LOVE & REVENGE

Chapter 5: Failed Attack

When he entered, he saw John standing on top of the bed shouting "Snake" and pointing to the open window with his finger, while the thin lace curtain was fluttering in the wind.

Charles quickly went to the window stuck his head out and looked around carefully but there was nothing there. At this time, Albert and Mark, who had woken up to the shouting, were outside the door. John, who was scared, did not dare to get off the bed.

Albert and Mark then joined them in John's room. Albert turned to John and said, "You had a nightmare because of too much alcohol. There is no snake here, the snake lives in the forest, and the forest is far away from here."

Hotel guests of different nationalities crowded in front of the door of John's room, and each of them was saying something.

Charles thought that maybe someone had sent a snake into John's room to scare him, but why? He thought to himself, "They are strangers there and they don't know anyone, and at the same time, no one knew them in that hotel, so they should not be suspicious of anyone."

He closed the window and then as he went to John's bed he said to him, "It's very hot outside and you shouldn't leave the window open. The air conditioner is always on and makes the air in the room cool and comfortable."

John's face was pale and answered, "The window was closed when I was sleeping, I don't know how it was opened, maybe it's broken."

Hearing this, Charles thought about it, but said to John, "You probably weren't paying attention because you had too many drinks, and you left the window open before going to bed. Don't drink so much anymore." Then he took John's hand, who was too scared and did not dare to get off the bed, and brought him down. He then told everyone to get ready as he would call a taxi to come, and they would all go out for a walk together. They should see the city to get their minds off the snake.

Scared, John went with Charles to his room to take a shower. He was afraid to stay in his room. After a while, they all went to see the city and its tourist attractions in the same taxi. 

The driver brought them to notable landmarks and ancient temples while imparting historical information. They rode throughout the city in the young man's taxi. After noticing how much he knew about historical and famous locations, Charles inquired "Have you studied history or archeology that you have so much knowledge and information about everything?"

The young driver replied, "I am well familiar with these subjects and have a degree in archaeology. You won't believe me if I told you about the many things I knew about the myths, cultures, and beliefs of the people who inhabit this huge area, but they are true.

Charles and the others, who were curious to know more about the old legends of India, asked him to tell them some legends about Indian snakes.

The young driver looked at them from the rearview mirror of the car. After a short pause, he said, "The danger is great. The snakes will become enraged and come to you if they learn that I informed foreigners of the folklore and story about them. There will be no one to stop them from devouring you once they locate you."

Albert and Mark sneered at the young man and said that they didn't believe this nonsense and that the snake was no different than the others. But John, who claimed to have seen a snake in his room that very morning, believed such things and he was afraid.

The young man was prompted by Charles once more to share the legend of the snakes. He said that they are capable of self-defense and self-care. John looked fearfully at Charles and then at the driver and swallowed.

At this point, Albert joined in and added, "We have destroyed enemies much tougher and more dangerous than snakes. Snakes are nothing against us."

The young driver remarked, "I warn you to be careful. I am not responsible for what I say."

While Charles, Albert, and Marks were laughing and making insipid jokes, the driver said, "Would you be interested in attending a snake dance performance that a friend of mine is performing in a historic area close to the market and its renowned temple? I can introduce you to a snake-catcher who can use his flute to make toxic and hazardous snakes dance while the snakes themselves have no interest in him."

Then Mark jumped in and said, "They take out the snake's fangs, and their snakes are harmless and cannot bite. Your friend also uses this trick, and he is confident in the safety of himself and others. He deals with snakes. He knows it well."

The young driver promptly objected to him, saying, "No, no, it's not like that. Once there was a snake that got away, it went into a foreigner's bag and bit him. He died after a few minutes."

John, who was now quite terrified, stated, "Let's go back and go somewhere else. I don't want to see snakes."

Seeing his fear, Mark and Albert laughed and said to him, " How did you endure such a long battle with such bravery and survive?"

Everyone laughed.

The driver, who had arrived close to the market, went into a quiet alley, parked his car, and then motioned for them to follow.

They entered a crowded, historic market after passing through a series of winding lanes with mud walls. A person was sitting in each corner of the market, spreading out his or her goods on the ground for sale. When they came across foreigners, they displayed their goods and urged them to make purchases. The crowd did not allow them to walk fast.

The young man was straining to clear a path through the swarm of shoppers who had gathered at the market so that his foreign passengers might pass.

After trekking for about thirty minutes, they came to a small area that was surrounded by miniature statues of Indian deities as well as white and fragrant narcissus flowers and aromatic incense for the nearby temple. The smell of incense filled the atmosphere there.

John and Albert, who disliked the scent of incense, covered their noses with their hands. The young driver saw them moving and instantly warned them not to do so because his friend was sitting in the corner of the square getting ready to display his snakes and the snakes in the wicker baskets may kill them as they might be enraged for what they do.

The young man then brought them to his friend and gave him a brief introduction. They were greeted by the serpent man as he quickly stood up and shook hands with them, presenting himself as the Maharajah. Then he asked them to sit in the front row to watch his snake dance. Many people were sitting on the ground to watch the snake dance

They gather around the snake catcher as they wait for the snake dance to start. The snakes could not be photographed or recorded. The people in the first row shifted to the rear, and newcomers from abroad took their place

The Maharajah pulled a flute out of his long loose robe's pocket and began playing. After a short period, the snakes began to emerge out of the wicker baskets one at a time. Eventually, they were dancing and entirely upright. They were moving left and right while making lovely gestures as they fixed their eyes on the crowd.

John and Mark, who were terrified, began to back away a little, but Albert chuckled and picked a pebble from the ground and tossed it at one of the snakes which was larger than the others. The snake quickly attacked him when the stone struck it.

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