“I don’t know… I .. I..”
“What? Cat got your tongue?” She throws Enzo’s words back at him. “You don’t know? Was it not your magic? Was it not you in control?”
Ryan’s helps me up but his eyes are on Ada. Every eye in the room is on Ada. And she is a bundle of fury right now.
“Enzo.” Pa’s exhausted voice comes over from the phone Lexie is holding. “What happened son? Why the fury? At your own brother? Ada could have been killed.”
I watch Enzo as his face just crumples at this statement. I hear a door opening somewhere, and realize it's coming from the phone. Then Sensei’s voice comes through.
“Gudiya?” he asks softly. All of us startle. Sensei has never used that voice on us. Ever.
“Baba?” Ada whirls around to look at the phone. He gave her a nickname? Ada runs to Lexie, all rage forgotten, and takes the phone from her. “Baba! Pranaam. How are you, o’man?” she speaks walking away with the phone. She leaves the room, perhaps to go to the kitchen and talk to her Dad and her Baba?
“Did you really mean to kill Vince?” Ryan’s voice brings me back.
“What?” Enzo was busy staring after Ada, and I see the moment Ry’s question registers on his mind. He snaps his head back at me and tears start falling from his eyes. “No… no no no. Oh my God… No….”
He gets up and covers the distance between him and me in five long strides and crushes me to his body. Something settles within me. I return his hug, and I know with deep certainty that he didn’t mean to. He didn't mean to kill me.
“I am so sorry Vee. Oh God I am so sorry.” He releases me and turns to look at the others. “I don’t know what came over me. I don’t fucking know. One minute my mind is laughing at Lexie and Ada, the next moment my heart is content that Vee didn’t mean to kiss Victory who had somehow compelled him, and the next thing I know I am filled with rage - it was like my magic just wanted to be unleashed. And it did.”
What does that even mean? How can our magic go out of control. Enzo turns to me and pulls me to him once again. Whatever it means, at this moment I am fucking grateful that my brother didnt mean to hurt me, and that his magic hadn’t hurt Ada.
“But how did it not hurt her?” Ash’s voice breaks us apart. “You know your flames are the most lethal. Even Pa was taken by surprise.” He looks at Enzo, intently. “Maybe … because your will wasn’t in it, the potency was not the same?”
It makes sense, but….
Ada’s laughter trickles back to the living room, and just like that, like someone snapped their fingers, the air in the room becomes lighter.
She walks in and looks at all of us congregated in the middle of the room. She gives us a small smile, as Lexie goes over to hug her.
“Stop smothering her.” Sensei’s voice hollers from the phone. “Ada, turn the camera around. Let me talk to these neanderthals.”
Ada giggles at the look on our faces. Did he just joke with her?
“Here you go, Baba. I have to tell you though. The only way they came out of their silly pranking funk this morning was when they heard your name and video call mentioned in the same sentence,” she says, laughing some more.
Lexie turns to me looking shocked. Sensei always told us not to snitch on others.
“What? Sensei, you always told us not to snitch on others….. So why is Ada not getting in trouble for that?” I ask him.
The pride in his voice cannot be mistaken as he says, “because she is mine. Because I have raised her. Just like I had raised her parents. And this is not snitching. Snitching would be her telling me what Enzo did yesterday when she came to your place. Snitching would be her telling me what Lexie did to Ash’s clothes. But she didn't tell me any of those things.”
“What!? How do you know I did something?” Lexie sputters.
Sensei smiles. It is an odd mixture of evil and angel right there. All of us take a step back, and Ada and Pa cackle.
“I know Lex. After all, don’t you know that I am Sensei-the-Great, as old as Oogway?” Sensei asks, straight-faced.
The colour drains from every face, except Ada’s. She gasps and jumps up to the phone.
“No Way! Baba! She said that?”
Sensei’s booming laughter comes across and Ada starts laughing too.
“Yes, way.”
“Noooooo…..” Ada screams. Then she turns to Lexie and laughs at her face. “Are you silly or are you silly? You named him Oogway?”
