Paraedons: A War beginning

**Chapter 13: mayi Ji's hidden cave and the tribals language*"

As Millie and her team travel through the cold region of Ladakh, they arrive in Kargill. The bitter cold chills them to the bone as they have no warm clothing. However, when the people of Kargill see them, they welcome them with open hearts, offering food and blessings. An old man, speaking in an unfamiliar language, says, "Emeshto shushka amendro" (May the divine help you succeed in your mission and save our homeland from becoming a wasteland).

The team asks if there are any descendants of the Jaba tribe in the area. A little girl named Javeria then holds Millie's hand, leading her to the riverbank. She points toward the mountains and says, "Isto menta kuntre emejto nika shunghe" (The one you are looking for resides there). Millie asks the girl to take them there, but the girl replies, "Menta naste emestro" (It is dangerous there).

Returning to the village, Javeria says to her mother, "Emma anikko oustu" (Mother, I need to go to the mountains). Her mother, with love and concern in her eyes, says, "Javeria imoste kunkyra innu esnet" (Javeria, you know what’s out there, don’t you?). But Javeria reassures her, "Unnu shamsate unkura etre gonda" (I will be back before sunset, and I have these people with me).

Javeria's mother turns to Millie and says, "Inkre imistea kusñe" (Please take care of my daughter). With that, Javeria leads them toward the mountains in a horse cart. Snow begins to fall heavily as they approach the mountain's edge. Javeria stops at the cliff and shouts, "Ina amae. Tan diha" (Oh divine, open the way). Suddenly, a hidden cave entrance reveals itself.

They can't take the cart inside the cave, so they tie up the horse outside and proceed on foot. This cry reaches the ears of a bird flying nearby. The bird lands on the shoulder of a man, the leader of their enemies, Kosh, who is now raising a new generation of Paraedons. Feeling uneasy, Javeria urges Millie and the team to move quickly.

As they go deeper into the cave, they discover a beautiful, paradise-like place. There, they meet many people who appear to be the Muslim descendants of the Jaba tribe. A young woman approaches Javeria and says, "Emestro kushte titro" (How did you end up here?). Javeria points to Millie and replies, "Insestro kinno sukkunase imnetro" (These people have come looking for you; they have come to save you).

The young woman, whose name is Hinoor, then turns to Millie and says in Hindi, "Come with me." Millie and her team follow Hinoor as she gathers everyone and calls out, "Emsetro kinsta uste watta" (Look, those we were waiting for have arrived). Many people approach them, introducing themselves one by one.

"I am Shaheen," says one of the women, who appears older than the others.

Then a young man steps forward and says, "Emetro Waleed enna bosse nasr" (I am Waleed, and this is my brother Nasr).

More people join in, saying, "Emetro Jenelia, Anah, Nahita enda Sanjee" (We are Jenelia, Anah, Nahita, and this is Sanjee, our mother).

After all the introductions, Millie asks them, "Can’t you speak our language?" Anah laughs and replies, "Tell us what you want to say." They explain to Millie that they had always been cautious, knowing that something wrong was about to happen, and that's why they had been on high alert, waiting for someone to open the cave door.

Sanjee reveals a surprising fact: "You might not believe it, but Javeria is one of us. Years ago, her mother left her with us for her safety." She goes on to explain that they couldn't bear to leave the baby alone, so they devised a plan. One night, they saw a woman named Amna, who had no children, praying by the riverbank, asking God for a child. They left baby Javeria there, knowing Amna would find her.

Amna, unaware of Javeria's true origins, believed the child was a gift from God. She couldn't bear to see the baby alone and took her home. Amna's husband, once a cruel man who ruled over the people of Kargill, surprisingly accepted Javeria as his daughter. The villagers, however, noticed something strange: while their children grew quickly, Javeria seemed to stay the same age.

Shaheen Begum explains, "That's just how we are; we don't age quickly. We cannot stay here any longer; we must gather everyone before Diwali."

Millie reassures them, "Don't worry about that. We've already gathered everyone. Just give us the order, and we'll lead you to safety."

They agree but warn Millie that they can't leave the cave openly because Kosh is likely already aware of their presence. "We must leave here discreetly," they say.

Millie suggests heading to West Bengal, where the cave door won't open, and she follows the instructions given to her by Durga Ji. Just as they begin to move, Kosh and his men arrive at the cave. However, their entry is thwarted as smoke fills the cave, and everyone vanishes without a trace.

Kosh's plans fail once again, but he is not one to give up. The story remains unfinished, with Kosh still on his mission, determined to achieve his goals at any cost.