“Rule number one,” said Zarku, “you do not split up.
If you do, I win the game.” He came closer and stood in front of Tara. She got a good look at her brother’s face.
Already it seemed different; hard and mean.
“We’ve not split up.” Ananth’s voice boomed in Tara’s ear. He came to stand beside her followed closely by the others.
“Ahhhh, there you all are,” said Zarku. “I thought you’d be far away from here, but I see that you’ve decided to be very smart. Not bad for children.”
“You wanted a game, you got it,” said Kabir. He spoke softly, slowly, and Tara glanced at him, trying to gauge just how high the fever was. His cheekbones jutted out at sharp angles and his cheeks looked hollow.
He seemed to have lost weight in the last twenty-four hours.
“Looks like you won’t last very long,” said Zarku, looking Kabir up and down. “Good, one less for me to worry about.”
Tara wanted to fly at him. But she did nothing; she’d only be hurting Suraj.
“You killed my companion and for that you must pay!” said Zarku. “But first come and see the damage you’ve done.”
No one moved. Tara had no desire to see the skewered hyena.
“I said, come and see,” roared Zarku. He grabbed Tara’s hand and dragged her to the edge of the pit. Tara dug her heels into the ground, but she was no match for an enraged Zarku.
Tara peered over the edge. The sight made her so sick and dizzy, she almost fell in herself. The largest of the hyenas was impaled on two stakes, a grotesque grin plastered on his face. The tips of the stakes glistened in the lamplight, wet and red.
“I only wish it had been you instead of the hyenas,” said Ananth. “You were the one who should have died.”
“Is that so?” said Zarku, a terrible smile twisting his features. “ATTACK!”
Before they realized what had happened, the hyenas were racing toward them.
“Run!” yelled Ananth.
They turned and fled. Tara felt a sense of déjà vu. The hot breath and the snapping of the teeth spurred her on as she ran blindly into the forest, Zarku’s maniacal cackle filling the air. She tripped and fell. She heard Raani scream. There were growls, whoops, yells. Then silence.
“Bring them back here!” said Zarku.
Tara pushed herself off the ground and came face to face with a hyena. It herded her back toward Zarku and then trotted off. Within moments they were back where they had started — with a difference. Raani sat on the ground sobbing, holding her right leg. Her ghagra was soaked with blood. Her hands were bright red and a streak of blood was smeared across her forehead.
Tara ran to Raani and examined her leg. Her calf was a bloody mess of bites and torn, pulpy flesh. She turned to Zarku. “How could you?” she said in a choked voice.
“Are you completely mad?”
“You hurt my friend and I hurt yours,” he replied.
“At least she’s not dead.”
Raani’s face crumpled and she sobbed into Tara’s shoulder. “It hurts so much, I can’t bear it.”
“Shh, it’s all right, Raani,” said Tara. “I’ll put some salve on it and you’ll be fine.” She hugged Raani, feeling her tremble violently.
“So now what?” asked Ananth.
“Look at all of you,” said Zarku. He circled the group slowly, deliberately. “Pathetic lot. Not even worthy of a simple game of hide-and-seek! I wish I’d had a better group to play with. But, what choice did I have? None!”
“Let’s push them into the pit,” said Kali. “Do away with them once and for all.”
Tara never thought she could hate anyone more than Zarku, but at that moment, Kali topped the list. If only
Tara could push her into the pit, she would be willing to endure whatever Zarku had in mind for her.
“Shut up,” said Zarku. “I’ve told you before, intelli#8211;gence is not your strength. And when you lack something so basic, it’s best not to let too many people know.”
Kali’s face tightened and from past experience Tara knew that this would be the moment she would fly into a rage. Instead, Kali struggled to smile and even apologized to Zarku.
They waited. Tara tried to think of all the ways he would kill them, sure that they would be very painful. She would be the last to go and would have to endure the agony of seeing her friends die. Zarku stared at the dead hyena in silence. They stared at each other. Even time seemed to stand still.
