Midnight descends upon Jalapuranagar, enveloping the village in an uncanny silence broken only by the occasional chirp of crickets. Raj Biswas and Naresh Dutta, tired from a day of investigation, drift into a deep sleep, their minds still somewhat haunted by the specter of the man-eating leopard.
Suddenly, the peace of the night is shattered by the panicked cries of villagers echoing through the streets. Doors slam open, and the flicker of lanterns illuminates the darkness as people spill out of their homes, their faces etched with fear.
Anil Das bursts into Raj's room, his eyes wide with alarm, and shakes them awake. "Raj! Naresh! You need to wake up. There's been another sighting of the man-eater!" Raj springs to his feet, his heart pounding with adrenaline. "Where did they see it?" he demands, urgency lacing his voice. Anil gulps, his voice trembling. "Near the edge of the Cow shed in the neighbourhood. It's inside our locality." Naresh, pale with fear, stammers, "Raj, maybe we should stay here. It's too dangerous out there." Raj's jaw set in determination to get a glimpse of the man-eater. "We can't afford to wait. Let's take a look." With Naresh reluctantly following behind, they rush out into the night, joining the crowd of villagers gathered outside. The air is thick with tension as whispers of the leopard's presence ripple through the crowd. Raj scans the crowd, his eyes searching for any sign of the elusive predator. "Stay close, Naresh babu, (In India and Bangladesh, "babu" is often used as a term of endearment or respect when addressing a man.)," and Mr. Das you too." he murmurs, his voice barely audible over the din of panicked voices.
Suddenly, a hush falls over the crowd as a figure emerges from the shadows, pointing frantically into the darkness. The leopard emerges from the shadows, its lithe form moving with a fluid grace that portrays its deadly nature. It's fur, a rich golden hue dappled with dark rosettes, shimmers in the moonlight, hiding it amidst the foliage. Muscles ripple beneath its sleek coat as it prowls forward, its predatory gaze fixed on the villagers. Sharp claws extend from its powerful paws, poised to strike with lethal precision. "There! I saw it! The leopard!" A collective gasp escapes the villagers as they strain to catch a glimpse of the creature lurking in the night. Raj's heart races as he watches the beast walk. Raj's senses on high alert. "We need to stay calm," he calls out, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
The Leopard roars once, and stares with a scary face towards the villagers. Suddenly there was a silence, and only it's roar was heard. Then it turns back towards the bushes, jumps in and disappears inside it.
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The Leopard's Prey: A Raj Biswas Investigation
Художественная прозаIt began like any other day, with Raj Biswas sipping his morning tea and perusing the newspaper. A headline caught his eye: "Man-Eating Leopard Terrorizes Jalapuranagar." The article detailed a series of attacks by a rogue leopard from the nearby Ja...
