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The bloodshot eyes whimpered in pain as the lips quivered while it gasped for breath. A slow bloodied smile spread through his face, as his whisper touched her ears, “We have taken an oath to find each other for the next seven births (painful whimper). And I promise you I will find you each time you take birth.”
Slowly, the woman took a step further towards the man lying beneath her on the floor with a bleeding head. She stared at his face with cold lethal hatred, as her voice hissed at the man, “And I promise you, that I will kill you each time you take birth.”
The sun shone brightly in the monsoon sky, as the gliding dark clouds loomed over the Kalpan City of Kerala. And through clouds, an eagle flew down elegantly and caught its prey before it sprinted upwards as the small toad struggled for its life. While in the distance, a woman in her white formals stood near the window of a two-storey building as the wind whistled past her strongly making her loosened strand of brown hair dance around her red-plump lips, while her grey eyes seemed stuck in oblivion.
As the woman slowly balled a paper and crushed it, her slender, sharp nose turned red in anger before she threw the crushed-paper into the openness where it was catapulted into the wind and vanished. But the words in the paper remained with her, while it drummed painfully in her ears.
As the dawn turns bright, as the ground turns hot;
As the radiating star of the morning shines again,
The lifelessness of nature will ache its womb,
As the glory of the night will cast her glare straight –up to
the bright star of the morning.
And in a thousand years, the doors will open on that day,
And the worlds that never meant to meet will meet again.
The lives that never meant to cross will cross again.
To leave behind something,
that the womb of nature will disregard.
“What a whole lot of shit?” Rudra gritted her teeth as she turned around and crossed her table and sat on the couch while she listened to the busy mumblings of her colleagues outside her cabin. It was chaos outside the room as people moved in a hurry as they tried to work through their busy schedule to meet their deadline on June 25th.
Nobody in the room seemed to be worried or over-looking the notice board which held the letters written in red ink saying JUNE 25th, which meant the magazine company only had fifteen more days before their next issue hit the printing press for distribution. Yet the people seemed to be composed as they worked, except for a young man in pastel orange shirt who stormed into the busy hall, and slumped in his chair overlooking a shabby table with a laptop. Agastya inhaled aggressively for few seconds before his bushy eyebrows rose while his small black eyes fell on the big photo frame on the opposite wall, and he felt aggression fill his nerves as he stared at Rudra, his boss.
Rudra Anitha Krishnamurthy was the Managing Director of Eklavyam magazine the new venture by the Eklavyam event planners, from Kochi. Rudra, the youngest Managing-Director was just twenty-two years when she shouldered this venture. And within two years Rudra doubled the sales nationally and internationally, as the magazine reached the neighbouring countries of India. Now Rudra, the twenty-four-year-old young Managing-Director was earnestly admired by many people for her phenomenal leadership quality, however many hated her for her blunt and straight face talks. And the new addition to her hate list was Agastya.
Agastya stared at the slender fair-skinned Rudra smiling pleasantly in the photograph, as a bubble of hatred burst inside him as he heard her slow yet irritating whispers of taunt in his head again.
“I definitely don't care. But I am sorry I cannot accept an elementary level school love story for my magazine and that also from a thirty-year-old man.”Rudra said, as her voice appeared hoarse and callous as Agastya heard it again.
“Elementary! Elementary level school love story, are you serious!” Agastya seemed surprised as he spoke to his boss, while a sharp sigh left him as he saw Rudra casually place his article along with many other papers before she moved on with her work.
“Rudra!” Agastya wanted to shriek, but he could only manage to stare back at her, while she finally looked up at him after two seconds and said, "I will give you good two- hours to come up with another good story, and if you are unsuccessful, then you are fired.”
“Rudra, you are disregarding my work. You have no idea how much I have worked on this article –“ Agastya hissed back roughly.
“And you have come up with an Ariel story at the end.” Rudra shrugged disappointed, “No offence Agastya, but even Disney will agree that this Little Mermaid story, had been revamped several times now, and it is now stale. And I am not ready to serve my audience any stale crap.”
“Only if you read through it, it is not a fairytale. It has layers of meaning and emotions.” Agastya tried to explain.
“And nobody in here has asked for you to turn into a Sadhguru advising people on the relationships. Agastya, you are hired to write entertaining stories- do your job, get your paycheck and smile. Or else, just leave.” Rudra glared at Agastya dangerously as their stare declared their total hatred for each other.
