⌂WHISPERS IN THE SHADOW⌂

Present day, Ranchi

The torturous hot summers bathed the city of Ranchi, the bright yellow light emitting from above ever beings' heads spread through the land exposing afternoon onto the busy citizens of Ranchi, the capital of Jarkhand. Bustling filled the ears of everyone as they went about their day.

Shoving past two-three people, Vikram held his bag of fruits in front of him with an iron grip. The market discount sale had just gotten over and he wasn't just about to get mugged or stolen from by hungry fools.

He ducked as two men walking in the opposite direction beside him raised a basket of vegetable above his head. The gave a thumbs up as he grinned, continuing his day.Turning to the left where a pathway was on the other side, he crossed with no cars evident. That side of Ranchi, known as Nagri was usually empty with only sources of markets and whatnot. Vikram made his way down the street, heading to his friends' house.

He took a few twists and turn before ending up on the doorstep of the house known as "Mahavayu" as named by Atrap Kerur, one of his best friends. His other best friend Kedav Sadhba didn't like it, and nor did Vikram but since Atrap had been the one to buy the house they had accepted, however reluctant.

Vikram sighed tiredly as he set the bags down and fished for his keys.

It all happened so suddenly he wasn't even sure it was real.

Chills spread through his spine as he felt a cold set of eyes rest on him. Frowning, he turned but saw nothing. Yet the anonymous stare still stayed. Vikram dismissed it as nothing and wished with that action that it would go away. But instead the gaze seemed to deepen. The watcher approached closer as Vikram summoned all his willpower to ignore it, still searching for his keys.

The watcher moved closer until it was right behind Vikram. He froze, sweat pouring down his forehead as it's whisper penetrated his ears.

'Vikram'

And then it was gone, replace by eerie silence. Vikram knew there bustling was uncommon in Nagri, but he felt as though there was a need for it. After all, what kind of district would it be if there was no bustling? Vikram still felt traces of the whisper, like the after effect that occurred once touching something repulsive. He shuddered, finally finding his keys in his back pocket. Jamming it in with a stammering hand, he twisted the key and pushed, revealing a hallway.

He walked in and shut the door behind him. The hallway was small and narrow but it led into a finely-lit living room. The living room had a couch and a television. To the left, the room expanded to a dining table with a kitchen in front of that. Behind the dining table in the corner were two rooms.

The couch was occupied. Kedav Sadhba was a short fellow who moved quickly and was quite nimble. He had overgrown black hair and almost constantly wore a leather jacket despite the blistering heat. At a glance one could find out his naughty demeanor. Though Vikram had been one of the few to actually experience it, unfortunately. The only reason they were not in prison was Atrap. Somehow he always kept them in check, making sure they didn't go too far. But when he was not there..

'Wow, I'm surprised to see you alive, man. The queues must've killed you. I'm surprised you didn't argue much about going' Said Kedav, voice masked with generosity.

Vikram grinned. 'Free Vada Pavs, remember?' He made a faint satisfactory sound in the back of his throat just to get him to be jealous.

Kedav facepalmed. 'Shit. Why didn't I remember it?'

Vikram chuckled. 'Where's Atrap?' He had taken notice of the fact that their friend was not there. Though he remembered Atrap vaguely telling him of leaving early for a college interview. Vikram was too busy trying to find a comfortable spot on the couch, so naturally he had forgotten about it.

'I think he told me something about a college entrance exam. He's planning to join one of those colleges, though I don't know why. I don't know what he sees in those schools and colleges. To me, they're just different versions of hell' Shrugged Kedav. He bent and picked up a conical shaped box with a flat bottom where there were chopsticks in and a few noodle threads hanging out. Vikram couldn't help but shake his head in slight disappointment and slight amusement. He expected Kedav to be utilizing the money his brother had given him this way.

But onto what he said, Vikram chose to ignore. He had accepted the fact a while back that Kedav would never truly understand the requirement of proper education, which in turn came for a scholarship, which became job offer. And they needed money. None of them had parents. So no inheritance. Before his parents had died, their will had been assigned to his uncle Rameez who lived in Lahore's upcoming son. Though his uncle had broken things off with his wife the moment news came that she was pregnant. He guessed the man was just greedy for the money.

He suspected the same with Kedav and Atrap. Kedav's parents had thrown him away the moment he was born and Atrap's had died in a bombing. Vikram had no memories of his own parents and his elder brother Nirmaan seemed to avoid the answer. Vikram had heard him hint at the fact that Nirmaan had been given away at a young age and Vikram somewhat believed it since he had only met Nirmaan after his parents' death. He was past that though. He had come to accept the fact that his parents didn't love him, and he didn't love them.

'Something came fore you by the way' Said Kedav between mouthfuls of noodles. 'Unmarked'

For the first time Vikram noticed the pile on the table. He frowned. But in total confusion. On the top were Amazon gift cards he bet were from Rameez uncle who had forgotten his birthday again. Kedav watched him curiously with noodles in his mouth with a slight hint of greediness. Vikram sighed inwardly and tossed the gift cards to him. He caught it and smiled, already preparing plans for what to buy.

But that wasn't what piqued him. Vikram's thoughts of Kedav's.. well.. being Kedav; sundered as he glanced at the old and tattered book on the table. Covered in dust, it was torn with the cover missing and a few burnt spots on it. Vikram didn't quite understand what was written in it. It looked like Hindi to him but he had heard Hindi was very similar to Sanskrit, the ancient language. There was nothing else, except for a note put hastily in one of the pages. He glanced at it and frowned deeper.

The right way does not always seem clear.

Vikram sighed and shook his head. Screw these advertisement people trying to draw him into these archeological commercials with these petty quotes. But still, a nagging feeling ate at him. Like digesting a bad apple thinking it was good.

