Takshak

Danish and Laksh saw the sky get dark and started to prepare for a camp. Danish knew that it would be a wasted effort to keep looking for Visha now. They'd miss out any clues in the dark and not to forget the dangers this place held in the broad daylight let alone at night. Even though he was anxious to find her, he wasn't ready to risk their lives roaming around at night in vain. The best decision right now was to continue tomorrow. Plus, he trusted her. It hadn't been too long since they met but Visha had shown good talent as a beginner. He wasn't someone who acknowledges people easily, but Visha had earned it. She was smart, quickwitted and well versed in knowledge of witchcraft. She can certainly take care of herself. With that he consoled his guilty conscience and decided to spend the night on a tree. It seemed to be the safest option so they found a widespread and strong tree with the thickest trunk. Even in the dead of night, one could see its branches reaching far and wide. Danish climbed up and found a thick branch capable of supporting him as he got as comfortable one could get on it. Laksh had taken to another branch right beside him. Strangely, they could not feel any bugs around them, not that it mattered since sleeping on the ground was far too dangerous. The fatigue of the day's battle finally caught up and they fell asleep.

It had been just two hours when Danish felt a weird sensation on his arm that was moving towards his shoulder. The feeling of something cold and soft against his skin woke him up. As it was wriggling upwards towards his shoulder, he tried to brush it off with his other hand. But now that soft, cold feeling shifted to the palm of his other hand. He lift it up to take a closer look and saw a finger-thin snake wrapped around his wrist staring directly at him!

Danish was no fool and kept his movements minimum to avoid alerting it. After all, he still had a lot left to do.

"Laksh!" he said in the lowest voice possible.

"Laksh!" this time he was louder than before and successfully woke up the Sleeping Beauty. Laksh wiped the saliva off his mouth and turned towards Danish, still in a daze. With his eyes half opened and his tone still sleepy, he asked while he scratches his head, "What?"

"Laksh, you useless idiot!" this time Laksh opened his eyes wide open as he felt extremely annoyed by the disturbance. Before he could retort to being called an idiot, he saw the dark green snake slithering as it stared at Danish. He instantly recognised that snake and wouldn't dare to feel sleepy anymore.

"Danish don't move. It's not here for you."

"What do you mean?" Danish asked. Laksh's words were extremely confusing. He spoke as if the snake had some target of sorts.

"Trust me. It won't bite you just don't provoke it to test your luck. That's a Takshak Naag."

As soon as he heard this, Danish's eyes widened in shock. Weren't these snakes supposed to be extremely poisonous! How can this idiot just spout something illogical like it's not here for him. And as far as Danish knew, the venom of a Takshak Nag is believed to give the most excruciating pain. It could give a similar sensation to being burnt alive and in some cases for days before the inevitable!

Laksh could see the colour of his face leaving as his breathing fastened.

"Danish don't freak out. It won't bite you. It is said that Takshak Naags are not allowed to kill anyone from their venom till they have been assigned to it. They are like executioners of the Higher Authorities. So, trust me it won't bite you. Let it go."

What? Is this guy really asking him to not do anything because of that bullsh*t reason? Is everyone in this priesthood this crazy? Leaving everything to fate and crap. Who is to guarantee his name hasn't been on the verdict yet?

After staring at Danish for a while the snake leapt off his hand and disappeared into the forest. Just like that! He turned to look at Laksh in confusion.

"How did you know?"

"There are no Takshak Naags in this forest. They're found in the central past or the northeastern part of the country. If one has travelled this far, it means a verdict has been passed with someone's name on it. And considering the situation, if you think it's you then you're just unrealistically self-centered." After a small pause he scoffed.

"Do you really see yourself as important enough to end up on the hitlist of someone from the higher authorities?"

After explaining, Laksh shrugged his shoulders and went back to his sleep leaving Danish in a daze as he continued to stare in the direction that snake had vanished.

"What did you mean by Higher Authorities?" he asked.

"Someone of a celestial saint level or above. Maybe the Gods and deities. Now do you realize how delusional you sounded thinking it had come for you." Laksh let out a small laugh before turned over facing away from Danish who understood the meaning behind this gesture. Laksh won't talk anymore so he too lied down thinking of how close death came to him today. After all, that wasn't some normal snake. The venom of a Takshak Naag gives one an excruciatingly painful and extremely slow death. It is said to be experiencing a living hell! He couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor fellow who it had actually came for.