The Chronicles Of Subhadra Hegde √

Chronicle 14

Subhadra shifted to the hostels of Heritage International.

All she could gather was, her uncle was undoing wrongs done by his spoilt dead brat.
He believed, his lousy son just paid for his deeds, particularly for what he did with his own cousin sister.

Mohan Patel strongly felt, his son was involved in some illicit activities in Secunderabad. One who could assault his cousin, could do anything that could lead to his last breath. Mr Patel had given up on any further investigation on his son's murder. And he had no wife who could keep pleading to look for her son's killer. Aunty had expired long time back.

Maanav would visit her hostel daily, on his way back home. Subhadra would come down fast, and walk with him to a nearby lake. This turned a daily chore. They sat beside the lake and watched sunset.

Subhadra sometimes reflected about her relationship with Maanav. Either of them had not named it any way. Both of them enjoyed the serenity of namelessness.

" I discovered something. " , Maanav said with a mischievous smile on his face.

" What? "

" Mom has a secret lover. I don't know if she's aware of that! If she is, it's not a secret then. Just one sided. " , Maanav chuckled.

" Really? " , Subhadra grinned sheepishly.

Not a surprise. Sandhya aunty was one of the most aesthetic women she had seen. Truly moving features.

Subhadra sometimes puked at the thought, why would such a looker's husband, be involved in such grievous deeds outside home!!

She stopped thinking. Every time.

" Who? "

" I'll make sure and let you know. "

" Okay....  " , Subhadra pursed her lips.
" By the way, do you have a particular hobby, passion... in the sense? "

Maanav was deeply engrossed in something. Took some time to answer.

" Oh yeah, I have!

I love reading books. I love sports. And I love Yoga.

I am a tremendous high jumper, do you know that?

I have gone for trecks, I did everything from paragliding to bungee jumping in schools. I can jump from cliffs directly into water.

Opph!! Those days..... " , nostalgia engulfed him.

Subhadra loved the spark in his eyes. She didn't get though, why her heart skipped everytime his eyes sparkled.

" And yours? " , Maanav asked

" Errmm...
I love painting.
And crafts.

I love art as a whole.
I can play ten different musical instruments, I love doing sand arts, making masks.." , Subhadra stopped, embarrassed. Because he was staring.

" Goodness me! AWESOME!!!

That's like my girl!!! "

Subhadra unknowingly blushed.

His girl.....?

-----

Subhadra sat before Naresh Tripathi. Both sat with a drawn faces.

" Sir.... Can't you stay? " , Subhadra spoke after a long silence.

Naresh Tripathi smiled sadly.

" I'm already on extension Subhadra. You know that. "

" But Dr Pooja Behl is completely sick!!  Not boasting, but I could be a better HOD than her!! 

And most importantly, she would never grant me a scholarship to London.....
She hates me. "

Subhadra frowned and rolled the paper weight unmindfully.

" I'm afraid, you are right Subhadra! I'll request her before leaving, I can do that much for you. You know...if I stayed, no one else would have received the scholarship.
You deserve it. "

" Sir, I am already pissed off with the government binding I'm in for the last five years!!

Had this been the rule when I started my job, I would have never chosen medicine as a career! "

" Relax Subhadra, just a matter of two more years, even if you don't get a scholarship! "

" Two more years? Everyday in India chokes me sir!!! You know I've got no one here..... 

Plus these surroundings, these growingly unsafe streets, I hate staying in India anymore sir!!

Already these stupid council rules have been sucking my life for five long years! "

Naresh Tripathi sat cringing his forehead.
" Hmm.

So, does that mean, Myra, your daughter is really no more?

I actually heard a number of different stories so....  "

Subhadra immediately threw back the chair and stood up.

" I think it's worthless wasting my time sitting here, sir!!
Happy retirement. "

Subhadra Hegde banged the door behind.

Naresh Tripathi sat dejected and speechless.

----

Kunal Verma had nightmares, everyday.

Spirits. He had never believed existed.

Now he believed in them, just as he believed in his own mirror image.

Myra Hegde was dead. But how?

Naturally? Or was she actually murdered?

Do her pieces truly remain embedded in the walls of that huge terrible house?

Kunal was shivering.

These days, he was extremely afraid of Subhadra Hegde.

How could a normal woman live with ghosts?

Was she even normal??

He always knew she wasn't ordinary. But now he felt, she wasn't normal.

What if Subhadra Hegde was really involved in all the euthanasia cases in the department she was suspected for?

What if Subhadra had herself murdered her husband?

And.....her....her daughter????

Kunal Verma couldn't think anymore.

Her words last day echoed in his ears.
" Don't talk of Myra Hegde. Her soul doesn't like being talked of much. "

Covering himself completely with blanket, and perspirating heavily below it, Kunal Verma felt as if someone stood at his feet.

Staring at him.

Drenched in blood.

The feeling that he had every night these days, was enough to chant the names of thousand gods, in vain.

" I wish you knew, how much I miss you. I wish you knew, how wandering in streets of hungry jackals, reminds me of my lion. "