WV-31/2

31/2

Khushi and Alberto went through the rest of the stuff which was very interesting, but Khushi could feel that restlessness in Alberto as if he was searching for something and he could not find it. When she was looking up a soup bowl of Padmanabh Simha’s era, he excused himself and went in to speak to the cleaning staff about the famous flower holder of the Simha clan, which was a part of the plate of worship that the Simhas carried to the Maasani Amman temple for the annual festival of the goddess!

As Khushi frowned at Alberto’s impatience and admired the intricacies of the silver rimmed ceramic soup bowl, she felt an odd sensation and then sniffed in the air. She realized for the moment she was alone in the huge gallery, as the staff had retired downstairs for a short break. As she sniffed she could distinctly decipher the scent that wafted across- The Valley of the Willows’…She looked around her but there was none and then she heard the whisper close to her ear, “Have you not listened to the Legend unread?DO NOT GO ALONE ON PATHS UNTREAD!”

Khushi broke into goosebumps and looked around and took courage to ask,” Who is there?”

Although she aimed at shouting her question, she found her voice failing her and it came as a hiss.

In reply there was a low whistle, and also the scent of the famous perfume of Willow Feathers and the hair on the back of her neck stood erect on its end when there was a moment towards her left and a cardboard box fell spilling its content on to the floor.

Khushi was so petrified, that she jumped and contemplated on shouting for help. Alberto was just in the other room a few paces away.

What was this strange eerie feeling!

 She shook her head to shirk off her errant thoughts, and opened her mouth to call for Alberto!

“SHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!” The voice in her ear echoed and this time she found the voice surrounding her, but she could not see anyone around.

This was getting scary!

She thought and bolted to her left to get out of the place, but as she moved, she saw the stuff spilt on the floor and a red bound book caught her attention. Khushi looked at the room where Alberto was and she could hazily see him turned with his back to her and chatting up the young lad who was cleaning the stuff… she felt better although still scared, but something in her urged to check the red bound book and she walked to it and picked it up. It did not have any title. It was strange. Then she found a small metal object, which was in a hexagonal shape. She stared at the objects and a strange urge developed in her to explore further, but she could then hear Alberto saying his goodbyes to the cleaning staff and she did not have time to go through the book.

Its only a book Khushi! She told herself and the metal object she did not have any idea about. But she just wanted to check them before replacing and she did not somehow want to share it with Alberto. She did not have any reason for thinking so. But she had to act fast. She closed her eyes and asked herself, Am I stealing?

But you are the wife of the heir to the whole place! Her heart told her. So technically all the stuff belonged to her husband and she being the wife had a right to it. Although she was taking it without informing others.

OK! I shall replace it tomorrow. She immediately stuffed it inside her coat and zipped it up and turned just in time to greet Alberto asking, “Any luck?”

“Well yes and no!” He said moodily. “The flower holder is not for exhibition and well the translations of the quartet I might just get to see, as they are yet to open one last cardboard box still. But I am not allowed beyond four o clock here. So…well… I guess it wont help!”
“Alberto! What is it that you are looking for?” Khushi asked him straight.

“Me? Nothing.” He smiled and his eyes gleamed. Somehow Khushi thought that they were extra bright.

“Then how come you are so restless?” She continued interrogating him.

“Restless? Oh! Not all! Why do you think so K?” He narrowed his eyes at her in denial.

“I don’t think! I can actually see that you are searching for something and you are disappointed right now.” Khushi took him head on.

“Ok! He shook his head and said, “Yes I am searching for something. And yes I am disappointed. Actually… I am searching for the missing transcript and the authenticity for the curse. Both of which I am unable to establish any link to and without that you know I can’t publish. He said shrugging.”

“But… why are you so… worked up for such a small issue?” Khushi asked him.

“Small issue? Well may be. But you are a writer too. The legend is incomplete and they say it’s cursed. Can you find anything that is out of place there?” He asked her.

Khushi nodded in the negative.

“Well that’s what makes me frustrated. You go round and round and you just don’t find any answers.” He cribbed.

“Exactly.” Khushi couldn’t help but agree with him.

“That’s what ignites that writer’s instinct in me. Listen! Either there is something definitely more to all this or this is a very big and old joke that is played by some over imaginative creative mind to keep everybody going in circles as an eternal joke” Alberto said in one breath.

Khushi stared at him as he spat the words in frustration.

