Chapter 5: The Night’s True Trade

After a while, the others got tired and returned to their tents, zipped up, and turned off their torches.

The hush that fell over the camp was almost holy. Only the chirping of crickets, a distant bark, and the odd cough from a tent broke the silence. One by one, torches flickered out, leaving only the faint light of the stars and the dying glow of the campfire. It was the hour when secrets wake up and the world listens closely.

“Almost time,” my cousin said.

His tone was low, almost conspiratorial, as if he were about to reveal the punchline to a joke only we two understood. He nudged me, eyes glued to the shadowy outlines of the tents. “Bas, thoda aur ruk.”

“What’s almost time?” I asked.

I tried to sound casual, but my voice cracked slightly. The darkness made everything feel bigger, more important. My cousin grinned, the corners of his mouth twitching. “Sab samajh jayega, dekhte ja.”

“Shh… just watch.” He pointed at one of the tents.

Following his finger, I held my breath, feeling like I was spying on a secret ritual. The wind rustled, and the world seemed to shrink to the circle of light where his finger pointed. Even the stars seemed to lean in closer.

Sure enough, the zipper on that tent opened again. A round, big-eared head poked out, looked around, spotted my cousin, and tiptoed over.

The figure moved slowly, belly first, careful not to make a sound. A faint smell of aftershave drifted in the air. The sight made me bite back a laugh—he looked like a cartoon bear trying to sneak into a honey shop.

“Arrey bhai, you got that?” The big guy sat next to my cousin, grinning mischievously.

He squatted like he owned the place, his laughter bubbling up despite his efforts to be discreet. “Kya setting hai, boss?” His voice was as warm as his belly was round. Even in the darkness, you could feel his good nature.

His surname was Nair, but everyone called him Big Boss Nair. He was chubby and good-natured, like the group’s mascot, and the women seemed to like him.

He had a way of making everyone comfortable—cracking jokes, offering snacks, and never letting anyone sit alone for long. Whenever someone got tired, he’d be the first to offer a helping hand or a silly story. Even the shyest of the group warmed up to him. Sometimes, I wondered if his laughter was his real passport through life.