“It must be a little messy.”
Day said in defense as he unlocked the guest room.
“It’s alright.” Mhok didn’t care about the room as long as he could be close to Day.
True to Day’s words, the room was indeed messy.
“It’s already late today, so tomorrow morning, you can move in with your things.”
“That sounds good,” Mhok didn’t have a lot of stuff back at that house, so shifting things won’t be much of a problem. He’d still have to call a cab, though.
After that, things passed as usual.
The next morning, Mhok brought in all of his necessary things and moved into his new room.
“We didn’t discuss the rent yet,” Mhok said in his usual funny way.
Day tried not to laugh at his sudden formal talk. They were past that stage.
“I didn’t inform you?” Day put his hand over his mouth in a dramatic way, “It’s double the rent of your previous house.”
“Huh?” It was Mhok’s turn to add drama, “This is not fair. I’d like to bring a lawyer.”
Day laughed, “Yeah, go on.”
They played along for a while before hopping in to do their respective work.
“Do you think Hazel knows the way around here?” Day asked abruptly as they sat down for tea break.
“Why? What happened?” Mhok couldn’t mask his concern.
“Tell me.” Day’s tone was firm.
Mhok concluded that it was important, “Yesterday, when we went out, he seemed to know all the directions. Maybe his previous owner had taken him for walks here.”
Day seemed to relax at that, “I want to go out for walks more often. With Hazel by my side, I’d feel safer.”
Mhok wanted to tell that he was always there for Day, which included walks as well.
“Yes, you can do it,” Mhok was a little hesitant. He didn’t want Day to push his limits. Was it okay for Day to roam around?
Day smiled, “I want to go out this evening with Hazel.”
“Should I- “
“No,” Day cut him off quickly, “This is something I want to do myself.”
Mhok knew better than to take offense in that. He understood that Day was a grown man who had every right to make his own decisions.
As much as Mhok disliked it, he didn’t want to upset Day, so he agreed with him.
That evening, with a heavy heart and hesitant mind, Mhok let Day go.
Day, although nervous, was ready to take up this challenge by himself.
Clutching the leash in his hand, Day stepped out with Hazel.
Day turned around quickly, “I’ll just take a small walk. Will be back in five minutes.”
Mhok forced himself to nod and relax, “Call me if something goes wrong. And if you’re not back within five minutes, I will come to you.”
Day chuckled at Mhok’s sudden stern tone, “Okay, mother.”
Mhok eased his tension at that, “I’m not joking. Just stay safe and return fast, okay?”
Day nodded, “Don’t worry. Also, don’t follow me, okay?”
Mhok couldn’t promise that, but he had to, “Okay.”
Mhok’s heart became emptier as Day faded from his sight. It took everything in him to force himself to just stay there and not follow Day.
“It’s okay. He can do it.” Mhok consoled himself.
His eyes never left his watch, and gradually, five minutes had passed. His breath hitched, and he had already begun to move his feet outside.
“I’m back!” Day walked in.
Mhok felt like he could finally breathe again.
“Don’t tell me you followed me,” Day’s tone was accusatory.
“No, I didn’t.” Mhok informed him.
Day smiled, “Thank you.”
Mhok mirrored his expression, “How did it go? Your walk?”
“It was okay, and I feel refreshed now. Hazel is a good guide.”
Mhok was happy because Day was happy.
“Okay then, let’s get inside.”
Mhok started to believe in Day’s abilities. Day was a capable man. His blindness didn’t make him a coward. Instead, he wanted to explore his capabilities and limits.
The following days went the same way.
Every evening Day would go on a walk with Hazel, and on some days, Day let Mhok tag along with them.
They gradually built that trust in each other and their abilities.
A month had gone by, and Mhok wasn’t so worried anymore when Day went out. It only lasted five to ten minutes anyway.
Until it didn’t.
This evening, Mhok was restless when Day had taken longer than his usual time. No matter how much he wanted to calm himself, he just couldn’t.
Mhok tried calling him, but his phone was switched off.
Mhok tapped his foot repeatedly on the ground, trying to cope up with his growing anxiety. That wasn’t helping.