'What does this even mean?' He asked nobody in particular, though Kedav answered.

'I don't know. Though I do know that the coupons mean that your uncle still hates you' He said, still inspecting the coupons as though expecting it to be forged. However hateful Rameez uncle was, he didn't to bother to go as great as forging gift cards.

Vikram scowled and showed him the note and the book. 'Didn't you read it?'

Kedav set aside his Chinese food which was nearly done and looked at the note. 'Yeah I did. I didn't bother thinking on it though. Maybe just another one of those neighbors pranking us with these random nonsense'

Vikram nodded thoughtfully. 'Maybe' He glanced at the book as it seemed to sharpen in focus. Kedav began absentmindedly twirling his chopsticks as it clacked together and snapped Vikram back. Kedav seemed to be deep in thought as Vikram felt a pang of panic.

'What are you planning' He asked accusingly. Kedav pursed his lips and looked at him. 'I've got an idea.' He said.

Vikram threw back his head exasperatedly. 'Kedav we're not kids anymore. Anything remotely related to stealing or kidnapping will result in us going to jail. Adults are always looking for reasons to blame things on teenagers. No one will believe it if you say it was a simple prank. This is the age in which we're "supposed" to be like this'

Vikram realized he was ranting. He glanced at Kedav to see he was smiling. 'Wow man. I haven't even told you anything and you've already spoken of every negative thing that could happen. Think on the bright side. All I'm saying is that we should just take some expensive food. You know the Old Knight Hotel?'

Vikram would not admit it, but he missed this side of things. When Atrap wasn't there they would cause mischief but succeed with a minimal price to pay. All this time they had been acting like normal teenagers, but no one had the authority to make them do what they were supposed to do. They could do whatever they wanted!

'Go on' Prodded Vikram, trying to sound excited but sincerely curious.

'General Sumir Khan is returning from the southern border after successfully defending against a massive British attack. He is coming here to be awarded by the president himself and a huge feast is being held in his name. I suggest we go in there dressed like waiters and somehow get the food. It's just the base of the plan and I was hoping you would elaborate more on it'

Vikram mocked surprise. 'If you've gone as far as watching the news, I wonder how much free time you have'

Kedav shrugged lightly. 'It's not fair that Atrap didn't pay for the other channels today'

Vikram chuckled. 'Okay, what's the time of the feast?'

Kedav glanced at his watch. 'Exactly two hours and three minutes'

Vikram nodded. Enough time. But it would take about half an hour to forty five minutes because of traffic and the president crossing the city. They always closed off the roads when that happened. So they needed to act fast. Thankfully, staff members always came early.

He recalled an instance when they themselves had been to the Old Knight hotel. His brother had rented the room since he had inherited some money. Kedav had repeatedly bullied the butler that took care of their names. He voiced his thoughts to him.

'Yeah. I remember him. His name was Shafir or something' Said Kedav.

'Does he still work there?' Asked Vikram. He knew it would not be appropriate for Kedav to know, but the man had so much free time Vikram wondered what he did.

Kedav was slow to answer. 'Despite the fact that I do not spy on him to make his life more miserable I know the fact that he does.'

Vikram grinned cheekily. Classic Kedav should be a nametag.

'If you can contact him, do it. Tell him to take the day off.'

Kedav nodded and went to their telephone. Vikram fingered his chin, deep in thought. He could disguise as the waiter, but only one disguise wouldn't work. As much as he hated doing this to his friend, it was their only option.

He voiced his thoughts once Kedav got off the phone grinning like a maniac.

Kedav's grin faded. 'No. No no no no no. I am not being a chef. I hate the kitchen. Besides, I am not gonna be in the same room with sweat and frustrated guys with knives'

'Do you want to do this or not?' Retorted Vikram, smiling slightly. Kedav sighed and nodded. Feeling sympathy for his friend, he patted him on the back reassuringly. Though it was a victory for Vikram. Getting Kedav to do something he didn't want to do was never an easy feat.

'Try to ask for some chef clothes. We leave in twenty minutes' Kedav raced to his room as Vikram made to the same. But he became slightly fazed as what he couldn't describe as a memory or reality embedded in his mind.

'Vikram'

'Shut the bloody hell up!'

The rishi of the Minakshi temple in Madurai stood in front of the Nataraja statue blocking it from the Britisher's gunpoint. His eyes was closed as he stood calmly, chanting the Gayathri Mantram. The Britisher's eyes widened in fury at being ignored and disobeyed. He snarled, loading the gun and aiming, his body shaking with rage. His finger slowly pulled the trigger then froze when slow footsteps began echoing through the hall.

Governer Richard was a man of average height as white as snow. A beard decorated his wrinkled face, a permanent frown fixed on it. Sometimes it looked evil. He wore a heavy suit arrayed with medals along with circular shoulder pads with yellow strips of cloth dangling off of it. He stood upright, seeming to see through the brahmin covering the statue.

He raised an eyebrow when the soldier hesitated to shoot. The soldier now shook with fear too, but he rid himself off of it when the eyebrow shot up. Steely determination clouded his eyes as he fire the gun. Richard smiled. A smile that never reached his eyes. Simply two bullets and the so called "magicians" were down. He chuckled hoarsely at the thoughts of soldiers cowering in fear in front of the rishis.

He grabbed the gun rather forcefully as pointed it at the Nataraja statue smiling at them. But it wasn't a smile of happiness nor reassurance, but of sadness, glancing at the sinful soul before him.

They would crumble. They would all crumble.

Richard's smile deepened as the bullet's echo reverberated through the air.

The Sun will never set on the British empire.