Part 43 Werewolf

"The killer is not a wild animal but a strange creature, sir"

"I didn't get you"

"It was a werewolf"

Aman was shocked as he didn't expect his guess to be true.

"What do you mean? Werewolf and all are not true"

"No, sir, my son's friend saw that in front of his eyes. He was there when he killed my son, sir"

"Who is he?"

The old woman was stuck.

"Will you tell me or, do you want me to take you to the police station?"

"Sir, his house is three lanes away from here, sir"

"What's his name?"

"Velu"

"Come with us"

The police constable brought her to the jeep and made her sit in it. She instructed them to Velu's house.

Seeing the old lady with the police, Velu started running. Aman removed his gun and shot it towards the sky.

"Velu, stop running, or else, the next bullet will penetrate you"

Velu stopped at the same place like a statue. Aman ran to him.

"Sir, I stopped hunting animals long ago. I'm not doing illegal activities nowadays sir"

"Why did you stop it?" Aman asked.

Velu looked at him surprisingly.

"Tell me the reason"

Velu didn't know what he meant.

"You stopped hunting after your friend got attacked by a wild animal, right?"

Velu nodded yes.

"I can't believe a hunter could be a coward"

"Sir, I'm not a coward"

"Why did you stop hunting if you are brave? Can't you just hit the animal with a single arrow?"

"Sir, it's not an animal that can be killed with an arrow"

"Why? Was that a dinosaur or what?" Aman mocked.

"More dangerous than a dinosaur... it's a werewolf, sir"

"Werewolf? Are you joking?"

"Sir, trust me, I saw that killing my friend...it was so horrible, sir"

"Who will trust you if you tell this story?"

"Sir, it's not a story but a truth no matter if you trust it or not"

"Ok, come to the SP office with me and tell him about the werewolf"

"Sir, sir... he will put me behind bars for hunting wild animals, sir... please, leave me, sir. I will not do that again. I left everything sir. I didn't even get the deerskin from Kumar's mother... I don't want anything, sir... please leave me"

"Is not hunting animals a crime?"

"Sir, we had no job to run our family, sir. That's why we did that."

"Then, how will you run your family hereafter?"

"I got a job in the AR tea estate, sir. I will not interfere in any illegal activities anymore... trust me, sir"

"How could I trust you?"

"What do you want me to do, sir?"

"Come to the SP office"

"Sir..."

"You don't have to tell him about yourself. Just tell him about the werewolf"

Velu hesitated.

"I will not involve you in this case if you do that but remember, you should not get into any illegal activities hereafter. If I catch you again, you will be punished severely"

Velu thought about it.

"You have no choice. If you don't cooperate with me, I will arrest you. then you will lose your job forever because Junior ASR and I are friends"

He became restless. he nodded his head without having any choice.

"Good, come...."

Aman took Velu with him to the SP office to meet Shashi

SP Bungalow

Shashi was surprised to see Khushi in a saree.

"Wow... I can't believe this. My daughter is wearing a saree...!" he smiled.

Khushi walked without giving heed to his comment. Shashi knew she was angry with him for bringing her to his father's funeral without her consent.

Shashi clutched her hand and stopped.

"I'm sorry, beta, I should not have brought you to the funeral. I just wished to have you at my father's funeral"

"Why are you behind your father who is completely wrong, Dad?"

"He is my father. He might be wrong... he might not be a good father but I'm a good son"

Khushi averted her gaze annoyingly.

"Take it easy, Khushi. Be cool..."

Of course, she was cool as Arnav accepted the truth and didn't behave oddly. She was so relieved and happier. Yet, she removed his hand and said,

"Bye, Dad..."

She walked out. Shashi sighed helplessly.

College

Students looked at Khushi who looked striking in a netted saree with a boat neck, and a sleeveless blouse. She came to their class and received the same kind of look from her classmates... especially from her man. Though Arnav was also stunned by her stunning look, his state was different. His eyes smiled along with his lips.

"Khushi, looking gorgeous in saree," Lavanya said.

"Is anything special today?" asked Preethi.

She shrugged her shoulders and came to the last bench. She sat straight and looked at Arnav who was gazing at her.

