Dig for gold in a heap of straws.

****

Maya knew she had to be in Devipuram for more time than she had expected, and would return from here with more memories that she had ever dreamt of making. To celebrate her stay here later, she had to keep some souvenirs. Thus, she went out shopping after lunch.

The market was no longer full of fishes and veggies. There were some grocery stores still open, though both sides of the road was lined mostly by hosiery, clothes and adornments. Each vendor trumpeted the goodness of their items and placards of discounts written in mediocre handwriting on simple piece-boards hung from the top of the shops. 'Buy one get one free','Two at the cost one one','the brightest at the cheapest price'– Maya felt she would go into a trance by hearing the incessant chanting of the men and women.

Checking out the displays put outside, she walked humming a tune to herself, finally stopping by a decent looking shop with a queer declaration– Chick Fashion.

"Well, it lives up to its name."

Contrary to the traditional outfits and the same old designs, this shop boasted of satin sarees, short dresses and patterned skirts.

"And they got even the spelling correct." Because, just some moments ago, Maya had seen a store named 'Fansy Choice' and the nitpicky tendencies had threatened to resurface. She didn't quite understand if that was written on intention, though, and if yes she didn't get why.

Maya opened her shoes on the stairs and entered the shop. It was humid inside with only two aged slow paced fans that were not able to serve the purpose. Maya was grateful that her mother was not here– that woman would have passed an insensitive comment regarding the stuffy environment.

"What does Miss want?"

This man looked a bit different from the other vendors. He wore a youthful sea-green shirt which was tugged out like teens from schools, paired with a khaki pants. Maya cocked her head to the side and let out a long 'hmm'– this is a unique combination.

"I am looking for some stoles, preferably cotton."

"Please take a seat. Any range, madam?"

"Within eight hundred."

He immediately began searching through the stacks and pulled out certain packets. Meanwhile, Maya looked at the other collections. There were few gorgeous looking gowns and plenty of silk sarees.

"Quite amusing that you have such a different collection in a village."

"Believe me or not, many actually like to buy these. Their tastes are changing– people want to now welcome twists while following the old. All thanks to Sundar Babu. He is a revolutionary in bringing up-to-date fashion to Devipuram."

Maya felt she had heard the phrase Sundar Babu before, but couldn't exactly remember. She acted as if she still did and went along.

"Is Sundar Babu planning to open any store–"

"Oh yes!" The man exclaimed. "You may not know, but he is planning to change the entire Devipuram in terms of representation. He was the person for whom this store is standing now, and if all goes well, more like this will open up one day."

"I must say, Devipuram is walking ahead of its times."

Like classy murders.

The man opened some of the packets and showcased the cotton stoles to Maya. All were so very sublime and beautiful that she couldn't make a perfect choice. At last, she shortlisted three– one of ochre-brown shade just like Hrishav's eyes, another in white and the third one in baby pink.

While pondering which one to choose, the sound of a creaking door made Maya turn her head. To her surprise she found a trial room in one corner of the shop, and from there walked out a foxy lady with an elaborate hairdo and a red frilled skirt in her hand. Her curls were peeking out like swirling waves of some dazzling black sea, with ribbon and pins tightly keeping it in place.

"I think I will be taking this skirt," the lady said in her sultry voice. "You are truly following in his footsteps. If you do better, he might even hire you."

"That would be a blessing," the man said. "I will give you a special discount on this piece."

The lady came and sat on the chair beside Maya. The two caught their gazes and smiled.

"New here?" the lady asked.

"Yes. I am here for some work," Maya answered. "Thought of buying a stole for my mother."

"This shop is the best in the village. It makes you feel you are not stuck between shouting vendors begging to buy oldie sarees and all that. This is sophisticated."

"I am trying to be different, as he himself likes," the man said.

The lady wore a tight-fitted knee-length dress in the shade of blue that showed plenty of her cleavage, which even made Maya get sweaty and red. She quickly averted her gaze to the selected stoles and wondered which one to buy.

"Don't know which to choose?" the lady asked.

"No, all are so beautiful."

"If you ask me, I like the ochre-brown one the best. Reminds me of someone I love dearly."

The bulb in Maya's head glowed.

Oh, I see.

Maya clenched her jaw and forced a smile. "So you think I should choose this? I like the white one better."

"You can buy both."

"I would take the white one."

"Well, your call! At least you got to decide." The lady shrugged.

"Fine. So it will cost rupees six ninety. Since you are a first time customer, I will give this to you at six fifty." The man neatly folded the stole and packed it for Maya.

"And what's my discount?" the lady asked, crossing her arms.

The man nervously grinned. "You chose something good too. I told you I will give you a discount, so it will cost you four ninety-five."

"Mhm, reasonable. I would have cut your tongue had you demanded more."

"I know how the market works. I always set my price keeping in mind the comfort of my customers."

Maya felt uneasy sitting beside this unknown lady. She was very beautiful too– with round dark eyes, tinted cheeks and two round breasts to boast about. Maya heaved a sigh and did the payment.

"Well, you should buy the ochre-brown stole. I think you like it," Maya said. But the lady clearly didn't get the taunt in her voice.

"Oh my!" she began. "Did you not buy it because I was excited? Anyways, I am going to buy a stole, but for men. It's for my pretty little boy."

"Woollen or cotton?" the owner asked.

"You know he prefers cotton. It is lighter on his skin. And something of the same shade– ochre-brown."

Maya couldn't stand it any longer and hurried outside the shop. That woman was getting on her nerves.

