The Crimson Devotion

Episode :- 4 New Victim

The morning brought an eerie calm to Chandipur, the thick mist hanging low over the village as if guarding its secrets. Anurita sat on the verandah of the guesthouse, her eyes fixed on the horizon. A steaming cup of chai rested untouched on the small wooden table beside her. The events of the previous day lingered in her mind-the shrine, the footprints, and the unsettling aura of the forest. She was no stranger to danger, but there was something deeply unnerving about this case.

"Lost in thought already?" came Anindya's familiar voice, breaking the silence.

Anurita glanced up to see him leaning against the doorframe, his unkempt hair catching the morning light. He held his own cup of chai, sipping it lazily.

"Just organizing my notes," she replied curtly, though her notebook remained closed on her lap.

"Of course. All work and no play," Anindya teased, settling into the chair across from her. "But don't let me interrupt your brilliant deductions."

Anurita rolled her eyes, but before she could retort, Suboy arrived, his expression serious.

"We need to move," he said without preamble. "There's been another disappearance."

Anurita and Anindya exchanged worried glances as they got up to head towards what lay ahead.

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The trio set out quickly, the mist still clinging to the ground as they reached the edge of the village. Their destination was a small cluster of huts near the forest, where the latest victim-a young woman named Sampoorna-had vanished.

The villagers greeted them with a mix of fear and hope. A frail elderly woman, Sampoorna's grandmother, approached them, clutching a tattered shawl around her shoulders.

"She was gone by the time I woke," the woman said, her voice trembling. "The door was wide open, and I saw footprints leading to the forest."

Anurita crouched to meet the woman's gaze. "Was there anything unusual in the days before? Did Sampoorna mention seeing or hearing anything strange?"

The woman hesitated, then nodded. "She spoke of hearing drums at night. I told her to stay away from the forest, but..."

Her voice broke, and Suboy gently guided her back to her hut.

Anurita turned to Anindya, her jaw tightening. "The drums again. This isn't just coincidence."

"It never is," Anindya replied, his tone unusually grim. "But if the cult's activity is increasing, we need to act fast."

Suboy returned, his rifle slung over his shoulder. "We should check the area near the forest. If the footprints are still fresh, we might find something."

"We had decided to visit the forest but it would come like this, I didn't thought" Anurita said her tone heavy with tension.

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The forest felt even more oppressive than the day before, the canopy blocking out the sun entirely. The group followed the faint trail of footprints leading deeper into the trees. Suboy walked ahead, scanning the ground carefully, while Anurita and Anindya followed close behind.

"You seem more tense than usual," Anindya said softly, his voice low enough that Suboy wouldn't hear.

Anurita shot him a sharp look. "This isn't a game, Mr. Dutta."

"Never said it was," he replied, his tone uncharacteristically gentle. "But you're carrying something heavier than just this case. It shows."

Anurita opened her mouth to respond but stopped when Suboy raised his hand.

"Over there," he said, pointing to a clearing ahead.

The group approached cautiously, their steps muffled by the soft ground. In the center of the clearing stood a large banyan tree, its gnarled roots snaking across the earth like veins. Carved into the trunk were symbols-intricate, haunting, and unmistakably Tantric.

Anurita moved closer, her breath catching as she studied the carvings. "These match the symbols at the shrine," she murmured. "But they're more elaborate."

Anindya crouched beside her, tracing one of the carvings with his fingers. "This isn't just ritualistic. It's a message."

"A message?" Suboy asked, his voice skeptical.

Anindya stood, brushing the dirt from his hands. "These symbols are meant to mark territory, to warn outsiders. Whoever's behind this doesn't want anyone interfering."

"Too late for that," Anurita said, her tone steely.

As they continued examining the clearing, a faint sound reached their ears-the rhythmic beat of a drum, distant yet unmistakable.

"Do you hear that?" Suboy whispered, his grip tightening on his rifle.

Anurita nodded, her hand instinctively reaching for the small dagger she carried in her bag. "It's coming from the east."

"We should leave," Suboy said quickly. "If they're nearby, we're outnumbered."

"Or we're closer than ever to finding them," Anindya countered.

The two men looked to Anurita, who stood at the center of the clearing, her gaze fixed on the dense forest beyond. The drums grew louder, their rhythm quickening, as if beckoning them deeper into the woods.

"We'll come back with reinforcements," Anurita said finally, her voice firm. "We can't risk walking into a trap."

Both men agreed to her, understanding the demand of the situation. Reluctantly, the group then retreated, the sound of the drums following them like a shadow.

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Back at the village, Anurita gathered her thoughts on the lobby once more. The day's findings only deepened the mystery, and the drums echoed in her mind like a haunting melody.

Anindya joined her after some time, his presence both comforting and irritating.

"You made the right call today," he said, leaning against the railing.

"Did I?" Anurita replied, her voice heavy with doubt.

Anindya studied her for a moment before speaking. "You're not just fighting a cult, Investigator. You're fighting yourself. And that's a battle you can't afford to lose."

She looked at him, startled by the unexpected sincerity in his tone. For a fleeting moment, she saw not the smug academic but a man carrying his own burdens, his own scars.

"Good night, Mr. Dutta," she said softly, retreating into the guesthouse.

Anindya remained on there, gazing at the darkened forest. The drums had stopped, but their echoes lingered in his mind, a reminder of the danger that lay ahead.

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The shadows of Chandipur were growing darker, and the secrets buried within the forest were waiting to be unearthed.
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The End Of Episode 4
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Hey dear readers, this is it for today. I'm expecting that you all are invested in the journey of Anurita and Anindya. Do vote and comment to show your love. Till then I'll meet you with a new update soon.

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