The Lines of Fate

27: Rotten Desires

"Where is she, dammit?" Keshav swore, digging his hands into his hair to release some of the frustration. He felt a strange type of fear in his heart. He along with others had searched every part of the house and the streets but Radhika was nowhere.

Thinking of the dream Radhika told him about made him fear even more. According to Dhriti, all the members of the arc were killed. She didn't know about Vikram Sengupta being alive. It was the best time for her to attack Radhika if she was causing all of these for snatching away her powers.

He felt like, a ripping, tearing, violent anguish was digging its rotten fingernails into the core of his heart.

"Keshav...calm down," Rishav said placing a hesitant palm on his shoulder.

"No," Keshav cut him off, harsher than he expected to sound. "I know she will not go anywhere, so that means only one thing-she is in danger," he turned around biting his lip as his eyes landed on Mr. Sengupta and Ishaan. Remembering what he said earlier, Keshav made his way to them.

"Uncle, you said spells can be cast in case of black magic. The last one looked like the lover's tarot card, do you think she is under-"

"Infatuation..." Ishaan completed the sentence for Keshav, making all of their eyes widen realizing what a great danger Radhika could be in.

"What does that even mean?" Rishav asked from behind.

"If a spell of infatuation is cast on her, she will lose her control over herself. Like hypnotism, the only difference is that she will become ready to do anything for the person who cast the spell. She can even sacrifice herself for the other person thinking she is doing that for love. This is even more dangerous than normal hypnotism."

Keshav's explanation increased Rishav's fears even more. Though he was acting to look tough outside, he was crumbling down inside. He can't let the predictions come true. From childhood, every astrologer to whom Radhika was shown, said that she can't live past her 25th birthday. They said she doesn't have a long life in her fate.

That was the reason why his mother never wanted Radhika to join the police force, and investigate this case. But they had reached that far and there was no point to turn back. It was Radhika's birthday the next day and according to the predictions it was going to be her last day but he would not let it happen. He would never let it happen....

"Guys!" Ansh called them from inside the car as he kept on his steady pace of clicking the keys on his laptop. "I have got Radhika's phone location."

"Where?" Keshav and Vaarsh asked at the same time as they gathered around the police car along with the others.

"Well, she is probably somewhere near the bypass on the outskirts of Kolkata. The network is poor so I can't figure out the exact position."

"That's a big area Ansh," Dhruv interjects, his eyes still on the popping green and black characters on the laptop screen. "We don't have the time to search the whole area."

"Is there any factory or something like that there?" Keshav asked remembering something.

"Why are you asking that?" Vaarsh shrugged.

"Radhika had a dream where she was abducted, tied up...she said she heard something like a motor."

"Yeah, she told me too." Rishav agreed.

"Wait!! Lily's house...the burned down house is there. An old hydroelectric factory is close to the house." Mr. Sengupta mentioned.

"Brilliant! Keshav." Dhruv said reaching out to the door of the car. "We have a lead.... guys!! Hurry on."