"I should have expected that he had some admirer. His family has connections in the city, and this girl clearly looked like someone from a high-class family. Some spoilt brat!" Maya spat out angrily. She fumed like a pressure cooker and went as far away as possible. The cacophony of the vendors didn't reach her ears, only that sugary voice rammed her head. "I am sure that girl is trying to woo him. He is a simple man by standards, I know. And what did she mean by 'pretty little boy'? Hrishav is not little. He is a grown up man."

Oh, but maybe he can be little sometimes... with his own, loved people. Not me.

"Madam looks very upset. Will she try out some earrings to please her heart?"A shrill voice called out to her. It was a woman selling some crafted jewellery and trinkets.

Maya chuckled. "That's a great pick up line." Shaking off the hard feelings, she went towards the shop and felt in awe of the collection.

There were shiny golden necklaces, bracelets studded with cheap stones and various types of junk jewellery.

"You look new here?"

Almost everyone here asked Maya the same question, except the shop-owner she just met before. He looked like he served clients from cities and towns regularly.

"I have come here for some work."

"You may choose from any of these. But I have something special for you." She rummaged through a plastic bag and pulled out a pair of earrings. "Here, how do you like it?"

Maya knew it was love at first sight. The piece was in the shape of a scarlet rose.

"It's so very cute... I love it! How much?"

"Fifty, madam."

"Ah, I would have taken it whatever the price was."

Maya bought the earrings and finally, her shopping was completed. But still, she felt she was missing something.

I do wish to take back memories... but don't I want to leave something here too, so that people remember me? So that he remembers me...

So she stopped in her tracks, turned around and walked back to the shop. The woman was glad enough to welcome her again.

"Want some more ornaments?"

"Do-do you have something for men?"

The woman raised a brow. "Like?"

"Like earrings, or rings?"

Maya half-expected she would find something.

The woman bit her lips. "I am afraid you won't find earrings here. But I have few rings for men. You are lucky."

Maya's belief in God became deeper. She thanked Kali for not making her sad.

If she gives him a cotton stole, I will give him a ring. I am sure he will choose my emotions over some expensive fabric.

I just hope he doesn't take it as a proposal.

The woman handed her a set of four rings. "See if you like–"

"What are you doing here?"

The two women were interrupted by a man. He was gaping at her, and Maya was equally shocked.

"I have the liberty to roam around the village. Just buying some stuff here."

"Do you know each other?" the woman asked. "Neel, shouldn't we then give her a discount?"

"No need to," he snapped.

The woman pursed her lips. Neel entered the shop and sat on a chair with a thump. "People bargain too much nowadays. I wonder what they will do in cities. The costs are sky-high there."

"Did you buy veggies from my husband? Don't mind him. He is tired and so is being rude."

"Oh, yes. Bought brinjals and many more from him, just two days before."

"The priest did. Not you. You were accompanying him," Neel corrected.

Maya felt leery of him. She didn't pay heed to his words and selected a random golden ring in her tensed mind that revolved around Neel's words from before.

"You are the priest's friend?" the woman asked, eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes."

"Did you come here, umm, after that happened?"

"After what?"

"You are a foolish woman, do you understand that Piu?" Neel hissed. "This girl knows about the recent murder of that filthy prostitute. Probably not of the ones before, huh!"

"You came at a very wrong time. Feel really sorry for you girl." Piu shook her head, glancing at Maya with pity.

"Oh don't be!" Neel waved his hands. "She is spending time with that damned priest! Now it will be her time to get stabbed."

"Neel!" Piu raised her voice. "Don't talk ill about the head priest. He isn't to be blamed for it all."

"Then who is to be blamed?"

"The one who is killing."

"I am sure the priest isn't insane enough to carry out a string of murders," Maya said bitterly with a sardonic smile and glowering eyes. "Please make sure the words that leave your mouth don't end up maligning someone unnecessarily."

"I am not saying he has done it, but he is to be blamed. Mother doesn't like him, so she is punishing us all."

"Miss, it will be best that you now leave. I don't want your visit to my shop to turn any more troublesome."

Maya shot one predatory glance at Neel, who returned the gesture with equal intensity.

"Goodbye, Piu. But tell me how much the ring–"

"Take the ring for free," she whispered, low enough for Neel to not hear. "It's a token from my end."

Maya left with a heavy heart. Some of the people, like Anandi, had complete confidence in Hrishav while some like Neel were more superstitious. They didn't understand that Kali would never kill her children without any reason. To kill just because she didn't like the new priest sounded so baseless.

"Hrishav said the murders are sacrificial. So someone is into, maybe, black magic? People here do believe in these."

But how ironic, Kali is black herself, isn't it?

Can black magic then even hurt her?

"Ouch!"

Lost in her thoughts, fate made her bump into Shekhar. He had been carrying a small bag of fruits and all those now rolled on the muddy ground.

"I am extremely sorry," Maya apologised, bending down to pick up the fruits. She bit her tongue. "I wasn't aware."

"You were probably in your own world."

She quickly glimpsed at him and continued to put things in his bag. "Yes, kind of. You guessed–"

Then it hit her.

He wasn't smiling. He was glaring at her.

Her stomach twisted in an ugly way. "I-I am sorry, I told you," she repeated, handing him the bag.

"It's alright. Be careful, Maya." He snatched away the bag and strode off.

"Wait!" she shouted. Her heart thumped and warned her to not do it, but she had the violent urge to follow the dangerous stars.

Shekhar paused, but didn't look back at her.

"There was blood inside the garbha griha the day Radha died," Maya said. "Do you know that?"

Shekhar craned his neck, the veins on his neck popping out. Shaking his head, he walked away.

And to Maya, his silence was important enough.