The Kailashanath Diamond

Chapter 21

Jyoti was utterly bamboozled. She didn’t have a clue what was going on, other than one thing; she had been kidnapped, and was now aboard a ship with a few strangers and a daughter of Vishnu who gave her the creeps. No, nothing more. Just that.

But she did meet a Son of Saraswati (she actually heaved a sigh, for somebody on the ship spoke Sanskrit without any difficulty) and a Son of Ganesha who seemed to be more knowledgeable than the others on board.

However, the dazed feeling she had was something she couldn’t comprehend. And not able to understand things was something she hated. She had stared from Ashwin to Swati to Vignesh, hoping for clues, but nobody had paid any attention to her.

And now, here she was, aboard a huge blue ship on waters which she didn’t recognise, and people whom she didn’t know. This continued feeling of cluelessness was frustrating her.

She ran to her cabin now that the “brainstorming session” had ended, and she pushed the violet door with an extra effort, and crashed onto her extra soft, internally heated mattress, on top of a teddy bear.

She promptly screamed. She felt something fluffy and alive behind her, and she turned back, and screamed again. The teddy bear was simply like the others; pink skin, small snout, cute and mischievous smile.

Obviously, she had to get an output for her anger. Her frustration and pain came out as she threw each teddy bear to the small circular window, and when she finally made all the unfortunate teddies sit on top of each other, she heaved a sigh.

What’s happening to you, Jyoti? Are you the same calm and composed person I had counted upon since seven? You, of all people, must not do this!

A voice echoed in her head, sounding familiar.

Agraj? She thought back. Is it you?

Oh, yes, didi, it is me. Your dear little impulsive brother whom you cared for despite of his tantrums.

Jyoti’s eyes grew watery. Of course, the same bored drawl, the slight amount of pride in the deep voice, yes, this was Jyoti’s brother, Agraj, the Son of Shiva.

So, my dear little sister, can you please call Nandita? I want to talk to her.

Jyoti nodded. Then she realised Agraj wouldn’t be able to see her.

It is okay, I sense your yes, said Agraj.

Jyoti walked to Cabin One, and entered. She saw Nandita feverishly reading a book with a picture of a boy holding a sword on the cover. The Ishwar Academy textbook— Sanskrit to Angrezi in Two Weeks! — lay open next to her left hand.

Nandita didn’t look up when Jyoti stared at her with an intense expression. Jyoti softly whispered, ‘Dear… you need to learn your Sanskrit if you need to learn theory of Talwaar Vaar.’

Her trick worked. Nandita looked up, smiled and spoke.

‘What brought you here, Jyoti?’

Jyoti didn’t know how to start. She simply mumbled.

‘A-A-Agraj w-wants t-to t-talk to you.’

‘Agraj who?’ asked Nandita sharply.

‘My brother. At Ishwar Academy,’ she replied as feebly as possible, and turned away. ‘And he asked nobody to come along.’

Nandita nodded and moved without a word. As quick as a flash, Jyoti dropped down to the ground and started breathing heavily. At this rate she was never going to finish the job her brother had asked her to do.