“I’m too upset to think straight,” said Zarku. He looked as if he was about to cry. “I think I’ll spare you all for one more night and kill you tomorrow, except Tara, of course. I have a special plan for her. You might as well stick around here. You don’t stand a chance against me.”
Kali’s face fell. Zarku walked away, the hyenas trotting behind him like obedient dogs.
His footsteps receded and the night was silent again. They hugged each other.
“He let us go,” said Ananth. A tired smile limped to his face and faded away. “We’ve survived for one more night.”
“Yes, but the plan failed,” said Kabir. “After all that work, we failed.” He slumped beside Raani. “Tomorrow is our last chance. What are we going to do now? I’m so tired.”
“We can’t give up now,” said Ananth. “Not after we’ve survived this long. We have to kill him tomorrow or escape.”
Tara glanced into the pit again. The lantern gone, she could only make out the shape of the hyena in the moonlight, and the shining tip of the stake. The steady drip, drip from within made her sick.
“I can’t do this, either,” said Tara. “I can’t kill my own brother.” She stumbled away from the hideous stench of the dead hyena and the smell of blood that hung over them like a black cloud. She closed her eyes, trying to sort through her confused feelings. Zarku had escaped yet again and tomorrow they’d have to make another plan to hide from him or kill him. How many times did she have to go through this? She almost wished he had killed her today; at least she’d be out of her misery.
Unbidden, Lord Yama’s advice came to mind:
Sometimes the right way is the most difficult, and the wrong way, the easiest, most tempting. Make your choice wisely.
Someone hugged her. Tara started. Raani had limped up to her, a trail of blood marking her path. “I know what you’re going through and I’m sorry,” she said. “God knows, I wouldn’t wish this decision on my worst enemy.”
Her words made Tara want to bawl. She gave Raani a small smile. Ananth, Kabir, and Vayu came up to her.
“Tara, Suraj is my brother, too,” said Ananth. “Don’t you think this is just as hard for me? Don’t you think I realize that to kill Zarku means to lose Suraj forever? But we have no choice.”
“We’re doing the right thing, Tara,” said Vayu. “We have to.”
Tara nodded. “I know. I know. It’s just that if Zarku had assumed any other form, I could have seen through to the evil inside but by using Suraj … he’s been very smart. He knew how hard this would be for us, for anyone.” She wiped away the tears. “I’m trying, I really am. I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be until he was at the edge of the pit. I don’t know if I can go through it again.”
“If you really want to see someone,” said Vayu softly, “close your eyes.”
Tara stared at him. “What?”
“Close your eyes and think of Zarku,” said Vayu. “Go on, try it.”
Tara closed her eyes. Instantly an image sprang to mind; Zarku burning two Vetalas with his third eye. She still remembered their agonized shrieks as they had melted and her pulse raced. Her eyes snapped open again. If Zarku had stood in front of her at this moment, she would have killed him no matter what he looked like.
“I see what you mean,” said Tara. “But what about my brother? How can I watch him die? He’s innocent.”
“Even if we win,” said Ananth, “I don’t think Zarku is going to keep his word about Suraj. He won’t be willing to vacate you
r brother’s body till he gets another one. You heard him tell Kali that.”
Tara stared at him with blurred vision. Deep down in her heart she knew it was true and only now was she finally able to admit it.
“Zarku is never going to give Suraj back to me,” she said, looking around at all of them. “I’ve lost him already.”
They closed in on Tara and hugged her. She was numb. She thought of all the good times she had shared with Suraj, the games they’d played and the tears they had shed when Kali had made their lives miserable. He was a part of her and now she had to be strong enough to cut it off and destroy it.
“I think we could all do with some sleep,” said Ananth. “I don’t think Zarku is coming back tonight, now that he has decided to keep us alive for one more day of enjoyment.”
In an unspoken agreement they all moved away from their failed trap, deeper into the forest. The moon was even thinner tonight. In another day or so, there would be no moon and no light. Hopefully they would have escaped by then.
Ananth led the way, with Raani limping behind him, her leg temporarily bound with her dupatta. Kabir followed Raani, shivering and coughing every few steps.
She and Vayu brought up the rear. They walked till they reached a clearing.