“Egoistic *****” Agastya whispered to himself as he stared at the laptop while the words rung in his ears. He tried to type something, while his disturbed mind tried to come up with some idea making him distracted from his vibrating phone, which displayed Bhumi on the display-screen.
On the same day, somewhere in the corner of a dry drought hit the land of Chennai, a sober-looking jail stood in the middle like a haunting devil casting a dark shadow on the land even in the mid-day. An eagle scooted low to the ground, as the two policemen sat down before the jail entrance for a second as the eagle flew over the red-brick prison.
The prison was a three-storeyed building constructed in a triangular format with a spacious triangular opening in the centre. And as the eagle scooted strangely into the centre of the building a golden light sparked from the circular barbed wire running above the entire building.
The scream pierced through the entire prison corridor, as the heavy metal door of the dirtiest and dingy prison cell opened with a loud noise. The policeman nodded with a tiny smile as a tall and young man bowed and stepped out of the room. The thin red lips of the young, handsome man twitched into a smirk as he straightened his pitch-black-coat which fit perfectly on his broad shoulder before his loud footsteps rung through the dirty corridor. The policeman jerked in fright as heard banging and rasping sound from the insides, as the prisoner screamed while he banged his head on the heavy metal door.
The prisoner screamed, “Let me out. Please! I beg you. Please let me out. He will kill me- KILL ME FOR REAL. You know I am innocent, I never intended to kill her, I loved her. Please let me out. Please, I never did it, she was my wife. No-no. Please, don’t kill me! Save me please! someone. Save me, sir. HE WILL KILL ME!”
The policeman stared through the small gap in the metal door at the prisoner, whose violent face smeared in sweat and blood blazed, while the black eyes gleamed strangely in golden-hue. But before the policeman could look further, he sneezed loudly, and as if provoked by the sound the prisoner started to bang his fist violently as he screamed, “ I killed her. I tried to kill her, so what will you do? She ruined my life, and I would not spare her. Did you hear that I will kill her? I will not let her live. That freaking girl was a mermaid, and they turned me into the jail. I will not spare her, you can kill me if you want, but I will not die until I take my revenge from her. No, please. No, I did not kill her. She was my wife. Please save me. Save ME!”
Listening to the screams, the young man in the black suit stood in the middle of the dark corridor with a smirk on his warm, tanned face. Slowly, he turned around to look at the bored policeman closing the small gap in the metal door hastily, while he heard the policeman whisper, Mental!
“ Suffer more Benny. You are nearing your end, and it is going to be more terrible,” The young man whispered while he smirked with his golden eyes blazing threateningly beautiful in the darkness before he vanished into thin air. And, the corridor fell silent except for the painful whimpers coming from behind the closed metal bar.
CHAPTER II
The wind was rustling the leaves as a large dark brown owl settled on the swinging branch, and as its big golden eyes glowed in the darkness, a car came to a stop on the cliff near a quarry. The owl hooted through the night as Rudra stepped out of the car and stood in the blanket of cold air. She silently watched the crescent moon peeking in-and-out of the dark clouds.
“Will you stop following me?” Rudra said to the night, as the owl turned to her with its golden eyes. ‘You might be my guardian, but I don’t need you everywhere.’
The owl blinked at Rudra twice before it spread its wings wide and flew down. As it hit the ground, the owl transformed into a handsome man in white shirt and black pants while he held a black coat in his strong hand. I don’t appreciate rude tones , Rudra. I might look pretty cool and handsome, but I am an era older than you, I seek that respect.’ Marky said in his playful husky voice.
“That is why I don’t respect you. You should gain respect through actions, not by seeking them.” Rudra reproached them.
“Such a vile mouth,” Marky gritted his teeth while he looked at Rudra. Soon, they broke into a sad smile while watching the beautiful crescent moon peeking in-and-out of the dark clouds on the star-studded sky.
“It looks beautiful.” Marky said as another cold wind blanketed them.
“It looks lonesome.” Rudra answered in a blank-tone.
“It is loved by many,” Marky said with a smile.
“Yet it never experienced love.” Rudra answered.
“It only needs to look around, to know how much it is loved and looked after.” Marky suggested.
