Fan Fiction ❯ The Unfinished Task ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

The Unfinished Task

 

I curled my stockinged feet inside my very utilitarian pumps and fidgeted in my seat. I had been waiting for two hours and the extremely comfortable sofa was beginning to feel a lot uncomfortable. Night was descending and with it the chill was setting in. I looked outside the glass pane of the huge windows and saw fog settle like a misty veil over the vast rice fields.

 

' Why am I here? Oh yeah the job. Damn! '

 

I hugged my deep navy blue sweater closer to me. I was very punctual and I disliked being kept waiting. I felt that is was a waste of time. But then again, my feelings were of little importance here. After all, it was my job that had brought me here…to the house of the famous archeologist Mr.Ananta Sinha. There must have been many applications for this job, but I knew I would get it.

 

' I am after all the best in the business.'

 

The room was getting a little dark casting the elegantly decorated furnishings into darkness. Why the hell did the man build his house so far from civilization I could not comprehend.

 

`I hope he has electricity.'

 

My doubts were allayed when an old rather wrinkled servant came in and flicked on the lights. This very servant had offered me refreshment early on. I declined. I was not hungry.

 

He turned towards me. His voice had a strange raspy quality.

 

"Follow me. My master shall see you now.”

 

' About damn time.'

 

I got up and straightened my wrinkled salwar and adjusted my dupatta. Hugging my papers to me, I swung my much used leather bag over my shoulders and followed him.

 

' After this I will buy a new bag and one of them really chic jeans.'

 

Man…I should stop talking to myself.

 

The old man stopped in front of a large wooden door and gestured me to go inside.

 

' Here goes nothing.'

 

Timidly I knocked on the door. A gruff voice beckoned me in .I opened the door and entered to find myself in a library. The smell of old musty books greeted my nose. I inhaled deeply. I love the smell of old books.

 

"You are Miss Shanti?"

 

' Duh!'

 

"Yes Sir. " I hoped my voice was sufficiently demure.

 

"Sit down.”

 

' What? No apologies! No sorry for keeping me waiting for soo long! Damn!'

 

"Thank you.”

 

I sat down on the chair offered. It was on the other side of the large mahogany desk that stood in the middle of the room. I took a while to gauge my surroundings. And the first thing that came to my mind was…

 

' Dude this guy is stinking rich.'

 

The room screamed elegance, right from the thick leather bound books to the plush carpet under my feet. This was end product if one multiplied unerring fashion sense with an unlimited budget. I also took a while to observe Mr. Sinha.

 

His back was turned towards me and I could see that his very powerful frame was fitted into a blue dressing gown. His hair was tied in a loose ponytail at the nape of his neck .He turned towards me. I froze.

 

' This guy was…Wow!'

 

That he was handsome was the understatement of the century. His skin was slightly tanned and as smooth as the costliest silk. He had sharp aquiline features with piercing gray-black eyes. His hair was back brushed carefully leaving only a single silver lock that fell carelessly over his face.

 

' Gotta give his hair dresser some credit.'

 

He was not young; in fact his handsome face had begun to corrode like a granite cliff. But the fine lines at the corner of his mouth, the thin lines that fanned out from the sides of his eyes somehow augmented his charm. That…and his personality …so strong and magnetic…

 

" I hope you know what your job entails.”

 

' Naturally.'

 

"I do Sir.”I tried to keep my voice from shaking.

 

Those unwavering gray-black eyes were fixed on my face and I had the unplesant sensation that he was observing me … as a predator watches its prey.

 

' Be professional. Do your job.'

 

"Good .You also know that this job requires a lot of traveling.”

 

"That is not a problem Sir. "I smiled " I do not like to stay in one place for long.”

 

He rose an elegant eyebrow "You like to travel?"

 

"Yes Sir.”

 

"So do I.”

 

"Really?"

 

"But I never mix business with pleasure.”

 

' Neither do I.'

 

"Neither do I.”

 

He looked at me quizzically. Then he brought out a packet of cigarettes from the packet of his dressing gown.

 

"Do you mind if I smoke?"

 

' Of course I do!'

 

"No Sir "I smiled "Please go ahead.”

 

He lit the cigarette and took a seat at the other side of the table. For a while he watched the rings of smoke curl up and disappear.

 

"Do you know what happens to chain smokers?"

 

' I believe that there is a statutory warning on the back of every packet you buy. Can't you read?'