Once more Tara settled herself on the hard earth, twigs and pebbles digging into her skin. Tomorrow was the last day of their game. She pulled out the anklet and pressed the beaten silver to her cheek. It was cold. Will you help me when the time comes? she asked, pressing the anklet harder against her cheek. Will you?
A soft voice answered just as she fell into a deep and exhausted sleep.
Yes.
A soft groan woke her the next morning. A white-faced Raani was curled up into a tight ball. Tara immediately went to her.
“Don’t,” screamed Raani the moment Tara touched her leg.
The scream woke everyone. Ananth jumped to his feet, his bow and arrow in hand. Kabir sat up weakly, brandishing his knife. Vayu lumbered to his feet, blinking in the bright sunlight.
“My leg,” gasped Raani. “I’m dying!”
“Let me take a look, Raani,” said Tara. “See how bad it is. Try to bear it, okay?”
The look did nothing to assuage her fears. Raani’s calf was swollen and puffy. Some areas had a purplish tinge. The infection was spreading really quickly and if she did not get to a village soon, she might even lose her leg. There was no way Raani would be able to walk with this wound, let alone run. Their chances of escaping were less than zero and Zarku knew it.
“How bad is it?” asked Raani. Her eyes searched Tara’s face.
“The wounds are infected,” said Tara, trying to keep her voice light and her expression calm. “Pain is the only thing you’ll have to worry about. But you won’t be dying today.”
Raani did not smile.
“Can you do anything right now?” said Ananth. He crouched next to Tara.
“I can put a salve on it, the same one I used for Kabir,” said Tara. “I still have some of the herbs left.”
“Then hurry. We can move out immediately,” said Ananth. “I’ll take a look around in the meantime.”
Tara found some flat rocks and quickly ground up the remaining ritha and tulsi leaves she had saved. Vayu rubbed his eyes and ran a hand through his dishevelled hair. He looked exhausted. They all did. They hadn’t eaten for two days and were at the end of their strength.
She had been so confident that they’d be able to save the children. Now Suraj was almost lost to them and two of their group were badly injured. What chance did they have of saving themselves let alone Suraj, or Sadia, who was still captive? And if they failed, Zarku would be back to haunt the villagers.
Ananth burst into the clearing. “We have a chance of escaping — a very good chance!”
“Really?” asked Kabir.
Ananth nodded. “I was exploring the area and found a machan. I climbed up to take a look and I saw the river! The river!” He almost yelled out the last two words. “It’s not too far, maybe a few hours’ walk, depending on our speed. But we’ll definitely make it there by nightfall. We have to!”
“That means … that means —” said Raani. A tear slipped down her cheek and she dashed it away.
“That means, we make it to the river, we find a boat and escape. Prabala will know how to defeat Zarku and save Suraj,” said Ananth. “And we don’t have to worry about hiding again tonight. In fact, if we’re lucky, we won’t have to face Zarku again on our own.”
Tara stared at him. They actually had a chance! They did! Vayu rushed to Ananth, picked him up and did a small dance. Raani managed a watery smile and Kabir gave a thumbs-up sign.
“Ready to move, Tara?” said Ananth. “I don’t want to lose a minute.”
“Almost done,” said Tara. She smeared a handful of paste on Raani’s calf, feeling the torn bits of flesh shift and slide under her fingertips. Raani bit down on her knuckles, uttering tiny moans. When the paste covered every bit of the wound, Tara bound it up with her dupatta.
“Your turn, Kabir,” said Tara.
Kabir took off his shirt and sat with his back to Tara.
Her spirits sank as she smeared the remaining paste on his back. It was a field of bloody craters, crusty in some areas and soft in others, oozing pus. It was hot, too; for the third day in a row he had a fever. Would he last until they reached the river?
She blinked back tears and tasted salt. All this because Zarku wanted revenge on her.
“Time to move out,” said Ananth. He slung the bow over his shoulder and picked up the last arrow.
Kabir pushed himself to his feet and Ananth ran to help him. “Can you manage?”
“I have to,” said Kabir. “Sadia is counting on me.
