Page 77 - Musings 2022

down. And father still went after the treasure because he had found a way around the curse in
Tatakshya’s magic itself.
‘In order to avoid that, you can trick the curse onto someone else who shares your blood, and
get to treasure. That’s what that awful father of mine did – he cursed me in his stead, and got
away with the treasure! And it has come back to destroy my life now.’
I pause, and Kunal gives me a questioning look.
‘I want to ask something. If he passed the curse on you when you were a kid, why is it affecting
you now?’
‘I have thought about this before, but don’t have any concrete explanation. The best I can come
up with is that my father was 42 years old when this happened.’
The reasoning didn’t elicit any reaction from Kunal. Yeah, it is pretty weak reasoning from my
side, but that’s all I can think for a reason.
‘Anyway, that’s not important. The point remains that I was cursed by him and Tatakshya is
coming after my legs because of this.’
‘How do you plan to stop it, then? I have known you for decades, and you are not the man who
will accept it like this.’
I turn my head to the window and point Kunal to the hill. ‘That’s where I will end this all. I
will do what that great warrior failed to do – I will kill Tatakshya and this all will end with it.’
‘Seems like you know what to do.’
‘I have been tracking all grimoires that have any mention of Tatakshya’s legend. And I have a
plan of action in mind. I am not like my coward father who’d sacrifice his son for some gold.’
I stare at Kunal to see his reaction to all this. I know him for being a rational guy, and it wouldn’t
surprise me if he goes the same way as Seema.
‘Vicky. When I believe you. Not because your story is plausible, but because I know you. You
might be insufferable at times, but you wouldn’t lie about something like this.’
***
I draw a circle on the table and place salt on its boundary at five points. Salt is the source of
magic when you are not willing to shed blood on the circle.
Usually, one draws magical circles on the floor, but my legs wouldn’t allow it. The numbness
in my right leg has started to spread up to my waist, and I cannot go lower than a chair, unless
it suddenly feels better. Though those days are far and few now.
I am alone now. Seema cannot be around all the time – she has to go teach at school as well.
I light a candle in the centre of the circle. Fire is what keeps the magic flowing in this plane. I
draw inside the circle to complete it once the fire has burned for a while.
And yet again, no response! I have been claiming that I have a way to kill Tatakshya, but a
magic based only on salt is too weak. But I cannot push my son and daughter in this way. I
love my son dearly and have always been a bit biassed towards him. Shouldn’t put it this way,
but I have always pitied him. He has always been a pretty weak kid. I remember him having
seizures and blackouts when he was around 15. He had epilepsy, and it was really hard for him.
I wasn’t there for him when he needed me the most, and I just wish he had gotten someone
around him at that time. He was often withdrawn in his own world and wore a sad face all the
time.
It hasn’t been an easy childhood for him, and I cannot even dream of having him go through
any of this. Same goes for my daughter.

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