Out in the Open - A Rudransh Ray Mystery

Note - This is the first chapter of my novel Out in the Open - A Rudransh Ray Mystery

The shadow

The shadow waited. Two sharp eyes followed everything. Tall trees, long stretched gloom and a Victorian mansion against the expansion of sky. It could be a setting from a gothic movie. But, it was a reality.

Light from one of the rooms on the first floor’s window illuminated a part of the garden. In this glow, Shadow could make out forms of leaves, hedges and flowers. Smell of rose and wet soil hung in the air. Cloud gathered and for a moment everything vanished but the mansion and the white light.

Shadow felt a reassuring heaviness against the chest. Metal and Wood had been used to carve this knife. Its blade could split an oak tree wide open.

Just one slash and it will all be over. The shadow inhaled. A cakewalk, it’s gonna be. Swift and fast. A smile flashed. But it vanished a heart beat later. Through the cracks of leaves Shadow watched and calculated.

With one movement of eyes, Shadow measured the challenge ahead. The mansion stood silent. Against the star clothed backdrop, it created a contrast with all its gloom.  A slender figure came to view in the first floor’s window. She had a crimson night gown wrapped around her body. Night wind played with her loose hair. She moved away from the view. 

Pacing. 

Restless. 

The Divine Beauty

v   

‘I will come to this earth as your daughter,’ declared the Goddess of divine beauty and love. She floated in the air with joy and exhilaration.

King Talish stared at the delicate face. He could not believe in his ears. Words failed to form in his mind. Despite the joy in his heart, he could not answer the Goddess.

The Goddess, however, did not have any such compulsion. She gloated and floated in air. ‘This world needs love and peace. I will have to incarnate in human form to thaw the violence. And you king Talish, you get the honor of parenting me.’

Joy flooded free into Talish’s heart.  His mouth broke into a smile. But, the delight was short lived as the voice of the royal physician came echoing back to him. ‘Your wife’s womb cannot carry human seed. If you want a child, you will have to marry again.’

Talish looked up at the Goddess in dismay. His heart felt barren as a desert. Blinking the tears, he said, ‘But, the royal physician had said…’

Before he could finish the sentence, the Goddess threw her head behind and laughed. Young leaves of the trees, danced along with the sound. She fixed her eyes on the mortal standing before her.

‘I am the creator of this world. I want you to parent my human incarnation.’ Her blue eyes dances with joy. ‘And, you doubt my words?’

Talish bowed before the goddess, despite the casual and affectionate tone of the voice. He shook his head with regret. ‘Please forgive me my dear goddess. I did not doubt you. I dare not doubt you. I was just repeating what the royal physician had said.’

‘Look at me, my child.’ Talish obeyed the order. ‘Never question the creator. Nothing happens without the wish of the creator. Nine months from now and I will incarnate as your daughter. Name me Ragini.’

Tallish jolted up from sleep. At his side queen Adhrita slept. His ears still buzzed from the words spoken by the goddess. Images of the dream were still too vivid in his mind. He looked around the royal bedroom to assure himself that the goddess had been a fragment of his wishful dream. Perspiration rolled down his back. He tried to control his shallow breathing lest the queen woke up from the sleep.

He did not want to share this dream with anyone. He did not want to raise her hope. They had spent ten long years together waiting for a child. The throne demanded an heir. But, he was unable to produce one. The ministers pressurized him to get married again which he ignored. Not for the sake of love. But, he could not find another woman as beautiful as Adhrita. Ugliness was forbidden in his kingdom.

v   

Tallish paced before the labor room. He could hear Adhrita’s cries of pain. He could not wait to hold his daughter in his arms. The promise of the goddess came true. Adhrita got pregnant and was about to give birth to a baby. Dawn was about to break free. Any moment now and the first ray of sun would explode. He threw an irritated glance at the labor room. How long would it take? Had it not been for the royal priest, he would have invaded the room and inquired about the delay.

Couple of hearts occurred and the tranquility shattered. Shrill cry of an infant roared into the air. Talish halted in his track. Joy, relief and pride all crowded into his heart and threatened to burst it open. He had become a father. After waiting what it seemed like an eternity, he would be able to look down at his own child.

