Deva, Temple of Treachery

Chapter 9

Amara stumbles on her unsteady legs, looking up at her mother holding the urn. Her mother's white Sari, made her illuminate in the sun as they moved across the street, their hands envelope each other as they walked down to the river. Amara let out a insecure whine when her mother let her hand go, not wanting to get lost among the people around them.

Her mother ignored her though, tears in her eyes flowing as she open the earn. She trembled, but Amos was there to hold her stead. Amara whined again, wanting someone to lift her up. She looked around to find her father, but her was nowhere to be seen.

"Ma? Where is baba?"

At the sound of her question, her mother broke down, falling to her knees, clutching the urn. Amos held her, saying calming words before grabbing the urn and started to sprinkle it on the flowing water.

"Where is baba?" asked Amara again, silenting when someone grabbed her hand. She looked around to see a chubby little boy holding her hand, his face crinkled up in determination. "Vihaan, they won't tell me where baba is."

"Your baba won't be coming back," the boy said.

"You are lying! Baba said he would." Amara's little round face winkled as tears started to flow, she hit him over the chest and Vihaan stood there, the little body taking her anger without a word of discontent.

"My Baba said that they had set his spirit free, and he won't be coming back to you again," Vihaan said, his big eyes turned to hers. "But don't worry, I promised your baba I would be taking care of you."

With a groan, Amara opened her eyes. Her face wet from tears. It had been so long since she dreamed of that day, it was almost lost in time. Why had those memories resurfaced now?

"Are you okay?" a familiar voice asked. Vihaan sat leaned against the rumble of the room. He was as dirty as she was, eyes tired and most likely felt the same hunger as she did. How long had they wandered these halls?

"Just an old dream."

"Of what?"

"The day by the river, when we finally sent the ashes down the river. I was so angry afterward, wondering why my father had left me and my mother. He went into that unstable tomb to save those artifacts, knowing that it might be the last thing he ever did. Amos warned him but..."

"You father was a determined man," Vihaan smiled at her, his eyes showing affection. "Just like you."

Amara let out a snort," I'm nothing like him."

"Really, aren't you throwing yourself into a tomb seeking artifacts to save with your life at stake?"

"Yes, but I'm doing it because of him," Amara straighten as she sat up, brushing off her clothes. "I could never understand why he did it so I decided to find out by going down the same path, walking the same steps as him."

"And have you found out why he did it?"

"No, all I have found out is that it put other people in the path of danger," Amara looked over at Vihaan, "I'm sorry for putting you in danger."

Looking down as our last water, "Well, I always heard fasting is good for the soul."

"Seeking enlightenment?"

"Or just the lose of some weight."

"Are you saying I'm fat."

"Like an elephant. It's all the nankhatai."

"You sound like my mother."

They both grinned at eachother, before they stood up, pulling their camp together.