felt sorry for him when he was sobbing,” she said “He missed his mother just like you and I do.”
“Are you mad, Tara?”
“What do you mean?” asked Tara in a cold voice.
“You’re sorry for a monster that kills people?”
Tara shrugged.
“Zarku’s father blamed him for his mother’s death and beat him often,” said Tara. “Many others made fun of the deformity on his forehead. That is why he wants revenge ...”
“You think I care?” said Ananth, his face red, his chest heaving. “He should be captured, tortured, and killed.”
“So how does that make you different from Zarku?” shot back Tara, equally angry.
“Oh shut up!” said Ananth. “Girls don’t know anything!”
The air shimmered with a tinge of red as Tara faced him, her hands on her hips.
“Don’t you dare say that to me again! You think you know more because you’re a boy? HA!” said Tara, her eyes flashing ominously.
“Let’s not get into this now,” said Ananth. “So his mother’s anklet protects you?”
“It did last night. But I don’t know how long it will work. That’s another reason we have to find shelter. He is going to send the Vetalas after me,” said Tara in a shrill voice.
“Don’t worry,” said Ananth, pointing. “It’s not too far now. We must find your grandfather. Prabala is well known in my village. He is said to be the best healer in all of India. He is probably the only one who can stop this monster. Do you know where to look for him, Tara?”
“The Devi Temple in the Shivalik Range that separates the two lakes. It was the place where Grandfather often went to meditate. It is definitely a place to start.”
“I’d like to help, Tara. I’ve become an orphan, but at least I can prevent my fate befalling other children,” said Ananth, his mouth a thin line.
“That’s what my brother and I set out to do,” said Tara, her face clouding.
“And that is exactly what we are going to do, Tara. I just hope we are not too late.”
CHAPTER 10 FLASHBACK
Tara’s breath came in gasps. The exertion of climbing the steep mountain trail with a heavy bundle was taking its toll on her.
Ananth climbed steadily, reaching out now and then to pull Tara over a rough patch. The narrow path snaked around the mountain and as the light faded, the climb became more treacherous. A bone-chilling breeze swept down the mountainside and straight into their unprotected faces. They shook with cold and exhaustion.
“How much longer, Ananth? I can-n-not-t walk anym-more,” said Tara through frozen lips.
“Just a little bit further, Tara. We’re almost there.”
Tara willed her mind to forget the pain raging through her exhausted body and kept going.
All of a sudden, Ananth shrugged off his bundle and jumped onto something.
“What is that?” asked Tara
“Dinner!” said Ananth, holding up something long that wriggled furiously. He swept his hand in an arc and dashed a hare onto the ground. It gave a small whimper and was silent. Tara gasped.
“Did you have to do that?” she asked in a pained voice. “We could have fruits or berries.”
“Do you see any fruits around?” asked Ananth.
Tara shook her head.
“Any berries?”
Tara shook her head again.
“Feel like eating grass?”
Tara made a face.
“We have to eat to keep our strength up,” said Ananth. “Packed any spices or salt?”
Tara nodded. “I’ve got some tandoori masala, and salt, too.”
“Good,” said Ananth. “At least we won’t have to eat it plain. Here we are,” he said as soon as a large rock, like an inverted V, came into view.
With their goal so near, an extra burst of energy seemed to infuse their limbs. They scrambled up the last few feet and reached a curtain of vines. It lay like a still, green veil on the face of the mountain. Ananth went up to the green curtain and, thrusting his hand through it, pulled it aside to reveal a large, black cavern.
“Throw the bundles into the cave, Tara, and help me collect some firewood.”
Tara chucked their bundles into the gaping darkness and turned to help Ananth. They collected armloads of dry wood and piled them up at the mouth of the cave. Finally, cold and exhausted, they crawled inside and lay down on the dirt floor to catch their breath. Ananth was the first to get up.
“We have to eat, Tara. Get up and help me cook the hare.”
He stepped out and brought in an armload of wood. The cave floor was dry. The light of the moon filtered in through the fronds, casting a silvery light into the dim depths. He found a couple of rocks at the entrance of the cave, which he positioned a few feet apart to roast the hare.
“Tara, do you have a knife, matches? Come on, don’t just lie there, help me!”
Tara gave a deep sigh, pulled a bundle to her, dug out the matches, knife, and packets of masala and salt, and threw them to him. It felt so good to be looked after for a change. In a few moments, Ananth had a fire going. He sat on his haunches and held his palms out to the flames. Tara rolled onto her side and looked into the flames as they reached out with wispy orange fingers to touch the low ceiling. The cave was perfect. It was small, cosy, and warming up nicely. As Ananth busied himself stacking the bundles neatly in a corner and laying out the bedding so that they did not have to sit on the hard floor, Tara gazed into the fire.
“If only we had found this two nights ago, Suraj would still be with me.”
Her voice quavered.
“Suraj is your brother?” asked Ananth, without turning around.
“My younger brother,” said Tara. “He had a high fever. I tried to stay awake but could not. When I woke up he was gone. I think wild animals ...”
She burst into tears at the realization that just a few hours ago his small living body had been close to her. Now she would never get to hug him, look into his laughing face, hear him say “Didi” in a hundred different tones depending on his mood.
“Tara, don’t think of the past. It hurts too much. I’ll be your brother now. I’ll look after you. I promise,” said Ananth, coming up to her and stroking her hair.
“Really?”
