Nine: Vengeance of the Warrior (19 page)

20

Akash

London

Akash felt like telling Anita to bugger off, but that would only strengthen her suspicion. He had to play it cool. ‘I’m not sure what you are going on about, Ms Anita. I’m just an ordinary guy who runs a pub.’

Anita smiled. She was sitting across from him. He was glad for the distance, the barrier of his messy office desk keeping her at arm’s length. When his assistant had mentioned that a journalist from India had come to see him, he didn’t want to turn her away. It would only arouse suspicion. He knew exactly why she was there. She was talking again. ‘My grandfather had done much research on King Ashoka and …’ she lowered her voice conspiratorially, ‘… he met one of them.’

‘Who?’ Akash asked, pretending not to understand.

‘One of the Nine,’ Anita whispered. ‘With the special powers.’

‘What! What are you saying? I don’t understand!’

She looked frustrated. ‘Don’t give me that moronic attitude! I’m not stupid. First of all, you need to know that I have great respect for the Nine and their powers, and their selfless contribution to society. However, you should know that the people who protect the Nine are the bad guys. The boy who saw you, Chris … well … I just spoke to him and he said he got a threatening phone call telling him to forget about who you are and what he saw. Some guy in the library warned me to stay away or else …’

‘This is some fantasy story. Look, miss …’

Anita cut him off angrily. ‘No, you look! I’ve been researching the Nine for many years now and I’m not about to give up. I have come here at great risk. Your protectors are keeping an eye on you guys like zealous mothers, probably keeping tabs on me, probably out to threaten or even kill me.’

Akash stared at her. He couldn’t believe his ears. But he kept up the front. ‘Why would anyone kill because of some fantasy?’ He burst out laughing. ‘You watch too many spy movies. There is nothing sinister going on and this is clearly a case of mistaken identity. I’m no superhuman with superpowers. I’m just—’

‘Blah, blah, ordinary guy, blah, blah. I get it. You are sworn to secrecy. And you cannot reveal your true identity. Okay, fine. I get that. I’m here to warn you that the people out there who protect the Nine, are destroying lives. My grandfather was a great scientist, he made progress. Granted he got help from one of the Nine, but he wanted to find and thank him, that’s all. Once he made contact, things changed. My grandfather was not the same again. He suddenly went dull and got Alzheimer’s and died.’

‘So how does that connect with any of this?’ Akash shifted in his seat, one eye on his smartphone, hoping it would buzz so he could interrupt her line of probing. She was really hammering the nail on the head. As much as he wanted to admit the truth to her, he knew he absolutely could not. He touched his implant.

‘Don’t you get it? My grandfather discovered the identity of one of the Nine. The man was a scientist who worked in the same government research facility as my grandfather. They were to meet and after that meeting things changed. According to your code of silence, my grandfather was supposed to accept the anonymity of this person. But he didn’t.’

‘As far as I can tell, it was pure coincidence that your granddad got Alzheimer’s around the same time as he met this so-to-speak special person, Nine. Now please, I’m sorry for wasting your time. I have nothing more to add. That boy must have seen some other guy. You know how all Indians look the same to these angrez! However, with my good looks, I’m surprised there’s anyone out there like me,’ Akash said jokingly.

Anita didn’t laugh. Heck, she didn’t even smile. She stared at him with the sharp gaze of a prison guard. He squirmed.

‘Okay.’ She suddenly stood up. ‘If that’s how you want to play this game, fine. Here’s my card. Call me if you happen to be in India.’ She flicked the card, it landed in front of him. ‘I can help you if you want. I live in Mumbai. I have contacts.’

‘Hey listen, Ms Anita.’ Akash gave her an appeasing smile. ‘It’s nice to meet a fellow Indian. I understand your frustration. I wish I could help, but I’m really sorry.’

She stopped suddenly. ‘You’re really sorry that you can’t tell me you’re one of them?’

He guided her out the door. ‘I’m just generally sorry,’ Akash said, avoiding her sharp gaze. It was 6 p.m. and the first few customers were trickling in. One of them was a tall man, with piercing blue eyes and an air of sophistication and polish. He was north European, Akash surmised. The man smiled at Anita. Akash felt a pang of envy when Anita rushed to him and gave him a wet kiss.

Anita introduced Akash as the ‘one who wants to remain unknown’. Axel was a foot taller than Akash and his gaze was cold. Akash was polite and offered drinks on the house. Anita thanked him and, while Axel made himself comfortable at the corner booth, she leaned towards Akash and whispered. ‘It’s not over, Akash. I’m not giving up my search.’

Akash smiled, feeling uncomfortable about what just happened. ‘I can tell you are not going to. Anyway, enjoy your stay while you are here. I’d better get back to work. Good to meet you, Axel.’

Akash sent an urgent message to Tara and Zubin on their phones, explaining the situation. Panic-stricken and anxious, he paced restlessly. The responses pinged in.

Tara:
You’ve always been careless, how many times has Raakin warned you!

Zubin:
So did you manage to get her off your back?

Akash:
Don’t start with your lectures, Tara. I’m totally knackered. Zubin, I got her off my back. I think she was just fishing. She’s in the bar having a drink with her boyfriend. My God, the Scandinavian dude was all cold, like ice. Not sure what’s going on there.

Tara:
Have you told Raakin?

Akash:
Of course not! I hope you won’t squeal on me, Tara.

Zubin:
Raakin is facing the uprising of the warrior, telling him you’ve been caught in the act might make matters worse.

Akash:
Yeah, rub it in, why don’t you, Zub!

Tara:
Raakin cares about us and worries that we will get hurt.

Akash:
So what do you want me to do? If I inform him, he will send me off to some safe location with the senior members. I don’t want to sit around twiddling my thumbs. I want to be a part of this fight against the Kalingan.