A smiling maid came rushing towards him. His gaze fell upon the bundle into her arms. His daughter. The heir to his throne. He could not believe it. Dream comes true sometimes.

The young maid handed him the bundle and he looked down at the face of the baby. A round, chubby face with blue eyes and a small button nose stared up at him. She blinked twice as if she could see her father. Dark curly hair covered her tiny head. Talish bent down and kissed the forehead of the infant.

‘The Goddess,’ he breathed.

That moment, another shrill cry rose and once again shattered the peace which was about to settle. Talish looked up, startled. What was that? He wondered. The Goddess did not say anything about a twine.

He waited with his daughter into his arms for another maid to appear with another bundle of joy. Clock ticked. The king stared at the door with eager anticipation. But no one came. Tranquility once again spread its warm wings over the fortress. Golden sun ray peered through the branches of the trees. Birds started singing with joy, welcoming another morning.

‘Why are they taking so long?’ Talish asked. He handed over the baby to the waiting arms of the young woman and made his way towards the labor room. Despite the protest of the royal priest, he walked into the dimly lit room.

Smell of rose water greeted his nostrils. He heard the sound of agonizing sobs. Turning his gaze to the bed, he saw his queen. She sat with her knees drawn up. Her head rested on the top of her legs.  Her shoulders trembled. At her feet lay playing a tiny baby.

Tallish pounced upon the bed. He froze at the sight of the baby lying there. Gaping with horror, he turned eyes away. The baby had a square face. Her eyes were dark and narrow. She turned her twisted mouth and smiled up at the king.

Pale faces loitered everywhere in the room. The royal priest followed the king inside and now stood at the threshold, wide eyes, mouth hanging open.

‘Demon,’ he muttered.

‘Guards,’ Talish yelled as he came out of the terrifying trance. Couple of young men rushed inside at the call. ‘Remove this…this child from my sight. Take her to the forest and…….’ He allowed the word hang in the air. But, the guards understood. They seized the baby with rough hands and disappeared before anyone could utter a word.

v   

Sixteen years later

‘My lord, we found another dead body this morning,’ the wary faced guard told the king.

‘Male?’ Talish asked.

‘Yes my lord, same bloodless young male body.’

Tallish waved his hand in dismissal. He leaned his head against the high throne, tired. Closing his eyes, he tried to escape from the grime situation for a moment. Sixth dead body in one week, he sighed. Who could be behind this serious of cruel murder?

‘My lord.’ the royal priest bowed before the king.

‘Yes,’ Talish said in a heavy voice. He was not in the mood to endure the lecture of the priest. Yet, as the king, he would have to sit through it.

‘My lord, it is the work of a demon.’

‘Demon?’

‘Who else will drink human blood my lord?’

‘What do you suggest me to do?’ Talish rubbed the heel of his hand over his eyes.

‘You search for the culprit my lord. Do not trust anyone.’

That night, Talish saddled his black stallion and disappeared into the darkness. He would keep his kingdom safe. With careful deliberation, he prowled through the lonely streets. Unaffected by the chill of the winter wind, he kept going.

After inspecting the locality, he headed towards the forest. Something caught his eyes. A white horse was tied to a tree at the border of the forest. Someone went inside. Talish descended his horse and entered the forest by foot. He did not have to search for long. Few steps later, he reached a wide glade.

A fire blazed in the middle. Beneath one of the trees lay a young man. He appeared to be unconscious. A human being attired in a golden robe leaned over the young man and drank his blood.

Talish drew his sword and pounced over. He gave a sharp yell and the person in golden robe stilled. Without delaying another moment, he thrust the sharp metal into the back of the murderer.

A gasp of pain stirred the air as the sword penetrated the lungs. the blood drinker slumped over the unconscious man. Talish wanted to see the face of the murderer. He leaned forward and turned the person’s face.

‘No,’ he gasped at the sight of the face. ‘No, no, no.’ The tormented shriek echoed into the silent forest. He staggered back, lost his balance and dropped over the ground. To block the sight before him, he buried his face into the grass. He could not look at the still feature of his beloved daughter.

