ARANYAM

Chapter 10: Yet Another Night

Vikram's PoV

"What a cruel beast !?
Hurt my baby with beard"  I heard her muttering

"What a dumb being you are?" I yelled at her in a low yet stern voice.

"Go...  Get my buttermilk" I ordered and answered the call on my phone.

"Haa, Kalyan you got them admitted to the hospital? " I asked about those filthy bastards in the department.

"Yes sir."

"Kalyan, Suspend them and transfer them to some other department.

And even transfer all the officers facing any accusations of corruption.

I want my team clean and efficient."

"Sir, then almost more than 60% of the present force would be gone, sir"

"I don't care. Let them go.

And to replace them, recruit the best cops from the whole state, and promote them if needed.

But, this ablution is indeed needed.

Hell with the fucking present team!

Idiots, I've ever seen. Such senseless brutes"

"Yes sir. Even though how many strict decisions we take, at the ground level they are not implemented.

Many of them are bribed informers to that bastard Arasan too sir. Even last time, when Srinivas sir " He stopped

But my thrusting blood did not. As even I know, the previous director was rather indirectly killed by those idiots in the department, by leaking information and also hindering the combing operations.

With a clenched fist, I was listening to all the updates of today, when I heard her anklets.

"Baby? " I asked muting the call

"His mom came and took him away" I can sense her dejection.

I forwarded my hand and she gave me the buttermilk.

But I also pulled her into an embrace from back.

"Haa Kalyan... And what about the Kannada Rajyostava?

Did the protocols start for the celebration? " I asked while sipping it, while I made her stuck between the railing of the balcony and me.

Her feeble struggle to escape was watch-worthy.

But her efforts misfired and the phone was about out slide off my hand.

"Can't you stay calm, Ammu? " I yelled

" Sir... " Kalyan asked in confusion

"Haa Kalyan, continue"

"Sir, we checked the ground where CM would be attending the Rajyostava and even contacted the intelligence for any threats.

They will provide detailed report, by tomorrow sir"

I completed the buttermilk and freed her along with the empty glass.

I was waiting for her to return and turned towards the bedroom leaning against the railing.

After a while, she returned, with a bamboo mat and pillows.

I frowned and asked her about it in signals.

"Bhu-Bhu-Bhushayana" She finally managed to utter, to fuel my temper.

"Ah!?

Kalyan. We will discuss the rest tomorrow" I cut the call and stepped forward toward her

"What did you say? "

"Bhushayana...  Ajji told"

"You're not menses also I think. Then why, she told? "

" Be- Because I have performed the Sarpa Samskara ritual...

So, she said to do Bh-"

And she was above the bhumi, hanging to the wall.

Valli's PoV

My breath was hitched for real as his palm tightened around my throat.

"You went outside, without informing me, and performed THAT GREAT RITUAL TOLD BY THE GREAT PEOPLE AND NOW FOLLOW THE GREAT PATH OF HAVING THE CHILD... 

BY DISTANCING FROM ME." He raged while crushing the throat more into the wall.

When my anklets sound banged, evident of my legs rubbing against each other out of breathlessness, he threw me on the bed.

I started to breathe heavily and cough, while tears wetted my cheeks.

Caressing the back of the neck to suppress the coughing reflex, he forwarded the water.

I turned my face towards him with scared and tear-pooled orbs, while drinking the water.

After a while, when he thought I was normal, he sat in front of me and looked into my eyes.

"Ammu...
You say no, out of your wish, I'll think.
But, don't ever take the name of any ritual or god or custom taught by that old woman again."

He said laying his hands on my shoulder, hovering me down.

Now how should I say, I take the name of ritual, as it's my wish... To keep him away.

Definitely not after, what I faced just moments ago.

"And children don't come by doing those rituals." He said hovering at me.

Author's PoV

While a tender leaf was upholding itself in the pouring storm, a pair foot came out of bushes and stepped into the muddy garden of the guest house.

The person, with a red ribbon around his arm, sneakily went all around the house and stuck at the sight he had through the window.

Yet another night faded in Valli's life with his wildness and her hidden tears.

Next day,

Valli's PoV

"Valli...  Valli"

"Hmm.. " I cooed more into myself and turned to the other side to complete my sleep.

"VALLI"

I rose up from the bed scared for the base in his voice.

"Someone is assaulting the door and doorbell. See" He said while turning his face to the other side due to the peeking sunrays.

"Haa" I replied, correcting the saree, and before the person on the door blasted it away, making a messy bun of my hair and putting back my wedding chain beneath the pallu, I opened the door to find yet another new face.

But the tag on his uniform, shining with the name "KALYAN", reminded him that he was the same person whom Mama was talking to last night.

"GOOD MORNING MA'AM. I'M KALYAN, DC.
Actually, we have got an important work, and sir wasn't attending the call. So, I had to make it up to here.

WILL YOU PLEASE CALL UPON SIR MA'AM? "

I just nodded and gave side so that he could come in.

Now, should I enter the Kitchen without bathing?

Thank god, I found a water mug and glass on the dining table.

So, I gave him water and went upstairs to wake up Mama.

"Ma-"

You are brave!

You can do it!

I motivated myself and woke him up informing him about Kalyan's arrival.

"Kalyan? " Rubbing off his eyes and rinsing his mouth with mouthwash, he went downstairs to learn about the death news of Arasan's mother, which was a golden ticket to them to catch that bloody creature.

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