Forest of Demons Read Online Free PDF Page B

villee there are no raw materials for the vythian to make his medicines. This village needs me. They need what the forest provides.”
    “I’ll do it,” Priya said. “I’ll be your apprentice.”
    Papa and Ma both turned to look at her as if she’d lost her senses.
    She sighed. “I refuse to be afraid, and I refuse to give up. I already know a lot about Papa’s trade, and if we stick together, then we will be safe.” The reality was that she wanted, no needed , to go back. She needed to understand. Needed answers to all her questions.
    “Go fetch water.” Ma waved her away.
    “Papa?” Priya implored her father with her eyes. He was staring at her with mixed emotions.
    Ma scanned Papa’s face and balked. “You can’t honestly be considering this!”
    Papa dropped his head. “Go fetch water, beti.”
    Priya took the matka and retreated quickly, but not fast enough to miss the ignition of the row that exploded in her wake.
     
    She took her place in the queue, feeling guilty for eliciting an argument between her parents. They rarely quarrelled, but when they did it was always legendary. In hindsight she should have spoken to Papa alone, convinced him, and given him time to persuade Ma. There was no point in dwelling now. The damage was done.
    Rising out of her thoughts, she was suddenly painfully aware of the curious stares she was receiving. Her heart sank. The well was a place of gossip, and the last thing she wanted was to be asked to relive her experience. But it seemed that she wouldn’t be spared, for as soon as she had thought this, Gita, the barber’s wife, opened the floor to questions.
    “So good to see you safe and sound Priya. It must have been terrible, and so soon after Mala?” She reached out and patted Priya’s arm, her dark eyes glistening with glee, her donut bun bobbing atop her head.
    Priya felt sick. “Yes, it was.”
    “Did you think you were going to die?” Vimla, the policeman’s sister, asked.
    “Um—”
    “What did it look like, did you see it?” one of the other women asked.
    “Thank goodness Ravi was there.” There was more than a little slyness in the comment. Priya was aware of the rumor mill, the only piece of equipment that never failed to work, and Hema’s words brought the latest one to light. They probably thought Ravi and Priya had arranged to meet; hence his timely arrival to save her life.
    The questions continued to flow. Priya gave short, noncommittal answers, willing the queue to hurry up and diminish.
    “For goodness sake what’s wrong with you all? Can’t you see the girl’s overwhelmed?” Miriam joined them, her delicate features drawn in a severe frown. “You should be ashamed of yourselves, harassing poor Priya so soon after her ordeal simply to satisfy your addiction to gossip.”
    The women turned away, muttering apologies. People didn’t think to argue with the pujari’s wife. A woman that close to God would surely have his ear and could implore him to rain his wrath down on any one of them.
    Miriam smiled tentatively down at Priya. “I’m glad you’re safe, my child. If you need to go back into the forest, please let me know. I’ll send Guru and Pratip with you. I know your Papa has been unwell. I understand there’s work still to be done.”
    Priya felt the hot prick of tears and swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thank you.”
    The queue moved a lot faster after that, and it was with a sigh of relief that Priya filled her matka and hurried home.
     
    Papa was sitting by the stove, his leg raised and a cup of chai clutched like a shield in his hand.
    Ma was kneading dough and throwing him the occasional dagger-eyed glance. The fight had moved from verbal mode into silent mode, which was worse. The tension in the room was like baked clay, and Priya was glad to have some good news.
    “Miriamji has offered Guru and Pratip to assist us in the forest when needed.”
    Papa looked up from his chai. “Well, that’s good news isn’t it,