Agniputr

by Vadhan

‘My memory’s been jostled. I don’t know how long I can hold on to it. I have no time to lose.’

  ‘Ok, sure.’

  Sheila said, ‘The story must be told. It’s a legacy starting from the times of the Surya queens down to me. Now, it’s my turn to pass on the legacy to my daughter.’

  She had said ‘daughter’, Alok mused. That was good. He wanted a daughter. He figured that Sheila’s behaviour had to do with the pregnancy. The doctors had told him that sometimes it had strange effect on women. Added to that was the trauma that pushed his pregnant wife into a coma a few months earlier. He could not understand her behaviour, but Alok knew enough to give Sheila her space. He figured she’ll pull through just fine.

  ‘Ok,’ he said softly and kissed her forehead again, tenderly. He took the prescription from her handbag. On the way out, he shut the door softly.

  Sheila realised her husband thought she was mad or getting there fast. She did not blame him. She would think that too, if she was in Alok’s shoes. It was beyond crazy. Sheila felt like a character in a science fiction book, except, it was real. So real. So unnervingly true that it scared the living daylights out of her.

  A thought struck Sheila all of a sudden. A terrible thought. It developed into a question that she knew would instigate only the most dreadful answer.

  ‘Why?’ she asked aloud. ‘Why go to the pains of altering natural order? Why reverse time just to save me and my child? What have you got in store for me this time?’

  Sheila lifted her head Heavenward. ‘What more do you want from me?’

  There was no answer.

  That did not fool her.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  WITH more than two decades as a litigator and consultant for legislative compliance, Vadhan turned to writing a few years ago. He is a lawyer by training, and an entrepreneur and dreamer. His first book, Shatru, part of the Kronikles series, received high praise and was critically reviewed as one of the best fantasy novels in India.

  Vadhan is married with two children. His daughter is doing her post-graduation in marketing in Australia, while his son studies law in India. He aspires to be a politician and a reformist one day. Vadhan’s wife is an artist and candle maker. She runs her own business.

  Vadhan lives in New Gurgaon, India, with his wife.