32."White Kābā"

After a long drive, we finally arrived at the Bethaballi Amman NGO office. The building stood near an old, deserted railway station in Bheemakulam. As I parked the car in front of the office, we stepped out, our senses heightened with anticipation.

Entering the building, we found it eerily empty. The silence was almost oppressive as we began our search. We split up, each of us combing through different areas, hoping to find a clue that would lead us to Vasudha. The place seemed abandoned in a hurry, papers scattered, chairs overturned, but nothing of immediate importance caught our eye.

After a thorough search, I regrouped with the others near the entrance. "Did anyone find anything?" I asked, the frustration clear in my voice.

They shook their heads. "No," came the collective response.

We stepped outside, disheartened by the lack of progress. As we exited, Athreya noticed something unusual near the entrance. Some charred wood lay smoldering, with wisps of gas escaping and empty alcohol bottles scattered nearby. He picked up one of the bottles, sniffing it.

"There's something off about this," Athreya murmured, his eyes narrowing as he examined the scene.

I noticed footprints in the wet soil leading away from the building. "Look at these footprints," I pointed out, drawing everyone's attention.

Bobby examined the prints closely. "She must have escaped right after we caught Gopalam."

Vamsi, unable to contain his frustration, slammed his hand on the car bonnet. "We were too late," he growled.

Sneha sighed, her face a mixture of disappointment and determination. "She's gotten away," she said, echoing our collective frustration.

Athreya and I stood near the railway tracks, surveying the scene with intense concentration. The morning sun cast long shadows, and the scent of damp earth lingered in the air.

"Let's go to Rajasthan," Athreya said suddenly, his voice breaking the silence.

Everyone turned to look at us, surprise and confusion etched on their faces. "Why will we go to Rajasthan?" Bobby asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"To catch Vasudha," I replied.

"But what's in Rajasthan?" Bobby pressed.

Athreya sighed in exasperation. "Do we need to explain everything?"

I glanced at Athreya, nodding slightly. "Go ahead, tell them."

He nodded back and began to explain, gesturing to the evidence around us. "Look at the beer bottles. Someone drank half and left them behind. That's because they left in a hurry. The land is wet, which means it rained this morning. They tried to burn evidence, but the fire is still burning. The fire was lit after the rain stopped, which means it's been only a couple of hours."

We all gathered closer as he pointed to the ground. "Look at the footprints. Three people left the NGO, but there are no tire marks. This means they didn't take the road." He pointed towards the nearby railway station. "There's only one quick escape route from here—the railway station. It's clear they were here about an hour ago."

I added, "And only one train has left the station within the last hour—a train to Bikaner, Rajasthan."

Realization dawned on everyone's faces, and they nodded in agreement. "Let's go," I urged.

We quickly mobilized, our determination renewed. We piled into the car and sped towards the airport. As we drove, I couldn't help but reflect on how close we were. Vasudha's desperate attempts to cover her tracks had only led us closer to her.

At the airport, we moved swiftly through security, our urgency cutting through the usual bureaucratic delays. On the plane, the tension was palpable. We reviewed our plans, knowing that every moment counted.

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KARNI MATA TEMPLE, BIKANER, RAJASTHAN

As we stood in front of the beautiful and ancient Karni Mata Temple, the scene was a blend of chaos and tranquility. Pilgrims and tourists flowed in and out of the temple, their vibrant Rajasthani attire adding splashes of color to the historic stone structure. The air was filled with the scent of incense and the sound of traditional Rajasthani greetings.

(A/N: If you find any errors or anything wrong in it, please don't be offended and let me know.)

Sneha turned to me, her curiosity evident. "So, what should we do next?"

"For now, let's go inside," I replied, my eyes scanning the bustling surroundings.

We nodded in agreement and made our way into the temple. The interior was unlike anything I'd ever seen. Thousands of rats, regarded as sacred, scurried around, some nibbling on prasad (kheer) offered by devotees. Bobby's eyes widened in surprise. "Why are there so many rats in here?"

"That's because this temple is known as the Temple of Rats," I explained. "People believe the rats are holy and call them Kābā."

They nodded, absorbing the unusual sanctity of the place. We joined the throngs of worshippers, offering our prayers to Karni Mata, seeking blessings and perhaps a bit of divine guidance for our mission.

As we stepped back outside, Sneha's persistent curiosity resurfaced. "But why are we at Karni Mata Temple? We came here to catch Vasudha."

I looked around at the milling crowd, a mix of locals and visitors from all over the world. "During this festival, people believe the goddess manifests as a rat. Devotees from far and wide come here, making it an ideal place for someone like Vasudha to blend in. She can easily target these believers, exploiting their faith and the chaos of the crowd."

Hearing this, Athreya said, "Yes, this is the perfect place for Vasudha to start her crime business. Let's search the area and see if we can find any clues."

We nodded in agreement and were about to move when I felt a gentle tug on my pant leg. Glancing down, I saw a white rat, or Kābā, staring up at me with its bright, beady eyes. It was as if she was trying to communicate something with her tiny hands. I couldn't shake the feeling that this Kābā was female, and it seemed she wanted me to follow her.

