Satyanarayan slowed down as he reached an entrance to a tea estate. The security guard at the gate waved at Sattu and lifted the barricade to let the jeep through.

He then drove through winding roads and through a few uprise and base of hills. There was something strangely elegant about tea gardens that gives you a sense of royalty. He ultimately stopped the Jeep in front of a housing complex and turned off the ignition.

Vaibhav alighted from the Jeep took his luggage and stood in front of the complex gate. He turned around to see acres of tea gardens stretching across the horizon and deeply breathed in the brine air. The tea garden appeared more green if continuously looked at. Vaibhav simply immersed in the scenery. He looked at Satyanarayan who was walking towards the right side of the gate. Vaibhav quietly strapped on his backpack. Satyanarayan came over, picked up his side bag, and walked up to the gates of the lodge and pushed them open for Vaibhav to enter.

"Welcome to the Sikdar Estate, Sir."

Vaibhav started walking towards what appeared like an old dormitory.

"Ah! Sir" said Satyanarayan "before you go inside there is someone I'd like you to meet."

"Who?" replied Vaibhav.

"Sir, the landlady of this house and the estate. She has requested a meeting with you on your arrival."

"Wouldn't it make more sense if I go see her after I freshen up?"

Satyanarayan made a face like he was going to cry. Either this person, who was the owner of this house was very scary or Satyanarayan had a very long explanation coming. Anyway Vaibhav reconsidered his statement and said

"Ok. Let's go see her."

The Bungalow was built in four sections, joined to form a square with a courtyard in the middle. One of the sections was the entrance and the others were lined with rooms like dormitories, with one of them opening into a terrace that overlooked the valley. Sattu led Vaibhav through the dormitory into the central courtyard garden. Where a lady was sitting with an house attendant by her side.

Miss Shefali Maryswan, as Satyanarayan introduced her to Vaibhav, was one of the remnants of the ill effects of British colonization. Not only genetically but she was every bit an Indian women in mid forties, whose very concept of culture rested on etiquette and a scary cat lady voice. Adorned in a flowing pink garment with white flapping collars like a matron gown, she sat with her legs crossed in the verandah armchair, as if a woman on a jury bench. Only not there to deliver justice but to pass a verdict.

"Ma'am" Satyanarayan slowly began.

Miss Maryswan immediately looked up towards Satyanarayan and then she turned towards Vaibhav. The way she observed him Vaibhav could tell that she at least found three different flaws with his gait or him in general.

"Is this the boy?" Maryswan asked Sattu.

"Yes madam, this is the new forensic doctor." Satyanarayan replied coyly.

"Learned the meaning, did you?" Shefali said in a way that could easily be a thunderbolt.

Maryswan again turned to Vaibhav and said "You haven't even grown stuble on your cheek, yet you dissect dead bodies for a living. Sattu here, was baffled about exactly what you are?"

"I'm sure I have to explain that to a lot more people." Vaibhav answered quietly.

"What was the hurry in going and saving the world! Don't you find it odd to eat with the same hands that you use to barge the inside of people!" Shefali said in a commanding tone for causes better than the intention of making Vaibhav throw up. He was a man who kept things in order, compartmentalized. Eating and dissection do not go together.

"I felt like the world needed my skills prematurely." replied Vaibhav.

"Clever comebacks huh!? You would make a nice collection to my tenants. Go freshen up, lunch is at 1 p.m. Don't be late."

"Yes, ma'am."

"All gates close before 10 pm. This is a large estate, don't go roaming into the town. Plenty of nature here to enjoy!"

Vaibhav pressed his lips and nodded his head in response.

"And most importantly, dry your underwear in the privacy of your room! I better not find them hanging from the balcony!"

Vaibhav looked up at the building surrounding him. He had a strong urge that the walls will close in and crush him. He silently nodded again.

"Hot water is available for two hours in the morning from the kitchen backyard" Shefali pointed to the north west where a woman was cleaning utensils.

Shefali signalled her attendant "show him his room! Sattu you can go." She stood up as she spoke.

Vaibhav drooped his head and walked out with Sattu. Shefali led the way and walked past Vaibhav once they were out of the room.

"What do you think?" Sattu asked in a low voice.

"I see why she makes you cry!" Vaibhav replied watching Shefali walk away.

"What?" Sattu replied haphazardly.

"Where is her husband?" Vaibhav immediately changed his tone regretting his rude observation.

Sattu arched his brows and pointed to the other side of the corridor, "Nandan Sikdar usually conducts his business inside that room."

Vaibhav turned his head and squinted his eyes in hopes of noticing the zamindar inside the room. At that very moment, a woman came out of the room.

Her face was not clearly visible as much a golden and white saree. She was probably from the village, thought Vaibhav.