“And that will only result in seeing more pain and fear in the eyes, rather than a life with love.” Rudra sneered, “It is stupid to romanticize moon as love, while it’s the lonesome thing in this world where it s surrounded by many yet lives alone. It is separated from everyone to endure the pain of existence.”
“Rudra, you are not alone in this world, you are loved by many.” Marky said softly.
“Yet I only see pain and fear in their eyes. Marky, what is the meaning of this kind of existence, where you only give your loved ones the ache of fear and pain?” Rudra demanded.
“Rudra-“
“It is better not to go down that line, Marky. It is useless, even if you try to argue for good, you and I know we never can find happiness in this human world in our form of existence, we are placed here to experience pain.” Rudra whispered to Marky, who fell silent as his golden eyes shadowed the pain.
“What is a Mara doing here?” Marky asked, as they turned around to see the Messenger of Death, Mara from Yamaloka standing a few meters away from them.
"Are you having a busy time chasing after innocent souls?” Rudra shouted as she smirked at the Mara, who turned around to face Rudra and Marky. The Mara looked completely hidden within the darkness of the forest with the pitch-black coat and glasses, except for the gleaming golden-silver staff with the Garudapurana inscription on it.
“Don’t start a fight with them.” Marky ordered.
“I am not. I am going to ask them, when I am going to die. To gain knowledge is a mortal’s birth right.” Rudra said as she freed herself from Marky’s hand. “You are not going to answer me, Mara. Ah! Talking to a mortal being is a violation under Mara protocol, how can I forget that. But I am not a human, you can talk to me.”
“Rudra, don’t do this.” Marky said as he moved uncomfortably.
“Tell me Mara, why is the God cruel? Why does he take the life of innocent souls without their consent, while letting me endure this wrath of life, when I don’t want to live.” Rudra inched closer, as her eyes met the eyes of Mara, which hid under tinted glasses.
“Because you wished for it, Rudra,” Answered the Mara whose cold voice felt like venom, as Rudra stared at the Mara, “Everyone has a purpose of existence, and they leave this world when that is complete. It might appear cruel, but not all life is bound to be noble and lived till 100 years with happiness.” Mara turned around and stared at the quarry in distance, slowly the headlights of the lorry came alive and two people got in before they drove the vehicle up the bumpy road. The sound of racing lorry lulled through the night, but it came to an end as the lorry dashed over a stone, slipping through the rough track and falling down in a loud crash.
Rudra felt her heart sink as she watched the lorry fall deep down the quarry and burst into flames, “Did they both die?”
“No, only one. The only good thing he did in his life before his death was donating blood once to a needy woman, in his sober state. Apart that he was a drunkard who abused his wife, can you call that an innocent life? You choose your purpose of existence Rudra, apparently you choose that even before you were born.” Mara spoke to Rudra, who looked beaten-up ‘You are here to kill him. And when that is done you will receive your golden card, and I will come to get you.’
Rudra stared after the Mara, who disappeared into the dark night as she heard the Mara’s voice in her ears like a screech, “You are here to kill him.”
“Who am I going kill? Why should I kill someone?” Rudra felt thousands of questions racing down her mind as she drove through the 100ft road, the shopping hub of Kalpan city. The lines of arcades and tall buildings looked beautiful even with their windows shut in mid-night, and as Rudra looked out of the window while waiting for the signal to turn green, she felt beaten down by life. But, her eyes grew wider as she spotted two Mara’s near the line of buttercup tree.
“I think there is going to be another death,” Marky said as he looked at the Maras, before he heard the screeching of a racing car in distance. The fluorescent orange lights gave the roads a romantic zest until the car skid through the night and flipped over in a loud thud before it hit a lamppost. As if silence was stretched into eternity, Rudra watched the whole scene with a chill as the shattered glass pieces trailing the tire track were getting damp by bloodstains.
The whole world was moving slow for Rudra, as she saw people from the existing traffic rushing towards the car , while her eyes trailed towards the footpath where now a elderly woman was sitting with blood smeared all over head and neck. The older woman was crouched as she cried while trying to coax a crying baby in her hands. Slowly, a Mara approached her and then the woman broke into a hysterical cry, as she held the baby and stared at the flipped over car. There in the distance a young woman in her late twenties stood near the mangled car with bleeding lips and ears while watching men pull her body out of the car, as a teardrop trickled down her eyes.
