This is no momentary frenzy. One of my best friends is determined to kill me.
Knife in hand, Arati faces me from across the sofa. Struggling against my shock, I try to get her to listen, reminding her of the relationship we share and what my intentions have been. But her rage is beyond containing. I suspect she was ordered to finish me if I didn’t agree to go along, but this anger is from somewhere else.
‘You had a Shakti,’ she yells, ‘and instead of telling me straight away, you decided to plan everything yourself about how to get back my daughter? And your advice for me was to give up my Shakti while you kept your own?’
Despite the urgency of the moment, I note her use of the term ‘Shakti’. It was also the ‘PM’s’ word.
‘No, Arati, that is not at all how I saw it. I was prepared to wake up tomorrow and find my own power gone. And I also knew that it might be taken away the moment I refused my first orders; but with or without my gift, or yours, learning the truth about Tuntuni has been my greatest priority ever since you told me about Ramesh.’
Arati lunges again as though the words haven’t been spoken. I jerk away to one side. Thankfully the kitchen is behind me, and I can bolt myself inside. But now Arati threatens that she will fill the drawing room with snakes.
‘So much hatred for me, Arati, just because I didn’t believe in the Shakti to the same extent as you? Do you know how I discovered that Dr Shome may be involved? By using my ability on Ramesh. After quitting my job, the first thing I did yesterday was to call you and then visit Ramesh to use my power on him.’
‘But you never told me you had it. If you’re so blameless, why are you afraid? Come out and talk to me.’
‘I’m afraid because I feel you’ve been ordered to kill me. And I know you believe your Shakti will lead you to Tuntuni, so you would unhesitatingly obey. Arati, I’m with you, and I still have my power. Let’s do everything we can together to find out what Shome and Ramesh know, without either of us killing for it. How would it be to learn where Tuntuni is but we then have to go to prison? What kind of terrible new tragedy would that be?’
I bluff a little. ‘I can see what you’re thinking, remember. I won’t come out of the kitchen until you change your mind. I can also call for help from this window as soon as it’s daybreak.’
She crashes twice against the door, but the bolt holds firm. A pause, then a powerful kick. She curses me and threatens once more that Manasa will fill my house with snakes. She hopes she never has to see me again. She rushes the door a final time.
I stay in the kitchen for a long while, only partly out of fear that she is lying in wait. Several times I call out her name and say I’m opening the door. Then I noisily undo the bolt, inviting her into the kitchen. I’m waiting in the dark with a knife in either hand, as ready to attack as I am to talk.
The drawing room is empty and dark. I switch on a light immediately, as much out of fear of snakes as of an ambush by Arati. But there is nothing to be afraid of.
Except for the fact that I am not in my sister’s house.