Tara:
We will keep this quiet. The Seniors will guide us. But from now on, Akash, be careful.

Zubin:
I think you’d better start wrapping up your business and take your trip to India earlier than planned.

Akash:
There’s another thing. This journalist’s grandfather was a scientist, he made contact with a member of the Nine, and after that he got sick and died. The boy who saw me during the fire received a death threat. I think we have to bring this up with Raakin—innocents are in danger when they make contact with us.

Tara:
That’s not our concern. The protectors are keeping us safe. As part of the Nine we do have to be protected. And we have to maintain anonymity. We have to face the Kalingan, we need to make sure no one gets hurt because of our abilities.

Akash:
Not everything is as neat and tidy as you put it … things happen and sometimes saving a life is more important than saving face.

Zubin:
That’s true. But we cannot afford to have people come up to us. We have to be invisible and discourage people from making contact.

Akash:
Not everyone is the enemy. I am starting to worry about Anita.

Tara:
Take care of yourselves. We can discuss this further when we meet in India.

The Nine

They were seated in the same place inside the cave. The holographic images of the Nine did not diminish the effect of the energies that surged within its confines. The cave was the same one they had earlier reached through a maze of tunnels under the temple at Bodh Gaya. The same unfathomable route. The rock walls still glistened while the butter lamps in small alcoves cast ghostly shapes. A narrow granite corridor had opened up into the familiar, wide, circular area with mushroom-shaped rocks emerging from the ground. It was a temple, but instead of deities, ancient rock-cut sculptures of lions and elephants stood out in a frieze on the walls. As they had witnessed before, the nine flat-top rocks were positioned in a circle. They seemed to have risen from the depths of the earth. At the centre of the circle formed by the nine seats was a round plinth. They took their seats alongside the Seniors.

‘Greetings to the Senior Council of Six,’ Tara said reverently. ‘It is an honour to connect with you again.’

Zubin and Akash bowed. They sat down and faced the Six. They were on high stools facing them. There was only one who spoke on behalf of all of them. ‘You are aware that the danger has risen again. The spirit has found a willing human. A woman with the power of the Ojaa clan. They are powerful and possess paranormal abilities.’

‘Whatever it is, we are ready to fight,’ Akash said.

‘We will ensure the safety of mankind,’ Zubin responded.

‘Is there a reason you called us here?’ Tara asked.

The voice was like a chorus. It filled their minds. ‘This time the power is enhanced. The Kalingan will find your weakness and use it against you. We will arrange to have a special chakra blessed by the Buddha to keep the spirit in place when you destroy it.’

‘We will ensure that the spirit never escapes.’

‘You must be prepared. This time the fight is not going to be easy,’ the voice said. ‘It is time to face your Dhamma, your challenge is to keep your mind calm in this time of strife. You must be strong in the face of danger and must not bring your emotions into your fight.’

‘We are prepared,’ Tara said.

‘We will be there to guide you when the time comes. It is time for your physical selves to connect at the Hills.’

Their implants burned their ears to a bright red as if they had been bitten by bugs. Tara, Akash and Zubin woke up as if from a deep slumber.

21

Tejaswi

Tejaswi called up the surveillance agency. ‘I had hired one of your bodyguards, but now I don’t need him any more.’

‘What happened, madam? Aren’t you happy with our services?’

She didn’t want to tell him that his guards could face danger. ‘Nothing of that sort. I don’t need the bodyguard. His name is Raj Singh. Please do convey my regards to him.’ She had not heard from Raj Singh since her trip to the motel.

Work and workout were the two main driving forces in her life now.

You have learned to focus your energies and curb your emotions …

Tejaswi pointed at the full cup of coffee. Smoothly, it rose in the air and then came to rest gently on the table. She had been practising for weeks and she got it right this time.

No spills, no drips. You are brilliant, Tej!

And she did it with all the passion and intensity of an Olympic athlete. She cleaned out her store, hired staff, redesigned the place and slowly got it back into decent shape. Most importantly, she was able to control her emotions each time she caught a glimpse of Karl exiting or entering his store. Twice he had sent his men to threaten her to sign some documents. Tejaswi threatened them back.

One afternoon, while she was in the midst of cleaning up, Karl came into the store. He spoke harshly. ‘Bitch, sign those documents or else you’re not going to like what happens to you.’

‘Karl the coward,’ Tejaswi responded calmly. She felt immense rage but it was in her control. Revenge required a cool head. And she had channelled her power. ‘I’m glad you have come to tell me this to my face.’ Her assistant watched agape. ‘This time, Karl, you better be afraid of what I will do to you.’ She picked up the documents and held them in front of his face, ripping them apart.

He was livid, his hands clenched into tight fists. ‘You are going to regret this.’

She hissed in his face. ‘No, Karl, I am not.
You
are going to regret it.’ She pressed a manicured finger in his chest. ‘You try anything and you are dead meat.’ She pulled back, straightened up and gazed at him. He stared, confused. Then, abruptly, she swung her arm in a punching motion, stopping a second before her fist connected with his jaw. He stumbled back in shock. She grinned. ‘Watch yourself, Karl.’ Muttering obscenities, he stomped out of her shop. Tejaswi felt a surge of adrenalin. Her first small victory. She had conquered her own fear! And she felt strong, invincible.

‘Thank you!’ she whispered.

You are ready, Tej …

The sun splashed bright rays into her apartment. Tejaswi stared at the blank computer screen. The drapes were pulled back and the room was getting uncomfortably hot. She moved her face away from the sharp sunlight. Her body buzzed with the strength of the Kalingan. He was hyperactive, venting his anger. The Kala Yogis had made contact with the Three, but he had yet to hear from them about how it had gone.