1

The time when my distant cousin, Sachin Nair had his first encounter with an astrologer, he was six months old. He had peed on the astrologer’s lap. But, what concerned the people around was not this matter, instead, the astrologer had found a serious error in Sachin’s horoscope. It said he would face a certain calamity in his 20s, which then became a well-kept family secret.

At 22, Sachin was sober (a trait that came from his stiff upper lip family) and he was choosey, in making friends, making decisions etc. He was not jolly, like someone who would jump on a pile of clothes (washed on a terrace top granite slab) and pick up his hoodie for the day. He was the kind who would think twice before picking up the best wear on a given day.

Sachin lived in a small village in Kannur, Kerala. You could always find him seated at the Kaap (an opening in the woods where you could find a small lake) watching strokes eat their meal. Often, he would carry bread crumbs and throw it to those birds. This fascinated him, and he developed a certain liking to birds (although Chicken Biriyani was still his favourite), which resulted him buying a parrot.

The last that I saw him was, when he was teaching his male parrot to talk. The bird would diligently listen to him and respond nothing. But that did not frustrate him and he kept trying.

I had asked him, why would he even try and waste his time teaching the bird. Why would he even try to be a bird brain? His response would be optimistic (something rare for an introvert), but, I had always seen that determination in him to succeed in a task, which he had decided.

You might be wondering, who am I? Not certainly Jackie Chan, but, I’am Ankit Parameshwaran, that so called cousin of Sachin, from Bangalore. When you compare a big, happening city like Bangalore with Kannur, then, it’s a default thought that we are all extroverts (so, what about New York?). But, at 26, I like to take things in the present moment.

I was on an extended weekend at Kannur and was staying at Sachin’s house.

The day had just begun at this small village. I nearly dropped my morning cup of kattan chaaya (black tea) off the table as I search for my DSLR camera, because, I had just witnessed a beautiful scene, and I wanted to capture it. From the narrow alley that was adorned with thick shrubbery on the sidewalks, a newspaper boy rides his bicycle throwing foggy dust on his trial that gleamed in the glowing brightness of the morning sun. You could only see the dark outline of the boy in a dusty golden background. Some picture it is, isn’t it? and I took my shot.

‘You could go to the Kaap and capture nature’, said a voice from behind.

‘Hey, didn’t notice that you were standing behind me uncle.’ It was Sachin’s father Ramanathan Nair.

He saw the pictures and were impressed with the shot.

‘You have a good sense of judgement, an eye for precision and tons of patience. Something which is in the must list for budding photographers’, Ramanathan said.

‘Where you a photographer…?’ Ankit enquired.

‘As a young man, I was… yes! I had the Halina 35 X camera by Haking. I had imported it then.’

‘That is the early or mid-60’s, wasn’t it?’

‘1964 to be exact. I was young and experimenting too many things. I wanted to be a journalist photographer, but, ended up as, you might guess, a professional camera man’, Ramanathan said.

‘Then uncle, I’ll need your guidance. Just let me know, in a few words, what it needs to be amongst the best.’

‘You have it in you. It’s just the eye for detail and sharp focus.’

‘You can teach me, ain’t it?’ Ankit asked.

‘Sure, I’d love to. Glad, it will take me to those days of yore. Honestly, I’d like to try the latest cameras.’ He looked at the camera again as if to see if anything in the modern resembled his old models.

‘I’ll do anything for that.’ Sachin looked overjoyed.

‘You change Sachin. and I’ll help you. It’s a give and take world. He is just wasting his time here.’ Ramanathan didn’t sound cheerful this time and he looked away.

‘What’s wrong with him? He barely talks. It’s as if he is clueless. As he got no friends here?’ Ankit enquired.

‘The problem is not whether he has friends. One can still be an extrovert, if he is close to his family and relatives and yet, develop good communicating abilities. I don’t know whether it is his upbringing that has caused him to avoid people. But we did not… ever say no to anything… Still he is such an introvert.’ Ramanathan said

‘Does he like to be alone? This might lead him to social anxiety, especially, after his marriage,’ Ankit said.

‘That’s my worry. If someone can change him then it is you. You care for others and you are family, what more can I ask you?’

‘It would be my pleasure uncle. You don’t have to ask. I have a proposal. Can you send him to Bangalore? I would love to take him there. Let him stay with me and you would see the difference,’ Ankit said.

Ramanathan was both delighted at the proposal, but, was worried.

‘Are you worried about what the astrologer had said?’ Ankit asked

‘Yes and no. But, he is still a child and God only knows what it can lead to.’

Ankit smiled. ‘Don’t worry uncle, rest assured. I’ll take good care of your little boy.’

‘Not too early. You need to move a mountain to make him agree.’

