Sun Moon & Stars Volume II Call Of The Skull Men

CHAPTER 23

A harsh slap landed on Vyjayanthi's cheek. "Ouch, Malini that hurts," she said rubbing the skin which had started to turn red.

"I should have let that mosquito drain out your blood," Malini rolled her eyes looking displeased at the fact that John was getting more importance than her even though she was the senior-most in the core team. She didn't harbour any hatred for the boy like Vyjayanthi did but there was a certain kind of dejected feeling when her favourite mentor showered compliments on him.

"Professor, it's time. I should move in now," John Davani, probably in his twenties just like the two girls, said checking his watch. He towered well over six feet and had a very serious expression on his square face. His hairs were chopped in a crew cut, which matched well with his thin line of beard and brown eyes. By his strong built, it was evident that he spent an ample amount of time exercising. 

Madhumita nodded as she made herself comfortable on the bonnet of her car smoking a cigar. The man took out an envelope then went inside the building. "Remind me again professor, why did you ask John to come with us?" Vyjayanthi asked.

"I am also wondering the same thing, professor. I mean he is a new recruit, will he understand our cause?" Malini stared at the building waiting to go inside in case John fails to do the work.

"Read the board, what does it say?" Madhumita pointed at the red nameplate carved over the main gate of the building.

"Ervad Dhunjeebhoy Byramjee Mehta, Zoroastrian Anjuman Atash Adaran," Vyjayanthi read.

"Zoroastrian? As in Parsis?" Malini asked with curiosity.

Madhumita nodded.

"But professor what are we doing in Metcalfe Street in front of a Parsi building? I was hoping to get a treat at Park Street's famous restaurants." The last meal Vyjayanthi had was at the airport, that too light snacks, naturally the sixteen-kilometer journey had shoved it to a corner of her stomach.

"This is the oldest Parsi fire temple in Kolkata. The place to worship their sacred god. It was here where the holy fire was kept before it was removed during the renovation. Now, going back to your first question, I needed John here for this one purpose."

"Where's the connection?" Vyjayanthi, by now, was trying to connect the dots but most of professor Delta's logic was hard for her to decode.

"A few years back non-Parsis weren't allowed to enter this temple. Though the community has modified those rules for cultural expansions and exchanges, there are few elderly people who are still rigid in their beliefs." Not even for a second Madhumita's eyes left the main entrance of the building. She waited patiently yet her heart was in a complete disorder. An urgency, a panic was slowly building inside her as the minute hand of her wristwatch kept moving forward.

"So you are suggesting that you recruited John because he is a Zoroastrian?" Malini knew professor Delta for a very long time. Her boundaries were never limited to any one religion, and certainly, religion wasn't a criterion for recruiting a team member for her sacred cause. Hence, Malini was a bit sceptical.

"I recruited him because of his knowledge of the Aryan culture. Of course his Parsi background comes as an added advantage. I cannot deny though that his skills and knowledge have been immensely beneficial for us. Don't forget that he made the device we use to track Jayus and Kamis. The way he understood their traits, none of you could."

Like failed students both Vyjayanthi and Malini accepted defeat lowering their heads, they couldn't help but feel a tiny streak of jealousy when their professor praised their junior for a skill that even being well-experienced in this field they couldn't enhance.