 

Mr. Sinha was probably not expecting an answer from me because he continued "Nothing!"

 

' Oh… And lung cancer is a myth.'

 

"But enough of this "He put the stub of the cigar rate in the silver ashtray "Lets get to business.”

 

' Finally.'

 

"As you probably know, I am researching on the occult.”

 

"Why?"

 

He looked at me " I beg your pardon.”

 

"I wanted to know why you chose such a subject.”

 

He smiled, one of those smiles that a cat gives after eating a canary "The night is very interesting"

 

"That depends.”

 

"Ah yes. But the darker side is always more attractive is not? I mean God gave Adam and Eve everything in the Garden of Eden and yet, they were tempted so easily to taste the forbidden fruit…"He gave a low chuckle "The forbidden is always more enchanting because it is something that we would normally never have."

 

"I suppose…”

 

' Enough with the philosophizing. I am here for a reason and that reason does not include listening to your innate philosophies.'

 

"I am glad that you understand.”

 

' I do?!'

 

"It is human nature to crave what he cannot have. Take for example eternal life. Every man has the wish to live forever.”

 

"You forgot world domination.”

 

He chuckled "Humor. I like that.” Then his face became serious "As I was saying, the primary urge of every species is to survive.”

 

"That is true.”I admitted, "No one wants to die. But only a fool will want to live forever.”

 

"Really?"I could sense the barest tone of sarcasm in his voice "Why do you think that way?"

 

"Well, even if one cheats death, how can one cheat old age? To live an eternity as a senile old man is a fate far worse than death.”

 

"True enough. But if somebody had cheated death, then he will also have a way to cheat her sister.”

 

"You think Death is female?"

 

He nodded thoughtfully "Yes. Ever heard of vampires?"

 

' Where do vampires come in all this? I better wrap this up soon. Too much time has passed already.'

 

"Of course.”

 

"They live forever.”

 

"Until somebody puts a stake through their heart.”

 

"Stakes. Crucifixes. Garlic." He smiled "It is all a myth. A child's story concocted by fools who know nothing about such beings. You do believe in the Undead ...Don't you?"

 

' I believe in everything. Coughs, sneezes, mirrors, ladders, black cats…But you needn't know that.”

 

" I believe in things I can see, touch and feel.”

 

' Heh. Even I am impressed. I never knew I was such a good liar.'

 

"And yet you believe in death, even though you cannot touch it.”

 

"I saw people die. I believe that is good enough for me.”

 

"Is it?"

 

"Yes "I was stubborn.

 

"I only ask you to keep an open mind about this.”His voice had a cryptic undertone "If you want to do your job properly that is a necessity.”

 

'"I will try.”

 

"Good .As I was saying, The Undead…”

 

I groaned ' Not again.'

 

"Tell me what you know about the Undead?"

 

' Me? '

 

"They should be dead but they are not dead because they drink blood.”I offered lamely.

 

"It is clear that you do not know anything.”

 

' So enlighten me.'

 

"The Undead are people who have cheated Death.”

 

"Indeed " I couldn't keep the sarcasm out of my voice.

 

He must have noticed it because the cryptic gleam in his eyes got brighter.”It is not that difficult to cheat Death. And that myth about drinking blood is rubbish, not to mention messy. It is so much more easy to suck somebody's life-force.”

 

' Okay this guy is starting to creep me out.'

 

"And pray how will you dispose of the body?"

 

"One does not suck all the life force out at once. The victim will not die, he will merely be very weak for a few days. That's just about all of it. Besides they have to keep moving or Death will catch up to them.”

 

' He makes it sound like a game of cat and mouse.'

 

"So, the victim…does he become a…you know, Undead?"

 

"No “ He shook his head "That is also a myth .The victim is food. Consider this, a tiger feeds on antelopes. Now if a tiger should bite a antelope and by some insane quirk of fate the said animal survives, does it then become a tiger?"

 

"No "I had to admit.

 

"You must wonder where it all began.”

 

"Yes.” I must admit that I was curious.

 

"No one knows ..."

 

"They should know.”

 

"Who?"

 

"The Undead you speak of.”

 

"I suppose.”He smiled "But they will tell no body.”

 

"Why not?"

 

"Because one does not fraternize with the prey.”

 

"It must be lonely, to walk alone thorough all eternity…"

 

"Everything has a price. These were all strong men and women, these Undead. They walked through history orchestring the rise and fall of many nations. They commanded battles and ruled kingdoms. They consorted with finest beauties on earth. Loneliness is but a small price to pay for such power and riches.”

