The Shadow

Part 2...

I opened the window of my room to let fresh air in. The sun would set behind the horizon in an hour. Days here are short, I looked at the time and concluded. Huge palm trees stood majestically a few yards away. Amidst the trees, I could see the same pretty lady I had seen when I had arrived, basking in the sun. Her white skin glistened as sunrays passed by it, and her long hazel brown tresses flew down the rock chair. I picked up my car keys. The day had been mundane. Maybe exploring the neighborhood might help. Someone was sitting in the hall with the old woman. When he saw me, he stood up and held forward his hand for a handshake.

“Hi. I am Mark. I live nearby. I am a police officer. Let me know whenever you need help.”, he greeted me.

“Hi. Nandita.”, I smiled.

“Aunty was telling me about you. Are you going somewhere?”, he guessed by the car keys in my hand.

“Yes. Nearby.”

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The sun had set. Little fire lamps were glowing all around the mansion which could be clearly seen from a distance. I saw Kaaya standing in front of the iron gate. I stopped the car.

“Kaaya? Why are you here? It’s late. Come, let’s go inside.”, I gestured her to come inside the car.

She did not speak. She came and sat on the front seat beside me. Her eyes were moist, and the tears reflected a brilliant spectrum of colors in the lamp fire.

“Why are you crying?”, I asked tenderly, offering her a candy.

She stared at me for a while, uttering not a word. Then with her index finger, she pointed towards the mansion. It was all very confusing for me. I drove inside the gate and parked near the window of the center hall. I could see Mark and the pretty blonde hissing at the old woman, while she sat there numb like the convict. After a few minutes, the lady pulled the old woman up by her hair, while tears oozed out incessantly out of her eyes. Mark slapped the old woman hard, and the two walked out. I hid behind the wall. Terror floated in little Kaaya’s eyes. I did not know what to do. Talking won’t help, because I was dead sure she won’t let a word out of her mouth.

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The next day was no cheerful as well. I called up my mother.

“I will be there in a couple of days”, she assured me.

I had already started losing interest in the property. The ambiance there was so tenebrous, and there was hardly any human company around except the few people I had already met. Besides, there were definitely some property issues associated with the mansion. Why were Mark and the blonde harassing the old woman? Why does Kaaya seem so scared all the time? Honestly, I was a little intimidated by Kaaaya’s grotesque behavior since the day I had arrived. She is a cheerful child, her grandmother always remarked.

It was a quarter to 12 at night when I heard someone sob and sniffle in the hall. It was too much to take in just two days, so I preferred to ignore the voices. They grew louder. I reluctantly got up. One of the corner lamps in the hall was lit up. Under it sat the old woman. Kaaya stood beside her. The light fell upon them obliquely, the reason for the huge shadows. But there was something bizarre. I saw only one shadow.