“Smitha. Daughter of Rukmani and Divakaran. Age 29, Born on 7th June 1992 and Died on 10th June 2019. I request you to follow me to the chamber of Mrythyudhavr.” The tall Mara addressed the young soul in a grave yet compassionate voice, as the confused young soul turned around with pale bleeding face.
“Dea...Dead! What?” Rudra heard the confused soul of the young woman asking Mara, before she broke into a sob while her eyes met the soul of her baby and her mother. “Not them. Not my baby. He is just three months old. He has not even felt all my love for him. Please. No!”The young soul broke into four as she saw her mother and her baby turn into vapour. “Nooo.” The shrill cry of tormented mother hung in the air like a life-bound cruel punishment, as Rudra turned away from the painful sight of loss as her tears stung down her cold cheeks, while she drove away.
The darkness of morning loomed over the beautiful penthouse, while the warm lights from the living-room filled the poolside with warmth, while a depressed Rudra sat on the swimming pool soaked in her own misery.
“Are you still thinking about that accident?” Rudra heard a voice from behind while a warm breeze enveloped her. Marky, the Great Vethal was standing near the big French door, in his invisible white translucent form with a smirk on his face. As he walked forward, he transformed into a tall, handsome man in a white shirt and black pants while his golden eyes glistened in the night. “You need to learn to get over the death, Rudra.” Marky suggested in his husky voice, as Rudra felt his warm smile on her.
“I think I will learn to get over it when I get my golden card,” Rudra whispered to the night.
“Hey hothead,” Marky nudged Rudra playfully.
“I am just tired of disappointing my family, Marky( sighs)” Rudra whispered painfully, “Tired of seeing their eyes fill with fear and pain, whenever they look at me. I am tired of their worries and panics for me, I want to get rid of that, and for ones I want to live.”
“You are living, Rudra.” Marky spoke softly.
“Not like this. No. Like a human maybe, or like the way I am born, and to be accepted for that. So, I can have friends with whom I can talk, argue, smile, laugh so hard that it aches my stomach, and- Live! For ones I want to experience all of that, maybe ones- maybe for a day.”
“Why do you want it to be just a day? Why can’t you have it for your whole life?” Marky peered.
“Because, I can’t say I have a lifetime. Therefore, I just want a day. A day, were I can see my mother’s eyes twinkle with love for me, and is not shadowed with the fear of losing me.” Rudra bit her lips red “I am so tired of seeking death, Marky. That I don’t even think I will have a normal death now.”
“And you will not have one.” Marky muttered under his breath, as he watched Rudra slip into the smoothness of the water.
As the water glided over the beautiful golden-purple scales cascading from chest to her tails, the beautiful body of Rudra glistened in the morning darkness. Peacefully she swam towards the other end of the pool, and leaned over the damp wall.
And, like that, the beautiful mermaid in the painful world of four walls stared at the fading silver-crescent moon as cold tears trailed down her wet cheeks.
CHAPTER III
As the morning crept in, the city skyscrapers looked dull in the monsoon cloud as the rain drummed loudly over the beautiful Kalpan city. Under a buttercup tree, a police car stood idle while the wipers swayed away from the droplets with yellow petals. The woman inside moved as she tied her permed hair into a bushy ponytail while few strands of hair fell in front of her face in black ringlets.
“ Benny Varghese, age 61. The prime criminal of Rudra assault case from Mellore Jail has been absconding since last 25th July. The Mellore Jail has circulated the details of the same to all Police headquarters. Do have a look-out for the criminal in your territory.” The baritone voice came to an end as Bhumi tried to tuck her bushy hair back while chewing on her gum.
‘Benny Varghese, does he need an escape at this age?’Bhumi scoffed as she spoke to the policeman in the front seat, ‘ Benny Varghese?! Is he by any chance the smuggler brother of Luca?”
‘Yes, Mam. Benny was the prime smuggler of the exorbitant Rubinite stone, twenty years back.' The old police driver spoke in a solemn voice, ' He was the threat and confidant of the rich men of the country until he got arrested for assaulting and kidnapping a four-year-old girl named Rudra.’
‘Rudra?’ Bhumi enquired casually.
