part0024

Arjan ignored the question, as he finally stepped close to the hut he lived in. From the soot-stained windows, he saw his mother in the kitchen, sitting alone in her thoughts.

“We are supposed to find the kidnappers,” Bala scowled.

“I have to meet my mother,” he said. “You stay here.”

Arjan walked inside, opening the tough door when he saw his mother instantly stand up in relief. She hugged him and asked, “Did they get to know anything about your father? Are they sending out a search party?”

Kalki had told him to lie to his mother that they would be assisting and convincing the villagers for a search party since Vishnu was an important member of the community.

“Yes, we tried. We still are.”

“Is Kalki still there?”

“Yes.” He lied again. Lying wasn’t what he liked when it came to his innocent mother. But he knew she would be tremendously pained when she found out that Kalki has gone to the city; an entire day’s journey. “I just want to tell you we will be out there, looking for him.”

She clenched her teeth a little stubbornly.

“Don’t stop us, Ma. Let us do what we have to do.” His fingers were curling as he said this. He had been never afraid as much as he was right now.

“Wait,” she said and went back in the room.

Arjan waited as he poured some water to drink. By the time he was done, he saw his mother enter again, but this time with a sickle in her hand.

“You need something to defend yourself since you’ll be out there.”

Arjan nodded reluctantly, and as he grabbed the agricultural tool, he felt the heaviness of it, since it would be used for murdering someone rather than to harvest field produce.

“I got it when I worked on the farm. It’s quite handy. I slashed a landowner’s cheek when he tried to harass me,” she mirthlessly chuckled, something Mother hardly did. But fear forces people to speak about their worst selves.

“I’m sure you were justified in your deeds, Ma.”

She grabbed his cheek and came close, her eyes igniting with concern, but bravado as well. “I want you to find him, but do not be swayed. You are not a hero. You are a boy, a young boy added to that. You need to be smart rather than foolish enough to attack them.”

She kissed him hard on the cheek. “I’ll pray to the Gods, to Lord Indra, to bestow his Vajra on you.”

Arjan didn’t believe in the Gods, but he nodded. With Mother’s blessings, he returned outside to Bala, who had been waiting with his weapon.

“What were you doing inside?”

“Nothing, let’s go for the meeting.”

“I thought we were looking for the bandits.”

“First, we need to see where the village stands on this issue.”

With this, they walked on foot to the biggest tree of the village, where the group would be assembling, but surprisingly no one was there. Moreover, the fire lamps were burnt off and it was completely isolated.

Arjan was surprised and frantically he made his way to the sarpanch’s house, a multitude of huts built together in close proximity. The only way to enter was from the back, where the stables were located and from the front, there was the main door. He knocked on the door.

In a little while, the sarpanch opened the door, flanked by his musclemen.

“Arjan, my boy, what a pleasant surprise!” He was sweating, his eyes searching for something.

“Why isn’t there a search party?” Arjan asked, without even continuing the charade of formality.

“I apologize if I seem hasseled my horses have been stolen…”

“Why aren’t there any people?”

The sarpanch, Devadatta, had a wispy moustache, with a tired and dishevelled look. “We will start in the morning. At night, there is no use.”

“No use? My father’s life is at stake and you say there’s no use?”

“There is…I never said…”

Arjan walked back without even listening. He could hear the entreaties of the sarpanch, but he didn’t care.

“Should I smack his head?” asked Bala.

Arjan felt helpless. No one was there and by morning it would be too late. He looked at Bala as he recalled how Kalki had become friends with him in the first place. They had met during a drinking session. “You work at the local tavern, don’t you?”

“As a guard, yes. I have taken days off so you don’t worry…”

“No. Not that.” Arjan stopped. “Taverns are occasionally filled with people who are well-informed. They make it their business to know other people’s business.”

“Range of people, yes. They come from all walks of life for fine sura and madira.”

“And as a guard, you meet them often, don’t you?” Arjan asked, his fingers twitching as he tapped over his lips. “All sorts of people.”

“Know them by the first name, sometimes? Perhaps interact with them, even?”

“Many are too drowsy to interact, but yes, boy.” He kept his mace comfortably resting on his shoulders. “What are you getting at?”

His head turned to see the wide range of woods that were beyond the village huts, where the bandits were supposed to be hiding.

“I want you to take me to the person who knows everything about those forests.”