Dhampir of Kalika

২০. The father and son

The child of love redeemed for the deeds of his father, a cycle never-ending in history.

****

However brave Maya wanted herself to be, it made her teeth clatter when she stood outside the Das mansion. She didn't know if she should knock on the door and enter.

What if she didn't return alive?

"Don't overthink," she chided herself. "They can't risk harming me."

Ram opened the door, his face aghast and pale. "Memsaheb?"

"Is...is everything fine?"

For the first time she saw anger in Ram's eyes. He glared at her, the veins on his neck visible under the strain. "You are the detective. You should know what has happened."

Maya shot him a riled up glance. "It's up to me to decide how much I should reveal."

"Is it that whore you are talking to?"

The voice belonged to the oldest son of the Das, Mrinjay. His hair was dishevelled, like a storm had passed through his head. His otherwise dull cheeks were now red with the pumped blood. He hurried to the door, eyes burning with raw wrath. Before Mrinjay could land his ugly hands on Maya and mark her, Ram held the man back.

Maya was stunned. Her eyes fell on the little fangs that peeked out of his mouth.

Is he going to kill me? Oh Shiva...

I need to act strong. They feed on fear, and I won't let them have a feast.

She cleared her throat. "Ask Kalikacharan Babu to come out of the house. I want to talk to him somewhere more private and secluded."

"And kill my father like you killed my brother?" Mrinjay hissed. "You are siding with a killer, Maya. Doesn't your conscience prick you?"

Maya wanted to spit on his face and show him his place. Out of all the people in the world, Mrinjay was lecturing her on values and guilt? Not expected. "Your home is in a volatile state. I need to talk to Kalikacharan Babu. The case is solved and he must now know the truth."

The words sucked out the rage from Mrinjay's body. He calmed down and looked between the stairs and Maya. "Why do you want to talk to Kalikacharan Babu outside the house?"

"I am afraid it will create a ruckus otherwise. It will be better if you look after doing the last rituals of Manihar than focusing your energy on what I have to talk to Kalikacharan Babu."

"You know he died..." His sibilant whisper send shivers down her spine. "Baba will go with you, but know it's not of any use. He is a monster I was born of, so you know he can go far too." He grabbed Maya by the waist and breathed on her face. "No one will save you."

Maya pushed him away with disgust. "Call your father. Ask him to come out."

"As you wish."

Mrinjay called Kalikacharan Babu. He looked equally distraught and disturbed. His eyes were, quite shockingly, as dry as a desert. He wasn't crying. There was a hint of a flickering anger in his gaze, but he masterfully hid it. "You called me?"

"Please come with me."

"I am not going to see the body of my son. So don't take me to the forest."

"I am not going there–"

"You did go there," he croaked, unshed tears finally letting go of the reigns. "You did, didn't you?"

Maya pursed her lips. Did he see me leave the house last night? "This is more complicated than you think. I am an ordinary girl, and I will do all I can to give you salvation."