SYAMANTAKA: THE LOST GEM

CHAPTER-17

The busy crowd in Beyt Dwarka was roaming around to get all their supplies before the solar eclipse. Many people from the island believed in religious superstitions. This island was a holy place where lord Krishna took his footsteps. Luther entered the hotel in his black hat and brown coat tied tightly to his waist.

"Luther"

He turns back to the sofa next to the reception. Luz sat back on the sofa with her legs over a small dressing table. Gajendra Baba and Subbu chose to stand. 

"Sorry, to keep you waiting, ma'am," Luther laughs sarcastically.

"Luther, leave what you are doing the game is over. You don't have another option. Just surrender yourself."

"Why? What happened?"

"We killed your men. We tracked you down. Now, you don't have anyone to get you out of this. Stop working for Kingsley."

"Haha..."

Luz assumed that Luther had gone mad. Luther takes his phone out of his pocket and dials a number. 

"Luz, HELP!!!"

Ritu has a gun pointed from Kranti's hand at her head with herself tied up to a wooden chair. Luz's eyes widened with horror. Her love for her childhood friend couldn't let her think.

"Why do you have to bring her into this?"

"You brought her into this." Luther grinned. "You never tracked me down. I tracked you down.  This whole hotel is completely under my eyes. So, if you want her to be alive... you better come with me."

Luz sees the security guards staring at her with their hands close to the trigger of the gun. The scene flipped completely.

"Fine. we're coming, Luther. Let's see if we come out alive first."

"Leave the alive part to me. "Luther said.

"Luz, think about it again," Subbu said to her.

"When it comes to my friends, I won't think twice, Subbu. Nalini and Kiran are gone. I can't let go of her too."

"But, Luz..."

"No, Subbu. We have to do it."

Luther laughed wholeheartedly by holding his hand over his stomach. Gajendra put his hand over his head.

"I love this scene. Tomorrow, 9 pm. You know the rules."

"Luther. It's not good to go out on a solar eclipse. Please don't do it." Gajendra Baba interrupted. "It's against our superstitions. We could be sinned."

"Uncle, get updated, don't be outdated. Nowadays, who cares about superstitions? Also, don't think of me as a fool."

"Speak with respect," Luz said sternly.

"Otherwise? Otherwise, what will you do?"  Luther came closer to her. Luz was biting her back teeth looking at his face. "It's confirmed. Tomorrow 9 am. We are going underwater in search of the underwater temple during the solar eclipse."

******

Luz was lying on the bed in her t-shirt and tight yoga pants. She was looking up and staring at the white ceiling. Her thoughts went back to Kiran. She couldn't digest the fact that Kiran was dead. Her mind went into a flashback. A cemented round platform surrounds the huge banyan tree in her college. The college bells were ringing at the end of their classes. 

Luz was eating her mom's parathas from her tiffin box sitting on the platform. The other students walked around the garden with their usual chatter about their favourite video games. While she was quietly eating, she heard the chatter slowly becoming silent. She sensed the danger that was approaching her. A group of girls were walking towards her. The leader seemed comparatively slimmer than the other girls walking around her. She had her hair knotted in a tight ponytail. Her white shirt was tucked out and her skirt flowed with the breeze. "Hey, Why didn't you help during the exam?" She shouted.

" Looks like someone turned Menon's mood bad today." one of the girls behind whispered to the other girl.

"I am sorry, Kayla. I tried to help but the teacher was very close. I would have gotten caught by the teacher. Then, I won't be allowed to write further examinations."  12-year-old Luz replied in a low voice. Kayla held Luz by her collar and pinned her to the tree behind her. 

"You should have got caught for me, idiot. You know escaping from my hands is tougher than the teacher's hands."

Luz was getting suffocated as Kayla's hand wrapped more tightly to Luz's neck. The other people in the garden watched the drama and were filming it on their phones. 

"Kayla, stop," One girl from behind said. Kayla still didn't let go. 

Then, Someone's rough hand held Kayla's arm and threw her over the lawn. Kayla rolled and hit her head on a rock. Luz looks up to find a tall man with a straight stature standing in front of her. Blood was slowly dripping off Kayla's head. 

"YOU ASSHOLEE!!! Just wait there. You are going to die." She cried and ran away.

"Kiran, why would you do that?" Luz said pulling Kiran's forearms. "You will get into trouble with this. You hit a girl. You understand how serious the situation is."

Kiran looks around Luz. "Forget about that. You are fine, right? Why can't you just tell her on the face that you can't help her?"

"She is my senior, Kiran. I could have gotten into trouble. Now, you made that mistake." Luz explains. Kiran puts his hand over Luz's neck. "Don't overreact too much, Luz. When you can't raise your voice, call me. I will raise my hand on them." Kiran says. Both start laughing as Kiran playfully tickles her in the stomach. 

Then, with a sudden thud, Luz comes back to the present. She sees Subbu come out from the bathroom with a towel tied around his waist. His chiselled abs were shining after the shower he took. Luz wipes off the tears from her eyes. 

"Umm... just a minute. I am leaving."

Subbu feels bad for looking at her devastated mood. Luz packs her bag and is about to leave. Before she steps out of the main door, Subbu holds her forearm. Luz falls on him with her hands over his chest. Both of them could feel the heat for that moment. Their faces were a centimetre away. Subbu could feel Luz's jasmine fragrance pulling him towards her. Before Luz could think, Her soft lips were locked with Subbu's. Their tongues slightly touched each other's from the inside. As her lips left her mouth, Both smiled at each other. Her happy face later turned into horror. Subbu saw her confused face. She pushed him and ran away from the room.

"I am sorry." She shouted and left.

"It's fine."