Today was the last time he would be seeing her. It was her 25th birthday – the day he had been dreading since he sasw her five years ago. Her dad had left the world, leaving him in charge of her well being. And he had stepped in his shoes without a thought. Like it was always meant to be this way. Like he had been preparing all his life for this task. She was his only destiny, his life, his only motive to be alive most days he thought. And soon she will be some one else’s destiny. He felt a tinge of sadness at this thought. But nothing he said or did could change this fact.In his one room flat, He waited for the darkness to set in , and then walked to her place.
The door to her apartment was not locked as usual. He stepped into the living room and picked the book she had bought him last, before settling himself on the couch.. The house was full of baking aromas. Her favorite CD played his favorite tracks. He smiled, then as if he realized,he should save time, he stiffened and started reading in silence.
“Would you have coffee ?” She asked, peeking from kitchen.
“Cold one please” he replied without bothering to look up from the book.
“Are we eating out?” she asked next,
“No, I already ordered italian for you.”
Minutes later she came and sat next to him with two large beer mugs full of cold coffee. she looked stunning, he noticed.And different. She was wearing make up, he noticed. Not the overly done kind which girls he met wore, but very subtle, enhancing her eyes and brightening her skin tone. Or maybe it was that .. He shook the thought from his mind.
“You did not tell me, you wanted to go out” he teased her.
“No, I did not. I know we need to stay here if I want a decent conversation to happen”
Then there was a long silence. But it was normal. They never talked more than 20 minutes at a stretch. He read , she hummed whatever played in the background, sitting on the couch always.
“I wanted to ask something” she started cautiously after some time.
He did not reply. He finished the story and said calmly, “Lets eat.”
Over desserts, she asked him again, “Who am I to you ?
“I am your assigned caretaker. That’s my ancesteral job.”
“I do not understand this.Why do i not remember anything of the time before meeting you except a man leaving the house and you coming in.” she asked, but he went on, as if he had not heard her.
“He was my father.The man whom I replaced.” He thought of his ancestors for a moment and then continued. “You remember the shapes that scared you the day you saw me first ?”
“Yes, i still see them in my nightmares.”
“They are the demons that you unleash when your power escalates a level.”
“but then where do they go”, she asked and then fell silent as realization hit her.”your father killed them all” she said to herself.
“First time, it was grandfather , then your father and the last time it was my father who tamed your evil powers.”
“And they all died”.
“Yes.But not the same night. We need to absorb the vibes to trap the demons them but we are not strong enough to convert it into a positive energy source. So we kill them by feeding our soul inside our body.”
“And you are here to do the same tonight ?” she asked, hoping he would say no.
“Yes, but you will not remember it once your powers take over you”.
“what if i run away ?”
“then many will die.”
“And if you do ?”
“some one will take over my task.”
“Till When?”
“Till all demon spirits that your soul give birth to, are either killed or trapped or converted. Or till you marry and the curse of death passes to that guy’s family to control you.If some one does not follow the curse, all males of the family die instantly. And no one else would be able to ever control the evil-godess inside you. Any daughter you give birth to,will replace you and would be capable of bearing many more evil spirits.”
“So my mother was like me?”
“She died as soon as you stepped into this world.I guess she just gave it all to you”
“and now that the talks are done, lets clean the kitchen. You will be knocked out for a day before the last demon releases you from the trance”
Mahesh stood across the apartment,knowing all too well of the talks happenning inside,preparing himself to take over, for next 5 years. He wished his sister would be freed from the demons this time. Else he will have to train another of his cousin for this unmentionable job.
===
Submitted to Inspiration Monday Prompt. The word “unmentionable” set me writing this end ! I am myself amazed and bit glad i actually gave a decent end to the story about which i had no clue when I started.
