This was madness! Madness! How was he supposed to find her - when he had absolutely nothing to go from? No hint, not a single clue.... Just hazy information that she's been taken in the night, without anyone noticing. She and Gauri both. He spent a whole day asking people from the street if they had seen something suspicious five nights ago. But even if they had, what would seem suspicious to them about a girl screaming? All he was certain about was that whoever had taken her was rich, very rich, and since he managed to enter the building without alarming anyone, and acting quickly, he must have been a regular guest. But Chandramukhi was too famous, too lusted after for him to just come up with a certain face or name. But after three more days he spent walking around the city, sleeping in a small inn and ignoring Dharamda's concerned pieces of advice, one face did take shape in his mind. And when he thought harder, it even matched a name.
............
It was not that difficult to find his house. Just several mentions of his name and he was redirected straight to the monstrous mansion, that even from the outside was giving away the splendor that must have been filling indoors. And somewhere amidst all that splendor was her. Trapped like a bird in a cage. He was sure of it. The servants let him in silently, only asking his name. He didn't give it away, just said he wanted to talk to the Master of the house. They were apparently used to brash behavior, as they didn't raise any objections and disappeared. Indeed, the palace was amazing. Even though Deva was accostumed to riches and comforts of all kinds, this was more magnificent than he had experienced. All the noise, heat and dust that reigned in the city did not reach in here. Here it was silent, only fountains were singing their quite, soothing tune, that suddenly was interruped.
"You!"
The voice sounded somehow surprised, somehow amused, and always proud and disdainful. As was the face of the man who appeared on the staircase and slowly walked down. Kali Babu. Hatred flooded Deva's veins at the sight of him. His confident posture, his proud expression, and coldness of dark eyes that seemed to be piercing through the person he was looking at. He was completely composed, unlike Devdas, who was loosing a battle with himself slowly but surely. He was shaking with anger.
"What do you want in here?" Kali Babu asked. Not even his coldness could hide the amused, and somehow curious tone. "Do you want to send a word of greetings to my mother-in-law? And perhaps to her husband as well?"
It took him a while to realize what Kali Babu meant. If possible, his hate towards this men even increased. Chandramukhi had told him once about what happened when she went to Manikpur. This man has insulted the women he loved - as strange as it sounded - both of them. And while Chandramukhi got even with him, Paro was never able to do so, unless she wanted to destroy everything completely.
"Why don't you ask if I have come to slap your other cheek?" he said, his voice unusually low and thick with emotions. He was tired, both physically and mentally, exhausted from all the worrying. Kali Babu's eyes seemed to get even darker, but Devdas did not give him a chance to speak. "Why do you ask useless questions? You are wasting my time - and yours as well. And all I can promise you is that if you release her here and now, I might spare you."
His opponent took his time with a reply. He was obviously in no hurry to fulfill his request.
"Are you talking about that little whore?" he said finally and shook his head. "Incredible. You always looked like a fool, but I thought that maybe somewhere deep inside there is some sense. Obviously I was mistaken. So you actually... how do they say it....fell in love with her! Let me express my deepest sympathy! Last I heard the bitch run away? I guess someone had more than you! But I still don't understand what do you want from me. And since all this is highly boring, I suggest you explain yourself before I loose my patience."