Ankit gave a soft laugh.

‘You will find him at the Kaap,’ Ramanathan said looking at his watch. ‘I don’t know what joy he finds feeding those birds?’

‘I see that he has a fondness towards birds and I can make him join a bird community. Things will change uncle. For the good.’

Ramanathan shrugged. ‘Well, yes… for the good.’ He smiled.

2

To reach the Kaap, you had to walk over a cemented drain filled with water to the brim. With tall grass on both sides of the drain, Ankit always feared that he would disturb a sleeping python who would just grab him and swallow. But that thought occurred to him 10 years back, and Pythons don’t swallow grown people. Moreover, there was no drain now. It was replaced by a man-made stream with a paved side walk.

Good for joggers and bikers, Ankit thought.

The woods have been protected by barbed wire and one was not allowed to enter it.

‘You will need to go around the woods to reach the Kaap,’ an old farmer said.

Probably, he too might have had the same thoughts on how things change with time, Ankit thought.

The Kaap surfaced after a while. With a boating and kayaking facility, it looked artificial. Everything about the Kaap made him feel bad, but then, there was Sachin to take care of.

Sachin was seated in his usual spot. The place he chose to sit had three rocks that reminded you of wickets that we as kids used in place of sticks whilst plying cricket. There was an old boat resting in peace. Another perfect spot for a camera.

Ankit took a few shots and was satisfied. Sachin kept throwing bread crumbs, running and picking up crumbs that had not reached the birds like a small boy who was overjoyed in what he was doing.

Surely, he liked what he was doing. Ankit sensed a reason to speak with Sachin.

‘So, these are your friends, is it?’

‘Err.. yes.. They recognize me and don’t worry, you want scare them as long as I’am here,’ Sachin said throwing another piece of bread crumb.

‘You could make that as a real profession. Have you thought of that?’

‘No.. what is it?’ Sachin enquired.

‘It’s a long story. Will you come with me to Bangalore and then, I can explain you better. Seeing is believing.’

‘Well.. yes.. If you mean it then there must be something in it.’ Sachin said.

So, off they went to Bangalore, both, high with hopes. Afterall, it is the hope on which the world survives.

3

Ankit’s apartment was on the 10^th floor of a 16-floor building (including 4 parking levels). It was a 2 BHK, both neat and bright. Sachin, although impressed with the new surroundings, was beginning to enjoy the company of the newly purchased pet, a Parrot. It was a nasty little bird, unlike the one he had in Kannur (which was a female). This one drew immediate contrast upon arrival. It forced comparisons with the bird in Kannur. Firstly, it would simply shriek causing havoc in an otherwise quiet neighbourhood; secondly, it would spill the small vase of drinking water in its cage and at most times, defecate in the same vase. And importantly, it had its own choice of food. No grains, but, corn seemed to be its favourite. But, Sachin took it as a challenge to convert the bird into a gentle creature.

In his free time, Sachin would visit the nearby public library. And the days seemed to go peacefully.

On a certain afternoon, with nothing interesting to do, Sachin was reading a horror novel, which he had borrowed from the library (they allowed to take two books maximum with a return date of two weeks per book, and the fat librarian would only stamp with a smile considering that not many could read a book within two weeks, and her smile would only double up when the books was fatter), he felt a numbness on the head. He felt as if he could see a tunnel for a moment and that thought didn’t last longer as he came back to the present moment.

He checked the time. It was 3 P.M.

‘Oh! that could be a hunger panic,’ he thought to himself. ‘Maybe I should eat and take a siesta.’

But, he couldn’t sleep. His heart thumped and his brain pulsed. He could feel convolutions in his stomach. But puking was not easy. He sat on the sofa and started reading the book.

‘Ankit might be back anytime soon. Maybe I could ask him to take me to a hospital,’ he thought.

He checked the time. 4.55 P.M and getting darker soon as the shades of the evening looming large and the shadows of nearby apartment blocks competing to shower its shadows on their side of the building.

He continued reading the book. There was an incident in the story, which narrated about darkness, and how evil eyes would be on a constant watch at one, who was not aware of its presence.

Well, Sachin was in his thoughts again and he looked around to see, if someone was really watching him. All he could just see was the curtain flutter and the cold evening wind float inside the room.

He relaxed himself looking at the window and seeing the open sky, when the power went off.

Sachin was shocked and then he refrained himself the fear.

He checked the time. 5.05 PM.

‘Ankit might be on the way,’ he said. His mind was on a constant vigil as he went to the garbage chute to throw the rubbish.

As he entered the house, he heard a sound. It came from the adjacent room near the second bathroom. It was as if someone was scratching something.

