SYAMANTAKA: THE LOST GEM

CHAPTER-06

Mr. Rathore was sipping his evening tea on his couch in the hall watching the news on TV. Mrs. Rathore was watering the plants she lined up near her windows. The doorbell rang. "Sita, go open the door. Check who is it.", Mr. Rathore shouted. "You always give me work to do. Why can't you do it rather than simply watching the T.V. every time.", Mrs. Rathore went rushing towards the door. It rang once again. "Wait a minute." She shouted. She opens the door. The voices become awkwardly quiet for some time. "Sita, what happened?". There was no response. Mr. Rathore turned his head 90 degrees and something smashed his head. He fell off his feet onto the floor. He started to feel dizzy and the vision became blurry. He could only see the hazy vision of black boots. His eyes closed.

A few minutes later, He could hear the voices, "She is in Varanasi, sir. Please send a team there, sir.". Mr Rathore opened his eyes to find tears in his wife's eyes. He lifted his head to see a man in a mask who looked like a white-faced moustache man and another three in the same attire pointing guns. "Who are you?", Mr Rathore asked. "Ajay, these were the ones who sent us messages to ensure Luz doesn't leave Bangalore. They came for her.", Sita Rathore explained.

"WHO ARE THEY TO TELL US? SHE IS OUR DAUGHTER." Mr. Rathore (Ajay) shouted.

The man in the centre with the mask pushed Mrs. Rathore aside and stabbed Ajay's thigh with a knife. Ajay roared in pain. Sita helplessly cried as she was held back by two of those goons. Ajay went back to put his head on the couch next to him. The masked man slowly took out the knife from the thigh and pushed Ajay's chin above with the tip of his knife. Both looking at each other face to face.

"Who told stealing a girl lying down on the river bank in the middle of a forest makes it your daughter?", The man said.

Ajay Rathore's round eyes widened as he heard the hidden secret from an intruder's mouth. "How do you know?" 

"We have kept her under our care for long. Even after seeing the brand on her wrist, you still took her. You knew she was not your family. Then, when she got lost you stole her. You were a forest ranger. After you found her, you ran away and gave up your job. You didn't bother to ask anyone about her. You saw a brand on her considering she is our property. We wrote a letter there to ensure you take care of her and not let her go. But you wouldn't reply to our messages. We told you to return her to the base but you wouldn't listen. Am I right?"

"You are right. except for one thing. She was left in that forest where no one was there. No one came for her. You didn't take care of her. She looked like a lab rat. I wouldn't give back my girl to such monsters. She was completely clueless and she didn't even know who you were. You are lying. I am not going to give her back to you and listen to your orders anymore.", Mr Rathore explained.

"Well then, I guess the decision has been made. We have chosen contradicting paths. Bye." Then came the sounds of loud gunshots echoing through the neighbourhood. The pigeons fluttered away. The message sent by those goons was clear.

******

In Varanasi, the whole city looked like it was lit by fire lamps. There were intricately shaped fire lanterns floating across the massive Ganga River. The whole city was in joy enjoying the celebrations of Ram Leela. Most families were coming in traditional Indian attire to the fair some of them thought to ignore the preferred dress code. Luz and Ritu were walking across a bridge near the ghats. The bridge went over the Ganga River. Luz peeked over the bridge to get a sight of the small coloured oil lamps floating across the Ganga River in unison. She had never seen anything this beautiful as she was barely allowed to go on trips. Ritu tapped on her back and pointed to an idol of Ram and Sita far towards one end of the bridge.

"Pray from here. Your wish might come true. Try it once.", Ritu said. Luz didn't want to go against her this time. So, she prayed: *Lord Ram and Sita if you are hearing me like Ritu says first, thanks for giving me a good job. Second, I want a favour. Could you please tell me where to find Subbu? Please? *

"Luz, are you done?". She opened her eyes and walked towards the bridge's other side. "Luz, there is a Panipuri shop there. Come let's go." Midst the crowd, Someone dashed Luz's shoulder by mistake. Her purse fell. She picked it up going to say "sorry." The sorry could not come out of her mouth. It was the man from the airport. Subbu. "Sorry, ma'am." He smiled and left. "Luz, come let's go." She didn't respond. She was looking at Subbu walking away. "Luz, come let's go," Ritu shouted louder.

"You go. I will come." Luz went off in the crowd following Subbu. He looked back but Luz buried her head down. She felt it would be dangerous but something told her he knew something she did not. Subbu took a left leading to a narrow alley. She slowly tiptoed and followed. The alleyway came to a dead end with a right and left. He took a right. Then, She ran quickly to not lose him and then, he pinned her to the wall. "Pretty odd, to find a social civil order agent to come to kill me in a saree," Subbu said.

"I do not get what you are trying to say. I just wanted to give you back your Aadhar card." Luz answered confusedly. She was aghast hearing such a comment come from a man she liked. He pointed to the fire torch around the circle tattoo on the wrist. "Oh, I do not know about that either. I do not like Tattoos. It was when I went to a function, I was told to do it for God to protect me."

"Enough of lies. How many of you are there?", Subbu shouted. Suddenly, Subbu got kicked in the back. Luz got frightened as she saw the same man she saw on the aeroplane. Big, Bushy bearded, tall man with the tattoo. Subbu charged and pushed him on the floor. Both were now facing each other 4 feet away. The man took out a foldable knife from the back of his boot while Subbu took out a long-curved knife with a finger hole. He was playing with it by rotating around the finger hole.

"So, now both of you work for the world order," Subbu shouted carefully ensuring Luz didn't land an attack on him. She was leaning on the wall of the alley trying to contemplate the situation.

"Give me that woman now. I don't care about any world order. Just send her to me." The tall man shouted.

Subbu was confused at what was happening and then the man charged towards Luz. Subbu tried to attack him with his knife but the man kicked him on the abdomen. Luz tried to run away but the man held her open hair and pulled her back. She was shrieking in agony at this assassin's gruesome grip. Subbu came from behind slashing his back but that didn't stop the assassin's pace. He threw him away with his other hand. Luz couldn't control the pain she was being treated ruthlessly. Subbu was on the floor recovering from the blow. The knife was next to his feet. The man picked up the knife. He smiled ready to stab her.

At that moment, Luz was possessed by a soul. Within seconds, she kicked his back leg and pushed him to the cart beside him when he lost his balance. She stabbed the palm of his hand on a wooden crate with the knife on his hand, like a piece of paper pinned to a notice board. Subbu, who just got up, was amazed by Luz's speed. "OMG!! I didn't mean to do that.", Luz shouted. The man was shouting with anger.

Subbu held Luz's hand turning her around. His eyes widened with horror. "Look, we don't have time. You are coming with me."

"But I don't know you."

"But I do?" Subbu said. "Come, Let's go."

The Bushy-bearded assassin watched his target run away. He had to get them back. Not for Money. But for God.