folded her hands and bowed her head. She took the shell from him and tucked it into her pocket. Lord Yama mounted his bull, clip-clopped off into the trees, and vanished.
Laughing and crying at the same time, Tara clasped Ananth’s hand, not daring to believe she had survived the journey and brought her brother back to life. Hope and confidence surged through her body and she felt happier than she had in a long, long time.
“Tara, you did it, all alone. I am impressed. It feels so good to be alive again.”
“I did have some help. This is Mushika.”
She held out her right hand where Mushika sat, nose woffling, bright, black eyes glinting. Ananth stroked his head.
“So, this is your little guide. Thank you, Mushika! Tara, you have given me a new life and it is pledged to you till we can find your mother and grandfather.”
Tara’s heart was bursting with joy as they walked away from the cave. She had fought against a situation that most people would have considered hopeless and won. She had brought Ananth back from the dead. She felt up to any challenge now. And she had gained a new friend, who now lay fast asleep in the inner pocket of her kurta.
“Zarku will not take long to find out that we are still alive. The attack on us will be swift and soon,” said Ananth in a serious voice. “Let’s get to that temple, Tara. Our lives, and the lives of all the villagers, will depend on how quickly we can find Prabala and bring him back to Morni.”
Tara quickly located the twin peaks in the Shivaliks, between which the temple lay, and headed for them. It was late afternoon and the sun was already losing heat. Black clouds sailed past its face, heralding a stormy night ahead.
“Let’s find a safe place for the night and we can decide what to do tomorrow,” said Tara. “I am so tired I could sleep right here,” she continued with a loud yawn.
They walked in silence, keeping a lookout for shelter. Mushika had woken up and was perched on Tara’s shoulder, scanning the path along with her. He squeaked and his long tail whipped up and pointed. The path they walked on hugged the mountain on the right. The road fell away to a steep valley on the left. Far below in the waning daylight they could see many people clumsily climbing the slopes. There was no mistaking their greenish hue and dark hair.
“Vetalas. They’re searching for us,” said Ananth.
CHAPTER 13 PARVATI
Mushika’s sharp eyes spotted a crevice in the mountain as they walked past.
“There,” he squeaked in excitement.
Ananth and Tara stopped to examine the narrow fissure in the rock. It seemed big enough for both of them to squeeze through. But would there be any place to sit and rest?
“Let me take a look,” said Ananth.
He squeezed inside. Tara stood outside, rubbing her arms to keep warm. Her eyes focused on the valley below. It was impossible to see anything in the gloom. She looked up. Stars adorned the night sky as if someone had carelessly scattered diamonds on a black carpet.
“Well, what do you see?” asked Tara, after a few moments.
“It’s very narrow, but deep,” called out Ananth. His voice sounded hollow and muffled.
“Hurry up. I’m freezing,” said Tara.
There was no reply from Ananth. Suddenly, a green hand shot out from the crevice and grabbed her wrist. Tara shrieked in panic and, snatching her hand away, sprinted up the path. Laughter reached her and she stopped. She whirled back in anger as she recognized the voice.
“You, you ... stupid idiot,” spluttered Tara, stomping back to him.
“I’m sorry,” Ananth said as he squeezed out of the crevice covered with green moss. “I couldn’t resist.”
The dangerous gleam in Tara’s eyes stopped any further joking.
“This crevice is quite deep, and at the very back is a small cave,” continued Ananth. “If we collect firewood, we could light a small fire.”
“That’s a stupid idea,” said Tara in a cold voice. “The smoke will give us away. I have a couple of blankets. We can use those.”
“I’m sorry, Tara. I didn’t mean to scare you. Can’t I even tease my sister?”
Tara looked at his mischievous eyes glinting in the moonlight. She was suddenly reminded of Suraj.
“All right, but don’t do it again.”
They both squeezed into the crevice with the bundles. Mushika zipped through their legs and was in before them. The cave at the back was small but cosy. They unpacked the blankets and huddled close to wait out the night.
A blood-curdling howl sounded in the distance and Tara clasped Ananth’s hand tightly. The minutes limped past and it seemed that the night would be endless. There was nothing to see or do in the complete darkness. The only sound was the occasional rumbling of empty stomachs. Mushika pattered over her shoulders and snuggled against her cheek.
“It’s too silent,” said Ananth after a long while had passed. “Should I go take a peek?”
“No! You stay right here,” hissed Tara.
“Let me,” said Mushika. “No one will see me.”
“Go, but be careful,” said Tara.
Mushika ran out of the cave silently. Time crawled wearily by and Tara was starting to get really anxious when Mushika did not return.
“Why is he taking so long?”
“Be patient, Tara, he’s just a small mouse. The distance you can cover in a step, he probably needs fifty. He’ll be back,” said Ananth, patting her arm.
No sooner were the words out of his mouth when Mushika shot into the cave, panting hard. He dived straight into Tara’s lap and sat there quaking.
“They’re he-here,” he stammered.
“Who?” whispered Tara and Ananth in unison, though they both knew the answer.
“The Vetalas! There are so many of them. They’re marching up the hillside, checking every bush and tree and rock. There is a tall, bald man in black who is leading them. He’s been yelling at them to find and kill you both.”
Mushika jumped straight into the inner pocket of Tara’s kurta. His terror touched her heart. Tara wished she too could nestle up in someone’s arms: her mother’s.
The sound of an advancing army reached their ears — closer and closer they marched. Tara flattened herself at the back of the cave, the thump of her own heartbeat deafeningly loud in her ears.
“Find them and kill them TONIGHT,” said a harsh voice, vibrating with suppressed anger.
Zarku’s voice. They were doomed.
“Oh
