"Is my daddy here, Uncle Sukumaran?" Shivatmika asked the gatekeeper as she rode her bike through the opened gate.
"Yes, dear," he replied, watching her with curiosity.
"What's up, honey?" he asked, hurrying to keep up with her excitement as she dismounted her bike in the garage.
"He has come, Uncle Sukumaran," she said breathlessly, her eyes wide with anticipation.
"He... who?" But she was already rushing inside, leaving him without an answer.
"Daddy... Daddy..." she called out as she entered the hall, but it was empty.
"Where did this daddy and mummy go?" she muttered, frustration creeping into her voice as she hastily climbed the staircase.
"When there is news so sensational, no one listens?" she murmured to herself, feeling a mix of impatience and excitement.
Ashadevi stepped out of the room, her hands busy with an embroidery project, when she noticed Shivatmika rushing upstairs.
"Why are you running like this, Shiva?" she called out, surprise evident in her voice.
"Mommy..." Shivatmika panted, trying to catch her breath. "Daddy... where's Daddy?"
Ashadevi furrowed her brow. "What's the matter?"
"Mommy… he came," Shivatmika said, her voice still shaky.
"He... who?" Ashadevi asked, her suspicion growing as she glanced down the hall.
Just then, Shivatmika saw Satyanarayana Varma entering through the corridor.
"Honey, who are you talking about?" he asked, approaching them with a curious expression.
"Oh, my daddy..." Shivatmika exclaimed, running to him. She grasped both his hands, looking up at him with excitement in her eyes.
"Tell me who..." Satyanarayana Varma and Ashadevi stared at Shivatmika, their curiosity growing.
"Daddy went to Ujjain, to see Guruji, didn't you?" Shivatmika panted. "Didn't Guruji say he would send someone to perform the yaga? He..."
"Yes?" Ashadevi's eyes widened in amazement. Satyanarayana Varma also looked intrigued. Ashadevi hurried toward the hall.
"He's not here, Mommy," Shivatmika stopped them, her breath catching.
"Not in our house?" Ashadevi asked, confusion furrowing her brow. "Then where? God, where is he?"
"Here? In Durgapuri?" Satyanarayana Varma echoed.
"How did you know? How did you recognize him? Did he say?" Satyanarayana Varma asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Shivatmika raised her hands to calm them. "Daddy, didn't you bring a book with his photograph from Ujjain? The same person is here. I saw him."
"It must be someone else," Satyanarayana Varma said, skeptical.
"Where did you see him? Wasn't he in monk's robes?" Ashadevi asked.
"He's at the club, Mum," Shivatmika replied, her excitement bubbling over.
"At the club?" They frowned in unison.
"Yes, Mom," Shivatmika explained eagerly. "Everyone knows him. He's the guy who pacified the rutted elephant during Gajotsavam. The same one who came as Minister Vasudeva Menon's benami at the auction and stole the project our company was supposed to get. He's also the one who informed the police about the drugs hidden in Vasudeva Menon's godowns. Akhil... Akhil Viswanathan!"
Akhil Viswanathan had beaten the company general manager, Balachandran, but Shivatmika had deliberately kept this from her parents.
"Rubbish," Satyanarayana Varma dismissed her claim. He headed inside, with Shivatmika and Ashadevi following.
In the library, he picked up a blue-covered book from the shelf. Flipping through the pages, he found a close-up picture of a bright, young man with striking features.
"This is the young priest," he said, showing the page to Shivatmika. "He is a great ascetic, a Vedic scholar, a Yogacharya, and a knower of the past, present, and future."
"Got it, got it," Shivatmika smiled, taking the book from his hands. "I know what Daddy is going to say next."
She continued, "He's famous not only in this country but also in Europe and America. Not for notoriety earned by street fighting. And his name isn't Akhil Viswanathan but Chidojwalan... I know this too, Dad. Didn't I finish this book within twenty four hours the same day you brought this book?"
"Then how?" Satyanarayana Varma questioned.
"I don't know any of that," Shivatmika replied. "But let's settle this doubt now. Let's prove to Daddy that Akhil Viswanathan is the same Chidojwalan from this book, the one I saw a little while ago. Come on, Daddy... Hello, Asha Devi Tamburati... Let's meet him right now. He'll be at the club."
"OK," Satyanarayana Varma agreed.
As they descended the staircase with Shivatmika, Asha Devi couldn't contain her excitement. "Good story..." she said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.
"The sacrificial priest at the club! Isn't he the one who got into the fight with that drug team?"
"Sannyasa has progressed now, mom," Shivatmika replied as they continued down. "Complete mass asceticism now. High-tech digital. And where on this planet are trees and forests to build huts made of leaves and do solitary meditation, mummy?"
