's noneed to try anymore sinceyou are here now. The earth isa lot safer!" returned grandpain an even tone.
"When did you becomesuch a holy cow, Dr.P?You made all of us believe that nothings ... absolutelynothing...should stand in theway of scientific progress."
