The Secrets of the Elements novel Chapter 27

"How did it happen?" Ray almost screamed.

Advika sat beside Swarna, who lay unconscious on the hospital bed. A tear escaped from her eye.

Zarna closed the door of the spacious hospital room after the nurse and doctor had left to prepare the ICU.

"She was recovering, but then," said Maya. "Just in a second, we didn't understand, neither did the doctors."

"How's Arvind uncle?" asked Zarna and sat at the foot of the bed gazing at her favourite aunt.

"Not doing well either," said Ray.

Advika wiped her tears. "We talked to Dr Dixit after Tej left for the office," she said. "Arvind uncle is serious."

"But she-" said Maya.

"Yes, she had said that to comfort Tej," clarified Ray.

"About the office," said Zarna. "Dad said that the company is going through some serious shit."

Ray, Maya, and Advika looked at her.

"Okay, he didn't say the word shit, but the company is going through some major financial crisis," said Zarna.

"Tej doesn't know a thing about the word business," said Advika.

"This is tough," said Ray.

"So are we," added Maya. "We'll be his strength. He's not alone."

~~~~~

"Rio!" chirped Daksh and ran towards a galloping horse in the shed. He hugged him and patted his back, smiling ear to ear.

Rutuja came running from the hut and stood in front of the horse. "Rio," she said and smiled at Daksh.

"How did he get here?" wondered Daksh.

"I don't know," said Rutuja. "Master Indra might have got him here."

She took a step forward towards the horse and touched his muzzle. Rio moved his hoof back and forth.

Rio's chestnut skin shone in the sunlight. His black eyes watching Daksh as he mounted on his back.

Rishi looked at Daksh sitting on the horse from the small window of the hut. He smiled and wiped the tear that slid from his eye.

"You know," said Daksh, teary-eyed, smiling. "Dad used to take us for horse riding. Me and Danj, when we were five."

Rutuja looked at him. She knew he wasn't the bad boy he pretended he is.

"Come," said Daksh and extended his hand towards her.

"Are you sure?" she asked and took a step towards him. Rio shook his head and galloped. "Why?" asked Daksh.

"I remember you pushing me off Rio because you didn't want anybody else riding him," said Rutuja and crossed her arms.

Daksh smiled and nodded his head. "That was in the childhood, Ru," he said. "Things have changed."

"Yes, they have," murmured Rishi and staggered back to his room.

9:00 p.m., it said.

"You guys should leave," said Tej and wiped his tears. "You should go home, Tej," said Ray.

"No, I'll wait here," said Tej and touched his mother's feet.

"Tej," said Advika. "You need to go to the office tomorrow. You need to rest."

"Exactly," added Ray. "I'm going to wait here, you guys are heading home."

~~~~

The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky. The air ice cold.

"They should have been dead," said a masked man and threw another man on the rugged ground. Blood oozed from his forehead.

"I had hit them with full force," defended the man trying to get to his feet.

The masked man kept his foot and the victim's head and pushed him to the ground.

"You have failed me," he said; his voice firm. He kept his gloved hands on the victim's forehead and closed his eyes.

The victim's body went stiff, he screamed internally as the light began to leave his body gradually. A burning sensation ran through every cell of his body. His face began to disfigure. A dull sciatic ache had settled into his legs.

The masked man pulled up his hoodie and walked away from the dead body.

~~~~~~