Chasing Death

Chapter 14

"Death is beautiful some days. It feels so close and yet so far and we continue living, playing hide and seek with Death until the end of the game."

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"This is the accounts department. It's here that we interact with the stores of Kuber."

Mani was the perfect guide. He had shown me the entire office, but I was a terrible tourist. Half of what he said didn't even register in my head as I nodded along. My eyes were on the move continuously, in the search for anything which could lead me to the main system.

"I love the technology in place. I wonder who builds all these stuff," I inquired.

"For the Heavens, It's Vishwa. For the underworld, it's all Maya." He cocked his head to one side, throwing me a smile.

"But Maya has no form..." I asked, utterly confused.

"Who told you that?"

"The legends." I hastily covered up my little slip.

"Close save," Mrithun sighed into the receiver.

"Maya herself possesses no form, but she resides inside the automatons she creates from time to time. She is the heart of technology. The system is a living, breathing entity, which flourishes throughout the channels."

"Can there be a glitch in the system of Maya? Say some mortals aren't there on the system." I peered at him curiously.

"I've never heard of big glitches. The systems are pretty foolproof. Though small freak errors do turn up," Mani mused.

"What can be a small error for immortals, might be a large flaw for mortals which affect their whole life, isn't it?"

He stayed silent for a moment, probably trying to gather and organize his whole idea.

"You're going too far there. Stop with the interrogation now," Mrithun warned. I ignored his voice. I wasn't in the mood for his lectures right then.

"So, suppose there is a glitch which creeps in. Who can correct it?"

"You are an inquisitive little thing, aren't you?" he smiled patronizingly.

"Maybe..." I mumbled, wondering if I was going too far.

"Yes, Maya can correct any glitches in the system. But now the human network is creating more and more interferences in our system, so glitches are kind of happening more frequently."

"So, everything is handled by Maya alone? Even glitches?"

"Not really," he sighed. "As much as we don't like it, now Maya has set up separate networks and systems within the entire Server. Each little branch network, or you may say application, is protected by its own unique password known only to the concerned people, who can also repair minor glitches. It is a lot of inconveniences when someone is missing. Everything shuts down."

"Welcome to our life," I laughed in my own head.

Out loud I said, "Wow. Different passwords for each system must be difficult to remember."

"Pain in the arse they are." He shrugged. "Each financial transaction now needs a one time pin. So many captchas and what not to clear before a single thing can get over."

I smiled at his frustration.

"It must be really hard for you to learn all the new technology."

"Maya sometimes takes classes for us all. Imagine all the bigheads of this world sitting like little kids at school." He laughed good-naturedly.

"Seems interesting. Could I meet this Maya?"

"You came at the right time. She comes once in twenty years to update and fix everything. You could actually meet her. Though she has been delayed one year. Years feel like days when you're immortal."

"Blah blah blah," Mrithun mumbled at the other end. "Why can't he stop at just providing as much information as is needed?"

I deliberately lingered a little back as Mani sped on.

"Because maybe some people like to talk, unlike you," I bit back into the speaker.

"Tora, I didn't mean that..."

"Then keep your mouth shut. I need as much information as possible. Honey traps aren't always needed. Sometimes friendships work too."

Mrithun said nothing. The silence at the other end suddenly was deafening. I turned my attention back to Mani. He was talking to someone over what looked like a smartphone.

Seeing me, he whipped back, as if caught doing something illegal, and abruptly shoved the phone in his pocket.

"I think you should take some rest."

"But I want to know more." I was surprised at the sudden change in attitude. Did he suspect something? I shouldn't have communicated with Mrithun right there.

Mani guffawed. "I think human born Yakshinis need sleep. We can talk tomorrow."

I didn't protest anymore as I allowed myself to be led to my quarter.

I swiped the card just as Mani had shown me and ushered myself in. A little packet was lying on the table. Cautiously, I lifted the paper bag and looked inside. There was a big silver box. I lifted it and almost dropped it. It was hot.

"What is this?" I asked Mani. He was standing outside the door, like a true gentleman.

"I don't know. Open it," he said, with an expressionless mask on his face. I picked up the box and opened it. A sweet smell hit me, exciting all my taste buds.

"Payesh..." my eyes watered.

"I'm sorry. Don't you like it?" His forehead creased. He stood there fidgeting on his feet, perhaps wondering if I needed to be comforted and if he should come in.

"I love it. How did you?" I choked on my tears.

"None of us need food to survive. It is a luxury around here, but I figured since you're human born you might need food. So I ordered straight from your world." Warmth exuberated from his eyes.

"Thank you," I whispered, dipping the spoon into the thick milky dessert. For me, payesh, wasn't just food, it was an emotion.

"You want some?" I held out a spoonful.

"Who me?"

I didn't understand why each of my actions startled him so much. Maybe the guys around here were not used to the female company at all. I nodded at him and smiled.

"Okay." He grinned like a teenage boy.

"Love thief," Mrithun mumbled from somewhere in my ear, obviously pissed.

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A/N Does Mrithun have reason to be jealous of Mani? Will Tora actually talk to Maya directly or will she use stealth? What do you think? Lemme know 👉