At her silence, he got encouraged and said, “ If you read further, you will find they got married and Arnav Simha went through several motions of life. The story stops abruptly there for me. Although the history talks about a series of battles and progress of the Valley and take over by the British East India Company etc… but there is something missing K, which I cant somehow get through.” He said.

He was bang on! Khushi thought. He seemed to be harmless but she must be careful.

“So what next?” She asked.

“One last effort I want to put before the Annual Ball tomorrow evening.” He said seriously.

“And what is that? May I know?” Khushi asked him.

“A visit to the local Library. That’s what I plan to do tomorrow.” He said.

“But why? May be there would be some clue there from the local lores.” He quipped and said, “I just want to know the quartets. I feel there is something hidden in them. Some message.”

“Ok. But why do you suspect anything at all? You say the legend is ordinary.” Khushi said with a sinking heart. She too thought so much off it and it was like an anti climax after all those imaginary scenes her mind played through expecting the worse at every twist and turn in the story.

“Oh Trust me! There are lots of cues in the story if you read between the lines” Alberto said and something in his voice alerted Khushi about his intent and she found something of a glint in his eye which he quickly camouflaged by a smile and said,” You did not confirm about the date tomorrow evening. Can I take you to the ball?”

Khushi now was in a fix.

Should she reveal her identity?

She somehow  was not sure.

She simply said,” I told you I am staying with one of the founder family and I am sure they might have arranged someone for me. It would be rude to… well… go with you. Thanks but sorry!” She smiled at him.

“That’s fine!” He said smiling ruefully and immediately added,” Would you like to go to the library with me tomorrow?”

Khushi somehow did not feel like it. Especially after that whisper and the eerie experience. And it was in the morning and too close to the evening ball. She had to get dressed and also be ready for Arnav and Nani. She shook her head and said, “I am afraid the answer is no.”

“Why not?” Alberto insisted.

“It’s just that… I feel there isn’t anything much to all this. Or may be whatever it was, is now no longer there! You understand what I say?” She asked him.

“I do but I disagree.”He said and shrugged and gave her his card saying,” Just in case you change your mind, that’s my hotel number and also… you know where to find me.”

He then said goodbye and left. Khushi closed her eyes and calmed herself down as the workers now were back and she felt secure.

Joel came up just then and they walked down to go back to the Casa.

The Whisper Valley

After having dinner, Joel retired saying that he had a hectic day the next day. Khushi sat with Garima by the fire which made the parlour cozy. Garima watched the television, while Khushi inspected the book she found at the ball room. It was a red bound book with a single thin gold line that was spread horizontally across the foot of the book. It was strange with no title or markings on it. She opened it and found the edges gone, eaten by may be termites and it smelt musty. She concentrated on the first page, which was yellowed beyond recognition and was so faded that she could not make anything off it. The second page was similar but the third had a few lines that were faintly legible and she could read a few words written in someone’s hand writing, that read, “…and the jungles that surround the temple are testimony to the Goddess’s power and her grandeur. The ancient relics are preserved by the tribal chiefs for centuries and…” the script faded off. Khushi frowned and turned the pages and could not find anything that was legible. At several places the ink had blotted over and made it impossible to read through. In between she caught the Simha plaque merely by its shape and the drawing was poor but there was a big ink blot to the foot of the drawing. She turned the page and she saw a map. May be of the jungle she thought and then turned few more pages and found pages that were half eaten by termites.

No good she thought and put it aside and then she dove into her shirt pocket, and extracted the metal object and stared at it. It was black and hexagonal in shape, and was full of grime and everything was blotted off. “I will just be back ma!” She said and walked into the kitchen and washed it with the cleaning liquid and a brush. As she cleared all the dirt, she gasped at the object as lying in the palm of her hand, was a shining hexagonal box that was sealed but with the Simha plaque at its upper center, and below it were some etchings which Khushi was sure was in Tamil script. She stared at the small container and wondered if it was just a small container where people stored snuff in those days or was there more to it. She rotated between her fingers and tried to open it but she could not, as years of keeping it closed had jammed it.

She searched and took a spoon with a sharp edge and tried to open it but in vein.

What could it be? She wondered.

She missed her mobile. She could have googled it. She had heard that such ancient containers had special opening systems, which were secure yet there was no actual lock on to the container. But that was only for very important containers that had special stuff in them.

Did she happen to stumble on one such? Or was she going bonkers over somebody’s personal effect? She shook her head and walked back to the parlour where Garima was talking on the landline and she saw Khushi and handed over the phone to her saying,” Khushi Arnav!”