This chapter introduces you to a few more important characters. I'm afraid you'll have to remember them all as they play a major role in the updates further. I'll help you though! 😄

*Guddada bhūtha - a Kannada term meaning 'ghost of the hill'

*brahmachaari - unmarried man

*bhagavatha - background singers of yakshagana.
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Janani closed her car door. The Ooty post office was her last hope to locate Anushku.

"Sir, can I please get some details about this post box?" she pleaded the post master who was busy on his phone.

"We don't reveal any details!"

"Sir atleast the address ple.."

"I think I made myself audible the very first time!" he spat.

Janani cursed him while moving out in dismay when the same stout dark man whistled at her.

"Enna ma venu?" he asked assertively.

"Sorry, no Tamil."

"English-ah? I know well. Post box address want you!" he yelled.

"Oh! Understanding the language maybe a problem but I still have a good hearing ability. Yes, I want the post box number address." she blinked.

"Enna number-u?"

"79!"

"Hmm.. Hundred rupees. Full payment, final settlement!"

Though she felt like thrashing him with the little, red umbrella she was holding in her hand, she paid him the money after which he handed her a chit containing the address of the Kamarottu house.

#723, Kamarottu,
Mangalore,
Karnataka.
- - - - -

"Unthala Unthala.. Yaava Yaava.."

Rafiq and a few other men conversed in Tulu as they hauled the jeep that had got stuck in the mud the previous night.

"Are people in this village fond of hunting?" Vihaan questioned biting a cigarette as he searched for his lighter.

"Hunting? Umm.. They used to, but now the forest department has made strict rules against poaching. Sometimes when wild boars attack the dwellers around the forest, they kill them. That's all Anna."

"Last night, me and my wife saw fire and there were peculiar noises heard, while crossing the river."

"I didn't want to expose you to the secret but since you're asking.."

"Tell me what it is Rafiq."
The tobacco vapour escaped from his mouth as he curiously leaned against the jeep.

"That house is haunted by Angaara's ghost. A few localites have seen his spirit when it's dark. You know Naarnu, don't you?"

"Naarnu?"

"The guy who rowed you to this place. He had slept with a fever for two weeks after seeing the *guddada bhūtha."

"Now who's this Angaara? A brahmarakshasa?"

"No! That is different. Only God knows what more that mansion beholds. No one even talks about it."

"Whatever. The house needs some groceries. Drop me at the post office on the way, will you?" Vihaan smiled crushing the cigar.
- - - - -

"Vihaan! What a pleasent surprise!"

"Kalinga sir, you here?"

"Kamarottu Grama's post master."

"Great. I'm here to meet you then."

"Tell me. How can I help you?"

"I needed to open a post box here."

"Let me first get the chairs and doors of this office fixed, then talk about post boxes." Kalinga laughed. "The only post box here is that red one left behind by the British."

"What other option do we have then? I'll be getting letters regarding work and I don't prefer giving my personal address." Vihaan joined him.

"You can give the address of this post office. Any such letters will be safe with me. When.. "

"Isn't it time for lunch yet!" An old man interrupted.
He was tall and skinny with very less white hair and a short black moustache. His full arm white formal shirt was half tucked into the indigo pants he was wearing.
"Well well. Who do we have here for the first time in ten years?"

"Meet Shankar master. He is the headmaster of the government school here and a highly respected person in town. This is Vihaan. It's been a day since they came to the Kamarottu house."

"Namaskara." the old man was very kind in gesture. "Looks like you're from the city if I'm not wrong."

"I work as a free lance writer for a US magazine. So I came here to do some research on Dakshina Kannada culture."

"Impressive! Kalinga, your Yakshagana is in the upcoming week right? Vihaan, why don't you come over. Kalinga is a *bhagavatha and a brilliant dancer too. I'm sure you'll enjoy and it will be useful for your article as well."

"Of course! This is my invitation to you. You must come with your better half, Vihaan." Kalinga presented him a card.

"Definitely. Sandhya will be delighted to meet you all and your families."

"I am a *brahmachaari Vihaan!" Shankar master cried.

"Then you can wait until someone calls you three times."

Kalinga amusingly clapped his hands backing on his chair while the old man sat perplexed.
"I'll tell you on the our way home."
- - - - -

"Stop. You keep the shoes and groceries at home, I'll be there in sometime." Vihaan got down from the jeep at the same place they had been stuck.

"But Anna, it's drizzling."

"Not a problem, you leave."

He walked past the same trees and bridge, trying to recollect the incidents, when a woman suddenly bumped into him.

"Who are you?"

"Anna, my name is Girija. Manjakku's daughter-in-law."

"Manjakku? The old lady who does the housekeeping?"

"Yes, I clean that house every month. Nobody lives there b... "

"We're living there now. Maybe for quite some more days. So I want you to clean the place each day. And yes, my wife is pregnant. She may need some assistance with the chores."

The woman nodded asking him not to wander around in that place and justified saying it is not safe.

Vihaan rustled through the bushes and dry leaves on the ground for a while trying to make out something when a bullet hit his right arm. He winced and hid behind a tree trunk to see a dark, well-built man stomp over a brook barefooted, with a rusted, rifle.
Before he could realize who it was, Vihaan pounced and attacked him. He punched the man's face with all his might until the latter slipped out of hold pushing him away.

"What was that for?" Vihaan wondered dusting his clothes. The wound seemed to be deep and blood oozed out.

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So that was a short one.

Feedback time guys! 😊
Too lazy to proof read 😶