‘Daughter of the famous neurosurgeon, Dr Bhavya. The owner of Sanjivine Hospital. Your aunt consults her for her paralysis.’ The policeman tried to explain.
‘Did you mean Agastya’s mother? Ah! Okay. Dr Bhavya,’ Bhumi shook her head ‘But why did Benny try to assault the little girl?’
‘ The reasons sounds as maniac as him, because when the case came to the court, he claimed the girl to be a curse, as she is a mermaid.’
‘WHAT?’
‘His claims had been duly rejected by the court for not having any proper evidence. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment for smuggling exorbitant Rubinite and other precious sea stones; and also for kidnapping and assaulting the four-year-old girl in the water for two days, and torturing her with false identity claims.’
‘Is he mad or what?’
‘That is what everyone believes him to be. Mad. When greed gets your nerves, it makes you mad.’ The policeman drummed on the steering as he spoke.
‘That is how he ended at Mellore solitary confinement and never left the cell for twenty years.’ Bhumi reflected on her words.
‘Well, even today, many prison officers say they can hear him scream and utter like a maniac, saying that he is innocent and the girl is a mermaid. While sometimes he screams to take revenge on her or other times, KILL ME...KILL ME.’ The policeman stared at Bhumi with cloudy eyes.
‘Nonsense!’ Bhumi muttered vehemently‘ Both the brothers are criminals while one speaks rubbish, the other goes on trading and making peoples life hard. Once I get a hold on both Benny and Luca, I promise I will put a hole on their heads.’
‘But Mam, I think it will be good if you could be more cautious these days, with Benny out in the world. The brothers have joined again, and I think dark days are ahead.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You are the one handling Luca’s case- he won't let you have a calm life anymore. Just be careful.’ The policeman whispered in concern while an unbothered Bhumi’s eyes trailed towards a milky white figure near the buttercup tree. The milky white figure of Marky in his invisible Vethal form was shining bright under the dull sky.
In awe, Bhumi stared at the sun motif on the metal armour against Marky's sturdy chest. ‘Is there any carnival happening nearby?’ Bhumi enquired the policeman as her eyes locked with the golden eyes of Marky.
‘Carnival. No! why?’ The policeman enquired as he keyed the car to start.
‘Then, why is that man dressed like a warrior now in the 21st century. He even has an ivory-golden tiger head sword. I never thought Kaplan would take Halloween seriously even in July.’ Bhumi smirked as she stared at Marky, who looked at her quizzically.
‘Who are you talking about?’ The policeman asked as he peered into the empty city street.
‘That guy, near the tree in the warrior outfit.’ Bhumi smiled as she pointed at Marky as the car drove away, while the policeman uttered in confusion, ‘I don’t see any warrior man there.’
The golden eyes of Marky trailed behind the police car as the image of the black kohl filled eyes of the woman filled his mind. But the words of those mortals about Benny did send sparks of anger into his body while the wise-old mermaid’s voice rung deep like a burn scar in his mind, 'She is a mermaid, but she is a half-human too. Even if you try hard, Great Vethal, you cannot change her fate. As she will die before she turns twenty-five.'
' I might not be able to stop death from approaching her, neither can I change the fate of Rudra and Benny, but I will protect her till her last fight.' Marky muttered to himself before he turned vapours in the warm air.
As the evening set around Trigiri Hills, the beautiful penthouse in the foothills of the large clearing came alive with the sounds of Agastya and Narayan as the men enjoyed their evening tea.
‘ Thank you for having tea with me, Agastya.’Narayan said as he chuckled at the comedy they were sharing with each other.
‘ Please do not thank me, Sir. It is my pleasure to share chai with you. After all, you are the one I idolize in my life, and I will always be grateful for the things you did for my mother.’ Agastya spoke with gratitude.
Narayan is the owner of the famous Sanjivine Hospital, as well as a blessed ex-neurosurgeon. Even in his late Seventies, Narayan with his deep, soft voice and cotton white hair and beard- set an example for wise and powerful. While the pastel Kurthi created a positive aura around him, ‘Kalpan evening is getting darker these days.’ Narayan said.
‘Monsoon will be harsh on us this time, I guess.’ Agastya answered as he stared through the large French window at the majestic beauty of Trigiri Hills under the soaring monsoon sky. ‘ I think I will get going, Sir. About those supplements for my mother-’
‘Ahh yes! Wait here, my boy. I shall get it from my room.’ Narayan said as he walked away, switching on the lights in the large living room and balcony.
