A villain isn't born, but made.

****

Hrishav ensured that when Maya rang the doorbell, it would be him to open the door and not anyone else, just like the times before.

Things were repeating, he knew. He knew it all. And he didn't want to stop. He wouldn't let anyone spoil it.

Maya smiled cordially when Hrishav welcomed her in. She found the woman from the shop sitting on the sofa and knitting. The woman, now known to Maya as being the sister to the two brothers, lifted up her eyes from the tedious work and gingerly grinned.

"I never knew we would get to meet again!"

She shifted to make place for Maya who happily accompanied the sister. "You are Devika, right?"

"Yes. And you are Maya. I heard from Hrishav that you are a journalist?"

"I am. I am here for some work, though as you may already understand my interests have widened."

Devika blinked rapidly, being utterly lost for a moment or two.

Hrishav cleared his throat. "Maya is talking about the unpleasant things."

"Oh..." Devika's body inflated and her shoulders slumped. "It is too bad. My home wasn't like this when I was younger. It is only now that things have worsened."

"How was it before?"

"Beautiful and peaceful. There were problems of course, there always is some trouble, but we lived like a big family."

Devika had ochre-brown eyes just like Hrishav, but God had made her in such a way that it seemed she had a natural coating of kohl around her eyes. She looked no less than an exotic beauty– tanned skin, beautiful black hair and shiny eyes of a doll.

"Would you like some refreshments? Tea or some juice?" Hrishav asked.

Maya didn't have the eagerness to look at him much. She was still upset about how he had behaved with her.

"No," she said plainly. "I would wait for lunch."

"Oh! Well, it's already done but we are waiting for my brother to come. Though if you want, you and Devika can begin."

"It's alright. I think we will wait?" Maya asked, looking at Devika, who nodded her head in affirmation.

Devika, who was more than glad to have some company blabbered on about everything under the sun. Maya felt like a mother who kept smiling at the words of her child whether or not they held any meaning at all. The presence of Devika was like a breath of fresh air, of exuberance and cheer. She would accept this new bond with alacrity. Hrishav, on the other hand, sat on a chair opposite to the ladies, silently observing them. Maya often caught him staring at her. It caused her heart to beat rather too speedily and dampened her focus on Devika, but she was stubborn enough to not acknowledge his flattering attention. Hrishav probably understood that; he smirked while looking at his lap.

"I need no excuse. I don't care if they aren't sleeping, I want to see the craft in its perfection."

Angry footsteps came down the flight of stairs. Shashi immediately ran and the man handed her the telephone after cutting the call.

The man bit his lips in vexation. On seeing his older brother, he relaxed. "Oh, you all didn't sit for lunch?" he asked Hrishav, pulling up the sleeves of his shirt. "Sorry for being late, these days have been so busy."

Hrishav dotingly looked at his brother. "Please take care of yourself. Eating on time is necessary. Also, we have a guest."

Hrishav turned his head to Maya. The latter faked a tight-lipped, coldly polite smile. "We have met before, Sundar Babu."

Sundar didn't care to return the formality and there was a blank look on his face. His eyes, though all of a sudden, lit up.

"Oh, yes. I-I remember."

Sundar and the rest took turns to wash their hands and sat for lunch. Hrishav being the oldest son sat at one end of the table, and on the opposite end was Sundar. Devika pulled Maya by the hand and quite innocently made her sit to the right of Hrishav while she took her place beside Maya.

"Does Shashi single-handedly do all the chores?" Maya asked no one in particular.

"No," Hrishav pounced at the opportunity to speak, "her husband and son live with us. He has gone to fetch the boy from school. We also have two more maids but they don't live with us."

"I see."

"You wanted to know about the legacy of the family?"

Hrishav looked at her expectantly. There was a certain fire pirouetting in his eyes. He clutched the tablecloth in his hand, gazing into her eyes unblinking.

Maya didn't know how long he was holding her gaze or how long she was stuck in this game. But the consequence that came as a conclusion wasn't at all well thought out.

"Yes," she answered. For a moment it seemed to Maya if that really was her will, but maybe it was. The information would help her in the article. She couldn't forget her main job while traversing through stories of murder.

"What will she do knowing all those?" Sundar asked with an air of ignorance.

"It's going to go into her article. I told you, she is a journalist."

Sundar's body appeared to melt in the chair as he leaned more, exhaling deeply. Hrishav rolled his eyes.

Shashi brought a grand plethora of dishes– simple steamed rice, shukto, dal, a curry of cauliflower and gourd, prawn malaikari and a rich spicy curry of red meat.

Maya's eyes bulged out of the sockets. "Did you... make all these on your own?"

"No no! My husband helps me," Shashi replied.

"He has magic in his hands," Hrishav said, rubbing his palms together. "True magic."

Maya quirked a brow. "That must be amazing."

"It is."

The four helped themselves to the food. Hrishav took small bites; his heart was eager to talk instead.

"We are the descendants of Biswa Singha and his forefathers. He had a large empire in the east and played a role in uniting many tribal communities and establishing uniformity. It was he who ordered the construction of this temple after he had–"

"Shashi, bring me half an onion," Sundar interrupted.

Hrishav pursed his lips. Sundar chewed his food and pointedly stared the three. Hrishav shook his head. "So what was I saying? Oh yes, the temple was constructed after he got a message from a dream. A divine dream. It is said that Goddess Kali came in her shamshan Kali avatar and asked a temple to be build for her devotees."

Hrishav narrated the history with zeal and Maya listened to satiate her curiosity. Devika's eyes sparkled as she too listened like a child. Sundar, unlike them all, was more interested in devouring his food.

