The Delphic Emir

Lurched Truths

Author's POV:

Karthik left the Palace without informing anyone which had Diya confused. She tried to call him many times, but all her attempts were futile as he left to take her calls.

She took a deep breath and decided to approach Swadesh Oberai feeling that he might know something about his grandson. She entered the doors and gently knocked the barrier that was dividing the path and the chamber.

" Good Evening Grand Pa," Diya greeted him politely.

" Good Evening child. How are you?" Swadesh asked moving aside and giving her some space to enter into the space.

She smiled at him and passed him the fruit custard that she brought.

" The servants were getting me the food properly." Said Swadesh with a chuckle but Diya chuckled nervously and nodded.

" Can I ask you something Grand Pa?" She asked not able to contain her curiosity.

" Sure, go ahead." Swash said in his gibberish language with his mouth full of fruit custard.

" Do you have any idea where Karthik has gone for the past 3 days? I'm scared. I want to see him." Diya said and he stopped eating his custard.

" I thought he informed you, Diya. But looks like he didn't. There was this wooden house near the Eastern woods of the Palace and it was pretty old. I got it built for his Grandmother but over the period of time, we stopped going there and it was abandoned. I felt like you might like it, you I asked him to renovate it again. I've sent him there on it's work. Don't worry, he'll be back by tonight." Swadesh assured and there was a huge grin on Diya's lips.

" So, you want to get that house renovated for me?" Diya asked with a sheer glee on her face. Swadesh chuckled and nodded.

" And he went there to get it renovated for me?" She asked and he chuckled loudly this time making her cheeks go red.

" Do you want to eat something else Grand Pa?" She asked and he nodded no.

" You wouldn't even care to ask me if it was some other time. You asked me because you are happy." Swadesh said with a stink eye and she chuckled sheepishly.

" It's nothing like that." She whined and sat on the couch nearby.

" I want to visit the wooden house." Diya expressed her desires and there was this soft look on Swadesh's face.

" Diya, I'll ask you something, will you do that for me?" Swadesh asked gently placing the silver bowl on the nightstand and walking towards her.

" Sure Grand Pa," She nodded and got up in a sign of respect.

" To the left side of the house, you'll find a huge Banyan tree on the shore of the stream." Swadesh said and Diya listened to it intently nodding her head. "And, to its right, you'll find a medium-sized boulder. Just behind that, take 18 steps straight and stop there. Dig the place."

" How deep and how much diameter?" Diya asked as if she was an archaeologist which had Swadesh crack up.

" About 1.5 feet deep and 30 cm diameter. That would make a pit big enough to find what I ask for." Swadesh said and Diya nodded with her eyes big and her soft palms against her cheeks.

" And what next?" Diya asked as the interest kept bubbling to find what was there at that place.

" Once you dug there, you'll find a small gold casket embedded with the gems. Once you find it, keep it. It's for you. I thought of giving it to my daughter, but it looks like it was written in your fate. I'd be more than happy if you take that, my child." Swadesh smiled and it was a genuine one. His wrinkled face and shrunk eyes tell the time he passed alone, without his loved ones around. He was able to see everything but was not able to do anything.