The fruit hangs on the tree. The seer has travelled this far only to tastes its juice, and it awaits being plucked.

Only to be stared at with skeptical eyes.

Perhaps it's red is so bright due to the sun. Perhaps it looks so plump due to an illusion. Perhaps it's really not so beautiful. How can a fruit even grow on a barren tree?

Seeing the stubbornness of the seer, Nandini pushes forward the fake priest. He sways to the tree and reaches for the fruit.

There's just a second before he can grab the delicious object of desire.

There's just a few inches between his hand and the branch.

There's only a second before the seer lurches and snatches the fruit.

Satisfied, Nandini smiles.

****

There was a limit to the questions a person could ask, and old age was definitely not an excuse.

Maya prayed to Kalika for someone to come and rescue her from the kitchen. Stuck with Rani for the hag wasn't capable of handling the heat of the blazing fire, Maya not only cooked in the harsh temperatures, but also endured the treacherous interrogation of Rani.

"Come on, just accept that instead of going for Tirtha, you are choosing Boro Babu. It's a profitable decision."

"Will you shut up?" Maya hissed. "I will complaint to him."

"Oh, you may." She grinned with a shrug. "He will deny of course, but be so happy inside. And I won't get my job taken because I gossip about him. Many women in the past went after him and so many numerous tales were spun. Well, by me too." She giggled like a witch. "He never cared. Maybe even enjoyed it. He enjoys rejecting women. But he seems to have an interest in you."

"What makes you say that?" Maya kept down the spatula with a thud, her fingers clammy from the sweat of wrath.

"I have seen men more than you, Maya. Your experience is little and paltry to my wrinkled perception. My naked eyes have grown weaker, but not my judgement." She tapped her head. "This stores a lot of wisdom."

"I don't seem to see that."

"Your failure."

Maya covered the handi with a lid. So, Boro Babu has had flings before, she thought. No doubt he must have slept too.

"Thinking about his previous affairs?" Rani smirked.

The sly smile splashed goosebumps over Maya's tender skin. She scoffed, hoping the sweat and heat would help her to hide the disgusting blush. She hated it, the way her body reacted to the revelation. She wasn't going to listen to his past.

"I take your silence as permission–"

"I am not willing."

Rani rolled her eyes. "Such bulls you two are. Anyways, let me enlighten you."

Maya smacked her forehead, and Rani began her story.

"Boro Babu had a sort of relationship when he was studying in university. But it went downhill. The girl ended up cheating on him or something. Was a princess from a richer kingdom. He got humiliated by her, probably on grounds of status. I can't even imagine if she ridicules him then how regal and affluent she must be."

"So let's drop the topic."

"Ah! Shut up. Rituja isn't here to listen to me rambling, so you will. What was I saying? Ah, the university one." She clicked her tongue. "It's like, he was on the verge of proposing to her when this happened. After that he really moved away from love. Typical men acting like lovestruck drunkards after just one heartbreak. And making that pain an excuse, he went on rejecting women. Mind you, families more reputed than the Mukherjee approached him with their daughters, but he told he wouldn't marry since he was deep in upasana of the Devi and wanted to devote all his attention to her."

"This I can bet to be crap. I am not eager to learn his history," Maya glared, "but, this is true. Men act broken on tiny things. Maybe the princess had never liked him as a lover and he was the one intruding her personal space. And he conjured this humiliation thing in his mind to feed his own bloated ego."

"Frictional lovers, I see." Rani's eyes widened. "You will ruin his ego."

Before she could sour Maya's ears more, a strange rescuer came up. Ramu, it was, the assistant of Lalon. She hadn't had a proper interaction with him till now. He seemed aloof and always busy to follow his master's orders. In front of Lalon he avoided speaking to her.

"Can you give me some flowers? Uncle Lalon is sick so I must do the puja."

Rani gave him an angry look but Maya hurried out of the kitchen. She swore she needed this. Taking her good time to collect the best flowers for Maa, she then gave it to Ramu.

"Can I see the puja? Help you in some way?" Don't send me back to the kitchen.

"Why, umm," he stammered. "Of course. Anyone can see the puja."

Maya studied how he did the things. Due to some reason, his hands were clumsy. His fingers quivered as he tried to light up the incense sticks.

"I can do it," Maya offered.

She lit them and he hummed the mantras while doing the regular aarti. It was not as brilliant as Hrishav– the princely priest was more gorgeous in his methods– but he did it in his own way, which was appreciable. Maya could note some faults but didn't know if correcting would be a good idea. What if she got a scolding and had to go back to cooking? She wasn't ready to cook today. Not until that Rani was there.

But, to not guide Ramu was equivalent to allowing him the liberty to do a mistake while she could have prevented it. Her illogical fear was halting the urge to act in a sensible manner. So to obey the righteous path, Maya spoke up. "Your mudra is incorrect."

His clean shaven face flushed. He was very fair, unlike the dark complexion of Hrishav. His cheeks appeared green due to the brightness of his skin. Meekly he looked down, his larynx bobbing. "How...how should I do it? Please don't tell Uncle Lalon. He will not tolerate it."

