Page 8 of Twisted Alliance

The older man sat on the antique chair facing the balcony. Shivay took the opposite chair.

Based on the man’s expression, Shivay knew that Rai Bahadur knew the truth.

“You know who I am,” Shivay stated.

The older man didn’t pretend to know what Shivay was referring to. “Yes, Mr. Thakvar told me this afternoon. I have been his close and trusted confidant for the past twenty years.”

“I see. So, you also must know why I’m here.”

The man nodded. “Yes… Mr. Thakvar. I know you are here to take your father back to America.”

Shivay looked at the man. “I need your help to convince my father, Mr. Bahadur. At their age, my mother and father need to be together. They have lost enough time being apart for over twenty years.”

The man’s face fell. “I pray that Lord Shiva will bring your parents together, and I will help you and your father in every way possible, sir. But you must know your father cannot be easily convinced.”

“If it is for the family’s safety, I can assure him of that.”

“Yes, his utmost concern is your family’s safety, but there are other things he is worried about as well. Things here at Singoor.”

“I understand that he has a lot of responsibilities. But my plan isn’t for him to leave permanently. I want him to visit my mother and for them to fly back here together when it is safe. I would like you to assure him that you would take care of the responsibilities here meanwhile.”

Rai Bahadur, his father’s trusted man and a distant cousin, seemed to be the viable candidate to take over the responsibilities from his father during that time. Mr. Bahadur lived in the Thakvar estate with his wife and two daughters who also worked in the mansion. Shivay had been observing the older man since earlier that afternoon. Mr. Bahadur was very protective of Shivay’s father. He had stood outside the closed living room door during the afternoon meeting, and Mr. Bahadur’s eyes were more vigilant than the security guards. Even during lunch, the man cast a look at the guards to ensure the safety of Shivay’s father before joining Shivay and his father at the dining table.

Shivay knew there wasn’t a better person to take on the responsibility for everything his father was doing for the region.

“I have no problem taking on your father’s responsibilities to run the Thakvar trust organizations, sir. But no one can replace your father in the most important responsibility.”

“What responsibility is that?” Shivay asked.

“To keep the peace in the region,” the man replied. “If there is any news about your father leaving, there will be increased bloodshed and power struggles within the clans in Singoor. Your father is the thin thread who is currently holding everything together.”

After the initial investigation, Shivay knew of the prevalent violence and bloodshed in the Singoor region but not the reasons or complete history behind it.

“My father can’t be the only solution to stop the bloodshed and clan wars,” Shivay stated.

Rai Bahadur’s face fell. “Unfortunately, he is. Your father has been the only one trying to stop the bloodshed and clan wars for the last two decades. Even he hasn’t succeeded completely.”

Shivay knew his father felt responsible to stop the clan wars from escalating. Although Shivay didn’t feel the same responsibility, he knew it was important to fulfill the promise he made to his mother.

“How can the clan wars be stopped and the region be united?”

Rai Bahadur’s face looked pained as he replied. “A lot of things happened that began thirty years ago,” he said.

Shivay’s mother had recently told him the same about a significant event happening thirty years ago that led to Shivay’s father being told by his older brother not to visit Singoor until it was deemed safe.

“But twenty years ago, things escalated and went to the point of no return when your uncle and aunt were killed...”

Shivay knew Rai Bahadur was talking about Shivay’s father’s older brother and sister dying in an accident. Although Shivay was only nine years old then, he recalled his father being devastated after receiving the news.

“For many centuries, our region was very prosperous, thanks to our protectors, Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti. Though the clans had power struggles, none had a reason for bloodshed due to the peace treaty they made in front of Mahadev. Soon, oil was discovered amidst the sands of Singoor, making the region even more prosperous.” Rai Bahadur let out a sigh. “Many people moved from various parts of the country for job opportunities and the high quality of life the Singoor region offered. Many foreigners and companies came in and started drilling for oil as well. And then, the unthinkable happened.”

Rai Bahadur took a deep breath like he was mustering up the courage to speak. “Our mother, our protector, our Goddess Shakti, was stolen from the temple as though she were a commodity.”

Shivay knew the man was talking about the statue that used to be a part of Singoor temple.

“Stolen by whom?” Shivay asked.

Rai Bahadur looked enraged and helpless. “No one knows who was responsible. The clans blamed each other. Since then, this land has been deemed to be cursed. Bloodshed, diseases, deaths of clan heirs… everything started after Goddess Shakti was taken, leading to the ruin of this region.”

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