‘You said you are incarnating as my daughter,’ Talish accused the Goddess. He has performed a rite and summoned the Goddess.

‘So I did,’ she said. ‘Came as your daughter.’

‘You were performing the demonic act?’ Talish yelled. ‘You were drinking the blood of young men.’

The Goddess laughed at the accusation. ‘You really believe I can do that?’

‘I witnessed it with my own two eyes.’

‘Dear king, recall how many daughters you had?’ Goddess smiled.

‘One……oh.’ Talish’s jaw dropped as the realization dawned in.

‘Yes, you have denied me and accepted the demon. You could not see the beauty my human incarnation had. It was the beauty of heart.’

Talish froze. He stared at the Goddess for a long time. ‘How can I amend the mistake?’

‘Sin,’ the Goddess said.

Talish nodded.

‘Bring her back.’

‘Where do I search?’

‘Search the same forest where you have ordered to abandon her.’

Talish did not wait a moment longer. He saddled his stallion and went into the forest. It was the last time anyone saw the king. The legend says that he still stalks the forest, searching for his daughter.

Life Without a Friend

Writing is a craft and being able to write is a blessing. I am not talking being able to jot down words or crafting sentences. What I want to refer is the ability to express yourself. Writing is associated with words and crafting correct, grammatical error free contents. But, that is not all. It is not that easy. Writing is more like expressing yourself in way that your words touch the hearts of millions.

I was not born with this ability. I am not sure I still can touch the heart of anyone. I just try to say things which I think and feel. I express myself through my words. This is writing. When I was a kid, I used to write the stories I heard from my grandmother. Why I did that I still don’t know. It was just an unyielding desire to see the story written down on paper.

People call me crazy. In a way, I am crazy. Earlier it used to hurt me. I felt like an outcast, in world of normal human beings. I knew from the start that I was not one of them. I had the strong sense that I did not fit in the crowd. I am not trying to say that I am outstanding, I merely mean that I am different.

From the childhood, I was a loner. I used to roam the backyard of my school at the lunch breaks. No one wanted to talk to me. I still do not know why. My only companion was my imaginary friend who always appreciated me. When I came home, I used to crawl under my father’s writing desk with a book. Being a loner served me well and with time I got used to being alone. Now, I do not need any friend to hang out. I know how to live alone. What had been a childhood necessity became my adulthood luxury. I can spend hours with myself. Books are my only companions. And I like it that way. When in school I craved for a friend to talk to. I had none. Maybe that is the reason I reached towards my pen and started pouring words over paper.

If you are being ignored by your friends, rejoice. You really do not need a friend to survive. You have yourself. You have a wonderful heart. Use it for imagination. You never know what you may become in life. Take advantage of the isolation. Do not be sad. If you want a friend badly, you can always find one in the pages of a good book. Make friendship with words and open the door of endless possibilities. And remember isolation is a blessing. Enjoy it.

When everything goes wrong

Sometimes life falls apart despite our best efforts. These are times when people need to adhere to positive energy. However, it is not possible to stick to the positive energy when life seems to take a reverse turn. When going through a time like this, you need to grow the gratitude. Even when every window closes down, there remains a hole somewhere which brings forth the sacred light. This light guides us through the tough time. We stare at this bright hue and endure the torment. Bear in mind that if there is darkness, there is light also.

Write down every single positive thing which you are grateful for. Remember that does not matter how much agony you are in, there will always be someone shouldering bigger burden of misery.

Blessing always comes with a mask. You may not be able to recognize it immediately. You will definitely realize with time that the bad thing had happened to push you towards the right path. Remember we never take the leap to cross a chasm, unless our life depends on it.

Demons are wonderful entities. They hit you when you are standing the nearest to your destination. Welcome this attack and proceed anyways. Be thankful for the ability to endure the demon attack and the opportunity to learn. Open your eyes and bear in your heart the wonderful gift of faith. You will cross the wild ocean and be ashore soon. You need to sail through the roughest ocean to be become a seasoned sailor.