"Does he bully you?"

Ramu's feet curled inward. "He does. At every opportunity. But I must do this job to feed my belly."

Maya heaved a sigh. "I won't tell him."

She showed him the right mudra. He tried doing it, but his eyes fluttered to her button nose, her thick brows, her luscious tresses. Failing miserably, he groaned. "That's why Uncle Lalon tells I am very fickle-minded."

"You are thinking too much about him." Maya's stomach twisted. There was so much negativity all around for anyone like Ramu or her to even concentrate on worshipping the goddess. People like Lalon and Hrishav were more concerned about a devotee's formal education and financial situation than true love for the deity. "Fine, let me show you again."

She took his hand, vowing to teach the unconfident man that he could easily do what those vain beings boasted of. Ramu's flustered face was missed. Skillfully she demonstrated the gracful way to hold a hibiscus. Ramu barely focused on the flower.

"Seems like you have got a new teacher."

The unlikable opinion was given by none other than the egoistic Hrishav. He climbed the stairs to the temple akin to a storm rushing on the sea shore. He pulled the flower out of their entwined fingers, hitting Maya with a malevolent glance. "Move. I will do it."

Although he spoke it looking at Maya, Ramu knew he was called useless again.

"Promiscuous," Hrishav muttered under his breath.

Maya noticed rivulets of water sliding down his back, moistening the red uttariya he had pleated on his left shoulder. There was a frown on his face as he did the puja. Maya wanted to know why someone who clearly could not admire devotion and the simple desire to learn was able to ascend to such favouritism. Maybe Kalika indeed had her chosen ones.

No, she told herself. I love her. And she loves me. Don't let this swine come in between.

"Next time, call me if you are unable to do something instead of taking help from the unguided." Handing the flower to Ramu, Hrishav stormed off. Maya too, decided to go to her room. Ramu ran after her, repeating that Boro Babu was in a bad mood.

"We are his servants. Don't be so hurt about it. We are lowly beings."

"You don't see how proud he is of his knowledge? So proud that it borders on lunacy." She spat. "Nonsense."

"We are not entitled to make such statements." His forehead creased. "People like us must get habituated to hearing insults and curses. It's how we get paid."

Maya didn't reply. Perhaps he was right. What quality did she have to not digest the disrespect? No, she was a pure woman and no way would welcome disdain. Instead, she could simply ignore it and not get so riled up. She had to brush it off. Yes, it was disrespect, but she was also not one to go for a head-on clash.

Or she was.

"I am not in my right mind," Maya said. "I need some rest."

"Alright. But don't think about it too much."

Maya flopped on her bed for a well-deserved nap.

****

When night fell on Chandaneshwar, a whisper knocked on the door to Maya's room. Taking an earthen pot in her hand, she unlatched the door.

"You look like a rakshasi," Hrishav said in awe. Maya's stance fumbled and she staggered back, feeling self-conscious about her sleep-deprived baggy puffs. But in place of a scowl, the man wetted his lips. "Don't hit me, please. I am not here to play with you."

Is he mocking me?

She saw he was cloaked like their previous nighttime encounter. The lamps in the palace were all extinguished. In the dim light, he put a dagger in her hand. "A pot won't come handy. Keep this with you."

The silver blade of the dagger glinted. "Are we going somewhere?"

"Hmm." His gaze pierced her. "To the snake charmers. And you better cover up. I can't send every man to a prostituition centre to safeguard you."

In her dazed consciousness she didn't adjust her aanchal, that threateningly slipped down to reveal plenty of her cleavage. The fabric was soft and thin, accentuating even her buds. Too tired to retort, she covered herself with a shawl and tucked the dagger in her waist. "Let's go."

The journey to the slums was a boring walk. But the closer they reached, the more colourful the surroundings turned, as if the inhabitants were celebrated Diwali. It wasn't that time of the year, nor did the neon lights look like an expression of celebration.

Standing on either side of the narrow lane were girls dressed in minimal clothes. Their sarees flowed like waves waiting to reveal what laid beneath the blue sea. Perhaps mounds of scented flesh, enchanting forests and dainty legs. After one point, Hrishav unveiled his face and came out of his disguise. Immediately, ladies flocked to his side.

"Boro Babu wants to see a dance?"

"Get off him! He will hear me singing. Maybe allow me to massage his feet..."

"Who is that woman with him?"

They scattered and judged Maya with bitter stares. Her lips curled down in scorn. "You are no different than Tirtha."

Hrishav's eyes searched for someone. "Did you say something?" He peered through the open windows, retreating with a sigh when stumbling over some copulating couple.

"Where in the world are we?"

"A cheap prostituition area. Tirtha used to be a regular here until his monthly allowance allowed him to go attend Bonolota and her girls."

"Why are we here?"

"The snake charmers live here. Their lives are coiled with lust."

"This is such a horrible place."

"Don't act so pure and guileless, Maya. Respect the place you are in."

His eyes glowered with wrath. She couldn't fight the fire in those orbs. Quietly she followed him deeper into the lanes squeezed between huts and polluted by moans. The men sized her up, only to flee with a white face when Hrishav smiled.