Slightly hesitating, Agastya slid open the French window aside and stepped into the most romantic cold evening breeze of his lifetime. A sly smile broke on his lips as his shirt danced in the breeze while he walked towards the beautiful grandeur of Trigiri, now in blackness. But it was the shining reflection from the water that made him turn to the pool end.
And there, deep under the large swimming pool with the golden light illuminating the blue water, Agastya’s eyes trailed over a beautiful woman swimming. Her black hair floated away smoothly away from her fair back while her long hands lay beautifully limp beside her, while golden-purple scales seemed to cover her entire body like a fish.
Suddenly shocked by the strange sight, Agastya moved closer towards the pool. And he was not tricked, as he saw a fully grown mermaid swimming peacefully beneath the water with her eyes closed. The vision shuddered Agastya in surprise; as he watched Rudra, his boss, at the bottom of the pool.
Within the blue hue of the pool, the red eyes of Rudra gleamed in peace as she swam up after her long swim. The air felt cold as Rudra hung around the swimming pool rim and straightened her wet hair. Slowly Rudra flapped her long golden-purple tail in the water playfully before she stepped into her human form while pulling a dress robe around her swimsuit. But it was his stare that made Rudra turn around. And, on the opposite end beneath the crescent moon, Agastya was staring at her- coldly.
Rudra felt a sudden weight settling on her as her eyes grew wide with fear, panic, and emotions she could not even feel or explain. Slowly and cautiously, Rudra tried to close the distance between them. But as if provoked by Rudra, Agastya shuddered while stepping backwards.
‘Agastya. Agastya, please listen to me.’ Rudra felt tears sting her eyes as fear enveloped her. ‘Please, listen to me. I will not harm you. Agastya!' Rudra spoke, as her request hung in the cold air painfully as Agastya sprinted away while hitting the round portraits on the table, leaving behind a surprised mermaid in the beautiful lonesome night.
Hastily Rudra changed into dry clothes while her heart drums faster around her chest, and fear clasped her heart. She raced down towards her car and keyed the SUV to life. The headlights beamed through the dark pathway as Rudra sped through the rough forest pathway, trying to find Agastya in silence. But the husky voice of Marky startled Rudra, as he said, ‘He is heading towards the city, in a car. If you speed up, you can catch up with them.'
'Okay.' Rudra answered while her heart drummed in her ears. But Rudra did not take too long to spot the violet Hyundai of Agastya as she saw the car parked near the sidewalk under a dead lamp post. Rudra parked her car and stepped out of it while Marky accompanied her in his invisible form(it was her fight, and he knew it is not his territory to meddle).
‘Agastya!’ Rudra called out to the two people sitting on the car bonnet.
‘ Rudra, I don't want to talk to you. Stay away from me.’ Agastya declared rudely.
‘I am not here to hurt you.’ Rudra spoke softly, ‘ Just listen to me.’
‘I am quitting tomorrow.’ Agastya answered as he tried pulling a resisting woman with bouncy permed hair, ‘Bhumi, let us go. Get inside the car.’
‘Wait. Agastya. That is the warrior guy I was telling you about. Hey! Warrior guy, cool outfit. How long is your Halloween going to end?’ Bhumi smiled at her own comment.
‘What? Who are you talking to, Bhumi? There is nobody here than the three of us,' Agastya spoke as he looked around but saw none except Rudra and Bhumi.
'What are you saying? He is standing right behind her.' Bhumi said as she pointed at Marky, the Vethal.
CHAPTER 4: CALL IT A NIGHT
‘What? Who are you talking to Bhumi? There is nobody here than the three of us,' Agastya said as he looked around but saw none except Rudra and Bhumi.
'What are you saying? He is standing right behind her.' Bhumi said as she pointed at Marky, the Vethal behind Rudra.
‘Wha... Can you see him?’ Rudra asked in bewilderment.
‘Why are you guys surprised? And why are you being surprised? He is right behind you’ Bhumi addressed Rudra while sneering at Marky, ‘I have no idea why he is acting like that though. You are shy, even after being an adult?’
