Darkness shrouded Ananth’s home. It was long past midnight and he was sure to be asleep. Tara tiptoed up to the mud hut and peered in through the nearest window. Darkness peered back at her. But she knew their home so well, that even without any light she knew how the cots were positioned and where Ananth would be sleeping.
The cloudy night did not make things easier. Tara waited, trying not to drum her fingers on the windowsill, until the moon wrestled free from the clutches of the dark clouds and showed its face again. Its weak light illuminated the inside of the hut and her breath caught in her throat. Ananth’s cot was empty. His mother was fast asleep.
Where was Ananth and what was he doing out of bed this late at night?
Tara sank to the ground, her mind whirling like a leaf in a hurricane. Ananth had barely talked to her these last few days. She missed his teasing, his smile, but especially his protectiveness toward her ever since she had braved many dangers to bring him back to life.
She remembered their escape from the forest when she had tricked them all into going off without her. Had there been fear on Ananth’s face or annoyance as the boat shot away? And the evening of the feast when she had recounted her adventure for her friends, he had been absent.
A thought struck her — was he really busy or was he avoiding her? Now that she had thought about it, she had to get to the truth. Immediately. She couldn’t live for one more moment with this on her conscience.
Tara stood up and wiped her damp forehead with her palm. Her kurta was plastered to her back and she reeked of sweat. If only it would rain! So many clouds in the sky, but not a single one lingered. They all rushed past, probably to another village that was worthier of their life-giving water. Was Morni really going through a bad time because of her?
Stop being silly, said the small voice within her. Go talk to Ananth. That’s why you’re out here, anyway, right? She had come to trust that voice now. And that was exactly what she was going to do. But where was Ananth? In the kitchen getting a drink of water? Out with friends? There was only one way to find out.
Tara kept to the deep shadows as she padded toward the back of the hut. Nothing stirred, no one spoke. More clouds sailed overhead, devouring the patches of moonlight on the ground. The darkness intensified momentarily.
Tara rounded the side of the hut and heard whispers. She stopped immediately and dropped to her knees, listening hard. A boy and girl were talking.
“It’s late and you should not be here,” he said softly.
That was definitely Ananth. Tara leaned closer. Whom was he talking to in the middle of the night? A secret love? The thought almost made her giggle out loud as she tried to imagine Ananth with a girlfriend. What a time she would have teasing him about it tomorrow.
“I thought you should know,” said the girl. “You’re her brother.”
Tara clamped her hand over her mouth to suppress the involuntary gasp. The world spun around her. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing it to stay still.
It was Layla. She had gotten to Ananth, too. Lord knew what poison she was filling his head with. Tara tried to soften her laboured breathing and strained to hear Ananth’s reply. Don’t believe her, Ananth, Tara prayed silently. Don’t you dare believe a word she says about me.
“Now I know, so I’ll be going,” said Ananth.
“Good night.”
Tara heard footsteps. The back door closed softly and then there was silence. She continued sitting, paralyzed by what she had just seen and heard. What had Layla told Ananth about her?
Layla giggled. The giggle turned into soft laughter. Tara’s insides burned as if she had swallowed a handful of fire. She got to her feet and crept closer. Layla was hurrying away, still chuckling to herself. A deep hatred flooded Tara, dousing the flames within.
“Stop right there!” said Tara.
Layla stopped and turned around slowly. Tara hurried up to her. In the moonlight, Layla’s face looked like white marble except for eyes that were blacker than night and reminded Tara of deep, dark wells and endless tunnels.
“What’re you doing here?” said Tara. Her voice was cold and stern — she hoped.
“What are you doing here?” said Layla.
“I heard you tell Ananth he should know something about me. What did you tell him?”
Layla stared at Tara, her face expressionless.
“Answer me, Layla, or I’ll thrash you.”
Layla smiled. Goosebumps rose on Tara’s arms and she resisted the urge to back away.
“Just you try it, Tara. I’ll cry so loudly and act so pitiful that the Panchayat will throw you out of Morni tonight. You’re not very popular at the moment, so you better watch how you treat me.”
Layla spoke quietly and with such confidence that Tara felt her own resolve shatter like a sheet of glass under a shower of hailstones. Tara stared at Layla, whom she had always despised and mostly ignored. But she couldn’t ignore her now. She had to keep this snake close and observe her every move. Tara forced herself to look into her stepsister’s eyes. Could Kali really be guiding her or was Layla’s deep-rooted hatred showing itself now? Would a softer approach work with her?
“Layla, please!” said Tara. She took a step forward, though every muscle and every nerve recoiled at the thought. She cupped Layla’s face with her hands. “Look, I didn’t hurt your mother deliberately. She came after me. I had no choice. I was going to bring her back to Morni, to you. She didn’t have a very easy time with Zarku. He was treating her very badly. In fact, she looked very relieved when it seemed that he was gone forever.”
Layla stood listening intently, not moving away, but not saying a word, either. That was good; maybe this was the way to win her over: with kindness instead of threats.
“Tell me more,” whispered Layla. “Tell me everything.”
Tara forced herself to hold Layla’s hand as they walked to the edge of the courtyard. They sat on the low mud wall and Tara continued with the story, skillfully weaving together facts and embellishments.
“We were all recovering from the tornado that had whipped through the cave after Zarku collapsed. Kali was trying to help me, but then … then we both realized that Zarku had not really died. He had possessed her instead. You know what that means, don’t you Layla?”
“Tell me,” said Layla, calmly. Helplessness swept through Tara. How could this child be so emotionless hearing about her mother’s last few minutes on earth? The moonlight shining on her cold eyes revealed no sadness, no regret, nothing.
“That means Zarku was controlling your mother, the same way he did with Suraj. And the first thing he made her do was to rush right at me. To kill me.”
Tara took a deep shuddering breath as she recalled those moments. The crushing weight of darkness, the deep chasm belching hot fumes, Kali running at her, the hyena snapping at her ankles, and the unshakable fear that it was the end.
“I had no choice,” said Tara. “No choice at all.”
“There is always a choice, Tara. You could have let my mother live. I didn’t like your story one little bit. I’m going home.” Layla stood up and brushed mud off her large backside.
“Is there nothing I can do to make up for it?” said Tara with great effort.
Layla was silent for a moment. The chirrup of lizards and the mournful howl of a stray dog were the only sounds that broke the silence of the night. “There is one thing you can do.”
“What?” asked Tara, her heart thumping. Maybe Layla’s animosity would stop if she co-operated a bit. And life would return to normal, for her and all of Morni.
“I’ll ask Rakaji to call a meeting tomorrow,” said Layla. “If you can say you’re sorry for having killed my mother in front of the entire village and leave Morni forever, I’ll stop. My mother had to go through this humiliation and so must you.”
Tara jumped to her feet. Layla was playing with her. The same sort of game Zarku had played. It was now clear that she had no intention of stopping. Not until she had driven Tara out of her own home and destroyed her family.
“Is this your idea or your mother’s?” Tara said. She wanted to grab Layla’s neck and shake her hard.
“What does it matter? We both want the same thing — to see you suffer. So will you leave Morni or not?
“Never,” snapped Tara. “And I don’t regret killing Kali at all. Not one bit.”
“In that case things are going to get a lot worse for you,” said Layla. She waddled away as fast as she could. Tara raced after her and spun her around, her chest heaving.
“I’ll find a way to stop you, Layla. Don’t think for one minute I’ll let you get away with this just because you’re a child. I’ll make sure the villagers see you for the snake you really are!”
“You?” said Layla and laughed. “There is only one person who can stop me now, Tara. The god of death.”