Bhairavi had unexpectedly found herself stuck between a rock and a hard place. Literally!

Sneaking out of her cottage, she had, without checking if the coast was clear, walked over to the van and almost bumped into Raghav walking towards it from the other side.

With darkness as her best friend at the moment, Maithili's mother dashed behind the van. Unfortunately, the way it was backed up against the rock wall gave her hardly any wiggle room.

I knew it; I should have stuck with the diet plan. Bhairavi pursed her lips and sucked in her breath. It helped her, just a smidgen. But it was enough for her to hide from the prying eyes of...well, everyone. Hopefully, it was.

The soft creaking of the van's sliding door signaled that Raghav had entered the van. A moment later, he grunted in pain.

"Boss, I think you need to get it looked at. Won't help to let it get festered."

Bhairavi's eyes almost popped out of her sockets. She could have sworn that she had seen their driver leave the van barely minutes before she had left the cottage. Apparently not.

But if not Golu, who had she caught leaving the van with a shawl wrapped around them like a cocoon?

"Mind your own business. I have it under control." Raghav snapped.

Bhairavi had never heard their guide speak in that tone. I knew it. This is the real him.

"I have had enough of this. Why won't anyone do what I ask? Were they even briefed? I am in charge here, am I not!? Why must they defy me?" Raghav's tone grew furious by the second.

"You are the boss," Golu spoke like someone who either had no clue what his boss was talking about or did not care.

"Why am I even telling you this!?"

"I don't know, boss."

A pregnant pause later, Raghav demanded, "Is everything ready for tomorrow?"

"Yes, boss," Golu replied confidently. "The van has been serviced, I have placed extra tires for any emergency situations we might encounter; the fuel tank is full, and I have spoken to the property's caretaker. He says everything is up and running."

"It better be. We can't afford any more accidents."

"Boss, where did you go last night?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"Do you like that kid, Maithili?"

"What do you think?"

Raghav's tone was cold, like ice. Anger bubbled inside Bhairavi. What exactly was his intention? Why was he keeping Maithili around if she meant nothing to him!?

"I don't know, boss."

"I am here on business, and she is helping me keep Aunty-ji distracted. I need everything to go according to plan."

Raghav paused before spitting out the next word, "Dad won't give me another chance. The deal-Shush!" he fell silent abruptly, and a moment later, someone tapped on the van's door.

The door slid open. "Ah! Nan!" Raghav's fake facade was back in place. "Why did you bother?"

It must be one of the caretaker ladies. Bhairavi guessed. Everyone called the caretakers Nan.

"Eat. Eat."

It was their host from the night before.

"Thank you." Raghav seemed irritated, "I didn't ask you to bring it, did I, Nan?" The voice turned cold like earlier, "Do you think I am incapable of it? Please. Leave." he commanded, leaving no scope for argument.

Bhairavi was furious, but there was nothing she could do and settled for grinding her teeth and mouthing, 'Heartless!' under her breath.

"Boss, did you really have to behave like that!? She is old. She did it out of concern for you." Surprise lined Golu's words.

"Shut up, fool. You know nothing." Raghav chuckled, "I guess it's better that way."

Once again, the door slid open, but no sound of entering or leaving left the van.

What happened?

A gentle tap on Bhairavi's shoulder startled her, but the fact she was holding her breath, or at least trying, stopped her from making any sound. "Nan!?" She mouthed as a wrinkled, tear-stained face came into view.

The said woman shook her head and gestured to Bhairavi to follow her. Seeing as she was caught, she did as told.

She followed Nan, who was limping, till they were a few hundred meters away from Raghav and their van before holding her arm. "Hey, slow down. Where are you taking me?"

"Come. Come." Wrinkled hands danced in front of Bhairavi's face. Fear and concern swam in her deep inky pools.

"Were you scared that I would get hurt if I stayed?" Bhairavi asked, taking the cold hands into her warm ones.

Nan blinked.

"Did Raghav hurt you?"

Nan shook her head frantically.

A lie.

"Do you want me to wait here?"

Another nod.

"Why?"

Nan's eyes darted towards their left, then right. Silence followed as she hung her head low.

"Do you need help getting to your room?"

Nan shook her head weakly.

Bhairavi sighed. "It's alright. I want to make sure you get back to your room safely." She offered and led the latter to where she had often seen the old lady retire.

The cottage was small. It was colder than the ones the tour group was occupying. Bhairavi ran her eyes over the bare walls of the frugal setup.

A chattai was laid out at the end of the room, farthest from the entrance.

Is this how the Nans' taking care of the property are staying?

It was borderline inhuman!

Bhairavi held back the tears that threatened to escape her lids. "Nan, is there something I can do for you? Anything at all? My husband knows people. He can help you. You deserve better." She offered.

The woman smiled and gestured to her to wait; she limped to a small setup that could barely pass off for a kitchenette, and she returned with a steaming clay matki (cup) of a sweet-smelling liquid a few minutes later. "Drink. Drink."

Clearly, Nan had not understood Bhairavi. But the latter couldn't refuse the lady who seemed happiest when offering her guests nourishment.

"Thank you."

"Thank you. Thank you." Nan responded sweetly.

Bhairavi wrapped her fingers around the warm cup; a whiff of ginger, cinnamon, honey, and something she couldn't put her finger on tickled her senses. It tasted better than it smelled. Despite the bleak circumstances, she couldn't hold back her smile.

"Good. Good?"

Bhairavi responded with a nod.

Nan smiled toothlessly. "Help sleep."

"Will this help me sleep?"

"Sleep. Sleep. Drink. Drink."

Bhairavi finally understood what had happened. Nan had presumed that she was out because she couldn't sleep. Poor, innocent soul!

A comfortable quiet followed as she relished the drink one sip at a time while Nan sat in front of her, watching her intently.

"Good. Good." She repeated, pulling her knees to her chest and rubbing her sock-clad toes.

"Are you in pain?" Bhairavi asked, pointing at Nan's feet.

The old lady shook her head.

"May I see it?" placing the now-empty cup next to her, the younger woman reached for the other's foot.

"Good. Good." followed "No. No." as the woman slid backward.

"I won't hurt you." Bhairavi was getting desperate. How badly did he hurt you? Does he hurt others too? She pulled her hands back and raised them in surrender. "Alright. Just tell me one thing, okay?"

"Okay. Okay"

"Was it Raghav?" she pointed at the woman's feet, "Did Raghav hurt you?"

Fear flashed in the dark iris, yet when she spoke, 'No. No.' fell from her lips.

"Okay. I get it." Bhairavi stood up, "Thank you for helping me back there."

She missed the tears rolling down the widow's eyes as she left the meager cottage and made for her luxurious one.

Back in her cottage a short while later, she caressed her daughter's forehead. For some reason, despite having acquired distressing information, Bhairavi felt more relaxed than she had since arriving at the valley and soon fell asleep like she didn't have a care in the world.

*****

Thick, heavy fog engulfed the valley. Having done what needed to be done, a figure clad in black from head to toe walked away from it.

The operator was cutting it close but returning empty-handed would have been worse.

Soon, The Valley would wake to a new day, unaware that eternal darkness awaited the chosen ones and the one who had gone against the code: the hunter. The decision was made, and no one could stop what was coming.

Chapter Word Count:1415
Word Count so far: 12509

Glossary:

Chattai: A straw mat, usually used instead of bedding.