The Banished Secret by Niranjan K

Author:Niranjan K
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Geetha Krishnan

Twenty

T

hey drove home in silence, Abhi clutching his ruined jacket in his hand, and his bag on the floor between his legs. “What was that?” he broke the quiet as they entered the driveway. “Your call and that prank?”

Aditya stopped the car in the car shed and turned to him. Abhi’s face was pale, his lips trembling. “I don’t know,” Aditya said. “But... I too feel like this isn’t a coincidence, you know? An arrow and a spear... there has to be a connection.”

Abhi nodded. “I know, but... why would anyone want to do that? Why us?”

“I wish I knew,” Aditya muttered.

All that crazy talk of Arnav and someone had actually tried to harm Abhi. But why a spear? Whoever it was must be inept. Why use a spear otherwise? Arrows, spears... it didn’t make any sense.

They want your fear.

The thought came from nowhere, and Aditya frowned. Perhaps. If that was their aim, they were succeeding brilliantly. He was already scared enough.

“Come,” he said to his brother as he exited the car.

Abhi followed him, bringing both his jacket and bag with him. “I need a new jacket and a bag,” he muttered.

“All right.”

Aditya hardly noticed what he was saying. He unlocked the front door and opened it, looking around. Everything was as they had left it in the morning. Whoever was after them hadn’t broken into their house. That was something at least. But was anyone really after them? Or was that his own wild imagination based on the crazy words spoken by Arnav.

“I’ll make some tea,” he said.

Tea might soothe them both. What he longed for was something stronger than tea, but not with Abhi there. Not when they both needed their wits about them. Everything seemed to be spinning madly around them, and Aditya didn’t want his brains to be addled by alcohol for a momentary comfort at this point.

“What do you want for dinner?” he asked Abhi as he headed to the kitchen.

“I don’t know,” Abhi said. “I’m not sure I can eat. Just the tea will do.”

Aditya nodded. He wasn’t sure he could eat either. He gave a mental shrug. If they were hungry later, he could order something. For now, they were both upset. Abhi followed him to the kitchen, leaning against the counter as Aditya made tea for both of them.

“What is happening?” Abhi asked, rubbing his temples. “It wasn’t just someone playing a prank, was it?”

“I don’t know,” Aditya said, pouring the tea into cups, his hands not quite steady. He pushed one of the cups towards Abhi. “I really don’t know.”

The doorbell rang and they both started, their eyes meeting each other’s, nervous and confused. Neither of them made a move to open the door. The bell rang again, the sound grating on Aditya’s already frayed nerves and he put the cup of tea down.

“Stay here,” he told Abhi, hoping his brother would listen.

Who was it? He wasn’t expecting anyone except... Arnav said he would come, but Aditya hadn’t really believed him. He was hesitant as he unbolted the door, but kept the chain on, and opened it.

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