The Valley || ONC2023

Chapter 3

"Really!?" The woman of Korean origin exclaimed. "Did his stepmother really exile him and his wife for fourteen years!?" Her mono-lids registering a perfect mix of anger and disbelief, she asked. "And Lord Rama agreed without even putting up a fight?"

Her eyes swimming with unshed tears, Bhairavi nodded. "What's more, he was happy to have his stepbrother, Bharat, who was not present in Ayodhya then, replace him as the king." No sooner did the last word leave her lips than a lone tear slid down her cheek. 

Embarrassed, she dabbed her eyes with a tissue she had kept ready out of habit. She always cried in this part of the story. Always. 

"What an evil woman!" Bhairavi's audience pressed her lips into a thin line and shook her head. "I wish I knew it when I was a child. The story would have made more sense and sounded more logical. From what I had gathered, Shree Ram had led an army of monkeys across the sea to go and save his wife, who was kidnapped by the demon king Ravana while they were on a retreat in the forests! They were not there partying. They had been wickedly banished." Won Sungi dabbed her eyes as well. 

"I am glad that I could fill you in, Sungi-ya. And thank you for telling me about Janardana Temple. I hadn't heard the rumor. It's fascinating. If you succeed in finding it, I would love to know more about it." 

"Sure. I would have loved for you to visit it too, but from what we know, which is not much, it might be in bad shape with all the earthquakes reported in the area over the centuries."

The devout woman bobbed her head, "I understand. I truly hope you find what you are looking for." Then, as an afterthought, she offered. "How about, next time you visit your grandfather, we visit Ayodhya if you can spare some time?"

"That sounds lovely! Let's-"

"Attention, passengers. We are about to start our descent. Please fasten your seat belts."

"Ah, I guess that's me." The South Korean native shrugged, disappointed. 

"Time really flies when you have lovely company, doesn't it?" Bhairavi commented, turning towards the woman, who she had hoped would keep her company through the trip now that she was sure Mia would abandon her in favor of hanging out with that boy every chance she got! 

"Yes. And about your suggestion, we should do that: the trip to Ayodhya." As she said it, Won Sungi handed her business card to Bhairavi. Then, peering at Mia, who was perched on the left of her mother with her head buried in her iPad, she continued, "Mia, I envy you. You have such a cool mother!"

The girl ignored the stranger's attention and continued staring at her anatomy notes on her iPad. 

Bhairavi nudged her daughter rather painfully. 

"What!?"

"Kanna, aren't I a cool mother?" The embarrassed mother pressed, side-eyeing her daughter, to which Mia responded with a fake smile and oodles of sarcasm. 'Yes, you are. I am super lucky!' before going back to studying. 

Won Sungi (bless her heart) didn't catch the sarcasm-laden tone and nodded before turning to her newfound friend. "I wish the flight was longer."

"So do I, Sungi-ya. So do I."

After a short pit stop at Khandal, the plane took off for Jammu. 

*****

It had been precisely twenty-five minutes since the Dream Weavers had collected their belongings from baggage claim and almost as long since Bhairavi was restless again. 

As soon as they had gotten off, Mia had left Bhairavi and made a beeline for Raghav, citing that she wanted to know more about The Valley. Neither had she turned to look at her mother for approval, nor had she enquired if Bhairavi needed assistance or company. That ungrateful brat!