‘Bhumi, shut-up there is nobody hiding behind Rudra.’ Agastya roared to the night, before he snatched and twisted Rudra’s hand ‘What did you do to her? Did you bewitch her? Did you kill her? Rudra, why is she blabbering? I warn you, turn her back into a human.’
‘For the sake of Lord Dharma, leave my hand, and SHUT UP!’ Rudra roared back at Agastya.
‘ Rudra, the mortal is still staring at me, does it mean she can still see me? But how is it possible?’ Marky whispered to a perplexed Rudra.
‘How do I know? I am confused as much as you are?’Rudra replied.
‘What? Who are you talking to? I knew there was something wrong with you, you were evil as a eternal draught hit land. I know you bewitched her with your strange magic. You can transform into a mermaid, a vulture, a ghost. Tell me who are you? Which one are you? Well, I don’t want to know, Bhumi, this woman is an evil mermaid. She can even kill us.’ Agastya rattled on non-chalant.
‘Mermaid! Rudra! So, it is true!’ Bhumi stared at Rudra with wide kohl eyes.
‘Can she still see me? Why is he talking non-sense, and why can’t he see me? But she can?’ Marky whispered.
‘OH MY GOODNESS! Everyone shut-up!’ Rudra rolled her eyes as she roared in furry, while shushing Agastya from opening his mouth while few frightened birds flew away into the night.
‘Agastya, stop being melodramatic and listen. Nothing has happened to your girl-friend.’ Rudra answered with a controlled tone.
‘She is Agastya’s girl-friend?’ Marky asked with disappointment, while Rudra glared at him.
‘I haven’t casted any magic on her, and she is still a human. (Raises her finger to quite Agastya again) Bhumi being able to see Marky is not usual it is far more serious than you think. Humans cannot see magical creatures like Vethal in their original form, until they transform into human form. But, Bhumi can see a Vethal, in his milky-white figure.’
‘He is not in any milky-white form. He is as human as all of us. Maybe more handsome than usual guys with his broad chest and sweet smile.’ Bhumi spoke with a smile on her plum lips.
‘He is as human as all of us?’ Rudra repeated to herself, while she felt repulsed seeing the Vethal blush. ‘How can you see him like that, he is pearly white?’
‘Okay, that is it. I had enough of Harry-Potter happening for tonight, let us go, Bhumi.’ Agastya tugged again at a resisting Bhumi, but before he could pull her Agastya felt a steel cold hand on crushing his bones slowly yet painfully. Agastya snatched his hand away but felt cold sweats break –out as he saw the Vethal transform into his handsome human form from thin air with golden shimmers glowing behind his hair.
Agastya stared out in complete shock while his heart tremble, but it was the eyes of Bhumi that shocked Rudra, those black eyes of Bhumi were sparkling with un-kindled love towards Marky, as he spoke in his husky melodious voice, ‘You are no man if you force a woman to obey your orders, if she says No, then it is NO, even if it is your girl-friend.’
‘I am not his girl-friend. I am his sister.’ Bhumi explained exclusively to Marky without any reason, while Rudra and Agastya stood there perplexed.
‘Brr.’ Rudra shuddered in confusion before she spoke again, ‘Bhumi, is this for the first time or did you previously have any paranormal experiences?’
But the answer to the question remained un-answered as the Police reflex of Bhumi sparked, as she heard rustlings of leaves nearby and the bullet trigger from the gun. The bullet sprang through the night loud like searing bomb and hit hard on Bhumi’s shoulder as she pushed Rudra away from the bullet on to the ground. As pain shoot through the shoulder Rudra heard a louder moan of pain as she saw Bhumi’s neck covered in blood while Bhumi tried to retrieve the gun from her gun satchel. The second Rudra blinked her eyes the whole place turned into a hell, as the sound and hitting of bullets on ground filled Rudra with dust. Rudra crouched towards the car as a bullet missed her by fraction , while Agastya pulled her towards him. Rudra, peeked above a little as the firing stopped, but it was reloading second, as the bullets showered again, Rudra met Marky’s furious golden eyes as he placed a un-conscious Bhumi beside Agastya , and sprang towards the dark forest from where men were shooting them.
‘Take my car and head to my home. My mom will take care of her.’ Rudra instructed a baffled Agastya as Rudra handed her car keys to him.
