Read Online The Deadly Conch by Mahtab Narsimhan - Free Book Online Page B

know, so I’ll be going,” said Ananth.
    â€œGood night.”
    Tara heard footsteps. The back door closed softly and then there was silence. She continued sitting, paralyzed by what she had just seen and heard. What had Layla told Ananth about her?
    Layla giggled. The giggle turned into soft laughter. Tara’s insides burned as if she had swallowed a handful of fire. She got to her feet and crept closer. Layla was hurrying away, still chuckling to herself. A deep hatred flooded Tara, dousing the flames within.
    â€œStop right there!” said Tara.
    Layla stopped and turned around slowly. Tara hurried up to her. In the moonlight, Layla’s face looked like white marble except for eyes that were blacker than night and reminded Tara of deep, dark wells and endless tunnels.
    â€œWhat’re you doing here?” said Tara. Her voice was cold and stern — she hoped.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” said Layla.
    â€œI heard you tell Ananth he should know something about me. What did you tell him?”
    Layla stared at Tara, her face expressionless.
    â€œAnswer me, Layla, or I’ll thrash you.”
    Layla smiled. Goosebumps rose on Tara’s arms and she resisted the urge to back away.
    â€œJust you try it, Tara. I’ll cry so loudly and act so pitiful that the Panchayat will throw you out of Morni tonight. You’re not very popular at the moment, so you better watch how you treat me.”
    Layla spoke quietly and with such confidence that Tara felt her own resolve shatter like a sheet of glass under a shower of hailstones. Tara stared at Layla, whom she had always despised and mostly ignored. But she couldn’t ignore her now. She had to keep this snake close and observe her every move. Tara forced herself to look into her stepsister’s eyes. Could Kali really be guiding her or was Layla’s deep-rooted hatred showing itself now? Would a softer approach work with her?
    â€œLayla, please!” said Tara. She took a step forward, though every muscle and every nerve recoiled at the thought. She cupped Layla’s face with her hands. “Look, I didn’t hurt your mother deliberately. She came after me. I had no choice. I was going to bring her back to Morni, to you . She didn’t have a very easy time with Zarku. He was treating her very badly. In fact, she looked very relieved when it seemed that he was gone forever.”
    Layla stood listening intently, not moving away, but not saying a word, either. That was good; maybe this was the way to win her over: with kindness instead of threats.
    â€œTell me more,” whispered Layla. “Tell me everything.”
    Tara forced herself to hold Layla’s hand as they walked to the edge of the courtyard. They sat on the low mud wall and Tara continued with the story, skillfully weaving together facts and embellishments.
    â€œWe were all recovering from the tornado that had whipped through the cave after Zarku collapsed. Kali was trying to help me, but then … then we both realized that Zarku had not really died. He had possessed her instead. You know what that means, don’t you Layla?”
    â€œTell me,” said Layla, calmly. Helplessness swept through Tara. How could this child be so emotionless hearing about her mother’s last few minutes on earth? The moonlight shining on her cold eyes revealed no sadness, no regret, nothing.
    â€œThat means Zarku was controlling your mother, the same way he did with Suraj. And the first thing he made her do was to rush right at me. To kill me.”
    Tara took a deep shuddering breath as she recalled those moments. The crushing weight of darkness, the deep chasm belching hot fumes, Kali running at her, the hyena snapping at her ankles, and the unshakable fear that it was the end.
    â€œI had no choice,” said Tara. “No choice at all.”
    â€œThere is always a choice, Tara. You could have let my mother live. I didn’t like your story