Chapter 5 5th Chapter

Shooca stares at her daughter measuring her narrowmindedness. "She's so naive and young." She thought and patted her shoulder and then as if to keep in the score of her understanding said,

"This is a different game, my dear; a game where there's only one winner, and that's me." Neelima was intrigued and wanted some clarification.

"You, mama! But you are not playing along with them."

"I am, my child. A winner only has to play with tact, and that's what I'm doing." Neelima flashes a smile and licks her finger, her mind filled with childish thoughts.

Shooca stares fixedly at her innocent daughter and shakes her head in wonderment.

" She is too childish to understand the ways of life. How can I explain it to you, my dear?" She muttered and was in meditative contemplation endeavouring to invent a strategy on how to accomplish her devious plan of vengeance.

***

"If I had known that you were an evil egg, I wouldn't have let you grow inside my womb, Tina."

Mauda mutters disgruntled as she treads the footpath towards Mahuge's compound in search of her daughter. Her heart was heavy. Fear wrenched her entire being. The Knowledge that the rumours of her missing daughter might float around the whole village before she discovered her wrought turbulence in her spirit.

Tina's foolishness was bound to disgrace her family.

"My enemies are at work. They have bewitched my only daughter." She thought and tears of anguish welled up in her eyes.

"Tina..." she yelled. There was no sound. She rummages through the shrubs and the tall grass near Mahuge's compound as if searching for a needle.

"Where's she? she couldn't have gone far. I will inquire from Mahuge and his family, perhaps they might have seen her." She thought and led the way to her neighbours compound.

Suddenly she halts and contemplates in some for a moment, "Mauda, you are a fool. Do you want to dig your own grave? If anyone learns about Tina's disappearance, you will be doomed and so will your entire family." She peeked through Mahuge's compound.

At the sight of Mahuge, her hurt thumped fast. She feared him; everyone did. He was the roaring lion who instilled fear in everyone that knew him.

"He won't hesitate to lash at me if he sees me loitering around." A woman was supposed to be preparing supper for her husband. Was it not the role of any traditional woman? To feed her husband and kids? Why would she be wandering outside in neighbours' compounds instead of being in her kitchen- her office?

" He'd better not see me or else I'm dead meat." She muttered and cowered in the tall grass crawling in a different direction.

"Tina, who is hiding in the same vicinity, peeks at her mother and chuckles. She is used to hiding around the place every time she sneaks out to meet Rabu and knows all corners around.

"Mama, do you think you are smart? this time you won't attain good results." She mutters and giggles at her mother's amusing sight as she crawls under the grass.

"Go on, spying mama. We shall see how long you will carry on." She talked to herself and followed a different direction lying low on the ground not attempting to be seen.

As the Mahuge's family approached, their chuckles and shouts could be heard in the distance. Mahuge's existence depended on them; his wives, sons and daughters filled him with joy and great satisfaction. Without them, he wouldn't be a complete man. Victor noticed the glimmer on his face. Seeing him beam a smile was unusual.

He clears his throat to attract his attention and tries as much as to engage him in a conversation.

"You are a very great man, my in-law."

"Why do you say that?" Mahuge asked with a puzzled expression on his face, his red eyes bulging. Victor peeks at him and explains.

"A man who has such a beautiful large family must be lucky. With Rabu as a son and an heir, there's no reason why I should say otherwise."

Mahuge makes a slight curve at the corner and stretches his neck gazing in the direction of the voices.

It was evident that he derived all his contentment in his family. He loved and cherished it so much that the thought made him swell with pride.

Tina could now see Mahuge and his company whose face was strange to her.

"Who's this man? I don't like his presence at all."

She murmured and studied Victor's face for some time but she couldn't recognise him. There was a spurt of anger in her heart. Victor's presence was more of a hindrance than a help.

"Damn you! Whoever you are, I loathe you. Now it won't be easy for me to enjoy Rabu's company." She pouted and clenched her fists in anger and resentment.