The festival was still glowing like a dream when the stranger appeared — tall, dusty, polite, and carrying a briefcase that looked far too serious for a night filled with fireworks and mango punch.
He stood at the edge of the square, scanning the crowd like someone who'd stepped into the wrong story.Rick spotted him immediately, because of course he did. Rick had a radar for "suspicious faces."
"State your purpose, traveler!" Rick barked, marching up with his whistle ready.The man blinked. "I… I just need to speak to Rama and Rick."
The crowd went silent.
Yuna leaned toward James. "Is it me, or does every new face here bring drama?"James whispered, "Maybe he's here for the dance lessons."
The Announcement
Rick puffed out his chest. "You're talking to Rick himself! What business do you have with me, stranger?"
The man adjusted his glasses nervously. "I came from Mumbai. I have… news about an old debt. And—uh—possibly a will."
Rama dropped her spoon. "A will?"
Everyone gasped at once. Nancy even dropped her mango juice dramatically.
The stranger nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I'm looking for the family of Mr. Haran…"
Rama froze. "My—my late husband?"
The crowd murmured like bees.
Rick, ever the dramatist, pointed at the man. "Who are you really? A lawyer? A ghost? Or an imposter sent by rival mango dealers?!"
The stranger's face twisted in confusion. "I'm… just an accountant, sir."
Nancy snorted. "An accountant from Mumbai walking into our festival at night with a briefcase? Very suspicious."
The poor man sighed. "I just took the wrong bus."
The Investigation
Rick decided an "official interrogation" was necessary — in the teahouse, surrounded by half the village, naturally.
He slammed his palm on the table. "Your name, occupation, and reason for living!"
"Ravi Das," the man said patiently. "I work for a legal firm in Mumbai. There was an unresolved inheritance issue. I came to deliver documents to Rama Haran."
Rama frowned. "Inheritance? But my husband died with nothing…"
Ravi smiled nervously. "That's what you think. Turns out he invested in—uh—something called Rick's Mango Miracle Export Company?"
Rick nearly fell off his chair. "WHAT?! I never— wait, when did he—oh no, did he really register that under my name?!"
Rama gaped. "You mean… my late husband made you a business partner?"
The room burst into laughter. Even Yuna had to hold her stomach.
Rick, sweating bullets, muttered, "This is an administrative misunderstanding."
Nancy leaned over. "Rick, you're a businessman now. Should we start calling you Sir Mango?"
"Silence!" Rick said, standing dramatically. "This is clearly fraud!"
Ravi adjusted his glasses. "Actually, it's legitimate. You're technically co-owner of a small orchard outside Mumbai. It even made some profit last year."
The crowd exploded again — laughing, clapping, cheering.Rick, the loudest man in the village, was speechless.
The Twist
Just when everyone thought the chaos had peaked, Ravi cleared his throat."There's more," he said softly. "The will also mentions a girl named Yuna Haran."
Yuna blinked. "Me?"
Ravi nodded.