As they stepped outside, they saw Prabhakaran Nair's car pulling up. The gate creaked open, and Prabhakaran emerged, looking visibly relieved. "Thank God!" he exclaimed, opening the door and seeing Shivatmika. "When did Shiva come here?"
"What is it, Prabhakaran?" Asha Devi asked, noting the strain in his voice.
Prabhakaran glanced at Shivatmika, a hint of threat in his eyes. "I ran here after hearing that Shiva and her friends, were fighting in the club with Akhil Viswanathan."
"The fight? The club? Me?" Shivatmika asked, incredulous.
Satyanarayana Varma and Asha Devi turned their gazes to her. Shivatmika quickly interjected, "No daddy, we just... if it's to fight, I'll run and say this about him..."
"Um... no, no..." Satyanarayana Verma muttered, shaking his head.
"Don't waste time explaining. I am a father who has a minimum understanding of his daughter's affairs," he continued, his tone firm.
Satyanarayana nodded, a glint of determination in his eyes. "Okay, Prabhakaran. We're going somewhere. Come with me."
With a decisive motion, Satyanarayana opened the door of his sleek Mercedes Benz. The driver, Prasad, hurried over, but Satyanarayana raised a hand to stop him. "Prasad, don't come. We're going nearby. I'll drive myself."
Prasad stepped aside gracefully as Ashadevi and Shivatmika settled into the backseat. Satyanarayana took the driver's seat, adjusting the mirrors with precision. Prabhakaran climbed in beside him, leaving the front door ajar.
"Where to?" Prabhakaran asked, curiosity lacing his voice.
"To see a monk," Satyanarayana replied, starting the engine. "And a businessman."
Prabhakaran frowned in confusion. "Where are these two?"
"At the club," Satyanarayana said, his eyes focused on the road ahead.
Prabhakaran looked over his shoulder at Shivatmika, seeking some clarification. "What's the matter?" he asked, gesturing towards her.
"Akhil Viswanathan," Shivatmika said with a smile, her eyes sparkling with intrigue.
***************
"Until a few months ago, death was a daily occurrence in Muthimala," Father Gabriel said, gazing out the window at the distant village. He stroked his thick gray beard, reminiscent of Karl Marx, as Akhil listened intently.
"The body of a Tamil man was last seen there," Father Gabriel continued, his voice heavy with the weight of the past.
The deep blue expanse of Muthimala waved in the wind beneath the brilliant blackness of the clouds.
"So many familiar and unfamiliar people who came in search of the treasure of Muthimala..." Father Gabriel sighed deeply. His eyes caught a movement outside. "Look, a car is approaching."
A blue Mercedes came to a stop in the churchyard. Akhil watched as Prabhakaran Nair stepped out, followed by a tall, middle-aged man exuding authority, a woman of undeniable beauty and nobility, and finally, an exceptionally beautiful young woman.
"Akhil, that is Mr. Satyanarayana Varma, Chairman of Durga Group of Industries... His Highness Satyanarayana Varma," Father Gabriel explained, nodding toward the distinguished figure stepping forward.
Akhil observed Varma's noble and regal demeanor, recognizing in him the lineage of patriotic rulers who had shaped history. Dressed in a kasavu mundu and a cream-colored kurta with a gray shawl draped over his shoulders, Varma's commanding eyes gleamed behind gold-framed glasses.
"And behind him is Maharani Ashadevi Tamburati," Father Gabriel added, his voice tinged with reverence.
Akhil's gaze shifted to Asha Devi, dressed in a kasav saree and matching blouse, following closely behind Satyanarayana Varma. Her form radiated beauty and splendor, commanding attention with every step.
"Behind them is Prabhakaran Nair," Father Gabriel continued, drawing Akhil's attention back. "Mr. Varma's family friend."
Prabhakaran Nair, dressed in a mundu and a pink shirt, walked with a familiar ease.
"And, Akhil..." Father Gabriel's voice took on an enthusiastic tone, "farthest back, that is Princess Shivatmika. Heir to all the glories of the Ikshaku clan. A good singer too."
"Doesn't she sing in a band called the Blue Dragons?" Akhil asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes. Do you know them?" Father Gabriel inquired.
"I've heard of them," Akhil replied, his eyes now fixed on Shivatmika.
She wore blue jeans and a red t-shirt, a yellow jacket adding a vibrant contrast. Her outfit accentuated the beauty of her form, while her abundant hair fluttered in the wind, framing her face perfectly.
The magnificence of youth shone through her long, wide eyes. Her red lips, tempting and alluring, seemed designed to captivate. Her cheeks were flushed, her nose elegantly sculpted, and her overall appearance was nothing short of breathtaking.
Akhil realized too late that his eyes were fixed on her, entranced by her presence.
Will continue...