The quiet descent of Surya sir, Jay, and Rudra was marked only by the gentle whisper of wind as they neared Keshav's village. Surya sir's decision to land discreetly, far from prying eyes, reflected the gravity of their mission. They touched down in a small clearing just beyond the village's edge, shielded by trees that swayed softly in the morning breeze. The air was thick with tension, each of them acutely aware of the painful task ahead.
Surya sir glanced at the boys, his voice low but firm. "Remember, we are here to offer respect and solace. Keshav's family doesn't know the truth yet. Brace yourselves; this won't be easy."
Jay nodded, his throat tightening as a lump of emotion formed. Rudra, ever composed, merely exhaled deeply, his mind already preparing for the inevitable. They made their way toward Keshav's home, the weight of the asthi bundle in Surya sir's hands feeling heavier with each step.
As they neared the small cottage at the edge of the village, Keshav's younger sister, Maya, spotted them. Her innocent face broke into a smile, unaware of the darkness about to unfold.
"Surya sir!" she called out excitedly, waving at them. "Did you bring Bhaiya back?"
Surya sir's heart ached as he forced a smile. "Maya... we need to speak with your parents."
Maya blinked, sensing the tension in the air, her face falling as her curiosity shifted to concern. "Is something wrong, sir?"
"Please, just fetch them," Surya sir requested softly.
In moments, Keshav's parents emerged from their modest home, their expressions lighting up at the sight of Surya sir, Jay, and Rudra. The father, a weathered man with kind eyes, greeted them warmly. "You've come with news about Keshav?"
Surya sir swallowed hard, exchanging a glance with Jay and Rudra, who both remained silent. It was time.
"Keshav…" Surya sir began, his voice thick with emotion. "He... he fought bravely, but…" He trailed off, unable to bring himself to say the words. Instead, he gestured for Jay to uncover the asthi bundle.
With trembling hands, Jay knelt and gently pulled away the cloth that had kept Keshav's remains hidden. The sight beneath was worse than they had anticipated.
Keshav's bones, stripped of flesh, lay exposed, their surfaces dyed a deep, unsettling red, as if soaked in his blood. The unnatural sight sent a shiver down their spines. His father staggered backward, a hand over his mouth as a guttural cry escaped him.
"No... no..." Keshav's mother gasped, her legs buckling as she collapsed to the ground, clutching her chest. "What happened to my boy? What did they do to him?"
Maya, her innocent face now twisted with horror, looked up at Surya sir, her voice trembling. "Bhaiya... Bhaiya can't be gone! He can't!"
Surya sir knelt beside them, his own voice shaky. "I'm so sorry… an Asur... Keshav died fighting it. He was a hero."
Keshav's father, choking on sobs, sank to his knees beside his wife. "But… but why like this?" He gestured to the bones, shaking with rage and grief. "Why is his body… like this?"
Rudra, who had been silent until now, spoke in a low, calm voice. "We think the Asur drained his blood. It's a... cursed method some use. I wish we could have done more to save him."
Keshav's mother screamed, the sound echoing through the village, raw and filled with unimaginable pain. The sight of her son's remains had torn open her soul, and the reality of his loss struck like a cruel hammer. Maya wept silently beside her, clutching her brother's bones as if holding him together would somehow bring him back.
Jay, struggling to hold back his own tears, stepped forward and knelt before Keshav's father. "Uncle... Keshav was our friend. He saved many lives that day. I swear, we will find who did this, and we'll make them pay. Keshav didn't die in vain."
Surya sir placed a hand on Jay's shoulder, signaling for calm. "Right now, we must focus on honoring him and supporting his family. Revenge will come later."
Keshav's father, his eyes hollow with grief, nodded weakly. "Thank you, Surya sir, Jay... Rudra. But please, leave us for now. We... we need time."
Surya sir bowed his head solemnly. "We understand. We're here for you, whenever you need us."
The group turned to leave, their hearts heavy with the grief they carried on behalf of Keshav's family. As they stepped out of the house, Jay caught Rudra's eye.
"We have to find that Asur," Jay whispered, his voice tight with barely contained anger. "We can't let this happen again."
