Under The Mango Trees

Chapter Twenty : In Between The Folds Of Darkness

I could feel my ears hot and pulsating as I sprinted in the darkness, away from the beach and into the safety of the villa. I desperately needed to call someone so they could tell me what to do, so they could take some burdening responsibility and try to find him with me. I couldn't do this alone. I felt the shame and fear burning in my throat, the cold goosebumps rising like those prickly plants sprouting in the grass. I halted midway on the walkway, turning dubiously back to the black abyss. What if Anthony was drowning and screaming for my help? What if one second of misjudgement could cause him to die?

Nausea tickled my nose and I stood in between, tears stinging my eyes. Deafening, empty silence. My head was hot and throbbing with life and vigour, but my hands were cold, numb and lifeless. A gust of tepid wind suddenly whipped my hair loose and the coarse strands slapped against my face. I felt a shock run through my body, the sense of doom flitting away to make room for urgency. My head throbbed harder and I felt the quivering nervousness in my fingers. I took off again towards the villa, this time faster and determined than before. There was no use searching for him alone, I couldn't rescue him in the obscurity and the mighty fierceness of the waves. I had to call someone experienced like Ramu. I had to call him as soon as possible.

I broke into the villa through the backyard sliding doors and darted first to the kitchen, then the living room, then the kitchen again. The emptiness confused me. There was no sign of Ramu or his wife except for the large vessels of food cooked and covered on the countertop. The silence of the villa suddenly trembled with hushed murmurs and suppressed giggles and I quickly followed it, rushing upstairs to where we had played that stupid, annoying game. I flung open the door and instead of finding Ramu uncle or his wife, I spotted Raul on top of Lila in the bed, his tongue deep inside her throat, both of them shockingly half-naked.

"You're here!" Lila squeaked with wide eyes, dishevelled hair and flushed cheeks, scandalized by my presence.

Raul fell back on his side and his features eased into a lazy grin and that was when I remembered why I had come here for, that I had no time to waste or think. I had to do something, but I couldn't bring myself to ask them anything, so I hurriedly shut the door and winced. With my cold, clammy hands, I clung to the wooden doorknob.

Focus, focus. Tears had smudged the normal intonation of my voice as I knocked on the door and asked with forced calmness, "Did you- did you see Ramu uncle? Anywhere?" There was no reply from the other end which caused me to vehemently bang my hands against the door, rattle it with the frail doorknob and I spluttered through the salty tears in my mouth, "Where the fuck is he?"

The door opened which made me step back and Lila asked in surprising humour, "What happened- Oh my God, Tulsi, you're crying!"

Scoffing at their foolishness and lack of understanding, I took long strides in the corridor, swinging open each door, but finding nobody. With every door I closed, the safer I felt. Somehow, I was less afraid now because I was accepting the possibility of never finding Anthony. How did it matter anyway? Tomorrow, everyone would talk about the reckless actions of three teenagers who sent their own friend to death. The day after tomorrow, everyone would forget. Lila and Raul would go abroad as planned and I would start fresh at college.

The cool doom had settled on me again, it's dead weight hugging me, caressing me. I scampered downstairs, dragging the weight with me. I was about to take a last, final look outside for Ramu or his wife before calling the police. There was nothing else to do now but wait for the day after tomorrow.

I went outside the villa, checking the front porch and the backyard with the growing knowledge that they weren't here.

"What happened?" I heard Lila's cautious voice.