“I didn’t.” Lexie sputters again. But the rest of us are trying to not laugh at this. Though I am intrigued as to how Sensei found out about it.
“Oh come on Lex. Of course you did. I could tell you all the other things you all did and said too, if you want?” Sensei asks with his eyebrows raised.
Our barely-there-smiles are cut off at that. That is his face when he is about to deliver a lethal blow.
“Okay okay. Guys, let’s put this to rest for now.” Pa takes control of the phone back, and then looks at Sensei next to him, “you too.”
Ada straight up starts laughing at that. Pa throws a glare at her, but she just blows him a kiss.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he shakes his head telling Lexie to connect the call via the screen.
====
Now that Pa and Sensei are on the big screen and we can see them both, it is clear just how much Sensei loves Ada. Love oozes out of his eyes, I am assuming, whenever he looks at her. I am sitting on the couch next to Ada, and Lexie is on her other side. Ash and Ry are on the couch next to ours and Enzo has taken the lounger. He still looks ashen, and is seeking furtive glances of Ada.
Pa clears his throat and everyone turns their focus on the screen.
“So, care to tell us what happened that led to Enzo unleashing his flame at Vee?” he asks, glaring at Ada.
“You are asking me? I don’t know myself, Dad.” She shakes her head and then looks at Ry. “Why don’t you tell him everything, because I clearly do not understand what happened.”
Pa nods and looks at Ry. Before Ry starts speaking Pa raises his hand and looks to Ada. “Don’t ever do stupid shit like that again. You didn’t know it wouldn’t hurt you. You could have been hurt Adi. I cannot lose you too…” He speaks the last sentence so silently as if he didn’t want anyone else to hear.
“I am not sorry for saving Vince’s life, Dad. You have always taught me to listen to my gut, right?”
Pa nods. Sensei leans forward looking intently at her.
“Just as Enzo was about to throw that purple thingie, Sensei’s voice came to my mind. It was like all those times when I’d had a feeling. It was the same. I followed my gut and trusted my body to know what it needed to do. I honestly didn’t think much… I am sorry, Dad. I would never put myself in danger knowingly. I love you.” She looks so forlorn, that I cannot help but wrap my arms around her shoulders. I see Enzo stiffening in my peripheral vision, and so do the other guys. I let go of her as gently and quickly as possible without seeming rude.
Pa nods again, then looks to Ry. As Ry launches into the details of what happened I take a moment to look around and observe the faces around me. Everyone is attentive but Enzo looks like he’d swallowed burning coal. My heart goes out for my brother. I don’t understand it. Why he would get so angry and use his flame on me, I cannot comprehend. But the guilt and apology on his face is not fake. I want to tell him that it is alright. All's well that ends well, right?
“Why Enzo?” Pa’s voice brings me back. “Why did you get so angry?”
He looks up but couldn't meet his eyes.
“Look at me son.” Pa’s gentle voice causes tears to fall out of Enzo's eyes.
“How did they not get hurt?” Enzo says looking at his hands, as if trying to understand the secrets.
“We will come to that … first, answer Cael.” Sensei says. The softness that was in his voice when he speaks to Ada is no longer there. He isn’t angry or mean to us. It is just not warm and soft like when he speaks to Ada.
Shit.
We all look at each other, helpless, clueless. This is new territory. None of us know how to deal with a crying Enzo. He has never cried like this. Not since that night in the panic room.
But Ada knows what to do I suppose. Because she gets up and goes over to him.
She perches on the arm of the lounger, and gently pulls him to her. Enzo’s sobs get louder with each back rub that Ada gives him. She speaks something in his ears, and he stills momentarily. But then he nods. Ada smiles and says something more in his ear and he nods vigorously, pulling her close to him, and my insides twist.
Pa clears his throat causing us to look at him in alarm. I turn to look at Ada and Enzo again, and see her saying something to him. This time, he laughs. He squeezes her and lets go of her.
Ada gets up and walks back to sit next to me and my insides settle a bit.
She looks up to find everyone looking at her. She shrugs. “I thought he could use some TLC.”
Well that makes sense, doesn't it?
