Bhavani Kottai

“Next time, maybe men should think twice before underestimating women,” Leah quipped as she handed the silambam back to the instructor.

“You’re unstoppable, Leah!” Sahana ran over, pulling Leah into a half hug. “That was epic! Did you see his face when you hit him? Priceless!”

David, standing at the edge of the crowd, grinned. “Well, don’t let it get to your head, little sister. You’ve already proven you can beat half the men in this village.”

“Not just half,” Leah said, catching her breath. “All of them.”

The crowd began to disperse, murmuring excitedly about Leah’s unexpected win. As they made their way home, Leah and her cousins were still talking about the match, teasing David about how even he couldn’t take her on in a fight.

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Back home, the evening air was filled with the comforting aroma of Esther’s cooking. Leah was still in high spirits, narrating every detail of the fight to her family while helping set the table.

“And then, I said—‘You never said a woman couldn’t defeat you!’—and bam!” she mimicked her silambam strike, causing Sahana to burst out laughing.

“You were incredible,” Sahana said, handing her a plate. “But you do know Amma’s going to say something about this, right?”

Before Leah could respond, David walked in, holding a large brown envelope. His usually calm demeanor was replaced by a curious seriousness.

“Leah,” he said, handing her the envelope, “this came for you.”

The laughter in the room faded as Leah stared at the envelope. “For me? What is it?”

David shrugged. “It’s from the district court. Open it and find out.”

Leah sat down, her heart suddenly heavier than before. Everyone gathered around as she carefully tore the envelope open. Pulling out the papers inside, she began reading aloud.

“Dear Ms. Leah Emmanuel,
This is to inform you that as per the last will and testament of your late grandparents, and further acknowledged by your father, the ancestral property known as Bhavani Kottai is hereby transferred to your name as the sole inheritor...”

Leah stopped, her breath catching in her throat. The words on the page blurred momentarily.

“The Bhavani Kottai?” Esther repeated softly, the name hanging in the air like a ghost from the past.

“What’s Bhavani Kottai?” Sahana asked, her eyebrows raised.

“It’s an ancestral property,” David explained, his voice low. “It’s been in our family for generations, but no one’s lived there in decades.”

Andrew leaned against the wall, his interest piqued. “You mean that massive, eerie-looking mansion near the hills? The one everyone avoids?”

Leah stared at the papers, her hands trembling slightly. “It’s mine now?”

“Apparently so,” David replied. “But why now? And why you?”

Esther sighed, taking a seat at the table. “Your father never wanted to talk about the kottai after we moved away. He said it wasn’t a place for happiness.”

“What does that even mean?” Leah asked, confused.

Esther hesitated. “The kottai has a history, Leah. Your grandparents loved it, but it’s seen its fair share of… troubles. Your father didn’t want those troubles following us.”

“But it’s just a house, right?” Sahana said, trying to lighten the mood. “How bad can it be?”

“Bad enough for us to avoid it all these years,” Esther muttered.

David cleared his throat, breaking the tension. “Well, we have two weeks to decide. Either Leah takes ownership, or we forfeit it to the state.”

Leah looked back down at the papers, her mind racing. Bhavani Kottai wasn’t just a house—it was a part of her family’s legacy. For better or worse, it was now hers.

“I’ll go,” Leah said finally, her voice steady.

Everyone turned to her in surprise.

“What?” Sahana exclaimed. “You’re going to live there?”

“Not live,” Leah corrected. “At least not permanently. But I want to see it. If it’s my responsibility now, I need to know what I’m dealing with.”

Esther looked hesitant but didn’t argue. “If that’s what you’ve decided, Leah, we’ll support you. But be careful. The kottai isn’t just a building—it has its own… presence.”

Leah frowned. “What does that even mean?”

“Nothing,” Esther said quickly. “Don’t go alone. Me, your brother and cousins will go with you.”

David placed a reassuring hand on Leah’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll handle this together.”

As the family continued discussing plans, Leah couldn’t shake the strange feeling growing in her chest. Bhavani Kottai wasn’t just an old mansion—it felt like a doorway to something much bigger, much darker.

And deep down, she knew her life would never be the same again.