When nothing works, read motivational quotes and articles to keep yourself motivated. Derive strength from the words and proceed on your path. Take each step with the faith that the light is near and one more step and you will be there. One day, you will be amazed to find yourself at your destination. 

A Lesson of a Lifetime

It was a Sunday evening. South City mall was enduring its’ usual stampede of crowd. An array or disarray of depending on your point of view, had gathered in the mall that day also. God knows for what reason. It’s a mall after all, not a historical place where some tragic hero died.

Anyways, after ambling down the entire mall, I ended up in the food court. Not to eat anything, I love watching people with food, each displaying different body language and talking different talks. You wanna go people watching, come to South City mall’s food court.

Besides the KFC outlet, my eyes fell upon a group of young men. One look at them and you will know that you are gazing at the corporate kids. They had the same stern expressions upon their faces, tolerating everyone. I watched in amusement before my curious gaze caught the sight of one of them.

This bespectacled man was engrossed in the biography of Steve Jobs, balancing the thick hardcover book in his right hand. From his left hand dangled the carry bag of Starmark. He had bought the book that day and could not wait to get home for the sneak-peek. I was tempted to ask whether he had an MBA degree or not. To me that would have made a hilarious scenario – an MBA trying to learn from a drop out.

Seeing his eager indulgence, I wondered why this guy was reading this book. Then I answered myself – to become Steve Jobs, silly. Another question made me take another look at the oblivious man – would reading this book make him the next Steve Jobs? There are so many editions out there in the market. So many young men and women are reading this. Before the publication of this particular biography, there were millions of others similar types of books available in the market. Then why there was only one Steve Jobs? Why?

I presented this question to my uncle. I asked him why. Why so many readers yet only one achiever? He smiled at the question and told me a nice story as a reply.

We all know that our holy river Ganga washes away the sin of the mortals. The mythological story goes like this –

When this holy river began flowing over the earth, Devi Parvati got worried. She went to her husband Lord Shiva. Sitting by Him, she asked, ‘Why did you allow this river to flow on the earth?’

Lord Shiva looked at her puzzled. ‘Which river?’ He asked.

‘Ganga,’ She replied with a frown.

Lord Shiva smiled at the crease on the Devi’s forehead. ‘What got you so worried?’ He asked.

She drew in a deep breath and replied, ‘Now earth people will commit sins and wash it away bathing in this river water. We don’t have the use for hell anymore.’

‘Now, don’t be so worried Devi,’ Lord Shiva said with affection.

‘I am worried.’ She refused to share His composed demeanor.

‘Okay, let me prove to you that, you have nothing to worry.’

With this, Lord Shiva came down to Varanasi (the Holy city for the Hindus) , disguised as a leprosy patient. He lay on a dirty blanket beside river Ganga. A stinking odor surrounded the air around Him, blood along with thick greenish fluid oozed out of the scars. He called out to the people passing by, pleading for their help. In agonizing cries He begged for someone to listen and drag him away from the harsh sunray.

One of the passers-by came closer hearing the anguished voice. He took pity over the man lay dying on the street and bent forward to hold the corner of the blanket, careful not to touch the flesh of the patient.

Before the mortal finger touched the blanket, Lord Shiva cried out. ‘Please, before you touch this hear me out.’

The pilgrim stared bewildered at the sudden reaction.

‘If you ever have committed a sin and still touch the blanket,’ Lord Shiva continued, ‘you will be attacked by this disease and soon become like me.’

Hearing this, the man jumped a couple of steps back. He retreated further and this time ignoring the cries of the dying patient, he vanished among the crowd – without even a backward glance.

As the day glided into night, hundreds cam and went, some even ran away. No one dared to test the authenticity of the warning. They just disappeared. Scared.

Next day, Lord Shiva lay in the same place, crying and writhing in pain. This day was not much different from the last one; people came and went away without touching the blanket.

Then came a young man. He seized the scene at a glance and rushed towards the suffering man. As he leaned forward to hold the blanket, Lord Shiva repeated the warning. It made the young man jump backward. He stood still for a couple of heart beats. Then he turned around walked towards river Ganga. Stripping his cloths, jumped into the water and drenched himself head to toe.

