Dreamy Red

Episode 20 - On a Quixotic Quest

Out of curiosity, I tried to check if the beads were truly magical. So I threw them out of my cabin window into the bushes. None of us lingered there. So it was not possible that the beads would come back to me. But I felt a strong magnetic force pushing me to pick it up from the bushes which is what in the first place made me actually take it. I fought with my inner self and diverted my mind by playing some games on my mobile.

A while later, Karan came to my cabin and said, "Bibbi, there are some people here from the corporation." I exclaimed, "What? Why?" "They want to clear the bushes from our agency as a step to prevent snakes and other wild animals", explained Karan. I was shocked. It seemed like Joseph's tale was true. The beads were about to find their way back to me. Anyways, I didn't give in easily. I went to the hall and asked the guy in formals, "Hi, is it necessary to clean up today?" "Of course, madam. These orders are from our higher officials. There are many cases of snake bites in the city. So we have to do our best to clean up all overgrown bushes", he replied convincingly. I couldn't protest, so I had to wait until they cleaned up and left.

I sat on the sofa with my mobile. Karan came closer and asked me to take him with me whenever I decide to go to the cave. "No, Karan. I need you to be here to monitor Nishanthi's case and also help Ravi find Sid and Armaan if at all I go on such an adventure", I commanded. He scowled and left for his cabin.

While I was anxiously waiting for someone to turn up with the beads, I called Ravi to check on Karthik's status. He told me that Dr Swaragini had assured him that Karthik had nothing to do with the murder. But I had to cross-check with Arjun as well. He told, "His call logs are actually empty Bibbi. It seems to be a new number which he got a week ago and he had not called anyone for the entire week." It was quite surprising. "What? That's ridiculous. Which means I need yet another help from you", I requested Arjun. "Ya, tell me", he replied. "I need you to find out what other numbers are or were registered under Karthik's name." "Ya sure. I'll find them out in two days' time", said Arjun. So we allowed Karthik to get back home. But Ravi and I decided to keep a close watch on his activities through Arush and a few other constables in mufti because we could not trust him and there were also chances of him getting attacked again.

After about an hour or two of clearing all the bushes, the corporation people left after informing us. Meanwhile, I prepared a new case file for Nishanthi's murder. I had added Naveen and Arpitha's details into it too. I had written a suspects list and list of shreds of evidence found and interrogations done. When I finished with my work, I went out to check if the mala was still there. The building looked beautiful and neat with all the wild shrubs gone. I walked over to my cabin window. I felt relieved on seeing that my mala was gone. Maybe it wasn't magical after all. Or perhaps it might have found a new owner to haunt.

It was 3 PM and I was terribly hungry. So I put on my sling bag and sat on my Vespa to ride home. I was excited to go home as mamu would have convinced Dad, Maa and Adharv to move in with us. But before I could even start my vehicle, a man in a red shirt and faded khaki pants walked toward me and asked, "Do you work here?"

I nodded. He put his hands into his pockets and took out what I didn't want to see. He handed me the mala and said, "Madam, we found these beads in the bushes. We thought someone who works here might have lost it. It looks quite precious. So I thought of giving it back while leaving, but I forgot. So I came back to return it. Is it yours?" He questioned. I thanked him and took it from him.

So the beads did find their way back to their owner. I didn't want to experiment anymore and decided that it was time for me to fulfil Joseph's death wish and also get some relaxing adventurous me time. I could probably find Sid if he was hiding in the forest as Mamu had said.

*****

On the way home, I had my lunch at a local restaurant. At home, I told Sashwath that I decided to go on the quest to return the beads. Sashwath wanted to join me. "Sashu, as I told you earlier, your mom will kill me if I take you on any such adventures and it's also time for you to get back home", I told him while I was taking out my big travel backpack from the top of my closet. His holidays were ending in a week's time. He had to spend some quality time with his parents too. So I booked his tickets back to Amritsar in a day's time. He frowned and said, "I won't be here when you will be back." "Don't worry, I'll call you and explain everything in detail", I assured him.

Then I got to packing. In my backpack, I kept a rolled sleeping bag, a pair of extra clothing, a folded tent, some boxes of food, a towel, a mini first aid kit, a raincoat, a pack of tissues, binoculars, mosquito repellent, liquid soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, a duct tape, a coir rope of about two-meter length tied with a knot, a few iron nails and my diary. I kept a large thermal water bottle in the side pocket. On the other side pocket, I packed a packet of firecrackers and smoke bombs just as a precaution if I encounter any wild animals.

Along with the backpack, I packed my sling bag too. I replaced the fingerprint toolkit and the glass vials with a small bottle of sanitiser, a pair of sunglasses, my iPods, a pocket mirror, a tiny comb and of course the red beads.

When I finished packing, mamu came home alone. He told me that dad didn't want to move in with us because he couldn't abandon the house that he had built with so much love and effort. I felt a bit disappointed but consoled myself by thinking that it was the way of life, we don't get everything we desire.

Mamu cooked yummy puris with potato masala for supper. But we all ate silently and went off to bed silently. In my dreams, I was flying through white clouds with two unicorns by my side. That was it. It wasn't weird or nightmarish as usual.

*****

The next day morning around 10, mamu, Sashwath, dad, maa, Adharv and Karan were at the Nishanthi Villa to send me off on my little adventure. Ravi couldn't come as he was busy with his schedule. But he wished me over the phone.

I wore a full-sleeved green plain sweater shirt and a pair of black jeans with a leather belt with a small pouch for my mobile. I wore short black leather boots on my feet with knee-length socks to protect my knee if I have a fall. I had tied my hair in a small bun with a rubber band. My watch was a special gift from dad. He used to have one like that whenever he used to go on expeditions. It had a mini compass embedded in it. On my back was my heavy backpack and over my left shoulder was my sling bag. I was all set for the journey.

I grabbed the shoulder straps of my backpack and pulled them up to support the weight with my hands as well and marched my way along the thick forest behind the villa. "All the best, didi", shouted Sashwath excitedly while I bid them bye. The forest was made mostly of tall pine trees and long overgrown shrubs. The squirrels were squeaking and the birds were chirping on the trees. When the wind blew, the pine trees looked ghastly as they danced along just as in my dream. But in my dream, it was night and pitch dark whereas at that time it was daytime with bright sunlight shimmering on the trees.

I walked merrily on the cold stones scattered between the wild grasses. But this time with boots on and not barefooted. I turned back and waved to my family again. One or two of them waved back too. But I couldn't see who from the distance. The path was diminishing. One minute I felt like returning. I feared that I might see a hound just like in my dream. Or maybe even worse, it could be a wild animal which could tear me apart into pieces. But I gulped down my fear, turned my back on my family and trekked happily in the forest until the Villa was no more in sight.

The only sounds to be heard were that of the birds chirping and my footsteps when I stepped on the dried leaves and sticks. I took out my phone and checked the GPS to locate the hills in which dad told me the cave was. It was straight to the north of where I stood. So I checked the compass on my watch and walked in the direction of where it pointed north. After walking about two to three feet, I heard some leaves rustle behind me. I stopped walking. So did the noise of the rustling of the leaves. There was an eerie silence. I turned around slowly. Something was there beneath the trees.

I could see it moving. It was brownish tan in colour. I gently pulled a firecracker from the side of my backpack and the lighter from my sling bag. I held them both ready in my hands to fire any moment.

It all happened in a flick of time. The creature came out of the bushes and pounced straight on me. It pinned me to the ground with its paws on my shoulders. The firecracker and lighter fell out of my hand. I couldn't move. All I could see were two ferocious-looking eyes. They were tiny twinkling silver slits on bright golden circles.