“You are new here Adi. There is a protocol to do things during our meetings.” Pa’s teeth might break, that's how hard he’s grinding his teeth right now.
“Okay Dad. I don’t know the protocols. Next time, after you all tell me what those protocols are, I will try my best to follow them.” She tries to look innocent but her mouth quirks up, as if she is up to something.
This is confirmed when Sensei laughs and looks at her with the love of the entire world. Pa shakes his head, smiling himself.
Enzo chooses this moment to start speaking. “Okay. I don’t know what happened. I was relieved that Vee did not knowingly go to Victory. I was honestly relieved. But then, it felt like my magic wasn't in my control, and when I refused to give in, it control from me. That's the best way I can explain it.” He turns to look at me and says, “I would never ever hurt any of you. Never. You have to believe me. And I am so sorry Vee, I am so sorry.”
“It’s alright bro. We will figure out what happened. Sensei and Pa will help us.”
The others murmur it’s okay in various words, but the meaning and the relief is the same in everyone’s voice. That he didn’t purposely do it.
“So, Sensei, what does that mean?” Pa asks him.
Sensei looks at our group, eyes lingering on Ada a moment longer. He seems to be deep in thought for a minute or two.
“Did you feel like you were burning from the inside and that led your control to snap?” Sensei asks Enzo.
“Yeah… like everything was burning, beyond control.”
“Ada, were you in any danger during the day? After you ran away?” he asks next.
“No Baba. I just ran and went back home. That's it. Nobody followed me. I felt safe in the house too.”
Sensei continues to look at some far off point. It is like he is having some internal dialogue with something or someone. His eyes take on a glassy look, but every part of his face that is visible is alert. Pa opens his mouth but Sensei raises one hand and quiets him. Finally, after what feels like hours, his eyes come back to focus.
“Ada, I need you to read up on everything there is in that mansion on the belief systems and Gods. I won’t call it a mythology, because it isn’t a myth. Start now. Lexie, show her where everything is.”
We are confused. At least I am. Why does Sensei want her to start off now? This does not sit with what I know of Sen-
“It is important for you to read and understand everything. Lexie is the most proficient in the Gods’ hierarchies. I think before we proceed any further, we need you up-to-date. I need you up-do-date.”
Ada sighs and is about to get up and I cannot stop myself. “But Sensei, with all due respect, why? She can still read all about it later after the call. We need to figure out why Enzo lost control of his magic and how to stop that from happening again. We need to figure out-”
“I know Vee. I know,” he says. “I have a theory. And I will discuss it with all of you. Together. But I need Ada to know everything there is to understand. You see - she has a gift. And that gift is understanding different perspectives, and her ability to read between the lines. Trust me. Cael and I need her to know all there is to know, and then we will discuss it all.”
“Okay, Baba. But, I wanted to ask you. Do I have magic like they have? Powers?” Ada asks.
“Yes Gudiya, you have. Loads of them. I could unblock it for you now. That was the original plan when Cael had asked me for this call today. But now I see that there has been a lot of changes that I was not aware of and that changes things.” He starts rubbing his chin, his usual trait for when he is trying to think hard about something and unable to find the answers.
“Okay Baba. I will read everything. How much time do I have? How much is there to read?” she asks looking around.
“A whole library full of books Ada. But you need to read and understand the old book. It is close to three thousand pages,” Lexie answers her.
“You have a few hours to finish it all up,” Sensei speaks.
Everyone erupts at that. It isn't fair to dump everything on her and give her only a few hours. This girl has just had her reality flipped upside down, and now this?
“We are coming there.” Pa’s voice stops everyone mid sentence. We turn to look at the screen and find Sensei fighting his smirk.
Ada’s face splits into a wide smile. “You are coming here? Truly? When? Both of you? For how long? Is it safe? Are you seriously coming here? You better not be kidding Old men...” she says excitedly.
Sensei and Pa laugh and start nodding.
“Isn't it dangerous?” Enzo frowns.
“It is. But we don’t care anymore. We’re coming there. And I will unblock Ada’s powers in person. How does that sound gudiya?” He directs that at Ada with tender eyes and voice full of love.
