Chapter 02 - Barwa Sapera - I

"Then, let me tell you a story."

Those words rang in Raahi's ears, covering his entire mind. Before he knew it, a cloud of fog started to engulf the whole road, making the appearance of that man truly ghastly. When that old man sensed the fog, he dropped his head. Dejected, he let a sigh escape.

"I hear our precious time has ended for now"

He started to speak again, without raising his head.

"But do not worry child. I will come and find you when you are needed. Until then,"

With that, he looked at the wary eyes of Raahi and nodded, before vanishing within the fog. After a moment, the fog faded as if it had never existed in the first place. The road returned to normal with the sounds of insects resounding and the cold breeze hitting him.

Raahi wouldn't comprehend what just happened. He was painfully preparing to make himself barely strong enough to live after Saara. She knew what would happen if she left him like that, that's why she made him promise to live. That alone took his whole will. But now, a mysterious man is offering him a chance to save her. That thing was clear enough and that's the thing he was desperately searching for. 'Hope' started to take place in Raahi's heart, and he wasn't letting it get destroyed that easily.

With that newfound determination, he reached his mansion in the woods.

***

Two days had passed since Raahi returned to his mansion. Within these two days, Saara never woke up. Her pulse is still the same as well as the baby she is carrying, but the doctors had reminded him that she is at her limit. Even though her heart is beating, for now, it wouldn't take that long to rest. This made Raahi so furious that he nearly ordered the doctors to abort the child to save her. But he didn't voice his thoughts. He knew if he ordered something like that and miraculously she is saved, she will never forgive him. She will not even look at his face. He knew her stubbornness. He knew her very well and didn't lose hope. He ordered his workers to find that old man he met in the middle of that road. Only after meeting him, he started to believe in the concept of gods and miracles. This opened a new way for him but time closed almost all of them, leaving only one.

"Master, we still haven't found him. We covered this whole town today but no one didn't see him entering or leaving the town. When searching the forest, we found an old half-broken temple. The townspeople told us that the temple belonged to a snake deity."

A middle-aged man with a strong build and a square face spoke in a low voice to Raahi who was sitting beside the bed where Saara is sleeping. Raahi seemed to be deeply engrossed in the book he was reading. He didn't even lift his head when that worker arrived and started to report on the findings of that man.

"That so, hmm"

With that short reply, Raahi turned to the next page of his book. After a while, he spoke in a low voice like that of his worker.

"Collect all the stories from the people about that temple no matter how absurd it is and tell that doctor to be prepared for anything. Also, call an ambulance and keep an eye on the entire town."

'Entire town?' that worker blinked a couple of times in surprise when he heard Raahi's next command. The town was by any means no small at all. And Raahi's 'keep an eye' basically means to guard the whole town. The other workers were sure to complain. Nonetheless, they all will obey Raahi's every command. The entire town owes a favour that can't be repaid to the 'Roy family'. And more than that, the whole town loved Saara.

"Yes, master. I'll inform everyone."

With that, the worker turned and started to walk toward the door until Raahi's voice made him stop.

"Wait Gaurav, if that man approaches report it to me first. Ok? I'll take care of him."

This time, Raahi closed the book and faced directly. Gaurav flinched back when he looked into Raahi's eyes. The eyes that were desperate two days ago were nowhere to be seen and now it was filled with just cold bloodlust. No words came to his mouth. He just nodded and left the room to carry the orders from his master. After leaving the room, Gaurav sighed a deep breath and thought back,

'I wonder what that old man did to master, now he was slowly turning to his old self. No wonder the whole town is in an uproar trying to find that man. Young miss, get well soon.'

***

Inside the room, Raahi's blood was boiling to the point that he can lash out at anyone. It had been two days and he received only bad news one after another.

'That old man! He better keep his words or else he'll face worse than hell from me'

***

The remaining day passed like that and when the sun was about to set on the third day, Raahi felt a jolt run through his spine. He was still inside the room with Saara and reading books about gods one after another, trying to find out something he can use but remained unsuccessful till now. But minute after minute, when the jolt run through his spine, he started to get a bad premonition. He looked around the room and windows, searching for a reason, and heard a running footstep.

'Bang!'

Gaurav slammed the door open. Sweat dripping on his forehead and panting, he found Raahi near the window.

"The man you are looking for *huff huff* we suddenly found him standing in front of the main door"

Gaurav answered and took a deep breath. His legs finally gave out and he slid through the door and sat on the floor.

A few moments ago, when he was just returning to the mansion to inform about today's event, he suddenly felt like his heart forgot to beat. When he looked back, he found that the old man his master described was behind him and it scared the shit out of him. Not only him but the people around him also. They were thinking that their master had lost his brains after young miss was bedridden. No way they can find an skinny old man who only wears a loincloth in this day and age. They thought that their master was pranked by some unknown man and he wants to get revenge. Their master even told them that the old man was covered by ash from head to toe. This made them believe that he completely lost his marbles.

But when they saw the same old man wearing loincloth and ash covering him from head to toe, they all forgot to breathe. Not because they were wrong, but because of the staff that the old man was holding. Something made them scared, cowered, and look down. Gaurav truly believed that his master isn't wrong and remembered that cold look from the afternoon. This made him the first person to recover from the shock. He got up and dashed through the entrance door and hallway like his life depended on it until he told the arrival of him to Raahi.

Raahi, after hearing this started to walk out of the room. He passed through Gaurav and without looking back he spoke,

"Don't come down until I say, tell the maids to never leave her side and keep her guard. Call the workers to keep the town people from entering the estate and guard the mansion until I finish dealing with him"

Gaurav wouldn't reply and only looked at the back of his master, worry-filled on his face. He slowly got up and started to order the maid who came after hearing the door slam. He wouldn't just sit down and do nothing while his master is working.

Raahi's mansion was a mix of modern and Provencal. Covering 5112 square feet. It was built on the edges of a small hill and offers a panoramic view of the town and the edges of the forest.  It has two floors with which the top floor was occupied by Saara. Raahi climbed down the stairs and found that the person he was searching for the whole 3 days including today, simply meditating near the fireplace. Still holding his staff, but unlike last time, he isn't feared by him. He calmly watched that old man and stood in front of him.

After a moment, that old man opened his eyes and showed a full set of black teeth to Raahi.

"Finally, I heard we can meet now and here I am!"

Raahi, still looking down at him noted that his voice contained a hint of enthusiasm.

"Heal my wife now and I'll give you what you want"