Pataleshwar Caves! The ancient caves in the heart of the city, on the Jangli Maharaj Road. Forty pillars cut into a massive rock, supported the caves. Pataleshwar - the name synonymous with the Lord of the underworld - Sonia had been asked to meet Nidhi’s kidnapper there. How apt…
Fury burst inside her, as she made her decision. Very well, she would go and confront him. For the sake of Nidhi, her trusted friend and pet. And she would end this matter once and for all!
Orange streaked the sky as Sonia parked the car on Jangli Maharaj Road and ascended the sloping stone slabs to the entrance. A huge Banyan tree loomed on her right as a light veil of mist blew with the wind. At the end of the steps, she paused and stared down at the huge excavation - an enormous rock pit. In the centre of the square stood the round Nandi Mandap - pavilion or shrine - with its sixteen pillars and umbrella-shaped roof. Inside the pavilion was the Linga - the symbol of the Lord Shiva and a Nandi - a bull. And beyond the Mandap rose eight stone-block pillars which stood like sentries guarding the deep caves which housed the temples, the chief among them being the Shiva Temple.
The entire Pataleshwar caves - a monolithic structure of the 8th century Rashtrakoota age - were dusted with an unearthly grey fog. A florescent heavenly light glimmered through it. The breeze rustled in the dried leaves of the Banyan trees and for an immeasurable moment, Sonia felt transferred into time - a time when nothing existed beyond the peace of meditation. But she felt too disturbed to really appreciate the picturesque beauty of the centuries-old art. She had cut a cake at midnight, celebrating Christmas with her parents, and had prayed with all her heart for Nidhi’s safety. And after a sleepless, anxiety- ridden night, here she was, ready to face the worst.
Her hand automatically probed the pocket of her jeans, where the small bulge of her pistol was hidden by her bulky sweater. That gave her some reassurance. Slowly, she descended the passage down to the caves. Her shoes squeaked on the uneven stone floor and mist clung to the rough stone walls.
Two men were sitting in separate caves, their eyes closed, both lost in meditation. Sonia threw a searching glance over them, then, convinced that neither of them was the ghost, she moved to the other side of the Mandap. The caves were shrouded in mist and shadows and for a moment she wondered whether she should venture inside each one of them. But a glance at her watch told her that it was just six. She would wait a couple of minutes before she stepped inside the mysterious caves. She sat down on a flat rock, rubbing her arms to drive away the cold and wondering why she didn’t frequent this beautiful historical place.
Suddenly the meowing of a cat broke the eerie silence. Nidhi! Sonia stood up instantly, her hand ready on her pocket. The sound seemed to grow louder, as if approaching from within the caves. Like a ghostly apparition, a figure in a black overcoat emerged out of the Shiva temple, screened by the mist. He was carrying a cage, in which Nidhi was protesting loudly. A shiver ran down Sonia’s spine.
“Merry Christmas, Sonia!” Varun Thakur greeted, cheerfully.
Sonia’s hand froze on her pistol. “You? What are you doing here? And why do you have Nidhi?”
“One question at a time, please.” He smiled charmingly. “Sit down. We need to talk.”
In the dawning light, his eyes were a deep blue-green and his thick highlighted hair bounced gold. He looked fresh and handsome and could easily be mistaken for a film star.
Regarding him with suspicion, Sonia reluctantly perched on the flat rock. He settled Nidhi’s cage beside her. Sonia immediately put in her hand to comfort the cat.
He took the seat on the other side and turned to study her frankly. “You look great!” he remarked.
“Did you leave that note for me under the wiper?” she asked bluntly, ignoring his compliment and the involuntary ripple of pleasure at his words. She had to focus on what was happening.
“Yes.”
“And it was you who kidnapped Nidhi?”
“Yes again.”
“And here I was going crazy with anxiety thinking some madcap had indeed kidnapped Nidhi. Why did you do it?”
“Because it was the only way to meet with you. Not only did you refuse to answer my e-mails, but you responded with threats! How do you think I would react to that?”
“Certainly not by kidnapping my cat!”
“Uh-huh. By taking my cat for a short visit to her original home, you mean,” he corrected.
“Get this straight into your head, Varun Thakur - or Owl, whatever you may wish to be called - Nidhi is no longer your cat! Don’t you ever touch her again - or by God, you don’t know what I’ll do to you!” Sonia retorted fiercely.
Varun looked at her with admiration, not in the least affected by her fury. “That is what I’ve always liked about you, Sonia - your fieriness, your commitment, your total obsession with the people and things you love and believe in. Your instinct to preserve and nourish - You are so much like me!”
“If I am obsessed with the people I love, I can also do anything - and I mean absolutely anything - to protect them!” Her eyes flashed.
“I know” He pinioned her with a steady gaze. “Remember, I told you that with your acumen it won’t take you long to cross the line between the lawful and unlawful? You are teetering on the brink, Sonia. A little push and you will be on the other side!”
“Then be warned. Stay away from Nidhi!” Sonia rose and clutched the cage. “And now I’m taking
