Chapter 7- Who is that guy?

Aryan and Darpan shared a look before before Aryan took the initiative to introduce them.

" Good Sir, I am Aryan , the one sitting beside you is my older brother Darpan and this one right here-"

he says ponting to the still confused boy beside him -"is Ashmit, our mutual friend. We are merely ordinary travelers passing by here. We took a break here nearby to have breakfast."

Aryan notices the old man trying to get up and offers to assist him so with Darpan. They place him on a cot that was right outside the door. It was too old and dusty and creaked as the old man was lowered onto it.

" We were just looking for some water as we were about to run out of it and now the last bit of it is also used up" he clarified, pointing at the empty water pouch in Darpan's hands.

"Oh , I am so sorry. You need water right, wait a minute will you? I will bring it to you alright?"

he got up from the cot to slowly stand and though he needed assistance for a few steps, he was able to manage on his own. His quivering hands slowly groped around his shirt, pulling out a key out of a slit in his shabby old yellow tunic. After unlocking the door, the men stepped in what looked like an abandoned ghost paradise. The webs outside were repelling but here it seemed that the home belonged to the spiders more than it did to the owner. Webs hanging around the corner, a smell so rancid that it felt like a thousand decomposing corpses were burning at the same time.

The placement of objects was not bad though, a barrel of water towards the close left and a small seater meant for three people. Under the rusted little stool that stood in the corner was something wrapped neatly in red satin cloth . It seemed too clean to have been here for long. Both Darpan and Aryan took notice of it, but chose to stay quiet about it.

The old man hurriedly took a cup and started filling the water pouches in which Ashmit assisted him. As soon as all pouches were filled, the elderly person sank down on the seater and and sighed as if blowing all the negativity from himself out.

Darpan quietly took a seat down on the floor next to Ashmit who had taken the empty space on the seater. After a while, the older man finally broke the silence.

" In all this ruckus I caused, I forgot to introduce myself - though it's not of much importance, my name is Raghu. I am just an ordinary merchant from the countryside here. Once again , I am truly sorry for my unforgivable behaviour previously. I was not in my right mind then."

he joined his hands as a form of regret.

"Oh no no, Kaka* Don't do that. Don't embarass us like this. " Darpan quickly clasped his hands before he could bow his head down.

"Youre our elder, it is us who should be bowing to you , not otherwise."

The old man could only stroke Darpan's cheek and pat his hair in response. Sensing that things were a bit calm now, Darpan decided to ask what has been bothering him this whole time.

" Kaka, even if you are a merchant from the countryside, why are you ....here?"

Darpan asks , his eyes once again roaming the entire space within the confined four walls.

" It seems so unclean, dirty and was probably abandoned for good. Why do you choose to live in such an area? Isn't it too dangerous at night? With all kinds of monsters lurking around?"

Raghu just shook his head and a small smile was directed their way.

"You are right, son. When a soul is abandoned, an abandoned place welcomes him. Isn't that crazy? I too do not wish to live this way. But circumstances have forced me to. There's no place currently that is willing to take this poor old soul in. Not that I myself am able to request for the same."

he coughed as his frail body shook violently. Darpan patted his back as he steadied Raghu's back. He truly pitied the old soul looking like that: A small frame, shabby attire, sunken cheeks and eyes as if he hadn't slept a wink since so long. His thin arms and legs hinting at the lack of proper meals this man had enjoyed. The pale skin as if he was going to drop dead any moment - he looked like a walking corpse.

" And why is that? I don't mean to impose on you but what has brought you to such a poor condition? What has impacted you so much, you're scared of the world?Please do tell us!"

Darpan pleaded to him. Aryan and Ashmit nodding along, wanting to know the exact story of what the old man thought happened previously. Raghu's eyes held a sense of hesitation. He looked over to the other two boys sitting beside him and after scanning their faces a bit, let out a deep breath.

" The only cause of my condition is that wretched Laal Rakshak* .He is not a Rakshak of anything, he's a Rakshas*!"

He breathed out , eyes glowing with the pure rage that he had suppressed all this time.

" Laal Rakshak? Is this the one we know? The Laal rakshak- the leader of the Laal Daaku* Gang? What has he done?"

Ashmit asks in curiosity.

" I mean, it was believed he wouldn't truly hurt innocent people, so what changed that he would become the cause of your misery?"

Raghu had tears pooling in his eyes now. He looked down for a moment, trying to gather himself.

" Beta*, He is not my misery alone, he has become the misery of more than seventy lives that he took in Aroh Village that day! That brutal, merciless, wretched soul of his shall be cursed by all those widows, mothers, and sons who lost their loved ones! He shall pay for it when retribution comes to him.i pray it does."

Raghu's words were reduced to incoherent sobs again. Aryan was the one who patted and comforted the quivering back of the broken man this time.

" A few weeks ago, It was a normal day at the Village, until the dacoits of the Gang burst in , mounted on horses; killing everything and everyone in sight. The screams of the little children as they were slashed by swords, the wails of the women who lost their husband's and brothers, the cries for help of the young girls as they were dragged to closed rooms to fulfill the dirty desires of these devils- it still rings in my head. I can never forget it and I shall never forget it until my revenge is exacted."

Raghu spoke until tears streamed down his face, and he had to block his mouth from letting any choked sobs out.

" But how is that possible Kaka? Wasn't it agreed on previously that the Laal Daaku Gang would never harm innocent people. They had even announced so on the day of their formation a few years back, hadn't they? Their existence was solely tolerated on this very statement.

Why in the world would they turn back on their words now? Wasn't their main goal to get justice from the government?"

Aryan couldn't help but wonder why would a respected gang such as them had resorted to violence now of all times.

" Plus, all they've been doing till now is steal from the corrupted rich officials and nobles to give to the poor. And their motto is to fight for the rights of the oppressed." Ashmit added.

"Though I have not seen him, but the leader seemed tough as no one who was robbed by the gang ever demand reparation or report it to officials of Government. Everyone was scared of him and didn't dare provoke him so it seems so unexpected that such a bold move be carried out by the Dacoit gang.

What could be the reason?"

Aryan was stressed as things were a lot complicated than he had expected. He had never expected Laal Daaku Gang to head towards such a vile path.

Darpan could only listen and stare. Though he didn't know what the objective of the Laal Daaku Gang was , he had enough knowledge about the world to know that this was a completely unexpected and shocking situation. Laal Daaku Gang was constantly heavily praised when it formed as it had the interests of the common people at heart. Even adapting the identity of Dacoits didn't stop people from loving and hailing them as heroes who fought against the evil of greed.Why would such an organisation turn on the very people it swore to protect?

" Kaka, do you know what was the reason for the attack?"

Darpan asked a still shaking Raghu whose eyes held an unspeakable amount of rage and fear. Something told Darpan that the answer held more questions that could possibly arise. Then, he heard the one word he thought he would never hear.

" Moon Magic " were the only two words that left Raghu's mouth but left all three men speechless.

----------------------------------------------------

1. Kaka- a term used to adress Father's younger brother or as a form of respect to typically middle aged males or elderly people.

2. Laal Rakshak- The word Laal means' Red' as in the colour and Rakshak is one of the many words for 'Guard'. Literally it means Red Guard( kinda ironic the leader who leads dacoit is named is titled this)

3. Rakshas- A devil or Demon ( Hindi word)

4. Laal Daaku Gang- Daaku means Dacoits in Hindi ( maybe Urdu too) so the name of the organisation is literally Red Dacoits Gang.

5. Beta- The Hindi term for Son, usually used when referring one's or other's sons in a conversation or as a form of endearment to a younger male by an older adult.