To make it worse, it had begun raining.
“Damn it,” Mhok cussed as he grabbed an umbrella and barged out.
He wasn’t going to wait anymore.
He walked around the neighborhood for what seemed like hours. The sky was getting darker, and the rain never took a break.
He felt something flowing down his cheeks, and then he realized that he had begun crying.
For the first time in his life, Mhok felt lost.
Wiping off his tears harshly, he continued his search.
He felt as though his worst fear was coming true.
“No, no,” he repeated to himself.
He couldn’t afford to break down now. Day needed him.
With that thought, it mind, he refused to give in to his urge to sob and whine.
At that moment, his phone rang.
He quickly answered the call without even looking at the caller ID.
“Hello?” Mhok’s voice was laced with newfound hope.
“Uhm, this is Derek,” Mhok’s legs almost gave away. He wasn’t expecting this. He was expected Day.
“What is it?” Mhok managed to utter, even though his voice was as shaky as his hands.
“I have your dog with me,” There was silence for a while.
“Hazel? Is Day also there?!” Mhok asked quickly, holding onto any form of hope.
“Uh no,” Derek sounded nervous, which was a first, “Actually, this Labrador is my pet. At least, it used to be. Anyway, you guys can keep him now. I somehow found him drenched in rain.”
All this revelation was too much for Mhok.
“So, Day’s not with you?”
“No, who is that? Oh, the guy with whom you go on walks? I didn’t see him. Only Ricky was there, I mean Hazel.”
Mhok sighed. He wanted to ask a lot of questions, but right now, he had no time for that.
“Where are you?”
“At my bakery,” Derek answered, and Mhok heard Hazel bark.
Mhok nodded, “I’m coming.”
If he had Hazel, he could probably find Day. That was what Mhok wanted to believe.
He ran to the bakery and found Derek and Hazel standing outside.
“I’m taking him,” Mhok announced breathlessly, “We can have a conversation later.”
Derek stood there frozen as Mhok snatched the leash and ran away. Hazel ran with Mhok in compliance.
That moment, Derek concluded what he always knew. He was never good for Ricky, now their Hazel. With a guilty heart, Derek walked back into his bakery.
Now, Mhok was running in every direction possible. His lungs were begging him to take a break, but he didn’t.
Now that they were close to home, Mhok knew that he had no other option but to go back and do what was necessary.
He bolted to the house and grabbed the nearest clothing item that belonged to Day.
He knelt in front of Hazel and him sniff the cloth, “Please find Day.”
Mhok had read somewhere that, when it rained, dogs’ sense of smell became stronger because moisture amplified scent. He could only rely on that information now.
Hazel sniffed the cloth multiple times before following the trail.
Mhok ran along with Hazel.
Where was Day? Was he okay? How scared he must be. Was he hurt?
All these uncertainties occupied Mhok’s mind.
They ran around for half an hour before Hazel halted. They had reached an abandoned construction site.
Mhok looked around for any signs of Day.
His wandering eyes came to a stop when he noticed a figure sprawled on the ground. It was really dark to make out anything. On top of it, the rain didn’t help either.
“Day?” He called out weakly as his faint grip dropped the umbrella.
He dragged his shaking body towards the figure.
“Day?” He repeated as he took a few more steps.
“P’Mhok?” Mhok heard an equally weak sound.
Despite his aching heart, Mhok rushed to Day’s side, who sat on the ground in an awkward position as if he had fallen.
Mhok knelt down in front of him. He couldn’t clearly see Day, but nothing mattered anymore.
Day was before him.
He didn’t waste another moment before wrapping his arms around Day.
“P’Mhok.” Day didn’t need to say anything else. Mhok understood every word he wanted to say.
Every emotion that Day had gone through, Mhok understood it all.
“It’s okay, it’s okay.” Mhok rubbed Day’s back soothingly as he muttered a string of comforting words.
Both of them sobbed into each other’s shoulders, kneeling on the marshy ground.
Mhok didn’t need anything else in the world.
Because the man he loved was right in his arms.
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