Ch20:In Search Of A Shelter (11th December, Night)

The busy area lost its pace and with the nightfall became silent like the lazy duck. Every creature takes refuge in a safe place as darkness covers its area. This inborn instinct materialized in the form of hone in humans. Vasu felt at home, the previous night at the abandoned metal boat. He passed that night fearlessly, but now his subconscious was in search of a shelter that will protect him from unpredictable horrible issues.

As Vasu's mind was working to find a solution, somewhere in the streets beyond, some dogs suddenly howled baying at the moon. The howling shook Vastav and he was startled with fear as if somebody is emerging from hell to take him away. Vastav started at the moon and took a deep sigh He then looked down and glared at his own shadow in disbelief shaking his head.

He doesn't know whom to blame for his present condition. If he could blame someone, could fight with someone, it's only he. He is left all alone and incapable of understanding the world in which he was born and brought up.

Vasu made a low choking moan and began to tremble violently. He banged his head several times on a light post.

" No, I can't hurt myself, I have to return home. With this realization, he left the place immediately ignoring the howling of the stray dogs from far away.

Vastav tucked on the footpath and blew hot air from his mouth on his hands to keep himself warm. Though he was partially naked except for his dirty and worn-out Wrangler jeans, his body started adapting to the chilly night. Suddenly he felt a warm touch on his back.

Three shadows pulled him by both his hands and after spending time, he found himself inside a fast-moving 🚗 car.

He couldn't remember, how he got in or guess where is he being taken to. He closed his eyes and took a deep sigh of relief. "Finally Bahurja Bhagawati found me, he had sent this three-man for my rescue, thank you Guruji." With these calculations, Vasu fell asleep. "Straight to Bhetapara, to Dr. Gupta's secret chamber." These words brought back Vastav into consciousness. He spoke to himself, "They are not going to Nagaon"

A flash of light sparkled in his dream world. He saw several newspaper cutouts floating in nowhere. One of the cutouts showed the news "Roadside beggars found dead with missing heart." It took him no time to realize where he is being taken to and with what purpose. With an instant jerk, Vasu rouse up and gave a fatal blow to the one near him. Not thinking of the consequences, he opened the door with a jerk and jumped off the fast-moving car.

This was unexpected for the kidnappers. Vastav fell on the ground at the knockout blow from behind. But he rose and pressed both his palms in the wounded area. An unexplainable sensation arouse within him. Vastav felt his whole body sweating and blood flowed from his head to his body. He rubbed his face with both palms and brought them closer to his eyes. Dark red color and smell of raw human blood. Vastav looked up, licked the blood from his palms, and smelled it.....an act unacceptable for the normals. He gave a devilish smile finalizing into mad laughter, looked at the three with an invitation to hell. The tremendous laughter broke the midnight noiselessness.

"The boy has gone mad !!! run for your life or else this chilly night will be the only witness of our sectioned body and soul."

Vastav was once again left alone. He walked with bold footsteps just like an undefeated, ferocious, injured lion.

Vastav smelled the smell of hot sizzling pulao nearby and followed the smell. His extraordinary sense took him to the entrance gate of a marriage party. Everyone looked astonishingly at half-naked – ill-clad Vasu. His entire face covered with a dried-up layer of blood clots made him a character of suspicion. "Shall we call the police", "No, no… let me first talk with him" interrupted a tall handsome man dressed in Black Armani? Vastav looked at the man with tight fists joined together keeping on the face. "Are you hungry, come with me?" The man took Vastav aside and gave him a thali arranged nicely. Vastav started eating to his heart's core.

The warm welcome remembered him abut Bahurja.

"Thank you, Guruji."

Vastav left the place and disappeared into the darkness, leaving the handsome man confused.

"Why he addressed me as Guruji and why I have fed the man as if I am a puppet controlled by someone else's  hand!!!"

The search was still on; a search for shelter, a safe shelter that night. Vastav saw a 407(bus) on the dark corner on the roadside. He banged the door near the driver's seat. "Come in Ustad, the door is open, "shouted someone from the last seat. The loud bang woke him up. Vastav got on the bus.

With frail quivering legs, Vatav got into the bus. It was dark inside. He couldn't see anything but sensed the dominance of someone inside the bus.

He smelled a peculiar smell and with silent feet moved closer to the source. Vastav picked up a blanket from a seat and threw it outside through an open window. "Ustad, what are you doing?" inquired a trembling voice. Vastav didn't listen to anything and threw all the possessions of the man outside of the bus. Unknowingly but instinctively, Vasu was creating his own space, his dominance inside the bus at a higher energy level. The man lit a small pocket torch and tried to look at Vasu's face. His mysterious face with dried-up blood clots was enough for the man to leave the place immediately. The man let out a terrible shriek and jumped off the bus.

Convinced that the place is safe and he holds a grip over the place, Vastav rolled on a seat, closed his eyes…

"Oh Almighty, show me the way." Vasu fell asleep and the automated healing power was at its peak to heal all his wounds. Not even a single thought of fear, nor evil illusions disturbed his sleep.… And Vasu had a sound sleep.