Scratch.. scratch… scratch…

‘Yes, there is something. But who? The adjacent home was vacant,’ he thought.

He had to wash his hands after throwing the rubbish and that meant he had to enter the bathroom. His heart thumped harder and he leaned against the wall to get a clear picture. In fear and doubt, the mind searches for proof.

But he didn’t hear anything thereafter. The power came back startling him and Sachin was relieved.

The doorbell rang and Ankit came in huffing and puffing. He hadn’t been to the gym lately.

‘There is a match starting at 7 P.M. Care to watch? It is India vs Australia,’ he said.

I want to go home, Sachin thought.

‘Let me see. I have to finish the book. I’ll join you in between. I have lost interest in T20s. Its such a bore and one-sided,’ Sachin said.

‘Lost interest ever since Sachin Tendulkar retired, is it? Well, let me remind you that we now have a team brimming with class and you say, you don’t want to watch us win?’ Ankit asked.

‘No. I’am not in the mood. I wanted to go to the hospital. But, I feel better now,’ he said.

‘Hey! Are you okay?’

‘Yes, I had a sudden delusory thought, I think… But it was momentary,’ Sachin said.

‘You think you had a delusory thought?’ Ankit enquired.

‘Yes. I mean… I was imagining things and feeling nauseated.’

‘Hey dude. You seemed to be in trouble. We can watch the match later,’ Ankit said.

‘No. Let’s see for a day and then, if needed we shall go tomorrow,’

‘You sure?’ Ankit asked

‘Yes please. Let me eat the Pizza you’ve brought?’ Sachin said smiling.

‘Glutton. Food for good thought and all your delusory thoughts then goes for a toss,’ Ankit said.

‘You bet. That settles it then. Enjoy your match and I shall read my book in the next room,’ Sachin said.

4

The match began on time. Ankit was watching the game in the hall and Sachin was at the other room reading. There was a short passage between the hall and Sachin’s room. He remembered that he had not switched on the light in the passage.

He could listen the sounds and chants coming from the stadium and assumed that Ankit might be busy eating his Pizza and washing it with Coke.

As he entered the passage, he thought he saw an aerial figure. Sachin stayed for a moment.

Scratch.. scratch.. scratch… the sound was back, but, this time it was coming from next to the kitchen room.

He turned back and to his bewilderment he saw someone behind him. His heart started to thump and his brain began to numb. Someone called his name. S.A.C.H.I.N…. a short, sharp call.

He hastily returned back to the kitchen, switched on the lights and saw nothing.

He ran back to his room and fell flat on the bed. He covered his face and he could see the tunnel again. He felt he was walking in it.

S.A.C.H.I.N… he heard the voice again.

Then someone touched his shoulder. As he opened his eyes, he saw Ankit standing in front of him with a Coke can and a slice of Pizza.

‘I had been calling you buddy. Why were you not responding?’ Ankit asked.

‘For how long?’

‘Just now. Do you need this or do I eat this? The match begins in 5 minutes,’ Ankit said.

‘What is the time?’

‘7:05 P.M. Be quick man.. They are about to call the toss,’ Ankit said.

‘No.. you take it. It seems to be ages.’

‘What seems to be in ages?’ Ankit questioned.

‘I was away.. I mean….’ He looked at Ankit thoughtfully.

‘Are you okay? You look exhausted.’ Ankit said.

‘I’am fine. Just leave me alone please.’

Ankit shook his head and went away. ‘Tell me if you need to visit a doctor?’

‘Tomorrow…’

Sachin turned off the light.

5

As the morning dawned to be a brighter day, Sachin’s spirits gained independence. He was in complete control, and didn’t even mind to wipe off the dark blob of pee spreading on his khaki brown shorts as he just finished urinating. The yesterday was after all yesterdays and a thing to be left behind.

Ankit had gone to office (which he normally does without disturbing Sachin from his sleep). It was a Friday and things are generally peaceful (even happy) on that day. He was just about to enter that super stardom spirit as the day progressed, when he got a call from Ankit.

‘Sachin, we will need to cancel today’s trip to the movies. I have an important meeting. It was so sudden, and I’am needed in that call.’

Sachin was not prepared for this one.

‘Okay, but for how long?’ he asked.

‘I cannot be sure brother. It’s a conference call and you know how horrible internet can be at home sometimes.’

‘Tell me the time Ankit,’ Sachin questioned.

‘Are you scared? Maybe I will be back by 9:30 P.M. Too late, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, it is… But never mind.. I will manage. Don’t worry about me. I’am not scared,’ Sachin said.

‘We will plan the doctor tomorrow. Is that okay?’

‘No problem. I’am a better man today,’ Sachin reminded.

