The goddess lives amongst the poor, the greedy and the rich.

****

Lightning splintered in the crevices of the sky like a string of lava sewn into the skin of the milky way. Mother Kali had been put to sleep with the help of a lullaby.

They blew out the candle, watching the smoke spiral into non-existence. "Sleep well, Muktakeshi."

The keys to the temple clinked in their grip. As soon as they put the key in the lock, a voice stopped them.

"The sixth shall come to Devipuram soon."

Their fingers paused before latching the door. "Before the fifth is sacrificed?"

"Yes."

They chuckled. "Were you playing with the mind of a human? I guess so; you are pulling her here."

"She will walk to her own death."

"And I shall be her doom." They bolted the door and hurried towards the stairs.

"But beware, she is the namesake of the Devi. She must not be told about the fourth."

A dusty breeze aroused the anger of Devipuram's soil. They memorised the warning.

"She shines too bright, so much that it blinds me."

They turned back towards the temple, smirking at the ancient abode. They knew no one could stop them and their master was being worrisome for futile.

"She glows red, like the eyes of Kalika."

****

The namesake of the Devi had come to Devipuram.

Stepping into the village of Devipuram for the first time meant a lot of things for Maya. For instance, she would be writing her much awaited article on the lives of its people, get away from the buzz of the city and relax in the greenery, and she would probably be making new friends. Friends that boasted of a plethora of caste, creed and repute, for the village nourished every extreme of the society.

A life away from the hustle and bustle of the city. A life to enjoy once in a while, Maya thought. And to seek the magic of nature...

Devipuram was a place no one would be able to find on a map. It was never in the news, never in the limelight. Fortunately there was a post office in the village but no police station. Maya didn't feel the need to be on guard, though; her mind told things would go easy and good. She could smell happiness and peace from afar, wafting to her nose from golden fields which dotted each side of the wide path.

Everything happened so suddenly that Maya still wondered if it was all a dream. An unexpected call from her boss who wanted her to do something different for their upcoming Puja magazine led to the discussion of various topics under the sun, and ultimately the exploration of Devipuram was selected as being the best route to success. The readers would love to know the beauty and simple lifestyle of the village folk during times of stress and monotony- her boss had opined.

Her boss wanted her to pack up and travel there immediately and he had arranged for her quarters too.

That was where Maya was heading now on a bullock cart.

"You will be very happy to live here. I suggest the first place you visit in this village is the glorious temple of the Mother. She will bless your stay here."

The bullock cart was slightly slanting on the front and Maya had to hold on to the wooden frames to balance herself. It was a bad decision to wear a long kaftan top– the sleeves were getting stuck on the pins and nails.

"Which form of the Mother Goddess do you mean?" she asked.

The man whipped the oxen lightly when it abruptly stopped.

"Mother Kali. It's her temple. She has been here for five hundred years."

Maya gaped at the man. Writing about such an old temple would definitely attract dozens of readers, especially the bong folk who worshiped Kali and her various manifestations since mediaeval times. She was herself interested in the world of the dark, quite literally and metaphorically.

The fields had ended and now huts and small bungalows lined the road. The sun glowed like a magical white orb in the calm blue sky. Soon, they came across a huge two-storeyed house. It was brick-red in colour and looked quite old from the outside, exposed to decades-long torture of dust, rain and human ignorance. Yet it looked grand compared to the other homes of the village. It had big leafy green windows, as long as doors in length, like that of North Calcutta. It was fenced by a yellowish mud wall.

"Here, this is the house of Babu Aadi."

That was where Maya was going to live. The man helped her get down and got her suitcase and bags up to the door of Mr. Aadi Basu. He was one of the most respected men in the village, a retired government official and a widower who had decided to live a quiet life. Upon reaching the door, Maya rang the bell by pulling the rope attached to it- she was quite surprised to know that his house had a bell.

After a brief moment a man with a silvery moustache and a faint stubble opened the door. He wore thick spectacles and carried a newspaper in his left hand.

"Is this Maya?"

Maya nodded. "Yes. Good to meet you Mr. Basu. My boss, your old friend, had-"

"Oh! I know, I know. I was expecting you sometime. Gopuram, help the lady bring her things in."

Gopuram, the man who was drawing the cart, took the suitcase and after following Aadi's instructions went to the first floor. Aadi and Maya each got a bag of hers and then flopped on the sofa in the living room.

"You must be tired after the journey. Nathu, bring a glass of water for the guest."

"I have been looking forward to being here," she said while panting. "It's the chance of a lifetime."

The living room was modest. There was a table in front of the sofa, on which was kept a stack of papers and a paper weight on top of it. There was a photo of a couple on the wall, probably a young Mr. Basu and his late wife. Below that was a shelf over which was kept a vase of flowers.

"It is good to know that the youth still adore the lap of nature and the quietness of a simple life," Aadi commented.

Maya knew that if she did well here, she would be getting more opportunities to prove her worth. Maybe they would send her to another state to cover some festival.

And new places always meant adventure. Though, she begged Kali to not bring forth something sickly for the time being. Even someone like her needed to feel the essence of an ordinary life once in a while and not cover an article on political murders and propaganda.

A skinny man with skin as dark as the rain clouds came with a glass of water and handed it to Maya.

"This is Nathu. He is the cook of the house. His wife Anandi also lives here. They will help you anytime."

"Are they the only ones to live here except us?" Maya enquired.

"Yes. Nathu and Anandi are more than mere housekeepers to me. They have been looking after me since the death of my beloved wife, and ever since that we have become closer."

