Chapter 23: The Game of the Heard and Unheard
The golden evening light slanted through Aarav's window, turning every mote of dust into a floating spark. He sat on the edge of his bed, absently kneading his pillow, but his eyes held a strange luminescence—as if a deep secret was stirring awake within. The memory of his time with Kiyan, the sensation of flying through the air, still hummed in his veins.
Two soft knocks sounded at the door. Aarav looked up. "Come in."
Bhaskar entered. His posture was normal, but a subtle tension corded his shoulders and tightened his jaw. In his right ear was a small, matte-white Bluetooth earpiece, nearly hidden by his hair.
"What is it, beta? You look unusually happy today?" Bhaskar's voice was slightly absent, as if half his attention was elsewhere.
Aarav quickly tried to temper his smile into something more neutral. "Nothing, Papa. Just had some fun with friends."
Bhaskar nodded vaguely, his fingers unconsciously straying to his right ear, touching the earpiece for a second before dropping. "Good. That's good. But don't neglect your studies."
"Yes, Papa."
As Bhaskar turned to leave, Aarav spoke. "Papa?"
Bhaskar turned back, but his gaze wasn't directly on Aarav; it was fixed slightly past him, on an old clock on the wall. "Yes, beta?"
"Papa, I wanted to ask you something."
"Yes, ask." Bhaskar's voice held a faint edge of impatience, as if he was in a hurry.
"Papa… I want to know more about Shakti Rakshak. What is it?"
A strange tightness crossed Bhaskar's face. He glanced at the door, then came over and sat on the edge of the bed. He rubbed his right ear, closing his eyes for a second as if blocking out a sound.
"Shakti Rakshak," Bhaskar began, lowering his voice, but there was a peculiar, mechanical flatness to it, as if he was reciting a rehearsed script. "Is an organization that works for the government… covertly."
"Covertly?" Aarav asked, his eyes fixed on the earpiece.
"Yes. Covertly." Bhaskar continued, his fingers twitching towards his ear again. "There are many… powers, or people, around us who are different from ordinary humans in various ways. We just keep an eye on them… and eliminate them."
The word 'eliminate' echoed in the air like the crack of ice. Aarav's heart hammered. His gaze remained locked on the earpiece. Is Papa really hearing me? Or is he…
Bhaskar went on, "We have many mantra-powered people with us, who destroy evil…"
Aarav noticed it—an odd, rhythmic cadence to Bhaskar's speech, like he was reading lines. And each time he reached a crucial point, his fingers would graze the earpiece.
"This team's foundation," Bhaskar continued, "was laid by our ancestors."
"Papa," Aarav interrupted, "are you okay? Your voice sounds…"
Bhaskar waved a hand, a sharp, dismissive gesture. "I'm fine. Just… a bit of a headache." He rubbed his ear again.
Suspicion bloomed in Aarav's mind. "Okay, Papa. And what else did you find out at N.C.L.R.L.?"
Bhaskar's face went blank for a moment, as if searching an internal database. Then he said, "I told you they are working on 'Project Kalachakra'. But one of their hostages escaped…"
"Hostages?" Aarav asked, confused.
Bhaskar closed his eyes, as if searching within. "Not hostages… 'Human Specimens'. A living human sample."
Aarav was stunned. "Who was it, Papa?"
"I don't know," Bhaskar said, but his voice now held a distinct strain. "But it's certain that it was… not ordinary. And it escaped not now, but days ago. About a month ago."
"A month ago?!" Aarav's voice rose involuntarily.
Bhaskar nodded, but his eyes still weren't fully focused. "Yes, beta. A month ago."
Connections fired in Aarav's mind. A month ago… Kiyan… Oh god. He stared at the earpiece. Is Papa even hearing me? Or is that earpiece…
"Papa," Aarav said, his voice deliberately slower and clearer. "I… I need to tell you something."
Bhaskar looked at him, but his eyes lacked their usual sharpness. "Yes, beta. Tell me."
Aarav straightened his back. He watched Bhaskar's lips carefully. "Papa… I am a Vai—"
Suddenly, a sharp rap came at the door, and without waiting, Arushi barged in. "Papa! I've been calling you both for ages!"
Bhaskar stood up abruptly, his hand instinctively going to his ear, pressing the earpiece. "Yes, yes, coming."
Aarav caught the look. Something is wrong…
At the dinner table, Aarav silently watched his father. Bhaskar touched his ear repeatedly—sometimes lightly, sometimes with pressure. Once, he startled and looked up sharply, as if hearing a sound.
As the night deepened, Aarav made a decision. He went to Bhaskar's room. The door was ajar. Bhaskar was sitting at his desk, the same earpiece still in his ear. A laptop was open before him, and he was so deeply absorbed he didn't hear Aarav approach.
Aarav knocked on the doorframe. No response.
He knocked a little louder. "Papa?"
Bhaskar didn't look up. His hand was on the laptop's trackpad, scrolling.
Aarav stepped into the room. "Papa, I need to talk to you."
Still no reaction. Bhaskar's gaze was glued to the screen.
Aarav tried a third time, his voice now carrying a new, suppressed force. He spoke directly, clearly:
"Papa… I am a Vaishnav."
Time seemed to freeze in the room.
Bhaskar's hands, resting on the trackpad, went completely still. His fingers turned white. His back straightened into a rigid line.
Then, very slowly, he turned.
But his eyes didn't hold the shock or understanding Aarav expected. Instead, they held a vacant, confused expression—as if he'd heard the sound, but couldn't process the words.
Bhaskar's lips moved. "Wh… what did you say?"
Aarav repeated it, slow and clear: "I am a Vaishnav, Papa. A descendant of Maharaja Manikya."
Bhaskar's eyes widened, but still, full comprehension wasn't there. He pressed his right ear hard, twisting the earpiece. A faint, staticky squeal emitted from it—like a short circuit.
"I… didn't quite hear that," Bhaskar said, his voice oddly hollow. "This earpiece… it's cutting in and out."
Aarav's heart dropped. So he didn't hear it! Or only heard it garbled!
Bhaskar removed the earpiece and placed it on the desk. Clarity began to seep back into his eyes. "You said something, didn't you? Something important?"
Aarav stood frozen. Do I say it again? Is this the right moment?
Just then, Bhaskar's phone vibrated. He looked at it, and his face tightened. "I have to go. Work call."
And without waiting for Aarav's response, Bhaskar picked up the earpiece and walked out of the room, already talking into his phone.
Aarav was left standing alone, a storm raging in his mind.
Papa didn't hear. Or he heard, but didn't understand. But now he knows I said something important. He'll ask again tomorrow. And then… what then?
And that earpiece… was it just for music? Or something else? Was someone listening in?
(Chapter End)