Sun Moon & Stars Volume III Curse Of The Third-Eye

Chapter 12

Ela Malakar. Her name silently resounded in Shomak's head, playing back the memories of their time together in a rush. A mere repetition to cherish those memories he so often visited in these painful years.

Shomak didn't have the right greetings to add hence he kept watching her taking in the minute details of her face, to notice and understand how she had changed or maybe didn't change in the long gap he had willingly created. He simply stared pasting an unfathomable smile on his face.

Ela, on the other hand, remained frozen, staring at the visitor she hadn't expected in half an eternity to find at her doorstep. Rather than surprised, comprehensively speaking, Ela seemed dazed. Her mouth agape and eyes fixed on him struggling to grasp the sudden encounter.

Her face, which was a transparent reflection of her inner confusion, very well portrayed the race between her mind and heart, both running at its own rapid pace. She wasn't prepared; Shomak knew, but he didn't think she would stand like a statue before her with disbelief stretched all over her face.

He suddenly had the urge to touch and smoothen the lines of confusion that had started to appear on her forehead. He wanted to gently run his fingers on the faded traces of the wounds he had once inflicted under the demonic possession, wanted to hold her arms and embrace her within the warmth of his decaying body that seemed to have suddenly come alive after meeting her. But he was thankful.

Thankful because no matter the amount of pain she had endured, it didn't wither away her existence, her inherent simplicity. To him, she was still the girl for whom he would fight even the strongest of demons again and again.

Ela gulped slowly releasing the knob and then keeping the door wide open, she went back inside without speaking a word. Her retreating figure disappeared into the interiors almost in a ghostly gait.

Shomak blinked. Although he didn't require an invitation to enter the Malakar's humble abode he hesitated considering how indifferently Ela behaved. Not that he was expecting her to throw her hands around his neck and jump on him with sheer excitement, but he did assume that she might have said a word or two as a welcome note.

Well, he shouldn't be surprised. He was meeting her after six years. And Malini was right; speaking over the phone and being physically present during her struggling days were two very different things. 

He wasn't going to make an excuse for his absence.

Adding to that the horrible picture of him kissing Ayantika Sinha had gone viral and Ela wasn't naïve to overlook it. Hence, he was prepared for a prolonged episode of heated arguments.  Ela, however, was simply silent.

Shomak read the nameplate over the bell again which was of a similar style that he had seen as a location mark and sighed.

One thing was clear. Whatever the assumptions and expectations he had shamelessly formed on his own accord he had to leave them all outside. In short, he would be entering the house with an empty vessel and open arms for what was waiting for him on the other side. 

It would be wise to note that once he crossed the threshold he would be coming to face another new level of the unexplainable.

Shomak carefully stepped in dragging in the luggage he was carrying and closed the door behind him. A soothing fragrance of mogra hit his nostrils; closing his eyes he took a deep breath as the scent opened up his clogged senses and he could make out that apart from a rippling sound of water and grinding of mortar and pestle, the house was peacefully silent.