Read Online The Third Eye by Mahtab Narsimhan - Free Book Online Page A

violently.
    In the clearing lay Ravi, or what remained of him. His skin was an ugly shade of translucent green. Black liquid coursed visibly through his body. A black, fist-sized sack inflated and deflated in his chest. His eyes had rolled back in their sockets and he lay staring sightlessly at the crowd that pressed forward, gaping at him. His hair was matted and dirty. A foul stench emanated from his open mouth, as if something had died inside it. But what had the crowd shocked were his feet. They had turned 180 degrees, till his toes faced backwards. On his forehead was a deep gash from which oozed a black, viscous liquid. He drew in laborious gasps that sounded deafeningly loud in the pindrop silence.
    â€œRavi, talk to me,” pleaded his mother, sitting next to him but not daring to touch him.
    A number of people tried to drag her away from that
thing
that lay on the ground. No one could understand what power could change Ravi into that deformed creature.
    Tara clamped her lips shut to prevent her breakfast from spewing out. She crawled backwards and exited the crowd as fast as she could.
Who could have done this to Ravi?
    The muttering in the crowd rose to a crescendo.
    â€œHe went to the forest looking for firewood this morning,” said someone.
    â€œAnd then he was attacked. Could it be the Vetalas?”
    â€œLooks like it. He came running home not a few minutes ago. He was conscious then.”
    â€œAnd he had the gash on his forehead. It was bleeding profusely. It looked like blood at first. Now it’s this black liquid.”
    â€œAnd then he turned green and his feet rotated.”
    â€œWhat in the name of Lord Ram could do this to a person?” asked another shrill voice.
    â€œWe are all going to die. Someone call Raka. He will tell us what to do.”
    Confusion and panic abounded as someone ran to get the members of the Panchayat.
    Raka came striding up to them. He looked calmly at the misshapen body lying on the ground. Tara just could not understand how he could be so unconcerned.
    â€œWhat happened?” he asked.
    The villagers told Raka what had happened while someone led Ravi’s mother away from her son’s deformed body.
    â€œCall Zarku,” said Raka calmly. “If anyone can cure Ravi, he can.”
    Another villager ran off for Zarku. He returned shortly, calling out, “Make way, make way for Zarku.”
    Tara saw a bald man in a long, flowing, black robe stride up to the crowd. This was the first time she had seen him since Diwali night.
    His black eyes assessed the scene within seconds. Theyrested on Tara and Suraj momentarily. Tara could feel hate and anger pulsing out at her and she was stunned. Why would this healer, who was so new to Morni, hate her so much? He passed her, and the crowd parted easily to allow him to walk up to the body. The crowd closed in behind him again so that Tara could not see what was happening. A low murmur reached her as she strained to hear what Zarku was saying. She grabbed Suraj’s hand and pushed through the crowd till she could see Zarku’s face and hear him as he examined the body.
    â€œThis is deep evil. Someone has put him under a spell and claimed his soul. Only I can free him. Bring him to my hut.”
    As soon as she heard his voice, a terrible fear clutched her heart. The voice she had heard last night, plotting with Kali to kill Tara and Suraj, was Zarku’s. It was Zarku who wanted them dead. She wanted to run and hide, but she could not move.
    The silence deepened. No one stirred. No one wanted to touch that monster. Ravi’s heart continued beating, rising and falling with each ragged breath he drew in. Green spit drooled from the side of his mouth. Zarku looked at the crowd and his mouth curled at the corners.
    â€œWill no one help me carry this man to my hut? He is one of your own. Surely a bit of deformity should not make him so repulsive to you?”
    Silence.
    There was an air of