After this the young man came forward, confident. He held the blanket and dragged it away from the sunlight.

Lord Shivae came back smiling. ‘You saw that Devi?’ He asked. ‘Millions will hear you but only one will listen. Only one among the millions will take a leap of faith, risk everything and take a step forward. The Holy water will wash away the sin of that one person. We still need hell.’

My uncle chuckled as he finished telling the story. I chuckled back. Unless you are ready to take risk nothing will do anything. Have faith and act upon it.

‘Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.’ – George Seaton

‘Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.’ – Martin Luther King Jr.

Investing in Your Craft (Writing)

Yes, writing is a craft. You will have to indulge into this everyday to master it. That is the truth of every writer’s life. Sitting and staring at the blank screen or white paper is the dilemma every writer experiences (or so I have been told).

Now, you may be thinking how to invest in this craft? This is not a business procedure after all. What is there to invest? You can invest a lot of things.

Time – First of all you will have to invest your time. Without this element, the craft will simply refuse to grow. You will have to drag yourself to your writing desk and write. How much time you invest depends on you. If you are lucky enough to be able to stay back at home and don’t have a day job to go to, you can devote as much time as you want. But, for the unfortunate people out there like me, will have to make time for writing. You will realize that you need to make many sacrifices to make time for writing. You may have to sacrifice watching the soccer match. You may have to sacrifice attending party. Or you may have to sacrifice an hour of your sleeping time.

But the reward of these sacrifices is the delight of holding a finished novel in your hands. Your own creation, your pride. It does not matter whether this gets published or not. You will experience the exhilaration of being able to see the novel till the end. In the world of writers this The End means a lot. Ask someone who has failed to achieve this feat.

Money – Yes, you will have to invest money. You will have to buy books and read. Without reading, the writer within you will not grow. You will have to feed your soul and you cannot survive eating bread only. Or a bit clearly, a writer cannot survive eating bread only. True, there are libraries and you can borrow books. But, that way you will have to hurry through the pages so that you don’t keep this longer than the deadline.

Reading a book is like eating. You swallow the entire course of meal, your belly gets full, but you fail to consume the benefits of the food. Same thing happens when you rush through the pages of a book. You finish the story, but you fail to analyze the plot development, character illustration, dialogue crafting, conflict escalating and the theme.

When you buy books, you surround yourself in a literary atmosphere. Standing at the desk, you won’t have to remind yourself why you are there. You will know in heart that you are there because you want to join the long list of the published writers.

Have fun writing and keep investing without constrain. You will definitely get the result someday.

Don’t Get Trapped inside Your Writer’s Notebook

If you are writer, you MUST have a notebook. This is the place where you set yourself free and allow your imagination to run wild. The notebook is your storage place where you keep your thoughts safe.

There was a time when I used to jot down everything in my notebook. Be it a mere thought or a simple memory, everything went to the pages of the journal. I knew someday these things would come handy, someday I would use these somewhere. With passing time notebooks mounted over my cabinet. If you ever search my desk, you will find all sorts of notebooks in different shapes and colors, you name it and it is there.

So, this is the real picture – hundreds of notebooks, each containing more than hundred pages, thousands of thoughts are captured there, noted carefully. And when I need one special thought to use in a story, all I need to do is………well you can imagine. I will have to get down on my knees and rummage through the year old pile, go through each page of each notebook and hope to unearth the tiny piece of jewel. Plenty of work guys, it’s better to rely on your memory. I learnt to do this hard way.

If I say that I don’t have a notebook in my bag right at the moment, I will be lying. There is one. But I don’t run to it every time a thought occurs to me. I don’t even write down all the story ideas in it.

Learn to trust your heart and allow an idea to grow rather than capturing it somewhere in haste. I believe, if something is meant to stay, it will stay. If the characters are worth spending time with, they will drive you crazy until you sit down and make them emerge out of your heart.

Do indulge in your fascination and buy notebooks. These things are great when you are doing writing exercises. Spend five minutes everyday with your writer’s journal, before you begin the real writing session. Have fun writing whatever comes to your mind. But, don’t get trapped inside the pages of notebook. You may not be able to get out of it.