Harvest Moon

Prologue

ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA sat at the wheel of the Jeep, taking in the lush green fields criss- crossed by canals, merging into the distant horizon. The scent of fertile soil filling his nostrils was as intoxicating as a glass of vodka, he thought. When he had first moved to his grandparent's house in Faridkot after his parents' death ten years ago, he had no idea that he would take to the land of five rivers like a fish to water. Now it was his haven.

"Thanks for coming with me today, Arnav." His grandmother Devyani Raizada's voice broke into his thoughts.

They were on the way to Jalandhar to attend a funeral. He didn't want to go but he also knew that if he refused she would have to go alone. His sister Anjali was studying in Delhi while his aunt, uncle and cousin, Akash, were holidaying in Shimla. His aunt always planned all her trips around the time he came home for his semester holidays from Chandigarh where he was doing his final year engineering course in the Punjab Engineering College (PEC). He was glad of her absence which gave him a respite from all her caustic comments reminding him and his sister that they didn't belong in the Raizada house.

"Nani -- why are we going to Mrs. Patial's funeral? Didn't Nanaji have a fall out with her husband Satyaprakash Patial?"

"That was a long time ago," Devyani said with a faraway look in her eyes. "On his death bed, your Nanaji told me that he wanted to reconcile with Satyaprakash."

As his grandmother fell silent, lost in memories Arnav turned his attention back to the road. He was curious about the relationship between his grandfather and his friend Satyaprakash Patial who belonged to a royal Rajput clan, but he knew better than to push his grandmother to talk. She would tell him in her own time.

An hour later, they walked through the ancient gates of the imposing Patial haveli and for a brief moment Arnav forgot that he was on Punjab soil. The tall biscuit coloured structure probably made of sandstone, resembled a typical Rajasthani haveli with a huge ornately carved main door. Above it was a wide window typically known as Jharokha almost the size of a small balcony, flanked by two small Jharokhas on either side and one medium sized Jharoka even above it which was probably the second floor. He wouldn't be surprised if there were frescoes painted on the walls.

The high walls of the haveli looked forbidding enough to stop him in his stride. "You go ahead Nani," he said grimly. He had no intention of seeing a lifeless form or the inevitable gloom surrounding it. "I will meet you back here in an hour or so." Glad that his grandmother didn't question him, he walked into the gardens on the right.

For some reason the garden seemed to beckon him, drawing him in with its lush greenery of shrubs, creepers, and trees, including flowering and fruit laden ones. There were different varieties of Jasmine shrubs, yellow flowered Laburnum tree, Frangipani with flowers in red, white and pink, Myrtle tree with purple flowers and so many he couldn't even recognise. A little further there was an orchard with Pomegranate, Chikoo, Guava and Mango trees to name a few.

As he walked deeper into the garden, the foliage turned wilder and he felt a prickle in his spine. He shook his head to clear himself of the feeling. He nearly jumped out of his skin when a bird flew right above his head.

"F@#$!" he swore loudly, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

"Is someone there?" A voice came out of nowhere.

Arnav's heart skipped a beat as he couldn't see anyone. "Hel-- lo?" he stuttered.

"I – I am in here!" A voice echoed from not too far away.

Arnav took a few steps forward, but still couldn't see anyone. "Where are you?"

"Over here --- in the well." The voice was closer now.