Ada nods, tears brimming in her eyes. She gets to her feet and Lexie follows her.
“When will you be here?” Ada asks one more time.
“We asked you to finish everything in a few hours, didn’t we?” Pa smirks.
Ada squeals like a kid and runs towards the kitchen. In a second, she comes back looking at Lexie.
“Well, come on lazy bums! Let’s go. Dad and Baba are coming and we need to be ready! Come on, come on, come on… Pronto! Come on, get up, let's go, let's go!” She is jumping on her feet, clapping her hands in a command. Everyone erupts into laughter at seeing Ada like this. She is like a kid at Christmas.
Lexie grins and says, “well enthu-cutlet, the library is the other way. Come on, follow me.” Ada squeals again and follows Lexie, who is shaking with silent laughter.
I turn to look at the screen and the scene knocks the breath out of me.
Pa and Sensei are laughing good naturedly, eyes gleaming with carefree mirth. The love and bond these two men share with Ada is just breathtaking. It leaves me a bit envious that -
“Vincent,” Sensei calls me and Ash, Ry, Enzo and I turn to him. “Ada is… she is..” He fumbles to find words, then sighs.
“When I first met Ada, she was four years old. Extremely caring, compassionate and lovable. She used to have these feelings about things. That’s how we found you guys. But more than anything, even at that age, she had a way of looking at things differently. Not jaded by society or the world’s view. Thinking for herself, for those she cared about. Caring for them with a vengeance. You have to know that I love all of you, as I loved your parents. But Ada has touched my heartstrings in an irrevocable way. I cannot explain it. It just is….”
How the fuck did he know what I was thinking? That is why he is telling me all these things, right?
“I don’t understand, why are you telling this to Vee?” Ash asks.
Sensei smiles and continues, “once when she was five years old, I went to visit them in India. She was playing with the street dogs, getting dirty in the mud, talking to them like they could really understand wha
t she was saying.” He looks at us, a faraway look in his eyes. “She had a routine. She would wake up an hour early every morning, and leave for school earlier than was required. On their way to school, Shakti would take her to the beach, where Ada would feed the stray dogs. Every single day.”
Pa has tears shining in his eyes. The four of us sit enraptured. Sensei has never spoken more than ten sentences with us before this. In our whole lives. And here he is telling us a story?
“One day, she got sick, cold and cough, nothing big. Shakti and Cael told her that she wouldn't be able to go to school the next day. The next morning, these two went to work, while I stayed behind. At 8 am Ada walked out to the lawn where I was sitting, dragging her stuffed toy with her, along with a big bag of food. I turned to her alarmed, thinking what is this child doing outside early in the morning? As if on cue, she started coughing. I went to her to pick her up and take her inside. But when I knelt, she asked would you take me to the beach please?”
He picked her up? Sensei?
Lexie’s Oogway, picked up a five year old Ada?
“Yeah we were surprised too boys. But then, we just couldn't tell with Ada.” Pa says. Apparently the question was not just on my mind but on everyone’s faces as well.
“I asked her why she needs to go? She wasn't well and she needed to sleep. In her little voice she told me that she needed to go, that the doggies were waiting for her. I told her that they won’t be, and even if they are, someone else will feed them. She was adamant that she wanted to go, but I put my foot down and lifted her taking her to the bed. You know what she did?”
“She cried?” Ash asks.
“She ran away and went on her own?” I ask.
“She made you see why she had to go, didn't she?” Enzo asks.
Sensei smiled at Enzo. “When I placed her on her bed, she looked back at me. She did not cry, did not throw a tantrum. She looked at me straight in the eyes, with an emotion I had never seen on a kid’s face and said I know I am unwell. But they don’t. They wait for me everyday. I know someone else might give them food. I know they might understand. But if you had your friends waiting for you, and you had to go somewhere on an emergency, would you not let them know? How would you like it if you were kept waiting, even if someone else had good reasons for it?”
Circle of Time: An urban fantasy (The Kazi Chronicles Book 1) Page 13