‘Who are they? Why are they shooting us? Why should I take Bhumi to your home, let us call the police.’ Agastya said with sweat of fear dripping down his hairline.
Rudra rolled her eyes in irritation before she spotted a van parked far away from them with headlights suddenly blinking at them, as if giving instruction as the firing ceased suddenly. Rudra stared ones again at the van scanning for anymore shooting , before whispered back hurriedly, ‘ There isn’t time to explain many things, while bullet warnings are still ringing above my head. So, head to my home, tell what happened. Ask them not to panic, and the rest they will do.’ Rudra whispered bit arrogantly, as Agastya opened his mouth again, ‘GO before the shooting begins again. We will handle it here. Go!’
Agastya waited a second, but headed towards the car dragging an unconscious Bhumi with him, while he saw Rudra springing up and dashing towards the forest. As Agastya keyed the car to life and started driving , he saw a huge man falling down the ground in a painful manner before Rudra pulled him up with one hand. She slapped the man hard on his face, making the man double her size tumble and fall in a plop.
‘Open your mouth.’ Rudra glowered as she snatched the man’s hair while she sat on his back and pointed the gun at his throat. ‘ Why were you trying to kill me?’
‘NOoht eww.’ The huge man spoke with blood in his mouth.
‘What?’ Rudra pulled his hair even more, making the man cry louder, ‘Say it clearly.’
‘Not YOU. I was not trying to kill you.’ The man cried in pain, before Rudra felt a huge pain on her spine as a huge wooden log broke on her back. Rudra clenched her teeth in agony, before she turned around while her red-eyes burned dangerously. The splinters fell on the man on the ground as Rudra sprang up and high-kicked the bleeding man holding the other half of the log. She ran towards him and punched his stomach till he bent on her knees and said, ‘ We are commissioned killers. Please don’t hit us, please! We don’t know who they were, they just send us money and asked us to kill. Please don’t kill us, we were paid to kill you and the police woman. We don’t know anything else Please..Pleas!’ the words went into mumble as the man fell on the ground unconsciously.
‘Aeesh! Faint after saying the name you moron.’ Rudra felt her anger ebbing more, as the men remained unconscious while she jittered her fingers.
‘Did you hurt your fingers?’ Marky asked in concern as he stared at the men lying on the ground.
‘No. I just had my manicure done in the morning, and I lost one nail because of him. Aessh!’ Rudra sneered as she hit the man again on his chest, while Marky stared at her unbelievably.
‘Do you want me to clear it up for you?’ Marky asked with a raised eyebrow.
‘Ofcourse.’ Rudra smiled.
‘You have very powerful arms, you can do this by your own.’ Marky suggested as he lifted the man effortlessly while placing him inside the broken Hyundai.
‘I can, but I don’t want to,’ Rudra smiled cheekily, while blowing air on her fingernails. ‘I like to enjoy certain privileges of having a Vethal as my Guardian.’
As the two argued on their strengths in the night unguarded from their surroundings, a pair of eyes was watching them. The screen on the mobile lit-up, as it was dialing a number, but the eyes were trailing only around Rudra , who was walking away casually through the night as Marky joined her, while the car with the assassins blasted into hungry flames clawing upto the night sky.
‘Hello!’ The call got connected.
‘The passcode is 98745. And now she is heading to her home, in an hour or so, you can execute our plan. I will keep the door open.’ The person in the van smirked before disconnecting, while fifteen kilometers away, within the darkness of a house slowly a red stone rolled down from a wrinkled hand, and fell on the tiled floor, and the Rubinite shined like the bright crimson northern star..
Chapter 5: Beginningssss
The smell of fresh jasmine hit the man hard as he entered the room in long strides of anger. He could sense the disappointment ebbing through all his pores as he sat on the plushy chair while a maid brought him water in golden tumbler.
“Tch!” The man snapped at her vehemently, while running his hand through his dark locks of hair before he heard the slow clinks of the approaching anklets. The heart was pounding faster, as he got more furious “Do not say a word Mithra,” His voice growled through the huge room like a thunder, while the kohl filled eyes of Mithra stared at her husband calm and understandingly.
“Leave us.” Mithra ordered calmly, while waited a second for the servants to leave the couple alone in their room. “What happened, dear? You seem to be disturbed by some thought.”
(come back tomorrow to read the entire episode)
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