The story finally came to an end. Hrishav chugged down a glass of water and licked his lips. "Poor Sundar can't have the prawns because of his allergy. This dish is lip-smacking!"

"He has been so full of allergies since childhood," Devika said.

"Seems like momma bear is unable to take it all." Sundar pouted, chuckling at the girl. That was the first time Maya saw his face beaming. "You haven't been able to cure me of any allergy till now."

Devika waved her hands dismissively. "I won't do it for free. You are the richest here. Pay me and get my service."

"That's rude of you, Devika. You are being harsh to your brother."

"But you are a doctor too," Hrishav said with a puckish grin. "You can treat yourself right."

"He is also a doctor?" Maya asked.

"Yes. I learned it from books. Did a course. Homoeopathy," Sundar declared with a sense of vanity.

"I had thought you were a businessman."

"That I am. It's my profession. Medicine is my passion."

"Did you do a course on fashion designing?"

"Yes, combined with an MBA. It is my educational qualification."

By now they had all done eating. Shashi came along to collect the dishes.

"I did all my education in Calcutta. And you?" Maya asked.

"I did my initial schooling first here, then Father transferred me to Calcutta. After school I did my graduation and the rest in Delhi."

They must be really well-off. "So most of your learning has been in the cities... while Hrishav chose to be here."

"No! Even though he had gone to the city when young, he came back because he could not adjust there," Devika enlightened Maya.

The whole table descended in silence. Even Shashi, who had been seeming casual suddenly turned stiff. Her eyes landed on Hrishav. The oldest son of the family tried to act cool and unaffected.

But Maya saw through the disguise. He was suppressing something overwhelming. His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists under the table, unseen by all but Maya.

"Yes, he had. It was for such a short time that it didn't matter. Hardly a month," Shashi clarified. Her voice sounded dry.

"Oh, so that's why he didn't mention it. A month's stay isn't enough," Maya remarked without malice, trying to avoid the tension that hung in the air like ugly cobwebs.

"It wasn't really a stay. Devika was small then. And Hrishav doesn't need to go to a city to be truly learned."

Hrishav smiled upon hearing his brother praise him. No other words were exchanged after that. Devika took Maya along with her to the sofa. Sundar retired to his room. Hrishav went to the kitchen, following Shashi. Devika and Maya shared their hobbies and passion, trying to find common interests. After some time Hrishav came with two glasses of lightly spiced yogurt drink.

"For the special ladies. This won't make you feel bloated, instead promote digestion."

"Did you become a doctor too?" Devika took the glass.

"Just a regular guy aware of homemade remedies. Maya, have one."

He is trying his best, Maya felt. "Thank you."

To be honest, you are making it difficult for me to be angry. But maybe this is not meant to be, Hrishav. Maybe we should keep our distance.

Devika offered to take a round of the house after the drink. Hrishav didn't disturb the girls– he had done what all he could do and knew it was enough.

Well, it was more than enough.

****

The last room that they reached was of Sundar. Devika didn't even knock on the door and kicked it open while pulling the embarrassed Maya in. Devika was his sister, but she should have asked permission before bringing a stranger to the room.

Sundar was sitting on an armchair and reading the newspaper. Out of all the rooms Maya had seen, she found this one to be the largest. It wasn't extravagant though– there was a regular bed big enough to accommodate two, some uninteresting cupboards over which were kept stacks of paper and untidy files. The almirah was half-open and Maya saw how neatly the clothes were piled up, so much that she wrinkled her nose in disgust.

Sundar gave the two a side-glance. "You could have knocked. My room is in a mess."

"Get yourself a wife, Sundar. She will tame you."

The man turned red and frowned, muttering something under his breath.

Devika took her to the shelves were vials of liquid, white powder and tablets were lined up in order. A big jar of distilled water was on the ground. Devika showed her the medicines, starting from ipecac syrup to avena sativa.

"I don't have extensive knowledge on these. Brother knows bet–"

Devika's feet hit something on the ground. It rolled behind the dustbin. The girls took a peek of it.

It was an empty bottle of wine.

The otherwise sweet Devika shot a piercing glance his way. She eyed him suspiciously. Sundar pulled up the newspaper to cover his face.

"You should stop this." Devika crossed her arms.

Sundar went to the next page of the daily. "I don't want to be lectured in front of a non-family member."

Devika flared. She took Maya out of the room. "He wasn't like this before. It's been less than a year since he started showing this addiction towards alcohol. I understand that he has severe work pressure and has to continuously travel to-and-out of the city, but I just can't take it when he ends up being nauseous and uses that dumb ipecac syrup. Even he knows that it's not a good thing."

It was a feature Maya had not imagined to be a constituent of his absorbing character. "This is a rather sensitive issue and I will refrain from commenting. I pray that he gets out of this. Seeking help is necessary."

"It's his workaholism I know!" Devika clicked her tongue. "Such a shame."

Maya went down and saw Hrishav seated there still, quietly all by himself.

"I would take my leave. Thank you for inviting me."

Hrishav went up to the door to see her away. "I hope you enjoyed the food and the company?"

"I did. Again, thanks a lot."

"I am rather selfish, Maya. I am doing this all for my pleasure, so no need to thank me."

He snickered. Maya raised a brow. "You have so many shades, Hrishav."

"It's human nature."

Maya slipped her hands inside the pockets of her loose jeans. "Someday I will take you to the city and treat you to my mom's delicious food."

"I would dream of it."

And what else do you dream of, Hrishav?

Maya didn't know. Did she want to know? Maybe. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Maya revised the events of the day on the way back home. The lunch had proved to be a good idea.

Too good, Maya would get that realisation later.