Take little steps of divinity.

****

Maya never knew that vanilla would become such an important aspect of her life and probably a missing piece of the puzzling mystery she was stuck in. But yes, the dress she wore yesterday smelled much like the perfume Hrishav used.

Was this just a coincidence or did it mean something more?

She had to figure it out. "It should mean something. His reaction on seeing me wearing that frock wasn't very comfortable and pleasant. But wait, Aadi Babu is very fond of Hrishav, isn't it? Probably he had tried matching his daughter and Hrishav and it failed miserably. Guess what? That was a bad move."

Yet it wasn't sinking in. Something wasn't quite right...

"I cannot exhaust myself over a perfume. I need to visit her."

Since her heart had desired to give Sahiba some sweets and meet the girl who just lost her mother to the hands of a cold-blooded murderer, she decided to act on it.

The old lady who had shown her the way to Lalita's house during her last visit smiled on seeing her. Maya returned the gesture.

"How are you?"

"It is a miracle that someone asks us slum dwellers how we are. But by the grace of Kalika, I am still fit enough to walk." The lady nodded her head. "Anyways, where are you heading today? To Lalita? She talks about you a lot."

Maya felt an uncanny sadness upon hearing it. She knew she wasn't in a position to rescue Lalita or give the prostitutes hope about a better future. Dreaming was risky, a challenge indeed. All she could trust on was her pen, if that would help her do something for Lalita and the ones alike.

"I will meet her some other day. I wish to see Sahiba."

The lady heaved a sigh. "Oh, that poor girl! She lost her mother to the devil! She has no one to look after... I just don't know how she is going to manage her life now."

"I hope you all will try to help her out. She seems like a sweet girl."

"We will try our best, but we cannot do much. Go, meet her and see if she opens up to you."

Maya bid her goodbye and tried to recall the way to Sahiba's home. She passed by Lalita's house, remembering how she had then led her around the slums and they reached Radha's home.

And how she found her crush, Hrishav, outside her house.

What if Hrishav knew about Radha being in love with him? Would that hurt him even further, make him feel guilty? He was selflessly supporting her family, as a kind man, but why? Maya still didn't know what connection he had with Radha, if he owed her that help, and if his bad luck had ever hampered her.

While lost in thought, she didn't hear the sloshy sound of shoes, but when she did, she immediately connected it to her thoughts.

Has Hrishav returned again?

She quickly hid in the spot where she had previously ducked behind with Lalita the last day. But this time, it wasn't Hrishav who came, but an ugly face she felt an intense abhorrence towards.

Rahul.

He carried a bouquet of roses and what looked like an envelope in his hand. He knocked on Sahiba's door and looked around to ensure no one saw him. When the door didn't open, he began banging on it incessantly.

It boiled Maya's blood. This rascal is trying to woo that teen! He has no shame!

Maya was going to jump out of her hiding spot when the door opened and Sahiba came out. And oh, wasn't she as beautiful as her mother? Who knew such divine women, pretty in-and-out, deserved to be in slums serving lecherous beasts!

Sahiba frowned upon seeing him and told something. Maya of course couldn't hear, but from Sahiba's countenance it was clear that she was irked and wasn't going to allow Rahul in. On the other hand, the classless man shoved the bouquet in her hand and gave her the envelope. Sahiba looked puzzled and ran inside, slamming the door on his face. Maybe she knew better than to confront that man. After all, she had no guardian to protect her.

Maya sprinted towards Rahul and jerked him by the edge of his shirt. Her hand raised up in the air and almost landed on his face, but Maya controlled her rage. Rahul was too shocked to react, but when he registered what had just happened, he broke into laughter."So here to chastise me?" He clicked his waspish tongue. "Not going to work."

"Would you really stoop so low as to catch this teen? Can't you spare at least her?"

Rahul jutted his chin, putting his hands on his hips. "I had to talk to Sahiba for some personal reasons which I don't feel the need to share with others," he spat, bitterly reminding Maya what she had once told him outside Lalita's house.

