VAISHALI-4

4

Part-1

He was their only hope and he had to go for the exhibition.It was as well that the international convention on gems and jewellery is at Delhi and the same venue. It would be easier. 

He owed it to his childhood buddy Mohsin. Mohsin was his friend for twenty years when five years back he passed away in a freak accident in the US...Mohsin was driving and he along with three others was with him and he could not save them.They all died. Damn it!!! 

He was the lone surviver!! 

He got away with minor injuries.

The police and the family members were zapped too. He was sitting right next to the driver. Everyone was crushed by the impact of their car ramming into the pull over but he escaped death. 

He failed! His friend trusted him but he could do nothing but see them die... right there!! He brought the body back and stayed with the family as Mohsin's family could not take the shock.

Amma was worst affected as her eldest son was their only hope! 

Mohsin's father Rafiq Abbas was a well noted artist and was not worldly wise at that. He lived in his world of colours and somehow did not take up the responsibility of his huge family. Neel's father Vardhamaan Neelkanth Agnihothri and Rafiq were college buddies and neighbours and their friendship grew as they aged.Infact Vardhamaan sponsored Mohsin's education and also to go to the US with Neel and he was also instrumental in converting Abbas's passion into a money earning avenue. Till date Abbaas's exhibitions were handled by the ad agency AGMED which stood for Agnihothri media which was not known to a very upright Abbaas else he would not have taken any help. Neel now supported their family and was like a son to them... He must go! ...and this exhibition needed his support as his visit would bring press and crowd. Abbu as he too called him fondly needed that for his oldest daughter's impending wedding! As he was thinking Neel picked up the card once again and an idea was taking form within his mind...

"Sir? I need a confirmation on the list of delegates..." Mary's voice brought him back from his thoughts... 
YEAH ! he said plunging back into his professional  world!!! 

-----VAISHALI------

Somewhere dark in the thick of a jungle a fire burned. Four people were sitting on the four corners of a square pit dug into the earth. The fire was burning in a square urn that was placed in the centre of the pit. Lemons  were arranged on the border of the pit and they were smeared with vermillon and turmeric. All the four men were chanting in a strange language which was in discord.They were all clad only in a loin cloth which was dyed red with vermilon. They had hair which was long and shaggy and twisted in a way that made it look as if it was braids cascading down. Nails long and twisted in the end reflecting how unkept they were. Their bodies were thin out of fasting and the rigour of the order they followed. They were sitting in a marking that was in the shape of a triangle made 

A foot away from them and at the apex of the traingle where two sides met on a mud embankment on the eastern side of the alter of fire sat a man with a loin cloth which was black. His eyes glowed green in the darness and he was staring at the small path that ran through the thick forest that engulfed the clearing in which they were!  

An eagle flew as if on cue and sat on  a near by branch. It was six in the evening and the shadows of the long and thick vegetation made it dark and like the night had already set in. The man closed his eyes his thick eyelashes raised in concentration. As if on cue he suddenly looked towards his right and bellowed Maara!! A thin shadow wafted out of the vegetation and stood before him! 

"Where is it?"he asked.

Two glowing orbits like eyes opened in the shadow called Maara. The man opened his eyes and looked into them. He gritted his teeth. Go and tell Reni that BAIRI gives him two hours to come with what he has been asked to get! No more than that. And you be with him and help him. Go!!!

Maara let out a screech which was so sinister and weird that the birds that were passing by flying back to the west scattered crying in fear. In a swoosh Maara disappeared as a dark cloud. 

Bairi looked at the eagle. The eagle stood in attention craning its neck as if it was concentrating then it rose and followed Maara. Bairi smiled saying," Waali you take care of it my son!"

-----VAISHALI-----

"What's it with you today! Have you taken a vow to get knocked out?"Tejas was furious." This is ridiculous. How can you be so careless? What if you slipped and fell into the water? What if your head hit those rocks and you.... " 

"please stop!" Vaishali shouted at Tejas. 

"No Shaalu. That was stupid" It was Rishi's turn now. 

"You actually disappeared for a full ten minutes and then surfaced  and that too by screaming as you fell."

"We both ran to find you disoriented and you see those waters? Those are deceptively calm. There is a strong current beneath them that pulls you into the center where the lake is very deep."

Disappear? I was sitting right here! You both were too busy to note anything! Vaishali pouted.

"Nope. I TURNED JUST BEFORE YOU SCREAMED AS I WANTED TO CHECK ON YOU AND I DID NOT SEE YOU. I THOUGHT YOU WANDERED OFF FARTHER. I FINISHED CLICKING AND WAS ABOUT TO COME AND FETCH  YOU WHEN I HEARD YOUR SCREAM AND SAW YOU FALLING INTO THE WATER." Rishi said.

"What?" Vaishali could not believe it but she had this nagging thought about the Aghora. Before she said anything Tejas let out a whistle! "Holy Molly look at that! What is that?" All three of them turned to where he was pointing to with his finger. They all looked at each others' face!