Chapter 2

"Nayak Moshai eto lethal lagbe na. Ami to ei pashe r nodi te ektu ghurte jachi." I said waving my hand, dismissing him.

(Nayak Moshai, I don't need so many gaurds. It's just a visit to the river nearby.)

"Na Mej Babu, dinkal thik nei jodi Dakat hana deye tokhn ki korben? Ami Kotta ke ki jowab debo?"

(No Sire, what if you get attacked by dacoits? What will I say to the Master?)

"Eije Diganta ekhane ache. O apnar shathe jabe. Oke antoto niye jan, ei chottor or puro gule khawa. Kono osubidha hole apnake baciye niye ashte parbe" Nayak Moshai pleaded with joined hands.

(Please take Daganta with you. He knows this place really well and if any issue arises, he will escort you back safely.)

"Acha, thik ache, apnar moner Shanti r jonno ami Diganta ke niye jacchi" I sighed.

(Okay, for your mind to be as peace I will take Diganta)

"Chilo hey Diganta" I commanded.

(Let's go Diganta)

"Agge Kotta"

(Yes Sire)

I can't understand the hesitance of Nayak Moshai to let me out alone, especially at this time of the night. The last time someone from my family went out at night without any lethel, didn't come back home, or rather didn't come back home alive.

"Eije kotta, amra eshe gachi." he said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

(We are here Sire)

"Hmm thik ache, tumi dure r theke pahara dao ami ektu eka hatte chai."

(Hmm okay. Follow me from a distance I, want to be alone for the time being)

"Agge Kotta" he said moving back as I started walking past him.

(As you wish Sire)

Trying to take in the green smell of wet mud of rain, I carefully walk by the bank of the river. Lost deep in my thoughts.

"Huh" i exhaled slowly.

It's been an exhausting half a year. Everything came crashing down but I was still expected to keep standing tall and strong, as if I can't feel the pain. I should be feeling pain.

"Stress wasn't something a man should feel."

These were my father's words before my departure, and he was right. A man is the backbone, the support of a family. If a man breaks down and isn't able to work, what is the point of anything in his life? He doesn't deserve anything, he isn't worth anything.

A man's worth is in protecting his family and I failed to do that. I failed to protect Borda, my brother and I failed to protect my sister-in-law when those evil bastards came to take her.

I should have been the support that stopped them! But no! I didn't. Instead I became one of them. I participated in their gruesome ritual... and my excuse for participation? I was in a daze.

Everything happened so fast that I was in a daze. It's as my mind was possessed by a cowardly ghost whose speciality is to be meek and obedient.

At last after seeing no one will help her, in her most vulnerable state she could be, she chose to stand up for herself. My sister-in-law ran for her freedom. She fought her own battle for her freedom and i still couldn't do anything.

It's funny how even after his death my brother is supporting my Bouthan to live her life with her head up and me her Thakurpo, who she regards as the "brother-I-Never-Had" wasn't able to even protect her when she was in the darkest phase of her life.

I really don't deserve to be alive. I really-

*Sob*

What?

Was that me?

*Sob*

No it's not me, but who is it?

Who would be out so late at night, and a woman at that?

I look around to find the source of the sobbing but it's too dark for me to figure out.

I walk forward a little, when another sob makes my head turn to a small figure curled up under a tree just ten feet in front of me.

It was a girl. Her legs pulled to her chest while her head was in between the knees as she sobs.

She most probably didn't realise I was there or by now would have run away. But that is what's concerning. A girl out at such an hour is never nice.

I walked near her, I can see her clearly now. Her long hair is open and covering her entire body, almost in a cocoon. She is shivering, probably cold or because she was crying... maybe both.

I take my shawl off and approach her.

"Ei meye, tumi ekhane ki korcho? Eto raat e?" I say in the most agreeable voice.

(Hey girl, what are you doing here? This late at night?)

She flinched but remained stiff. I wrapped the shawl over her saying, "Tumi kothay thako amake bolo, amar lethel tomake shabdhane bari diye ashbe, eto raat e r bayire beriyo na dakat er cholachol ekhane bereche." I say while signalling Diganta to come forward.

(You shouldn't be out so late, there has been an increase in dacoits in this area. Tell my Guard where you stay he will take you home safely. And don't move around like this at night.)

The mention of dacoits made her flinch but this time she looked up at me.

I had always thought that possession and enchantment are the same thing, but today I know they are not.

I was possessed when my sister-in-law shed her tears, but I am enchanted by the tear-stricken doe eyes of this girl.

Absolute Enchantress trapping me in her Enchantment.

Oh! Why is it so dark? I want to see her more. A little more, a little better.

Something in her eyes is trying to pull me in. It's trying to drown me in the depths of its darkness. Into the flickering lights of her dark orbs.

If darkness is where the devil lies, then this girl has trapped the devil in her eyes. And I am happily and willingly ready to drown in them.

I am ready to remove those devils which made these eyes flood and show her the light that was hiding within these dark orbs.

"A-ap-apni..." she looks into my eyes, searching with creased brows and something flickers in hers. Fright maybe...

(Y-y-you...)

"Obviously she's going to be scared, you were staring at her like any other predator." my subconsciousness tells me.

Yah you are right.

I try to say something and calm her down when she jumps up and starts running.

"Wait!" I should and before I could say anything, my body moves on its own and I start running behind her.

'Stop! Please Madhav stop, why are you acting like this?'

I seriously didn't have an answer to that, but just my body is moving on its own. Every cell in my body is telling me to follow her, to not lose her, or it's going to be the biggest mistake of my life.

So I ran.

I can't stop myself.

"Mej Babu daran!" Diganta says while grabbing my hand to stop.

(Wait, Master!)

"Oi meye r pichu korbenna" " Ami age bujhini kintu oi meye ek ghore howa. Or sathe kotha bolle apnar amongol hobe Kotta"

(Please don't follow that girl) (I couldn't recognise her because of the darkness but she and her family is isolated)

"Tumi ki kore bujhle tahole je ei meye ta e shei ekghora howa meye?" I asked in an irritated voice.

(How did you know that she is Ekghora?)

"Maff korben kotta kintu ami apnar bhalo r jonno e apnake thamalam. Oidike onno kono bari nei. Shudhu oi ekghora meye r e bari. Tai bujlam ota ke." He said in a meek tone.

(I apologise Sire but I stopped you for your own good. There is no other house that side of the village except that girl's family)

"Tar mane tumi jano oi meye ti kothay thake?" My eyes lit up but I tried to mask it, though I probably did a bad job hiding it.

(That means you know where she lives?)

He looks up at me but then nods while bowing his head down.

"Agge ha kotta"

(Yes Sire)

"Niye cholun amay" I say in a stern voice.

(Then take me there)

"Kintu Kotta-" I cut him off before he could say anything, "Diganta" I snapped.

(But Sire-)

"Agge Kotta" he said motioning to the ground as he walked in front of me.

(As you order Sire)

"Ekghora kora meye... Ki koreche ei meye, je oke ekghore kore dewa hoyeche?" questions like these were clouding my thoughts when a loud shriek made me flinch out of the thoughts.

(An isolated girl. What did she do to be isolated?)

"Diganta! Taratari chole "I said running towards the source of this sound.

(Diganta we need to hurry)

"Ha Kotta" he said as he ran beside me.

(Yes Kotta)

What in the name of God is happening? Why does everyone I look at have to suffer? Am I that unlucky?

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See you in the next chapter! Bye!

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