Nathu timidly smiled at her and hurried to the kitchens. On first look he didn't seem quite friendly, but maybe he was a bit shy in front of strangers.

"Anandi has gone to the market. She will come by the afternoon. How about we eat something?" Mr. Basu proposed.

Maya felt her stomach grumble. "Oh, of course! I need one hearty meal before I go roam around the village."

Together they sat for breakfast. Nathu served them hot chapatis and curry. Maya savoured it with joy.

"Nathu is a good cook."

Nathu blushed profusely at her compliment. "It is nothing, memsahib. If you have any specific cravings, please tell me, I will try my best to prepare those."

"For sure."

Maya turned to Mr. Basu. "Is there a temple of Maa Kali in the village?"

"Yes! It is a very spiritual place. Do you wish to go there?"

"After I freshen up."

"Ah, yes. It has been a long journey from Calcutta." Mr. Basu wiped his mouth after finishing his meal. "I shall personally show you around."

After completing the late breakfast, Aadi guided her to her room on the first floor. It was just steps away from the common balcony.

"My daughter, who is now abroad, used this room. You will find some of her clothes still here and you have my permission to wear those if you wish."

His eyes shimmered as he, somewhat lost and oblivious, scanned the walls of the room.

"It is natural that I miss her, isn't it?"

"Very natural for a father."

"She is probably around your age, Maya."

Maya felt a pang grip her heart. Maybe my parents feel the same too.

But she had had to venture out of her home to achieve what she was in life today and to see her dreams fulfilled.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Basu, for helping me feel comfortable. I will keep the room tidy, of course."

"You can call me Uncle Aadi, or Aadi Babu."

With a smile he left as Maya closed the door and sank in the bed.

Finally, she was doing something different.

****

Aadi and Maya headed for the Kali temple in Gopuram's bullock cart. Maya was astonished to find the man sitting relaxed without any support, while she had to hold on the wooden frame then and now to help herself from not having the feeling that she would slip.

"You will get used to this if you ride some more times."

"It's quite different to buses and cars."

"Ah, which do you find more interesting?"

"Definitely this."

Aadi laughed at her words. "How long have you been in this journalism field?"

"Running my fifth year."

"What's your age, if you don't mind me asking?"

Maya chuckled. "It's twenty-five. And no, I can gladly share the numbers, except my salary."

Or her address, phone number and passwords.

"You are quite a smart girl. You will do good in life. I don't easily get impressed by the youth of these days, you know. But you ooze confidence."

"Is there anyone other than me who has impressed you?"

Aadi smiled. "You will meet him soon, though I don't know how you will perceive him, being an urban girl."

Maya leaned forward a bit. "Why, what's the matter with him?"

"He is a priest."

Maya raised a brow. "The priest of the Kali temple, perhaps?"

"Yes. His family has been worshipping the Mother since the time the temple was constructed on the orders of the then king. It's a legacy."

"You were apprehensive about the fact that a modern girl like me wouldn't appreciate the profession of a priest?"

"Sort of. But he is rich, you know. Direct descendants of Biswa Singha."

Ah, being rich didn't mean much to Maya. And definitely nothing that could tempt her into liking someone.

"They for sure have some other business to keep the money flowing. Priesthood alone cannot ensure Lakshmi."

Aadi shrugged. "Yeah, they do. The oldest son, whom I am talking about is the priest. The other son is handling the family business of sarees. They have big shops in the cities. And their only daughter is a doctor."

Maya slowly nodded her head.

"Well, that should suffice, don't you think?" Aadi asked teasingly.

"It should. Sarees are quite a thing. They fetch money."

Maya squinted her brows, engrossed in thinking. This family of the priest
was no doubt the richest one in the village, and possibly with an outstanding reputation, as she understood from Aadi's words. She noted in her mind to interview these people and know from them something about their ancestry. It would give a classy touch to her article.

And making connections with such a family can always have its own benefits, she concluded.

"But he doesn't have good luck, you know." The cart came to a halt. Aadi climbed down the cart. "We have reached the temple. We need to walk from here."

He handed Gopuram the fees for the ride and headed towards the temple. Maya too followed him, her brows curved up at the corners. His previous words had piqued her curiosity.

"What do you mean by that? Does the priest have bad luck? I mean, has anything superstitious happened?"

Maya just hoped it was something restricted to black cats, owls or anything mundane. Maybe some bird died at the entrance of the temple when he was appointed as the priest, or maybe the prasad got spoilt.

Something on those lines. The usual rural mindset.

"Do you believe in bad luck?" Aadi asked her, his eyes narrowed. His tone was as heavy as his gaze.

Maya was caught off guard by the surprising question. Maybe Aadi was testing her beliefs because she possibly belonged to a different upbringing style and a modern community. She stared at the dusty ground, forming the words with difficulty. "I believe we can sometimes have a drought of luck."

Aadi's forehead had creased into wrinkles above his pondering beady eyes. He walked with his hands joined at the back, head hanging low.

"I really wish to meet this family and get to know about the history of Devipuram," Maya said. She observed the hint of a smile on his aged face, but it was masked by a touch of melancholy.

"It is a good idea. They will help you know more, add some silver lining in your article." After a brief, calculated pause and adjusting his specs, he murmured, "I want your stay to be enjoyable here, Maya. That's it. Do not write about anything unpleasant. Avoid the darkness."

Deep into thoughts, he walked past as Maya stood frozen on her spot.

So it probably wasn't just about black cats and hooting owls.