"Maa, Maa, are you okay?" Ilm was totally shocked. His heart was paining. Tears came through his eyes. "MAA."
No, no, Maa, you will be alright. Ilm was terrified with the fact that his mother would be gone. His eyes were seeking for aid. His fingers were trembling. He felt the ground under his feet was shaken. He constantly gulped—felt thrust.
With that gunfire sound, all the people in the market started rushing. Chaos erupted. All started to cry.
Some curious people dashed towards Pema to see if she was seriously injured or not, or maybe, came to help her.
But Pema already healed herself. It was so quick that even Ilm didn't notice it. Blood was already gone. Moreover, she sewed the torn part of her dress using fabric control to show that she was unharmed and the bullet didn't touch her.
But many things astonished her. Who did this? Moreover, she didn't find the bullet after getting hit. She knew it was a special type of weapon. They needed to talk with sentinaries.
Shakhai rushed to the home when he heard the news. He cancelled all the meetings just to check his wife.
Pema was on the bed in her room. She tried to assure all that she was unharmed, but no one listened. She needed rest, it was their demand.
Of course, Svitiou was there, although the main purpose of the sentinaries was to interrogate her about what exactly had happened. But Svitiou's heart's main goal was to ensure Pema's health.
"Rebels are disturbing these days. I guess they've started to do their work more organisationally," Svitiou said.
"But why are they rebelling?" Pema asked.
"They don't want any business on Boduin," Svitiou answered. "According to them, capitalism is ruining their planet, its environment. My guess is that they shot you for this reason."
"What do you mean?" Shakhai asked.
"They may think you are here for business like other houses who came here before. That's why they attacked Missus Bharata. They attacked business people before."
"In that case, it's a totally misunderstanding. We are here to protect Boduin," Shakhai said.
"Please, relax. I am fine. The bullet didn't touch me," Pema tried to assure them.
But Shakhai roared. "Relax? How can you be so chilled? It was fortunate that it didn't hurt you. What would happen if it hurt you?"
Well, it did. But you don't know her, Baba. Ilm thought. He was there as he was also a witness. Rov and Kuro were standing beside him out of curiosity. Rov was just informed that his mother was attacked, and so, he became curious and worried.
Pema was going to protest against Shakhai's argument but was silenced by his next word.
"Ilm was also there. If it was him instead of you. Would you be carefree then?" Shakhai asked.
She couldn't answer that—no mother can. If it was Ilm, she wouldn't wait for sentinaries; she herself would find the attackers and do something deadly to them.
"Don't worry, sir. My team will find the man who tried to murder madam," Svitiou proclaimed.
"You know what? People are afraid. Especially after the news of the attack on two cabinet ministers. I wonder why the news networks and press are not covering this news… the rebellion?" Shakhai asked.
Svitiou sighed. "I already informed the government. The Home Minister knows about this. My guess is that the government has ordered the press not to cover any news from Boduin. I have not even seen any media people from last month."
"But, why would the government do that?"
"Don't know. Maybe they want to keep peace, you know what I mean. Right?"
They knew, they always knew, but not all the commoners knew. They are even ashamed to show their failure in protecting nature and still act against nature. Ilm thought.
Svitiou prepared himself to leave. He moved towards the kids. He brushed Ilm's head and said, "Don't worry, kids, I will find that bad guy."
"I believe you, uncle Svitiou," Ilm lightly said.
Uncle? Svitiou scoffed. Only if I had met her twelve years ago.
He then went to brush Rov's head, but Rov didn't let him touch his head. Rov grimaced at Svitiou as if Svitiou's hands were 'dirty'.
Svitiou didn't mind. He had experience in being neglected.
"Another thing!" Pema yelled. Then she calmly said, "I think rebels are using Byatadium weapons. Because when I searched for the bullet, I didn't find any. Only Byatadium weapons have this feature. Isn't it?"
Svitiou sighed. "Then it's a terrible thing. They are now smuggling weapons which are only used by Universal Militias."
He bowed to Pema and Shakhai, then got out. His men followed him.
At night. The kids were in their room sleeping. Kuro was in his robot room. Everything became silent. Nights were terrible in Boduin.
Pema knew it would be cold, so she had already turned on the room heater. She was on the bed with herself. She was analysing everything. Then Shakhai came to her and sat beside her.
"Everything is so complex. Isn't it?" Pema asked.
"I guess so," he answered.
"God knows who is up to whom, who wants whose throat," Pema said. "But—but you don't have to worry about me."
Shakhai smiled. "You are the strongest woman I've ever known. But—"
He embraced her left cheek and said, "But the world is so cruel. And you—you are my most precious flower. I'm afraid of losing you."
Pema smiled. There was a strange silence between them, but it was also comfortable. They were staring at each other. Their hands started to tangle with each other. They came closer. Forehead to forehead, nose to nose. They were playing with their nose.
Pema placed her hands on his chest. Shakhai placed his on her waist. It was a passionate moment between them. Their minds were devoted to each other. And their lips were going to brushed. But they couldn't.
Before they could share a kiss, some people broke through the window of that room. Knives in their hands.