For a moment, the old man's face went pale. A flicker of guilt or pain passed through his eyes—but he quickly masked it with a warm smile.
He knelt in front of Anisha and gently said,
"Your family is safe, child. They took a different road than us. But they're alive."
Anisha's face lit up instantly. "Really?" she asked, her voice full of hope.
"Yes, really," the old man nodded.
She smiled brightly, then ran off to play with Ronny again, her laughter echoing in the distance.
As soon as she was out of earshot, the old man's expression darkened. His voice dropped.
"That… wasn't the truth."
Naeem frowned. "What do you mean?"
The old man looked down. "The day the attack started, Anisha's grandfather, Iqbal, led our defenses. He fought like a lion… but when his son—Omar—was cut down, he lost his will. He broke. After that, they were overwhelmed. One by one, every member of their family fell."
Naeem clenched his fists. "Then why tell her they're alive?"
Before the old man could answer, Jakhir stepped forward, his eyes glistening.
"Because… what do you want us to say?" Jakhir said quietly. "That her entire family is dead? That she's alone in the world?"
Tears welled in his eyes. "She's just a child, Naeem. If we take her last hope too… what's left?"
Silence fell between them. The fire crackled softly in the distance.
Later that evening, after sunset, they all sat around the campfire. The mood was quiet, heavy with the weight of truth unspoken.
Naeem looked at Jakhir. "Now that your uncle's here… your family's back. What will you do?"
Jakhir hesitated, then sighed. "I'm sorry, Naeem. But I need to go with them now. I have Radha. I have Ronny. You saved us—I'll never forget that—but if we split up again, and something happens to them…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
"You can come with us, if you want," he added.
Naeem shook his head. "No, I get it. It's sad… but I understand. I thought I'd stay with Anisha until she was old enough to handle the truth."
"She's still just a kid," Jakhir said gently.
"I know," Naeem nodded. "That's why you should go with Uncle. Keep her safe… for now."
When night deepened and the stars took the sky, Naeem called Anisha over. She was still playing with Ronny.
"It's time," he said softly.
Anisha looked confused, then sad. She held onto Ronny's hand a moment longer.
Naeem knelt by Ronny and whispered,
"You're getting better with your energy. One day, if you meet someone who uses plant energy… you can merge with them. Cut your finger, mix your blood and flesh with his energy. It'll strengthen you."
He smiled. "But that's a secret between us, alright?"
Ronny grinned and nodded, eyes wide with the thrill of a secret.
As Naeem and Anisha prepared to leave, Radha pulled Anisha into a hug and began to cry.
"Take care of her, Naeem," she said, her voice breaking. "She's… she's like a daughter to me now."
Naeem's voice was quiet but firm.
"I will. I swear it."
And with that, they turned, stepping back into the night—just the two of them again, shadows stretching long behind them under the stars.
Goodbye to One stranger but now family to them.