 

"Ah yes. There can be only one top dog.”

 

He chuckled .It would have been pleasant sounding if only it was not so mirthless.”My studies indicate that none of these Undead as you call them stayed at one place for long. They came like an elusive meteor and were gone just as quickly. To stop was, fatal.”

 

"Why?"

 

"Why? Why indeed?"He seemed to be deep in thought "These people were supposed to be dead a long time ago .Yet, they kept eluding death by substituting their life-force with a fresh one when theirs ran out. But that doesn't mean that Death will not haunt their footsteps.”

 

His keen gray-black eyes rested on me "That what is born must die. That, is the rule of nature. Life and Death are the twin sisters who maintain this unchangeable rule. But every law has a loophole. They utilized that loophole to extend their life… And yet, they were always followed by the shadow of Death.”

 

' This guy is boring me. Well...not really.'

 

"But it is not that difficult cheating Death either, especially in times of war and chaos. Death reigns everywhere. People die. So many people turn up missing. Ever wonder where they go?"There was a strange gleam in his eyes that send shivers down my spine.

 

"That is preposterous.”

 

"Is it?"He chuckled "Ever wondered how the World Wars started? "

 

I stared at him "What are you trying to say?"

 

"Every revolution, every war, every upheaval has an Undead pulling the string from the shadows .It is easy to hide among the numerous dead. Death has to work overtime and they get enough food.”

 

I was starting to feel uneasy. There was a simple conviction with which he spoke, it creeped me out.

 

"But enough of this. Tell me about you.”

 

"There is nothing to say. I am Shanti and I am here for the job.”

 

' Yes, I am tired and awfully behind schedule, and I am also feeling cranky.'

 

"What about your parents?"

 

'Didn't you read the bio-data I provided?'

 

"I have no parents.”

 

"So you are an orphan.”He got up and went to stand by the window "Good.”

 

' What is he talking about?'

 

"Look "He stood in front of a large oil painting "This is my great-grandfather Raibahadur Rudrapratap Sinha.”

 

'Yeah like so what?' I squinted my eyes to study the lines of oil paintings that occupied one of the paneled walls.

 

"And is my grandfather Bhanupratap Sinha.”He smirked "And this is my father Ajitkumar Sinha. And… This is I. Amazing similarity, don't you think?"

 

It was then that I realized that all the pictures looked the same. If it were not for the varying styles of dress and other accessories, I would say that they were all pictures of Mr. Sinha. I started to sweat.

 

"Very interesting.”

 

"Yes. Interesting.”He smiled, lips curving upwards in a predatory smirk "What would you say if I said that they all the same person.”

 

I gulped "I would say you have had too many hits on your head.”

 

"What if I say that I am one of the Undead we were discussing about?"

 

"So… Does that make me food ?”

 

"I suppose, "He smiled lazily.

 

"Ah.”

 

"You do not believe me?"His voice was mocking.

 

"Should I believe you?"

 

' I can't believe that I am having this conversation.'

 

He chuckled "Oh believe me my dear.”

 

"Why go through so much trouble? Why lure people here? And why the hell were you wasting your time by talking with me?"

 

"Ever seen a cat playing with a mouse?"

 

"Did your mother never tell you not to play with your food?"

 

His eyes narrowed "You believe I am joking with you? "

 

"Is there reason to think otherwise?"

 

He came and stood behind my chair "I can feel Death closing in on me. I have to vanish again, melt away in the teeming populace, walk unnoticed in the throng. But I am starved and I, need to feed my belly. You are young. Your life force will sustain me long enough for me to build another life, far away from here … in some other country perhaps…"

 

' Oh my…He is telling the truth! '

 

"You shiver. "I could feel his hot breath on my neck "You are afraid. Don't be. It is most painless I assure you. "

 

He bent closer "You have served me well.”

 

I leaned back "You misunderstand Mr. Sinha. I am not here for your job, I am here for mine!"

 

He recoiled from me as if burnt; his eyes widened "What? Who are you?"

 

I stood up "Seriously old friend .You and I go way back.”

 

I let the disguise I adopted melt away from me and unfurled my great black wings.

 

He moved back further "Impossible "

 

"Come Mr. Sinha "I extended a hand towards "This appointment between you and me is long overdue. It is high time I complete my long unfinished task.”

 

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