As I stood there, captivated by the strange behavior of the Kābā, Athreya's voice broke through my thoughts. "Krishna, what happened? What are you looking at?"

"The Kābā wants me to follow her," I replied, feeling a mix of excitement and bewilderment.

They looked at me like I had lost my mind. "Believe me," I insisted, pointing to the spot where the Kābā had been. "She was just here."

But when we all looked down, the Kābā had vanished. Athreya's skepticism was evident. "Where? There's nothing here."

Sneha sighed, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Maybe you're just tired, Krishna. We need to stay focused."

"She was here a second ago," I muttered, frustration creeping into my voice.

As I said that, I spotted the kābā peering at me from the corner of the road. Without thinking, I started to run after her. Seeing my sudden sprint, Vamsi called out, "Where are you going?"

"Come with me!" I shouted back, not breaking my stride. They sighed but followed, albeit reluctantly.

The kābā led us through winding alleys and away from the bustling temple grounds. After what felt like an eternity of running, she stopped in front of a secluded house. This house was well-hidden, surrounded by trees and far removed from the temple. It had an air of abandonment, with overgrown vines creeping up its walls.

As we came to a halt, Athreya placed a hand on my shoulder. "Why are you running?" he asked, breathless.

I pointed ahead. "I was following this kābā."

Athreya's eyebrows knitted in confusion. "What the hell are you talking about? There's no rat here."

I turned to look where I had last seen the kābā, but she had vanished. Frustration and confusion welled up inside me. "Believe me, guys. I saw a kābā. That's why I came here."

Athreya shook his head, clearly skeptical. "Anyway, whose house is this?"

"I don't know," I admitted, scanning the surroundings for any clues.

Vamsi stepped forward, a determined look on his face. "Let's go inside and see."

We cautiously approached the house, the air thick with tension. As we moved, I felt an eerie sensation, like someone was watching us. I turned back and, to my shock, saw the kābā again. She was standing a little distance away, her eyes gleaming as if she were smiling at me. A smiling rat? What in the world?

Before I could process this bizarre sight, Bobby's voice pulled me back. "Krishna, come here!"

Hearing this, I nodded and we moved to the door. Just as we were about to open it, we overheard Vasudha's voice saying, "You've followed all my instructions properly. I think we're safe now. Everything is going well so far."

We then heard her father's voice asking, "What's next?"

Before Vasudha could respond, Athreya pushed the door open and we stormed inside. The scene was exactly as we'd imagined: Vasudha and her father were seated on chairs, a man standing guard behind them. Athreya broke the tense silence with a commanding voice, "I'll tell you what the next plan will be."

Startled, they stood up abruptly. Bobby clapped his hands mockingly as he stepped forward. Vasudha's eyes burned with anger as she glared at Athreya. "How did you find this place?" she demanded.

Athreya smiled coolly. "It's all thanks to our dear friend Krishna."

Vasudha turned her furious gaze towards me, and I couldn't resist giving her a playful wave. "Hello, Vasudha. Long time no see."

Athreya continued, "You underestimated us. And you especially underestimated Krishna."

Her father sneered, "You think this changes anything? You're just a bunch of meddling fools."

Seeing me, Vasudha angrily shouted, "It's all because of you! If you hadn't gotten involved, my plan would have been perfect! Why did you get involved? It has nothing to do with you, you bastard! Just wait—our boss will definitely kill you!" As she ranted, Sneha and Bobby tightened their grip on her.

Hearing her threats, I asked, "Oh, so you have a boss? Care to tell me his name?"

Vasudha ignored me, her lips pressed into a defiant line. I extended my hand towards Vamsi and said, "Vamsi, give me your gun."

Vamsi hesitated, looking uncertain. "Vamsi, give me the gun," I repeated firmly. Reluctantly, he handed it over.

Seeing the gun in my hand, Vasudha spat, "Even if you kill me, I won't tell you anything."

I smirked. "If I wanted to kill you, you wouldn't be standing here talking to me. You know why you're still standing? Because our ancestors taught us never to harm children and women. But that doesn't mean you're safe."

Without warning, I pointed the gun at her father's leg and fired. He screamed in agony, blood pouring from the wound. Vasudha cried out, "Father!" and started to sob.

I stepped closer to her father, pressing the gun against his head. "Tell me your boss's name, or I shoot him," I demanded, locking eyes with Vasudha.

Trembling, Vasudha nodded. "Okay, okay, I'll tell you. His name is—"

Before she could finish her words, we heard the noise of cars approaching the house. I glanced at the others, handing the gun back to Vamsi. "Stay here," I instructed. They nodded in agreement, and I moved towards the door.

As I stepped outside the house, I saw several cars speeding towards the house. They came to a screeching halt a short distance away, and men began to pour out, brandishing sharp weapons. Their intentions were clear, and they were anything but friendly.

Seeing this, a smile crept onto my face. It wasn't a friendly smile; it was the kind of smile that would make anyone shiver in fear if they saw it.

(Word's Count:1951)