Just before Arun was born, Chee Leon made a name for himself as the new up-and-coming Sales Manager for a big medicine company. Meanwhile, Chris Lun was out hustling about, selling buttons for a local clothing company.

  Chee's family just got moved from the slums to a small rented apartment. Chee and Chris saved enough to buy their own flat with their combined incomes.

  Arun came into this world, but with Chee always at work and Chris traveling, he spent most of his time with his grandpapy and meemaw in their small rental apartment. At his grandparents' place, Arun learned chess from his tipsy grandpapy, listened to traditional myths, and got disciplined by his strict meemaw. He played with his cousins Lime and Dus, getting into all sorts of trouble.

  The three kids were often left on their own in the small apartment. With little to keep them busy, they made their own fun. Arun, being the eldest, often led their mischief. They'd use magnifying glasses to roast ants, laughing as the ants scrambled away.

  - Lime: "Hey Arun, watch this ant dance!"

  - Arun: "You tink dat's cool? Check out dis one!"

  They made jump ropes from rubber bands, used bottle caps for gambling, and caught spiders for battles. Arun's mischief often landed him in hot water. Once, he nearly set the apartment on fire playing with matches.

  - Lime: "Arun, you sure dis be a good idea?"

  - Arun: "Relax, Lime! What could go wrong?"

  Another time, he climbed out the window and got stuck. His meemaw found him and said, "Arun! You tink you Spiderman? I tink I oughta have a word with your pappy!"

  One unforgettable day, Arun decided to "barbeque" a cockroach. With curiosity and a stick, he caught a big one and tried roasting it over a small flame. The stench was so awful he gagged and gave up. From that day on, Arun was terrified of cockroaches, much to his cousins' amusement.

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  Another time, his grandpapy decided it was time for Arun to learn about alcohol. "Arun," he said in a conspiring tone, "tink you man enough to try?" He handed the boy a small glass of strong liquor and raised a toast. Just as Arun was about to take a sip, his meemaw stormed in. "What on God's green earth do you boys tink you be doing!" she shouted. Caught red-handed, Arun and his grandpapy were severely punished. Arun had to scrub floors for days, and his grandpapy was banished to the couch for a week. From then on, Arun linked alcohol with punishment and couldn't drink without getting drunk after a single mouthful.

  Despite his mischief, Arun never lost his curiosity and love for adventure. He learned to adapt and make things from what he had. Sadly, his poverty made him think nothing would change even if he tried his best. This led to his indifferent and unmotivated attitude in school. To escape from reality, Arun frequently turned to fantasy and adventure books. He would often be found with his nose buried in a book, completely absorbed in a world of knights, dragons, and far-off lands. These stories became his refuge, and he spent countless hours daydreaming about grand adventures, often losing track of time and his surroundings.

  Though mischievous, Arun was never mean, unlike Lime. Lime, always second in the trio, went out of his way to get into trouble. He was often beaten by his meemaw but never resented Arun for his punishments. Dus, being the youngest and a girl, just followed along.

  As the kids grew, Arun and Lime noticed they were different. Boys had boy parts, and girls had girl parts. Curious, they started exploring each other.

  - Lime: "I wanna be the doctor dis time!"

  - Arun: "No way, I be the doctor. You be the patient."

  They hid from adults when "playing doctor," but their attempts often ended in giggles and arguments about who got to be the doctor.

  Eventually, they were caught and severely disciplined before any real harm was done. Unfortunately, the seed for Arun and Lime's paedophilic tendencies was planted during these games and the subsequent punishment.

  By the time Benny was born, Chee and Chris could afford a live-in nanny for him. While Arun was mostly on his own, Benny was cared for by a nanny. Both were loved, just in different ways. Arun was cared for in a big family setting, while Benny got undivided attention from his nanny.

  Arun grew up introverted, keeping to himself and finding solace in his own thoughts. His world was one of books and solitary games, where his imagination could run wild without interruption. He preferred the quiet and comfort of familiar surroundings, rarely venturing out to make new friends.

  On the other hand, Benny was outgoing and full of energy. He thrived on social interactions, making friends easily wherever he went. Benny's extroverted nature was a stark contrast to Arun's introversion, and their paths rarely crossed.

  It wasn't until Arun's grandpapy passed away when Arun was 12 that he moved back to live with his parents. This transition brought the two brothers into closer proximity, and they began to learn about each other's lives. Despite their differences, they found a way to connect and support each other in the years that followed.