Rajrappa was eighty kilometres from Hazaribagh. We had to take a left turn when we reached Ramgarh, which took us through a place called Gola. Beyond Gola was the Bhera river. All cars had to be left here, and the river had to be crossed on foot. Rajrappa lay on the other side, only a short walk away. Shankarlal Misra did not have a car, so he travelled with us. Two bearers had also joined the group. One of them was the old Noor Muhammad, who had been with Mr Chowdhury since he started working as a lawyer. The other was the tall and hefty Jagat Singh, who was carrying Arun Chowdhury’s rifle and cartridges. Mr Misra proved to be very friendly and easy to talk to. From what he told us about himself, it seemed there was a mystery in his life as well. His father, Deendayal Misra, used to work as Mahesh Chowdhury’s chowkidar. Thirty-five years ago, when Shankar was only four, Deendayal suddenly went missing one day. Two days later, a woodcutter found his body in a forest nearly eight miles away. He had been killed by a wild animal. No one knew why he had gone to the forest. There was an old Shiva temple there, but Deendayal had never been known to visit it. Mahesh Chowdhury took pity on Deendayal’s child. He brought him to his house, and began to bring him up like his own son. In time, Shankar proved to be a very bright student. He won scholarships and finished his graduation from Ranchi University. Then he opened a bookshop called Shankar Book Store in Ranchi. Recently, he had opened a branch in Hazaribagh. He travelled frequently between the two cities. This mention of books prompted Lalmohan Babu to ask, ‘What kind of books do you keep in your shop?’ ‘All kinds,’ Mr Misra replied, smiling, ‘including crime thrillers. We have often sold your books.’ After a few moments, Feluda asked, ‘Mahesh Chowdhury’s second son must have been the same age as yourself. Is that right?’ ‘Who, Biren? He was younger than me, but only by a few months. We went to school together, and were in the same class. All three brothers went to Calcutta for higher studies, but Biren was never really interested in them. He was always restless, fond of adventures. I was not surprised when he left home at nineteen.’ ‘Does his father believe in tantrics and holy men?’ ‘He didn’t earlier. But he has changed a lot over the years. I didn’t see it myself, but I’ve heard that he used to have an extremely violent temper. He may not actually visit holy men, but today . . . I believe the reason for going to Rajrappa is that temple of Chhinnamasta.’ ‘Why do you say that?’

‘He doesn’t talk about it, but I have gone to Rajrappa with him before, more than once. I’ve seen how the look on his face changes when he visits the temple.’