That very evening

'Ah, such a good girl, studying hard all day', said Mom who was overjoyed on seeing me sitting down with some or the other book for more than two hours at a stretch. But of course, I knew better.

I picked up the "trigonometry" book from my shelf and opened the very first page.

In huge letters was written the very name this mystery revolved around: BEAGLE FIRE, BOOK I.

The first ten pages contained a detailed story on everything that Esperanza had told me in short. Octavius, Ruby, and all. But then there was something that caught my eye.

"It is a common misconception that the AMNESIA spell had been destroyed by Tylon for he wanted to stop any spread of havoc. The truth is, Tylon sent down the spell to the Treasurers too so that his future generations could protect it when he died. AMNESIA, though lethal was the most priceless spell ever created in the history of magic. Also, he wished to send it away quickly before Ruby got hold of the spell, for he knew she could avenge the loss of Octavius from her"

Slowly, I began connecting the dots. When Esperanza talked about the potion of Magnolia today, I remembered there was a glass jar of liquid in Anu's safe. I remembered the papyrus.

Also, I remember Samarth shifting uneasily like he knew something was going on.

I was definitely missing something. I turned to the contents page and bean scrolling down with my eyes. I finally found the heading AMNESIA.

"All the castor has to do is drink one tablespoon of the potion of Magnolia and touch somebody's forehead and say "AMNESIA" out aloud"

Yes, she told me that too.

"WARNING: The antidote to the spell is a highly protected secret. The Tylon brethren locked the antidote in a papyrus so that nobody outside Beagle Fire could reverse the spell. Only a true reaper of the Fire knowledge can unlock it"

The papyrus! Was it an antidote? In any case, how would I know that the safe contains that very spell?

'Maitreyi!' I heard Mom.

'Coming!'

I headed downstairs.

'There's a special prayer meeting for the twins tomorrow on the occasion of Good Friday. Go iron a dress for church. We just got a call from Anu's parents' informed Dad.

'Oh, okay. Right away' I replied as I sped up to the laundry room to iron my black knee-length sheer dress I saved up for such occasions. Great, I totally needed a special prayer for Anu. It was the least I could do.

As I stood in the laundry room ironing my dress, my train of thought took off again. Tomorrow would be a good chance to watch Samarth. But would he turn up at all? He probably doesn't even give a care. Selfish little scumbag.

Friday, 10'o'clock, Church

I met up with a lot of our class there and so were all of our Senior High teachers were there too. It was amazing to see the attachment our teachers have towards her, for her excellent academic record and probably also for shouting at her for the certificate mess. The chapel was swarming with people as the whole 12th grade showed up for the twins' sake. Their whole family was there too. I recognized some of their cousins who stayed with us last summer.

And I saw their baby niece too, of course about a year-and-a-half old now. Looking at her reminded me of those days when I and Anu babysat her. We ended up in a white, snowy mess of Johnsons' Baby Powder, much to the apathy of Anu's Mom. Akash went crazy too, trying to get her to sit down and eat. What to do, she just wouldn't sit still! I tried to stop myself from getting flooded with their memories, but the more I stopped myself, the more I seemed to remember them. And the more I began to miss them. I hope this heartache of mine would be over soon.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Samarth dressed in his best church clothes. I walked up to him. I hadn't seen him anywhere in the past three months, even though the whole school, including his football teammates were bustling around to kill time during the summer vacation.

'Hi, Samarth'

'Hi, Maitreyi' he replied lifelessly.

'Have the police stopped questioning you?'

'Nope'

'What will you do now?'

'Is there anything to do? Except for answering their stupid questions again and again?'

That's when I heard the last test transmission in the mic.

'I'll get back to you Samarth. I need to give a speech'

The prayer began as Father Rebello, the principal of St. Carmel began reading out the lines.

'Antara and Akash Singh, both science students in Class 12th, here at St. Carmel Convent were two of the most prized possessions of the school'

Everybody was in tears now.

'Not only were they talented academic performers, but able sportspersons too. Also, Antara was one of the best orators in the school and Akash was a mathematical and computer programming genius. Let's all bow our heads together and pray for their wellbeing'

Everybody's quiet, the silence occasionally was broken by their mom sobbing on her husband's arm.

Believe it or not, Samarth looked repentant too. He put up an extremely indifferent attitude just a minute ago and now his chest was heaving up and down. Maybe he was a good guy after all.

But at the same time, I couldn't put a finger on his restless behavior in the attic and I also couldn't get past the way he said, "A mistake. No dirt"

What's the matter with this boy and his apparent double standards? Was he hiding something?

After the first prayer, Anu's parents took the stage. Her Dad spoke first.

'It is really heartwarming to see that all of you have shown up to pray for our daughter. We can't thank you enough, dear students and teachers. Please keep up your blessings and good wishes for her' his voice quivered 'I can't say anything more'. He walked down with his wife, both of them wiping tears from their eyes. I felt really sorry for them.

'And now, I request Maitreyi Mishra, their very best friend to give a vote of thought' came Father Rebello's voice from the podium.

I took a deep breath and walked up to the stage. I could feel people's eyes scanning my frame as I took the center stage.

'Good morning to one and all present here. Before I start, I'd like to thank all of you profusely for showing up to pray for my beloved friends.

Antara and Akash, I'm sending a prayer through the Almighty Lord Jesus, to keep you safe and sound at wherever you are, for it's the least I can do. I miss you two, every single day. I hate waking up every morning to think that you're not there for me. I crave to see your faces, your beautiful smiles, even if it's for a moment. When I sleep, I dream for you. When I wake up, I pray for you'

I paused to wipe a tear from my cheek.

'These people are my best friends. The most countable, reliable, and trustworthy people I could ever bargain for. Respected teachers and my dear friends, promise me that you will pray for the twins. Promise me you will pray for their wellbeing. Promise me that you'll pray that they'll come back as soon as they can.

And above all, promise me that you'll pray for this rotten criminal to be brought to justice. Do you promise me?'

Mutters of "yes" were audible.

'Come on, do you promise me? Say yes!'

'Yes!'

'Louder!'

'YES!'

'Thank you, everyone'

I got a standing ovation as I walked down to the bench where my family was sitting.

'You spoke well, dear' Dad patted my arm.

'Thanks'

I was quiet on the ride home. I didn't feel like talking. I was lost in my train of thought, and I couldn't bring this train to stop.

That night I went to sleep with spirals in my head. I don't know why I kept thinking of the interview he gave for Anu at my place. Every time I recalled him saying, "A mistake, no dirt", I shivered.

Alright, that's enough Maitreyi. Now go to sleep.

I tried sleeping for a while. But suddenly I got hit by lightning and I sat up straight.

Good god, how in the world could I be so blind?