"So you accept that you wish to create something personal with Sahiba?"

"I can tell the same thing about you. You also must have had something personal to do with Lalita."

Maya gritted her teeth, fuming like a bull. She just didn't have the horns or the guts to kill him then and there, but her gaze did rip his flesh from his bones.

"I will tell everyone that you are trying to take advantage of the girl after her mother died. I am sure people will help her."

"First of all, almost no one cares about her in this village. And secondly, stepping in my way would just invite trouble."

Maya squinted. "You speak too big and loud for your status. I can easily put you behind bars. My father is a powerful man."

Rahul's face turned dull and serious. A battle of stares ensued. Rahul cracked his knuckles and cocked his head. "You will face the repercussions of this if you ever try to throw mud on my job. I am just doing what I am supposed to do. And being an educated woman, you should know I will be innocent until proven guilty."

Rahul pulled up his collar and walked away with a confident gait. It astounded Maya.

"How is he so sure that he won't be in trouble?"

She looked at the packet of sweets in her hand. I must go and give this to Sahiba. She needs to have a good day.

Maya went and knocked on her door. As expected, Sahiba opened with an upset face, still affected by the earlier meeting. But when she saw it was Maya, her eyes widened. In a feeble but melodious voice, she said, "Please come in."

Her voice was as sweet as the chime of her anklets. Maya sat on the bed, looking at the pitying condition of the house. The bed creaked as she tried to sit comfortably. Sahiba emerged with a glass of water.

"I have brought something for you," Maya said. "I have got you some sweets. These are laddoos."

Sahiba's eyes sparkled. Those brown, mesmerising eyes akin to a doe could bewitch anyone. They had a godlike charm. Sahiba took the packet of sweets and opened them. She took a laddoo, giggling in happiness. But before popping one in her mouth she offered it to Maya.

"You half, me half."

Maya swore she would have cried in that moment. Why, why in the world does a girl like her have to suffer so much? Is Kalika not going to do anything?

With quivering hands Maya divided the laddoo into two and the two girls ate.

"How long are you living here?" Maya asked. One question simply wasn't enough– she wanted to know more about Sahiba but also ensure the girl did not feel pestered.

"From when my father died," came the reply.

Maya concluded that Radha had to take up this profession of prostitution as a means of livelihood to support herself and her daughter. It was the cruel decision of fate, a step of desperation. Hunger and poverty could defeat so many. But Maya very well knew that these ladies were far from defeated.

"If he ever comes to disturb you, send me a message. Somehow! Or if you want, I will visit you regularly."

Sahiba tilted her head, batting her eyelashes. "What?"

Huh? Maya was confused. "Umm, I mean Rahul. He is trying to harm you right?"

Sahiba brushed back the curls that fell on her forehead, looking with upturned brows at her guest. "I think uncle has not yet accepted me. Me and Maa were not welcome in his family ever because Maa was of a lower caste."

Maya listened to every word carefully. From what it seemed, either she had done a great miscalculation or Sahiba didn't get her question.

"Uncle came to give me things, but I am sorry I cannot show you. It will bring problem for us."

"Well, if that's the case, I shall not interfere." Maya pursed her lips. "So he's your family?"

"He's my late father's brother."

What a twisted world. "I see." Maya decided it was better to not speak on the sensitive topic. But shame on that man, he can't even protect and take responsibility for his brother's child!

Maya remembered Radha's confession too. She had said she was probably happier being a prostitute than being stuck with her husband. Definitely Sahiba's father was a hopeless case too.

"Just tell me Rahul is not trying to"–Maya found it difficult to utter the words–"pressure you into being in a relationship with him."

Sahiba gasped. "Of course not! He is not a man whom you should look up to, but he isn't as lowly as that. He doesn't see me with such eyes."

"Then I feel better." Maya exhaled, feeling a weight being put out of her chest. "But how are you planning to get going now? You have no support..."

