8
Returning home, Vishal saw Chandrasekhar engrossed in a newspaper. Fragments of his father’s past advice echoed in his mind:
“Honesty is everything, son. If you live with integrity, that alone gives meaning to life.”
“Never commit a wrong, no matter the reason.”
“Tomorrow, once you become a Sub-Inspector, you must do everything in your power for the downtrodden.”
“Your mother didn’t die, Vishal. She is still with us. That’s what I believe.”
Vishal replayed these moments in his head as he stood there. Sensing a gaze, Chandrasekhar looked up. “Why are you looking at me like that? What happened with the errand you went on?”
“Nothing, Pa. Did you eat?”
“Veeraiya brought fish curry and rice. I’ve finished; you go ahead and eat.”
“I’ll eat later,” Vishal said, sitting across from his father. “Pa.”
“Tell me, son.”
“I need to talk to you about something.”
Chandrasekhar looked at him questioningly.
“Do you know Dr. Ranjith Kumar?”
At the question, Chandrasekhar’s head snapped up. A flash of shock appeared in his eyes, but he quickly composed himself. “I know him well. When I was the Health Officer here, he was a doctor at the Primary Health Centre.”
“Mm. Tell me more, Pa.”
“What more is there to say?”
“About the murder of him and his family.”
The shock that registered in Chandrasekhar’s eyes was absolute; he hadn’t expected Vishal to ask this even in his wildest dreams. “Vi… sha… l…”
“It’s okay, tell me. I’m not going to punish you. I am your son, after all.”
“Vishal…”
“Tell me.”
“That day… I didn’t see any other way out, son.”
“So, it was you who killed the three of them?”
Vishal stared intently as he asked. Chandrasekhar lowered his head in shame.
“Think about it. You were studying in a residential school. Your mother died when you were young. Shouldn’t I at least be there for you? I was facing a situation where I’d lose my job and end up in jail. That’s why I felt I had no choice.”
“When that doctor first came to you and said there was a problem, why didn’t you listen to him, Pa?”
“I made a mistake, son. An unforgivable mistake,” Chandrasekhar said, his eyes welling up.
“Fine, let it be,” Vishal said. “It’s because of that mistake we haven’t been able to live peacefully in this bungalow.”
Chandrasekhar remained silent. Vishal pulled a document from his bag.
“What is this?” his father asked.
“We aren’t going to sell this bungalow. Instead, we are turning it into a home for the homeless.”
“Vishal, what’s wrong with you? This property is worth crores!”
“Let it be, Pa. This is the penance for the betrayal you did to those children, and the atrocity you committed against the doctor and his family.”
“If some random vagrant kids die, am I supposed to take responsibility?” The words slipped out of Chandrasekhar’s mouth before he could stop them.
Vishal walked over to him and smiled. “Thanks, Pa. I took this document out precisely because I knew you’d say something like that.”
As Vishal tucked the paper away, Chandrasekhar asked, “What do you mean?”
“For a moment, you spoke like a good man. You spoke as if you regretted your mistake. But you have no remorse, Pa. To be honest, you don’t even see it as a crime.”
“Fine, have it your way. Now what?”
“You happen to be my father. I can’t do anything to you.” Vishal handed him a chain.
“What is this?”
“A chain prayed over in front of Our Lady of Vailankanni. As long as this is around your neck, that woman, Vanitha, can’t touch you. Put it on.”
Chandrasekhar took it and wore it. Vishal put a similar chain around his own neck. “We leave here tomorrow night.”
“Alright.”
“What is it, Vishal? You said you wanted to talk, but you’re just standing there.”
“I got my posting orders, Aarthi.”
“Wow! That’s great news! Why such a long face? Which city?”
“Madurai.”
“Super. Be careful.”
“Aarthi…”
“Tell me, Mr. SI.”
“You know everything about my father.”
“Mm.”
“But I’m not like him, Aarthi.”
“I know. I’ve learned who you are in just these two days.”
“We are leaving for Coimbatore tonight.”
“Okay. Not selling the bungalow?”
“I decided against it. The plan is to turn it into an orphanage.”
“Really? That’s wonderful, Vishal.”
“I need a favor regarding that. You have to be the one in charge.”
Vishal paused for a moment, looked into her eyes, and said, “Aarthi-Vishal?”
Aarthi felt as if a shower of flowers had suddenly fallen on her head. She remained silent, overwhelmed.
“If you don’t agree, just say so,” Vishal started.
Before he could finish, she hugged him tightly. Vishal felt a new sense of ecstasy he had never known before.
“The next time I come, I’ll talk to your father about our marriage.”
“Mm.”
10:00 PM.
Ever since they put on the chains, they hadn’t heard a single sound in the bungalow. Vishal loaded the luggage into the car.
“Couldn’t sell the bungalow this time either,” Chandrasekhar muttered to himself.
As soon as he stepped out of the house, a black cat that had been waiting pounced directly on him. Chandrasekhar fell to the ground.
“Pa!” Vishal rushed to pick him up.
The black cat hissed menacingly. Vishal pulled a lighter from his pocket and flicked it on. Seeing the flame, the cat retreated.
“Pa, get in the car immediately and lock the doors!”
Chandrasekhar scrambled into the car. The words of the Exorcist rang in Vishal’s head, making him tremble deep inside:
> “If both of you wear this chain, you won’t have problems inside the bungalow. But the moment you leave, until you cross the eighth bend in the road, you will face countless terrors. Be careful. If you succumb to fear, their purpose will be fulfilled.”
>
He steadied his courage and slid into the driver’s seat.
“Take care, Veeraiya. We’re leaving.”
Vishal started the car. But the moment he tried to move, he saw it right in front of him.
A cobra stood in the middle of the path, hood flared, hissing with fury.