I’m her favourite brother and I cannot fail her.”
“Best leave that shirt off,” said Tara. “It’s badly soiled and will only irritate your skin more.”
Kabir nodded and tossed it aside.
“Come on, Raani,” said Ananth. “If Kabir can do it, so can you.”
Raani got to her feet. She screamed the moment her foot touched the ground and fell right over.
“I can’t,” she said. She lay face down on the ground, her hands clenched into fists. “You’ll have to leave me and go.”
“Come on, Raani,” said Tara. “You can do this.
Lean on me and hop if you have to. We’re not staying here and we’re not leaving you behind.”
“I can’t,” said Raani. She raised a teary, mud-streaked face to them. “It hurts so much, I’d rather stay here than put any weight on it. I’m sorry. I can’t bear pain very well. In fact — not at all. Before this, I barely ever got a scratch and even then I was in agony.”
With her leg bound up in the bright green dupatta that was limp and soaked in blood, her ragged clothes, and her dishevelled hair she looked so different from the Raani who had first stepped into the forest. Yet Tara liked her a lot more this way.
The sun shone warmly and colourful parakeets flew overhead. It was a miracle that they were still alive, thought Tara. And one they could not waste.
“We’re going to make it,” said Tara. “We’re not giving up. Not when we’re so close. Ananth, why don’t we make a stretcher to carry her?”
“Bad idea,” said Ananth. “It will slow us down tremendously. Of all the days, today we need speed. And forget trying to hide or move through the thick parts of the forest with it. She’ll have to walk.”
“I’ve given you an option,#8217;#8221; said Raani. “Really, I don’t mind. For the first time I’ve seen what that madman can do, Tara. After all those warnings of yours, I understand what you mean, now. You have to reach Morni, get Prabala and stop him. At any cost. Just leave me — go!”
They looked at each other in silence. How were they going to deal with this? No one wanted to stay there a minute longer and yet how could they leave Raani behind? There seemed to be no way out.
“I’ll carry her,” sa
id Vayu.
All eyes turned to him.
“I’m the strongest of us all,” he said. “And we’ll be able to move faster than if she were to walk.”
Raani’s lips were trembling. She opened her mouth.
For once nothing came out.
“Are you sure, Vayu?” asked Ananth. “It’ll be tough going and today we’re really going to have to pick up the pace.”
“I’ll manage,” said Vayu. “Let’s get ready to move.”
“I-I-thank you, Vayu,” said Raani. “And … I’m sorry.”
Vayu shrugged. “Forget it.” He lumbered over to Raani and lifted her as easily as he would a child. One hand supported her shoulders and the other was under her knees. Raani groaned just a tiny bit, but slid her arms around Vayu’s neck. She was still unable to look him fully in the eye.
Kabir leaned on Ananth who took the lead, and this time Tara took up the rear as they raced toward the river.
Tara looked down at her grimy hands. Involuntarily her hand curled into a fist. Together, they would do this.
Surely against the five of them, Zarku was no match.
— fourteen —
Race to the River
The fierce afternoon heat scorched Tara’s skin. Sweat poured from her like water from a broken tap. She drew in a lungful of hot air, feeling her insides melt. All she could think of was water; drinking it, pouring it over her burning scalp, splashing it on her face, and falling into it. She licked her chapped lips and looked up at the sun through the thinning trees. It blinded her and she stumbled, bumping against Vayu.
“Watch it,” he said. His was voice barely above a whisper. Raani winced.
“Sorry,” Tara managed to croak. “How much farther?” she asked. It seemed like they had been walking forever. With each step the unease within her grew, as if they were running away from danger and yet heading right into it.
“Judging from how far we are from the hills, I’d say, about three, maybe four hours more,” said Ananth.
“Then we can all relax and float downstream.
Tara closed her eyes wearily. Three or four hours more; would she last that long? Kabir stumbled along in a haze of fever, helped by Ananth, and Vayu was carrying Raani, panting like a steam engine. Neither had uttered a single word of protest. Tara felt a pang of guilt and shame; she had so little to complain about.
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