The Bloody Artist

"It was a full moon night. A drunk man was carrying a his hunt of the day; a deer carcass; on his shoulders and walking home singing a song whose origins only he knew. While he was immersed in the art of 'drunken singing' he heard someone crying loudly. The hunter started to walk towards the sound.

The next day he was found to be dead. The police gathered around his body along with a few of the villagers and head of the village. From then on the forest was declared to be the abode of evil spirits. And, before I forget to tell... the hunter's body was found in a very...um... creepy way. His head was decapitated and was attached to another the body of the deer and the deer's head was attached to the body of the hunter's. The man's children were not allowed to look at their father's body for the same reason.' said Vardaan to Nathan. Nathan replied "Bro, all this is fine but how did the reporter know that the man was singing and followed the sound in the middle of the night. And is it confirmed that the man was drunk? The incident happened only two days before."

"I made that part up. Don't play detective in front of me mate."

"Wow! Here comes Mr.Future Director."

"Shut up. By the way you said your father promised you he will take you with him to this village...Mrigapalli... the village where all of this took place."

"Yup... So you wanna come"

"Yes, badly."

"Where is my fees then?"

"I think I have your photos where you where you seem to be 'intoxicated'. It must have been someone else right? Your father will never scold his 17 year old son for such a tiny mistake anyway."

"Bloody hell, Vardaan. You can come with me. I have asked my father already...Just pack your luggage man. To hell with your death threats. So much disloyalty against your bestfriend for such a small thing"

"It ain't small brother. I have to take your father's position as 'The best crime solver of all time"

"Nah... He is just the best in the state, not the country."

"Something... I need to inherit it as soon as possible as his son is a good-for-nothing drunkard.

"Go on roast me as much as you want. But I am the intelligent one. I am the topper of the college, remember? Bozo."

"The topper remains flying in the clouds while the average friend rules the police."

"You win."

"I won long ago."

"See you on Monday. No, come to my house tomorrow at evening. We will be starting the next day early...very early."

"Done."

Nathan started to walk towards his home.

The cool breeze and the cloudy weather and the classical Indian traffic's noise; all came at once. Nathan was enjoying his walk to home when he felt a sudden pain in his right ankle. It was as if someone had cut it open. He fell on the footpath and almost cried. There was no visible cut but blood started oozing out his ankle bone. He was confused more than terrified. He took out his handkerchief and started wiping the blood. The oozing had stopped and in a few minutes he could walk. There was no sign of any wound and he couldn't feel any pain as well. "Strange" he said to himself and continued to walk home.

"I am home." he exclaimed, removing his slippers and repeatedly investigating his right ankle. "Dinner is ready" Mrs.Chandramouli, declared.

While the family was having their supper, Mr.Chandramouli asked "Where is your Rudraksha mala son. I said never to take it out at any cost. It is sacred"

Nathan touched his chest and neck with his non dominant hand and found he had lost it. "I...I think I lost it father."

"Where did you lose it"

"Don't know."

"Fine remind me tomorrow morning. I'll give you a new one."

After the meal, Nathan started to think where he lost his Mala{necklace}. He was not able to remember where he had lost it but his father's concerned face kept coming back to him; the face which he had kept when Nathan said he had lost his Mala.

He slowly descended from his bed and walked towards his parents' bedroom. He was about to knock the door when he heard his mother and father speaking...he quietly overheard their conversation.

"It's alright. You said you will give him the Mala."

"No. It is just that after so many years I am going to my village and it is also the first time Nathan is going to see our old home.... The great Mrigapalli. I think its a bad omen.."

"Nothing is a bad omen. Don't believe in this stuff, dear. There is only good intent and bad intent not omens and superstitions. Your intent has always been good. Nothing bad would happen to our son."

"True."

Nathan left to his room. He couldn't figure out why losing a Mala could be so concerning. He dozed off thinking about the conversation which he had overheard. But couldn't 'decode' a thing from it.

On the next day's evening Vardaan arrived. Nathan started to narrate his ankle-bleeding incident to him after supper. Vardaan said in an alarming tone "You are dead meat my friend, dead meat. It is as if someone is using occult powers against you. They will make a doll with and infuse your spirit into it and pierce the doll with a sharp as hell needle and..."

"Let me breathe mate. What on earth are you talking? Are you serious?"

"No, I am mysterious. Ankle started to bleed... No wound.... No pain. What on earth are you talking?"

"No, I am telling you the exact thing which had happened to me."

"Here I am focusing on my career from tomorrow and there you are making a fool of yourself by telling me all this rubbish."

"Fine. Leave it."

The boys slept happily....unknown of the dangers ahead