‘Nevertheless, take an appointment. Anytime as you may please. Let’s not delay in certain things as health, okay?’

‘Sure. I’ll call them,’ Sachin replied.

‘Okay, do one thing. You can come to my office anytime. Just tell my name to the security and we will go to some mall.’

Global Village was not even one kilometre from Sri Krishna Gardens, the place where they stayed. Sachin thought a stroll might be better and he can spend the best Friday of his life, after a long time. Who knows about tomorrow?

‘Yes. That’s a better idea. I’ll be there as early as 9 P.M,’ Sachin said.

‘Okay, that would do. Don’t get lost. The last time I had to find you thanks to the Google Maps.’

‘Haha… No problem. Rajarajeshwari Nagar is not a huge place. I won’t get lost,’ Sachin said.

‘Good to see you laugh buddy. Catch you later then. Bye.’

‘Bye Ankit.’ The mobile went silent.

6

Sometimes the wait can be a longer expectation, especially on a Friday. He remembered that he had not read the book today. He was happy about not reading it, lest it spoil his day; but, with nothing to do, and with all those lengthy television series being broadcasted, which only the housewife and the mother-in-law would prefer watching (to ponder later for an opportunity to initiate a cold war between them), he was soon feeling bored.

So, he automatically picks the book and starts reading.

As the darkness creeps in, and with the thick mist slowly engulfing the lonely house near the swamp and the adjacent forest, it was obvious that a bad omen was sure to be forecasted on Adam’s evening. What it is? He never knew, but, it was bound to happen. That much he was sure.

Sachin became uneasy and so the tone was set. He checked the time.. 5.55 P.M….

He was feeling depressed, and also drowsy. He went to the wash basin to wet his face.  He washed and looked into the mirror.

Scratch.. scratch.. scratch…

He remembered the words in the book.

As he looked at himself in the mirror, he saw his face change. There was fear and agony; and a deep unwanted recognition that he was changing. From the more humane to a grizzly monster, he saw his face change; there was nothing he could do, he just had to accept the change.

Sachin looked at himself carefully. No change. He smiled. The dripping tap made an eerie sound. He applied a bit of pressure to stop the excess water flow.

Just then, the power went off.

Quite common in these parts of the world.., he thought

Then he heard again. Scratch.. scratch.. scratch…

Not quite common…

His brain was becoming numb again and he panicked, and as he opened the door of the bathroom there was dull white light in the living room. The sound of the pipe was still audible behind the closed door, and the silence of the room was just too much for Sachin.

Who was there in the living room? He thought. He soon realized that it was the emergency lamp which had come to life automatically when the power went away. He laughed and fell on the floor and his spectacles rolled over.

Scratch.. scratch.. scratch..

He could not see without the spectacles and he squinted. With an eye sight of nearly half blind category, he could imagine things which a normal man could easily perceive.

‘Who is that?’ he shouted.

Scratch.. scratch.. scratch.. It was becoming louder. ‘Who is that, with that Goddamn sound?’

He laid down on his back exhausted and closed his eyes in an act of surrender to whatever forces he presumed were acting upon him. He could now see the tunnel, it was very clear, as if a translucent passage above flowing water, and he found himself walking through it. The tunnel was bright as he moved further and as he reached the end of it, he could see the Kaap, the strokes and his home.

I want to go home, he thought

He made a dash towards the end of the tunnel. Just then, he could see the tunnel narrowing down to a close. The tunnel was becoming darker. He panicked and runs faster towards its end. He realized that his pace was becoming slower as he ran. He was struggling to run. His feet were becoming heavier as if bound by heavy chains. It was as if the time seeming to slow down, as if he was traversing through a worm hole between two dimensions of varied universes. He felt as if he was being elongated, stretched as if he was some sort of a rubber band, and he began to drag. He falls down on his knees and then flat on his face.

Beep.. beep.. beep. The alarm on Sachin’s mobile rings at 6 P.M

7

Venkat Rao, an immigrant from Andhra Pradesh had been doing the painter’s job for a while. A man who wanted Gongura pachadi at lunch, was not satisfied with the food habits of Bangalore. He had found a thatched hotel nearly 2 kms (BEML Layout), which served his favourite dish. And he didn’t mind walking to that hotel as long as it kept away from his work.

He did not notice anything until he came out for smoking his beedi at break. As he took the beedi from his left ear and lit it with a match stick, he saw a congregation of men. Sachin’s dead body was being carried to the hospital for further investigation and post-mortem.

Some of them asked him whether he had noticed anything unusual, but, he had told them that he was there to scratch the wall to remove the old paint and then apply a new coating of paint. The new tenants were supposed to occupy the room in a week’s time.

The case of Sachin remained a mystery since then.