"Hi," she smiled.

"Looking breathtakingly awesome" he smiled.

"Is it? Did I take your breath?"

"A long ago..."

She smiled lovingly.

"RED is my favorite color but I never knew it would look so fetching like this.."

"Is anything special?" Arnav asked the same question Preethi asked.

"Everything is special... especially, you didn't get upset with me after knowing who is my grandfather"

Arnav smiled.

"Do you how tensed I was thinking about it?"

Arnav blinked his eyes.

"I would like to go to the temple in the evening to thank God... will you take me?"

Arnav was supposed to say something, but she stopped him and said,

"I know you will not come inside the temple. Don't worry, I will not ask you to accompany me to the temple. You can drop me outside"

Arnav nodded ok.

"Really? Will you take me?"

"Mmm"

"May I ask you something?" She asked.

Arnav nodded his head like, WHAT?

"What will happen if you come inside the temple? What will you feel? Will you feel any kind of pain?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"I would feel a burning sensation in my body"

"That's why you ran away when the Tribal man sprinkled the holy water on us when we went on the trip?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"This is why there is no pooja room in our house. I can't tolerate the hymns and Pooja vibrations. Those make me irritated"

"Then you don't have to come with me to the temple... I will take an auto"

"No need. I will drop you and will be waiting a little away from the temple"

"Are you sure?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"Will you take me to the temple after our wedding too?"

Arnav nodded smilingly. Whenever she spoke about their wedding, it gave him Goosebumps. WEDDING...! He never thought it would happen in his life. Of course, it had not happened yet but he believed it would soon happen. It was because of Khushi and the hope given by her.

"You are so mesmerizing" he touched her hand adoringly.

"You too..."

"Me?" he chuckled.

"Undoubtedly... your eyes are enough to make me flat" She chuckled.

"You always talk looking into my eyes... I don't see you getting flat ever"

"Get close to me and see what happens..."

Arnav smiled biting his lip.

"Whaaat?" She nagged him.

"You always make me feel better. You are growing desire in my heart, giving a lot of expectations in our life..."

"We will deal with all your desires after our wedding" she winked making Arnav smile.

............

SP office

Shashi was shocked to hear Velu talking about the werewolf. He suffocated like hell.

"Did you see the werewolf?"

"Yes, sir. It killed my friend, sir. I saw that in my eyes. That's why his mother didn't follow the case because she knew you could not get a clue. Even though you find it out, you would not trust it" Velu said.

"Why did you go to the forest in the night?" Shashi asked.

Velu looked at Aman who gestured to him to say.

"My friend was the one who went to the forest, fighting with his mother, sir. His mother was so worried as he didn't reach home. She requested me to look for him. I went searching for him, sir. That was when I saw him running to save his life from a werewolf. It caught him and tore his flesh..."

"Look, people will not trust this story. They will think the police are trying to divert the case because they are ineligible to find the killer. So, don't talk about it to anyone, OK? Don't open your mouth"

"I told the inspector about it only after he enquired me, sir. To date, I haven't spoken to anyone about it"

"Maintain the same... you can go now" Shashi said.

Velu looked at Aman.

"Wait outside. I will come"

Velu nodded ok and went out. Aman looked at Shshi.

"What are we going to do now, sir?"

"This is a critical issue... we should not let it leak. It will become a topic and make people panic. Be careful. Get a written complaint from the man and send him."

"Ok, sir..."

Aman came out. He frowned not finding Velu there. He searched for him but he was not in the SP office.

...........

Evening

Arnav brought Khushi to the temple. She got down from the bike and went inside the temple. Arnav stood, leaning on his bike smilingly, looking at Khushi. Khushi came in front of DM's idol and prayed. She thanked DM for solving her grandfather's issue smoothly. More than that, she prayed for their wedding to happen soon. She came out finishing her prayer without delay as Arnav waited for her.

She came to him smilingly.

"Finished?"

"Yeah...

"Shall we go?"

"Mmm..."

Arnav started the bike. Khushi sat behind him. They left the temple with overflowing joy.

A person who saw them together was shocked as it was unexpected. The person was none other than Sheetal.

To be continued...