Sahiba stood with her head lowered.

"I am sorry if this question is too personal, Sahiba."

"No, it's alright," she whispered. "I have learnt from my mother the art she used to perform to earn money. Being young and, fortunately or unfortunately beautiful, I will be able to make a living. And rest, Shiva shall take care of," Sahiba said, joining her hands in a namaskara and closing her eyes in a prayer.

Maya was stunned by the peace Sahiba emanated. She gaped at the young girl, completely taken aback by her answer. Would pitying Sahiba be a sin?

"You are strong, Sahiba. More than even me."

"You never know how far you can go. Only Kalika knows."

Sahiba smiled. It boasted of wisdom hard-earned through pain and turmoil. Maya internally saluted her.

"I shall go now. I will come back again. We will be friends."

Maya stepped outside her house.

"Maya di, tell me one thing."A shiver ran down her spine when Sahiba called her.

"Yes?"

"Will you come to me if I ever call for you with all my heart?"A breeze flew by, making goosebumps crawl on Maya's skin. She looked at Sahiba with a clot in her heart.

"I-I will. I will come."

"That's all I need."

And with that, the door was closed.

****

"Rahul is Sahiba's uncle?"

Maya asked the question while Anandi was busy kneading the dough. She shot Maya a hostile glance.

"You will probably also find the murderer at this rate, though you should know your life is in danger."

"Just tell me, I know you will not hide!"

"Don't be cranky. Yes, Rahul is her uncle. Radha was never loved by either her husband or her in-laws. News spread far that Rohit, Radha's husband, was forcing her to sleep with men to extract money. We protested a lot, but you know it is harder done than said. Radha couldn't be rescued. And then one day Rohit fell in the trap of his own greed and died."

"His own greed?"

"He was the head priest in the temple of Kalika, but after the deterioration in his reputation Hrishav was appointed as the head priest by unanimous decision. It was after this incident that Rohit stole Kalika's jewellery and wanted to run away with it. Hrishav caught him and brought him to the villagers, who then beat him to death."

Maya was a bit taken aback by it all. Maybe it was the piled up anger of the villagers which led them to brutally kill Rohit.

Then, something struck her.

Hrishav was the one to have caught Rohit. Hrishav was the one who paved the way for his death.

So that's why he was helping Radha... it's out of guilt.

"This incident also sparked the chain of deaths. It started with Rohit and then was followed by a woman being killed... you know everything by now. Since everything started after Hrishav was appointed as the head priest, they all blamed him for his bad luck."

"That's ridiculous!" Maya thundered. "First of all, it wasn't Hrishav who killed him but the mob. And the mysterious deaths just can't be put on the shoulders of some man who is clearly the only one who was trying to help Radha."

"What do you mean?"

"He helped Radha. I saw with my own eyes, but maybe he wants to remain anonymous."

Anandi shook her head. "This is strange...You say he wanted to keep anonymity. I also understand that maybe guilt is acting here. It's humane... but..."

"But?"

Anandi gulped. "Tell me, did you see Rahul today in the slums?"

"Yes. And he was giving something to Sahiba which I didn't notice." Better not spread he's giving her roses. If people can blame Hrishav for the deaths, they can also call Sahiba a whore.

Anandi was done with the dough. She washed her hands and covered the bowl of the dough with a moist cloth. "Maya, I don't know if this is going to help you or not, but Rahul did not visit Sahiba on his own wish. He was definitely asked by someone."

"Just like I was, once," Anandi mumbled, so low that Maya couldn't hear.

"Are you sure?" Maya asked sceptically.

"I am," Anandi replied. "I don't have any solid proof to prove this, and I also think you should not tell this name to anyone, who I suspect sends things to Sahiba through a middleman. He is a powerful man who wants to remain anonymous just like Hrishav, and we better not go against his wish."

Maya waited with bated breath. "And the name is?"

"Hrishav's brother, Sundar Babu."