City of Ghosts by Bali Rai

get rid of Sohni, in much the same way as she and Gulbaru had rid themselves of the two daughters she’d borne. Now the opportunity to remove Sohni
without
killing her presented itself. She smiled.
    â€˜Oh, I’ve no doubt that he will take her off our hands,’ Gulbaru told her, ‘but he is only a boy. And a poor one at that.’
    â€˜A poor boy?’ asked Darshana, her smile fading. In her husband’s eyes she saw rage. ‘Shall I fetch her from the kitchen?’
    Gulbaru thought for a moment and then shook his head. ‘For now this remains between us. Besides, there is no hope of the boy ever fulfilling the quest I have set him.’
    â€˜What
quest
?’ enquired Darshana.
    â€˜The beggar told me that he would do anything to gain my daughter. So I told him to bring me the most valuable thing in all of India, by Vaisakhi.’
    Darshana frowned in confusion.
    â€˜Are you
demented
?’ spat Gulbaru. ‘There is no way on earth that I will allow my daughter to marry such a dog! I have set him a task that he has no hope of fulfilling, and while he wastes his time I will work out how to kill him.’
    â€˜Ah,’ said Darshana. ‘Do you want me to take care of that part?’
    Gulbaru shook his head. ‘This is something I want to do alone. This wretch wishes to make me a laughing stock but I will not allow it. No, what I want
you
to do is watch my daughter like a hawk. The boy insists that they have never met but I don’t believe him. I want you to follow her, to find out if they are already lovers.’
    Darshana nodded. ‘And if they are?’
    â€˜Then Sohni can join her mother. No one will destroy my reputation – no one!’
    Darshana’s smile reappeared. ‘I understand . . .’
    She stood up, walked over to him and began to knead his shoulders with her warty hands. ‘Does this feel as good as it always did?’ she asked.
    Gulbaru grunted.
    â€˜The Chinaman thinks that we have a very good chance of conceiving a boy,’ she added.
    â€˜Does he really?’ replied Gulbaru sarcastically. ‘For the amount of money he takes from me, he had better be right.’
    Darshana let her hands wander down her husband’s chest. ‘Perhaps we should try now?’ she suggested.
    Back in the shadows by the front door, Mohni stood silently and averted his gaze. He’d heard everything the couple had plotted and knew he had to act. Quickly, he let himself out and made his way to the narrow lanethat ran down the side of the house, looking around to make sure he wasn’t being followed. The lane was dark but Mohni knew it well.
    She was quick to arrive, her appearance heralded by the sweet aroma of mangoes and cream.
    â€˜
Sat-sri-akaal
,’ said Mohni.
    â€˜You have news?’ asked the woman, adjusting her black shawl.
    Mohni nodded and told her everything he’d overheard.
    When he was finished the woman sighed. ‘There is much evil at work. What about the boy?’
    â€˜I’m not sure what to do about him,’ replied Mohni. ‘This quest – I don’t even know if he will begin it. I think it would be best if they left.’
    â€˜No,’ insisted the woman. ‘Sohni cannot leave her home. You leave the boy to me.’
    Mohni nodded in agreement. ‘So you will help them soon?’
    â€˜No,’ she said. ‘I will help them when the time is right – until then I will watch over them.’
    â€˜And what about Gulbaru and the witch?’
    The woman smiled. ‘I’ll take care of that too – perhaps keep them occupied until I can think of something.’
    Mohni asked her how she would do that.
    The woman chuckled. ‘There is much that we can do.Perhaps one day you will find out.’
    It was Mohni’s turn to laugh. ‘It is something I shouldhave discovered long ago – this power. But I made someone a promise and I intend to keep