The Third Eye Read Online Free PDF Page B

feed Father.”
    Suraj squatted on his haunches immediately, his small, brown hands tugging at the weeds. With a last look at him,Tara went to the back of the house, collecting a pile of dirty clothes along the way.
    As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Tara scrubbed and beat the clothes into cleanliness and hung them to dry on a string in the backyard. The water was all used up but she was too tired to get some more. A cot resting against the backyard wall beckoned to her but she knew rest was impossible. It was time to take father his lunch. She decided to pack a few extra chappatis so they could all eat together.
    â€œDidi, I’m done,” sang Suraj, skipping toward her.
    â€œShhhh! If Mother hears you, we’ll both get more chores,” said Tara. “Fill a pot with water to take, and wait for me.”
    Suraj pinched his lips shut and did as he was told. Tara tiptoed into the kitchen. Kali was in the front room, gossiping with a neighbour and sipping a cup of tea. Noisy slurping and hushed voices reached her ears. Layla was nowhere around. She grabbed a few chappatis and packed them into a steel plate with some leftover vegetables and dabs of mango pickle. She covered the meal with extra plates, tied a clean cloth around the package, and crept out stealthily.
    Suraj was waiting for her in the backyard. Sneaking backward glances, they raced toward the banyan tree. Their father’s fields were on the far side of it.
    As they reached the clearing, they saw a group of people standing and talking in hushed voices. A woman stood toone side, sobbing. Tara slowed down.
    The woman’s sobs grew louder. Keeping her head down, Tara walked past as slowly as she could. She gestured to Suraj to slow down as well. He stuck his tongue out at her but did as he was told.
    â€œShakti, oh my dear husband Shakti,” wailed the woman, sitting on the ground, beating her chest with the palms of her hands. A couple of women passing by stopped to comfort her.
    â€œHe went out yesterday to catch hares for our dinner,” she sobbed. “He has still not returned. Someone please bring my husband back to me.”
    The men walked out of earshot of the women. Tara followed them, straining her ears.
    â€œWhat happened? When did he disappear?” asked one villager.
    â€œYesterday,” replied another. He frowned and raised his head, staring into the distance. All the men followed his gaze to the Shivalik Hills. The dense forest that covered their slopes came right up to the edge of their village.
    â€œDid Raka send a search party?”
    â€œYes. All they found were his slippers and his lantern. There seemed to be some black liquid and a bit of blood on the ground near the peepul tree not too far from here.”
    â€œSister, don’t cry,” said one of the men returning to the sobbing woman. “We will find him.”
    They walked off and Tara heard no more. But she knew it was serious. Rakaji had just warned them all aboutthe Vetalas. Men were disappearing into the forest from the other villages, never to be seen again. Shakti was the first from Morni.
    And Tara was contemplating running away. Was she mad? Were they destined to starve at the hands of Kali, or should she take her chances and escape? Her head ached trying to decide. What should she do?
    â€œ
Come on
, Didi, what are you waiting for?” said Suraj, tugging at her sleeve. “I’m so hungry.”
    Tara nodded and sped up.
    â€¢â€¢â€¢
    They ran all the way to their father’s fields, where rice and wheat crops undulated in a green ripple, stirred by a faint breeze. Shiv was still working in the fields and Tara saw a brown speck moving in the sea of green in the distance.
    â€œGo run and get him,” said Tara, giving Suraj a gentle push. “I’ll unpack the lunch.”
    Suraj sprinted toward Shiv, a blur of dark brown darting between the lush green paddy. By the time Tara had divided up the