HER PAST & HIS FUTURE

Chapter-13 "Away" From The Acquaintance

-Alara

“Are you Crazy? What are you doing here?” The man says pulling Alara aside. The main priest comes there just in time.So, the snake leaves when it sees the priest. They comeout of the tunnel. “why would you touch the door? I thought you’d know the bare minimum to save your Life” The priest says, clearly angry about what just happened. “I’m not letting you in here ever again, please leave now” he says and walks away. Alara finally takes a breath. She turns to the man who saved her. “Thank you Uncle, I thought I would die today” she says. “It’s okay and don’t say things like that You got to live a long Life. Don’t even know if you’ll be Reborn. But what were you doing in there? How did they let you in?” He asks “I told them I’m writing an article about the temple and it’s architecture. The main priest eyed me suspiciously, but he let me in. Very easy, I was surprised too that they didn’t decline. But what about you? who are you had access to go there uncle?” she asks eyeing him curiously.

The man clears his throat “I’m Prashant. I’ve been writing about temples all over south India since 2025. So I’m kind of known here. I’m close with the main priest too” he says. “ I see! So you might already know everything about the temple. Can you tell me about it?” She asks. “Sure. I will” he says they sit down,
and he tells her the info he knows “Also There’s this curse thing going on. It was said that long ago. A family killed a Snake trying to open the 6th door. And Since
then at least one person dies in every generation of the descendants of that family. They say someone died in the early 2000’s and there’s no clue about that family since then. The priest says they deserve it for trying to steal what’s gods. But it doesn’t make sense. It’s their ancestors that did it, right!” Prashant pauses when a priest walks towards them & informs him that he is being called by the main priest. “I’ll go now, But you
can contact me about it if you want to! careful on your way home” he says handing out his number to Alara. He leaves but turns back to look at Alara again suspiciously Just like the main priest did. Alara tilts her head in confusion unable to understand why they are looking at her like that She exists the temple.

Alara takes a Cab back to her hotel. Mind filled with thoughts about the temple. “If everyone was forbidden from going there why did they let me in and why are they looking at me so suspiciously. I have a
weird feeling about this” she thinks, Her
phone ringing breaks Alara out of her thoughts she answers. “Alara, This is Ramanaidu, I got your number from Ronak” He says “Oh! Hello uncle! what are you calling me about?” she asks. “It is about you visiting our home. I called to ask when you were coming Ramanaidu says Alara pauses I don’t think they’ll let me go into the temple again any soon. let’s just go there”She thinks. “I will be coming tomorrow uncle. Around evening maybe” she says. “Achha ok alara I’ll tell Vimala right now. see you tomorrow! Be Careful” he says. “Sure Uncle” Alara says, and they end the call. She reaches the hotel, Packs her bags, has dinner and lies down in her bed. Whatever has happened in the temple feels like a fever dream to her."Don't get to immersed into it" she rembers Mike telling her that. So Alara decides to just sleep,pushing any thoughts away. Alara goes to sleep hoping her fourth day in India will be like the 1st and 2nd unlike today.

28th Feb,2052:

Alara completes her new morning routine feeling the absence of joy. She rushes to the train platform as she is getting late for the train. Alara successfully arrives on time and gets on the train.

3:30 PM:

Alara gets out of the cab right in front of their house using the Card Ramanaidu has given her. The main gate was open so alara goes in, The yard has a garden with a huge trees and many little plants & bonsais. On  the other side of the yard has a wooden chair which looks like a broken swing. The door of the house was open so alara looks inside. She sees an idol of lord Krishna “That looks pretty old. They must really like vintage things or maybe they don't want to throw away what they own” she thinks. Vimala rushes to the door from the kitchen. Alara smiles Vimala smiles back brightly. In contrast few teardrops slips down from her eyes “Alara? You’re here? Come in” she says and takes alara inside the house side hugging her.

Alara goes in and Ramanaidu comes down the stairs a book in his hands. He sees Alara and immediately runs to her. “You’re here Alara! Come on, Sit down” he says putting the book aside. Vimala hugs
her. “It's been so long since I saw you. I mean since I saw your mom. You reminded me of her” she says cupping Alara’s checks. Alara smiles a little. “Do you miss mom? Is that why you cried” Alara asks. “Yes, Yes” Vimala nods “Come on get freshen up and we will talk while I make food for you” Vimala, says & directs Alara to her room “Make yourself comfortable” she says. Alara nods “Thank you aunty”she says Alara goes back to Vimala after taking a bath “she must’ve a lot to tell you about your mom she’s gonna talk a lot” Ramanaidu says & smiles in the hall. “I’ll gladly listen” Alara says and
smiles. “Did anything fun in India?” he asks. “Nothing fun uncle! Just visited a temple yesterday in Kerala and almost got bitten by a Snake” Alara says shrugs.“What??” Ramanaidu asks shocked “That’s dangerous,You should be careful Alara. Don’t get too adventurous!”he says “Sure! Uncle. I’ll be careful, don’t be tensed!”Alara says. Ramanaidu nods “If you tell Vimala about this snake bite thing. It’s like you’re telling your mom about it. So Don’t” he says. “Okay” Alara says.

Alara & Vimala talks for hours about everything Vimala wants to talk about. “why did you come to India all of a sudden??” Vimala asks in the middle of
conversation “Just a trip aunty” Alara says. Vimala nods. “Here’ some‘kajukatli’, It was your mom’s favorite” Alara eats the sweet, “It’s amazing” she says excited “I made it, Uncle’s students used to like it too”Vimala says.

when they’ve talking Alara gets a call. “It’s a friend. I need to answer” Alara says and leaves the room. Vimala hurriedly calls someone. “Hello? Vimala?”The voice on the other side says. “Madhura? Do you know Alara is in India?” Vimala asks “Wait! how do you know?” Madhura asks. “Because she’s at our home right now. My husband ran Into her at a wedding & thought we should call her over to keep her safe. why would you let her come here?” Vimala asks “She told me about it before she got on the flight. I couldn’t stop her. It was too late. Did she tell why she came there?” Madhura asks. “She said it’s just a trip, but I don’t think so”Vimala says, “I hope it’s not about that thing” Madhura says, “Do you think Alara knows about the curse?”Vimala asks. Madhura was about to answer her, but Alara cuts their conversation. “What Curse??” she says,voice loud Vimala breath hitches “who are you talking too” Alara asks .....