Rudra nodded, his jaw set. "We will. But first, we need answers. There's more going on here than just Keshav's death. These killings in the City-k... they're connected."
As they stood before Keshav's family, the air was thick with grief. Surya sir took a deep breath, preparing himself for the difficult explanation ahead. Keshav's father, his weathered face lined with expectation, gazed at Surya sir, hoping for answers, while Keshav's mother clutched Maya's hand tightly, her knuckles white.
Surya sir stepped forward, his voice steady but soft. "Keshav's death was not a simple one. It is a tragic story, but you deserve the truth. An Asura, a dark creature, killed him in City-B."
The room seemed to shrink around them as the weight of his words pressed down. Keshav's father's eyes widened in disbelief. "An Asura? From City-B? But... how? Why Keshav?"
Surya sir's expression was grim, his eyes reflecting the pain of delivering this truth. "This Asura... it followed Keshav from City-K, stalking him for reasons we don't yet fully understand. It ambushed him and took his life there, far from home."
Keshav's mother let out a low gasp, her grip on Maya tightening. Tears welled in her eyes, but she held them back, her face etched with anguish.
"Keshav... my boy," she whispered, her voice breaking.
Surya sir's voice trembled slightly as he continued, "But it didn't end there. The Asura took Keshav's body. It brought him back to the academy... to use him for dark purposes. Vali—our friend—tried to stop it. They fought. The battle was fierce."
Keshav's father, who had been silent until now, asked in a broken tone, "What kind of monster would use our son in such a way? Why would they bring him back to your academy?"
Surya sir looked down for a moment, his jaw clenched. "The Asura wanted to use Keshav's body as a vessel for its dark magic. But Vali... Vali fought him to the death. He tried to stop this from happening."
Keshav's mother's tears finally fell, running down her face as she leaned into her husband. Maya stood frozen, her eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and fear, trying to grasp the magnitude of what had happened to her brother.
Surya sir's voice was soft but resolute as he finished, "I know nothing can bring Keshav back. But you must know he fought with bravery, and Vali did everything he could to stop the Asura from desecrating your son's memory."
Keshav's father fell to his knees, his voice choked with pain. "My boy... my brave boy..." His sobs echoed through the small room, filling the space with a heart-wrenching sound that pierced through even the hardest of hearts.
Jay, standing to the side, clenched his fists, his own heart heavy with guilt. He wanted to speak, to offer comfort, but words seemed hollow in the face of such loss.
Rudra stepped forward, his voice steady despite the sadness in his eyes. "Keshav saved lives. His fight wasn't in vain."
Keshav's father nodded through his tears, his body trembling. "Thank you... for bringing him home."
Surya sir placed a hand on his shoulder, his own grief hidden behind his strength. "We will make sure Keshav's sacrifice is not forgotten. And we will stop this Asura, once and for all."
Keshav's father, the initial shock slowly morphing into a flicker of determination, rose to his feet. "We want justice. We will not rest until we see that Asura pay for what it did."
"Then we stand united," Surya sir declared, his voice firm. "We will gather information, and together, we will ensure that this city is safe for everyone."
As they exchanged nods, a shared understanding blossomed between them. The pain of loss was a heavy burden, but it was one they would bear together. With newfound purpose, they all knew they had to act swiftly to prevent further tragedy.
As they left Keshav's home, the weight of the encounter lingered in the air. Jay felt a mix of sorrow and anger, and the memory of Keshav's smile echoed in his mind, pushing him forward.
"We have to gather a team," Rudra said quietly as they walked, his strategic mind already working through the next steps. "We need those who understand the Asura better, who know how to fight them. It won't be easy, but we can't take this lightly."
Surya sir nodded in agreement, his gaze focused ahead. "We will enlist help from those in the academy. The more we know, the better prepared we will be to confront the Asura and uncover the truth behind these killings."
Jay's resolve hardened as he felt the support of his friends beside him. "We'll face this together. We'll do it for Keshav and for everyone else who deserves to be safe."
The trio continued on, the path ahead shrouded in uncertainty but illuminated by their shared commitment. The City-k loomed closer, a reminder of the dangers that lay ahead, but together they felt a growing strength that fortified their spirits.
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*To Be Continued*
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Word Count: 1636