"She's his woman," shushed the repelled customers.

"Did you hear?" Maya shouted. "Is this what–"

"They don't think you are my wife. They only mean you are my servant. Serving my body."

"That is not respectable–"

"I don't care." He yanked Maya by the arm. "Let them think. Or do you want me to tell them you are free and available to go lick their arousal?"

"Why would being associated with you secure me? It's not like if I say I am alone equates to asking for a casual night."

"You are a clever woman." Hrishav gritted his teeth. "You thought I didn't see what you were doing with Ramu? I saw it all. You lure men. I am damn sure you must have tempted Tirtha too."

Maya's hand raised up to give him a slap, but he pushed her back against a wall. "Listen," he growled in her ear, "I don't care what you are. And you don't dare think I am one of those to entertain prostitutes. My body is a temple, got it?" His grip left an imprint on her wrist. "We are here to find about the first victim. Common goal."

Foggy droplets of revenge occluded Maya's vision, a seedling of ire growing inside her heart. If only she could plant the dagger inside his intestines and watch his blood spurt out. She wanted to drink his regal ichor, feed on his crunchy bones. Fry them in mustard oil and serve to Tirtha as snacks, and then kill that brat too.

Snap out of your dreams, she chided herself.

He was too full of himself. And she was too aware of her imperfections to counter him.

Finally, they stopped in front of a cottage. Hrishav called a name and came out a transgender. They were dressed akin to those women. "Boro Babu?"

"Where is your father, Argha?"

"This way, saheb." Argha ushered in. "Oh, wait?" His hand stood before Maya like a barrier. "Who are you?"

"I am here with Boro Babu."

Argha looked at him for confirmation. When he nodded in approval, Argha placed a kiss on her cheek. "Such a beauty. Hah, may my sinful kiss not corrupt you!" They clapped, the signature jingling of bangles chiming in the air.

They were made to sit on a khatia. Maya was at level with him. She liked it, and also not. On one hand she could be at par with a royal, but also be on the same pedestal as a vicious beast. Argha served them stale roti and jaggery. "Something for my guests. Pardon me if it tastes ugly. I am not made for cooking anything except men's brains."

Hrishav chuckled. "You will never change, Argha."

They looked very comfortable with each other. Hrishav relished the roti which Maya found hard to chew, so hard and brittle it was. Sneakily she wondered if Argha was his favourite refreshment.

An old man limped in the room. He wore the rainbow-shaded garb of snake charmers and flaunted eyelids dabbed with charcoal-black kohl. "Boro Babu." He bowed.

Hrishav fetched a pouch and threw at him. "Need all details."

The old man sat down with a snicker. "Spill the beans, Argha."

They crossed their legs and flicked their hair. "I can only tell about the first victim for now. She was a prostitute from our locality. Very peculiar. Never lost her virginity, only sucked men."

Maya almost retched.

Argha winked at her. "Poor thing was intelligent. Should have been born in a better family. Her parents weren't ready to send her to school. She was trained to become one like us. Yet," Argha stared at the ceiling with a glistening sheen of tears, "her mind was untainted. Some of us prostitutes decided to save from our earnings to send her to a university. A bihari man came to our help. He had no heir and was searching for some child to give his land to. We knew him as a kind man, so handed our daughter to him. Alas, she was sacrificed."

"Narabali." Hrishav yawned. "Who trusts a man so easily? Not me."

"We knew him for five years. Was a regular client," Argha argued. "Leave it. You know the rest."

"Where is the man now?"

"Nowhere. Poof!"

"Hmm. Any information about the second and third victims?"

"No. Hasn't your Mohan been digging up?"

"I always gather from multiple sources."

Argha laughed. "Charming."

"Thank you, Argha. I will come again when you have something new to tell me. Shall forever be indebted to you."

Argha opened their palm and demanded money. "If really so..."

Boro Babu took off his gold chain and gave it to them. "Tell the rest I slept with you."

"Scandalous!" Argha bit their nails seductively. "What will they think? That the Rajon's brother lost his virginity to a transgender?"

"I can assure you are better than them."

Maya ran outside. This wasn't her kind of conversation.

So he is a virgin, she mused. Interesting.

Argha came out with him. "Seems like someone got irritated. Memsaheb, I am not a dacoit. I won't rob him."

"Bloody fool," she cursed. "I am not anyone's woman."

"See her audacity!" Argha twirled their glittering braid. "Cursing the being whom Kalika created to curse others."

Maya flinched. "I didn't want to. You were teasing me, that's why."

Argha took a bit of their kajal and applied it on her chin. "May evil eye fly upon seeing your ethereal form. Let me escort you two till the outskirts."

Little did they know what Argha (or Kalika) was up to.

****

word count: 2995 words

Hrishav and Maya will be given an unpleasant news which is very very very pleasant to us readers lol

Anyways, thoughts about Argha? Might become a favourite character. I have warned you already XD

Enjoy this update. Shubho Kali Puja and Happy Diwali ❤️