Shakti by Rajorshi Chakraborti

Author:Rajorshi Chakraborti [Chakraborti, Rajorshi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780143773900
Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand
Published: 2013-04-08T00:00:00+00:00

3

I thought I must have misheard when several voices outside yelled, ‘Snake! Snake!’ Seconds later, I turn around and there’s the king cobra behind me, having made its way underneath the parting curtains from the waiting area into Shome’s chamber.

Its hood is raised, its tongue flicking, its body in several coils on the floor. It seems to be gazing fixedly at me: my left leg is a couple of metres from its head. Shome’s chamber is old-fashioned and large: this creature might not even have noticed the fucker cowering behind his desk.

The fucker cowering behind his desk might not even be this creature’s mission.

I’m still (strangely) lucid, because of course I think of Manasa. This isn’t a random visitor. I think of Arati stabbing me in the back. I think of my consent to being her pathway to Tuntuni.

So, finishing me is still her task! The distributors of the Shakti must have found me unreliable and treacherous from the start. They’ve been using me for target practice, for others to earn their stripes.

Perhaps Arati is after two birds, or even three, including Ramesh. Look how easy I made it for her, though, by taking the trouble to be in the same room as Shome. By the way, I cannot read a snake’s mind even though I can’t look away.

Arati, I’m happy we had those hours together last night. I’m happy I parted from you believing we were friends. And I’m happy to be the friend who will help, by her death, to take away so much of your pain. It’s the only choice for you to make.

It would be even easier to let go of this nothing life if I hadn’t been shown that cruel dream hours before my death. Suck on this, motherfuckers, if you thought that child would make me beg.

The silence after the screaming is eerie: the waiting room must have emptied. They wouldn’t have known this snake was on a mission.

Actually, there is a sound. The king cobra seems to be growling, almost like a small dog. I think with total clarity: Shivani, they have come for me. I turned out to be unfit for purpose too, which, as a judgement coming from bigoted, divisive nationalists, is really a compliment, I reckon.

When the snake moves, I have already closed my eyes. When I look again, and turn around, I cannot be sure exactly when Shome passed away. His eyes are still open, looking somewhere past my left shoulder. He hadn’t even tried to run.

The snake isn’t visible just now. But the chamber is truly large. It could be biding its time in a corner, awaiting its next order.

Because look, there’s Arati walking in through those curtains. Perhaps she wanted to say goodbye to this old friend in person.

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