18 ABSOLUTE ETIQUETTE (2/2)
The souls of the remaining four dogs placated, and their tails coiled between their legs in a moment's grace. In the time the brothers took a single breath, the dogs beat a retreat that comprised no goodbyes.
”Thanks a lot!” Lirzod's cheekbones came to light, as he leaped on those two from behind, and his arms curled around both of their necks.
Taken by surprise, blushed by praise, dismayed by the gluey substance, and appalled by effluvium, the visages of the brothers turned into a grotesquerie.
”Get down from us, please get down,” the two of them pinched their lips.
”Ah, I am so sorry,” Just realizing what he did, Lirzod jumped down and took a step back. ”I didn't mean to...”
”It's alright,” Though revolted by the happenings, they showered requisite smiles, with clenched jaws. They glanced at each other and nodded in affirmation.
”Oh, that's so nice of you two,” Lirzod's placed a hand on the chest. ”I truly didn't steal the sandwiches. Those canines eyeballed at the food and came after me willing to brawl for it. I was forced to run away. That's what happened... That's what the booth owner said, right?”
The two brothers called to minds of the bygone affair — them rising to their feet in umbrage and flouncing out after hearing the owner's words — and all but staggered through reveries.
”He didn't put me at fault, did he?” Lirzod's voice outreached their ears, bringing them back to their senses.
”No, no,” Elder Darling was quick to reply. ”That guy prattled on and on about irrelevant things. He never mentioned you.”
”Oh...” Lirzod's eyes twinkled, his lips constructing an overstressed grin. (So, he didn't blabber? How lucky.) ”Is that so? Then all problems are steered clear, I guess.”
”What problems? There never was any problem,” The brothers shoulder-bumped each other and beamed in unison. ”To say the least, we both are just good-mannered brothers that's all.”
Remaining hushed, Lirzod kept the expression of those two under his observation. A moment later, his expressions shifted to reserve means. (Good mannered? My foot! What about snatching my cashews huh? Geez, these guys are awful at lying than even Trirera!) Lirzod inwardly sighed. (Now, one thing's still uncertain... what are these guys exactly overplaying things for?)
The others who stayed hidden till then began to come out of their rooms separately and in succession. It was then they recognized the Darling Brothers and stirred up a commotion. A few amongst those were rather inclined towards tasting the cake.
”Look! It's the Darling Brothers!” Some of the loose mouths yelled in excitement.
”Darling Twins of the Egg Diggers!”Some other oblivious souls called in delight.
(The brothers that lack any etiquette whatsoever? The same brothers who would steal food even from infants?) A very few either stayed where they were and blended in the crowd or made an increasing distance.
The Darling Brothers waved their hands at some of those and tossed few eggs into their hands, flabbergasting them. An Egg Digger gifting eggs to the outsiders was a big deal. Most people thought the reason for such a happening was because of the birthday. No other occurrence made as much sense. Some men ran into one of the rooms and carried out in their arms, the birthday boy.
Seeing the birthday boy — who no longer wore a mask — Lirzod almost choked on his own breath. The Darling brothers, on the other hand, had their mouths fallen open from the sudden coldness that hit their cores.
The birthday boy was the owner of the bread booth, both in flesh and soul.
Hiding their faces from the birthday boy's view, the brothers slapped their hands on their cheeks. Lirzod turned away and squeezed his eyes shut. Though they found their feet at a distance to each other, their vital fluids still rushed to their hearts of those three in a kindred vogue.
Propitiously, surrounded by many men and overwhelmed by their wishes, the birthday boy never got to see the faces of any of those three.
Realizing the shift of the limelight, the three of them breathed sighs of relief,turned to face each other again and exchanged apprehensive smiles.
”Now that everything is taken care of, we'll be going,” Saying that the brothers turned back at full speed. Howbeit, as they began to stride away, the two of them couldn't help but stare at the people who were smearing the cake — what's left intact — on the birthday boy's face before they resumed stuffing the cake down their own throats. Just the sight of it salivated their maws and grumbled their stomachs. Eyes consumed with desire, Younger Darling gulped his own saliva and massaged his belly, but his brother's lucid head shake more than put an end to his mental yearning.
”Wait!” A voice from behind churned all the fluttering butterflies in their stomachs. But they stepped ahead as if their ears caught the wind of nothing. Before they took another step, ”Darling Brothers!” the same voice outreached their ears and grabbed most others attention as well. Cursing their bad luck, they pivoted back and labored their lips into a phony smile.
”Oh, brother, you called us?” Elder Darling's voice was half-smooth and half-strained. (Oh, dear Egg God... We were never lackadaisical in our grafts. So, why are you carrying out so many trails on us in one day?)
”Yeah,” Lirzod said, exhibiting a penitent expression, ”I'm so sorry, but... Can you guys direct me to my room?”
The brothers froze in their footsteps, turned their heads by degrees and stared at each other taking their own time.
(What does he think of us? We are not freaking deliverymen!) Younger Darling struggled to contain his indignation.
(Just bear for a little more time.) Elder Darling relayed a sight-coded stare, coupled with a twitching chin.
”Is everything alright?” Lirzod's voice cut the space between the two, making them turn in his direction. ”Did I ask for too much?”
”No, not at all,” Elder Darling replied in an amicable tone, further backed by his brother's salubrious head shake. ”It's totally understandable that one can find these corridors akin to a labyrinth. It takes time to get a hang on these singular decks. Just tell us your room number.”
”Oh, thanks a lot,” Lirzod stepped forward, and his movements made others in the vicinity shift places, which startled him to a halt.
”What's wrong?” Elder Darling furrowed his brows.
”N-Nothing,” Lirzod glanced over all the onlookers, and then at his own attire, before making eye contact with the brothers. ”Can I first take a quick bath?”
It took no more than three silent seconds for the brothers to become conscious of the full extent of implication behind Lirzod's words. They turned their heads in opposite directions to one another and instilled fright in the hearts of everyone their foreboding eyes made contact with. ”Are your noses that sensitive to smell? What about the dozens of farts all of you pigs unleash every single freaking day, huh?” Their words embarrassed the men who previously stepped away from Lirzod.
It was at that moment, their eyes met with that of the birthday boy.
Everybody in the corridor froze right where they were, including Darling Twins and Lirzod.