Hearing the recording brought a flicker of wonder to the girl's face. Her father crouched down, looked into her eyes, and smiled widely.
"It is working," he said.
The girl threw her arms around him, hugging him with all her strength as she burst into sobs. He held her and stroked her hair, whispering softly, yet her crying only grew louder at first.
Eventually, realizing she was not calming down, he kissed her forehead gently.
Her sobs quieted to little sniffs.
She placed her tiny hands on his cheeks, lifted his face toward her, and kissed him on the forehead in return. Her tears stopped completely as if she had flipped a switch inside herself.
The guide watched this entire exchange from the side, silently, almost reverently.
The girl turned toward him and, noticing his nose still bleeding, pointed innocently. "Uncle, your nose is bleeding."
He hurriedly rubbed his nose with his sleeve again, smearing it further. She giggled softly.
She gestured for him to kneel.
Confused, he bent down onto his knees. She cupped his cheeks just like she had done with her father, leaned forward, and planted a quick kiss on his lips.
The father blinked, startled, while the guide froze with wide eyes.
The girl stepped back to her father and declared proudly, "I love this uncle, papa."
Her father laughed, a warm, echoing laugh that filled the hallway. After calming himself, he asked gently, "I believe he already has a loved one. Do you agree with me, Isha?"
"No. He loves me," she insisted with complete certainty.
The man stood upright. With a warm, quiet smile, he replied, "Yes, I have a loved one. I love her a million times more than the 'Great King' ever loved 'The Lady'.... And my love has no death as well."
He bent down again, looking straight into the girl's eyes. "But I also love this beautiful young lady standing in front of me."
Hearing his sincere words, she blushed pink and hid her face behind her father's leg.
The guide chuckled softly and turned toward the hallway.
Before he could take a step alone, the girl reached out and grabbed his hand.
The father smiled.
Hand in hand, the three of them walked together toward the next display.
----
After a while, the guide sat on one end of the bench, still holding a tissue to his nose, while the father sat beside him with the girl curled on his lap, sleeping peacefully. Her tiny breaths rose and fell against her father's suit, and her small hand remained gently fisted around a fold of the fabric.
Her father asked, "Where is your loved one now?"
The guide did not respond. His eyes were distant, fixed on something far beyond the hallway. Lost in thought. Lost in a memory.
The father repeated the question, but the man still did not react. He drew breath to repeat it a third time, but before he could speak, the guide slowly turned his face toward him.
"She is with 'The Lady'," he said softly.
His expression dimmed the moment he spoke the words. Something heavy passed over his features. A sorrow too large for so young a man.
With a lowered voice he added, "She is living happily in a beautiful and safe world where devils like me do not exist."
The father looked surprised, but chose not to interrupt his sadness.
After a moment, Obero glanced at his daughter and asked gently, "Does Isha resemble her?"
The guide flinched as if the question had struck him.
"At the entrance," Obero continued, "you looked amazed and happy when you saw her."
The guide rubbed his neck awkwardly. "Was it that noticeable?"
"To the point that even Isha noticed it."
The guide looked down at the sleeping girl and smiled faintly. "She reminded me of the first time I saw Sophia."
Obero raised his brows slightly, silently asking who Sophia was.
"Sophia," the guide said, "is the love of my life."
Isha shifted and woke up, wobbling a little as she sat upright. Seeing her struggle to keep steady, the guide leaned toward her and said, "Sleep on my lap."
She looked to her father. He nodded. She slid over and gently lay her head on the guide's lap. He adjusted his posture automatically, as if caring for a child was second nature, and stroked her hair with tender fingers. His hand moved slowly, comfortingly. He patted her shoulder the way a mother would soothe a restless toddler.
Within moments, she slept again.
Her father watched them with a soft smile. "She actually likes you."
Indra did not hear him at first, absorbed in the gentle rhythm of patting the girl's back. A second later, he lifted his face. "What, sir?"
Obero repeated, "Isha likes you. She usually does not allow anyone to touch her head. She is not stopping you. And she slept again without causing any trouble."
"Maybe she is just tired," the guide said. "Like you."
Obero chuckled. "Yes, I am tired."
He brushed aside a strand of hair that had fallen across her eyes, revealing her peaceful expression. Then he asked, "What time does the lab close?"
Indra checked his watch. "For visitors, it closes in two hours."
"I think it would be best to let her sleep for now. We will wake her before closing."
Their conversation faded, replaced by a brief, awkward silence. The hallway felt warm and oddly serene. Both men watched the girl's tiny chest rise and fall.
Obero broke the silence. "My name is Obero. And yours?"
Without lifting his hand from her hair, the guide answered, "Mine is Indra."
Obero continued, "You mentioned your love resembles Isha?"
Indra turned to him. "Yes. But she is far more beautiful. In fact, she was the most beautiful person in the world."
Obero's brows lifted and his face turned slightly red, as if preparing to defend his daughter.
Indra quickly added, "I did not mean your daughter is not beautiful. My Sophia is simply the only beautiful girl in my eyes."
Obero smiled at the man's nervous apology. "There is no need to worry. You said nothing wrong. Isha is the most beautiful girl in my eyes, and your love is the most beautiful girl in yours."
Relief softened Indra's face. Both men smiled quietly.
After a moment, Obero asked, "Tell me about yourself."
Indra blinked. "Pardon?"
"I am curious about you," Obero said. "I am trying to understand your character, but I cannot."
He paused, then explained gently, "I saw how you were treated earlier. You are bullied by your colleagues, embarrassed in front of visitors. Your coat was thrown into a dustbin. Yet none of it affected you. You act like someone who feels nothing. But that is not true. You were happy to see Isha. You were sad when you spoke of your love. Isha kissed you. That alone shows you have a kind heart."
Indra looked down as if unsure how to respond.
Obero continued, "You work here in Vebula's science lab. That means you are intelligent and talented. Yet you never resist mistreatment. And the most confusing thing is you called yourself a devil, as if you are the reason your love left this world."
He sat back, eyes curious and searching. "Now I am truly curious. I want to know the mystery behind you. And I will not sleep tonight unless I understand it."
Indra exhaled slowly. "It is not a tale someone would want to hear."
Obero smiled. "Try me."
Indra did not answer. He kept stroking Isha's hair, movements gentle and steady.
Realizing his approach was not working, Obero leaned forward. His eyes held both curiosity and sincerity. "Truth to be spoken, I want to know how you became so close to my daughter in such a short time. I want to know what she sees in you that I am not seeing."
For the first time, Indra smiled warmly.
He turned his head and said, "I am not telling my tale because you are curious, but because as her father, you should know what kind of cruel beasts live in this world. Beasts who blend with normal humans so well that no one sees them coming. If you know my story, you will know how to protect this beautiful lady from this cruel world."
Obero's expression softened. He seemed both grateful and uneasy.
Indra leaned down and gently blew a small breath against Isha's ear. She did not stir. Only after confirming she was deeply asleep did he say quietly, "She will not hear us."
Indra Began his tale-