The Weeping Stars

The Library

Isha kept silent about the incident by the lake. They quickly wrapped up their picnic and headed for home. They had an appointment wiht Ishaan.

The Baneejee household looked very different today. They walked in unchallenged as the main door was open. Ishaan came down to greet them. He led them towards the main staircase. The library was tucked away in a lonely corner in the east wing fo the house, away from all the noise of the household. Isha was amazed at the size of the library. The book racks reached as highup as the ceiling. Comfortable chairs and sofas were scattered all over the room. The room was washed with sunlight and a gentle breeze from the lake.

"This is perfect! I love this room...I could spend a life-time here", Isha literaly danced on the place.

Ishaan laughed.

"This place has been a popular refuse for most of us as we grew up. Indra has spent most of his childhood here. He has always been a recluste, just like my grandfather. My father is also an avid reader. I don't any time now that I have opened a new nursing home", Ishaan observed.

"What kind of books do you girls like?" , asked Ishaan as he logged into the library computer.

"I would love to read 'Three Men in a boat' again", said Isha.

"I would like to read 'Farewell to Arms"s, if its available", asked Runa hesitantly. For anyone who knows Runa, she appeared to be painfully shy.

"You guys go find your book. Let me just enjoy the view for a moment".

The view indeed was excellent. The lake was blue in the pleasant autumn sun, and the countryside glowed like molten gold with rolls of paddy fields stretching in all directions. Suddenly a movement near the bank caught her attetion. A small enclosed area was ful of cages with animals in them, while some animals were roaming freely within the enclosure. She could see a tall frame of a man hunched in front of a cage. As he stood up, cradling what seemed to be a wolf cub in his hand, Isha quickly drew herself inside the library. What was all that about? she wondered.

She looked in the direction were Runa and Ishaan were pouring over a book. They looked perfect together. She moved to the book-case labelled History. As she scanned through the titles, one book caught her eyes. It seemed to be the family history of the Banerjees.

She picked the book and turned to the duo who were approaching.

"Can I borrow this book?", she asked Ishaan.

Ishaan looked a bit worried. "Indra is reading the book right now. I check with him first and then let you know", he said.

"Thanks. But let him finish reading it first. Did you find my book?", asked Isha as she put the book back on the shelf.

"Here it is".

They spent some more time in the library as Ishaan entertained them with funny stories of their childhood. As they walked out of the library, Isha asked him about the animal enclosure she had seen outside.

"Oh that!", laughed Ishaan, "That is the animal hospital Indra runs for the injured domestic and wild animals of the area".

"What kind of animals and what kind of injuries?" asked Isha curiously.

"You must know that the forest of this area is connected to the forest of the Sunderbans. Some of these forests are rich in wildlife. However, in recent years, poaching has taken a heavy toll on these resources. So, in an effort to stop them, Indra and his team pay regular visits inside the jungle. When they come across any injured animal, they bring them back, nurse them to health and releaze them back in the wild."

"That's a very kind thing they are doing", Runa interjected with awe in her voice.

This is a new side to Indra's personality that none of them had expected. Roaming in dense jungles come with risks ot its own. A person has to be very motivated and brave to be able to do this on a regular basis.

"My brother is very different from the rest of us." commented Ishaan wryly.

Ishaan walked them to the gate. The journey back home was silent as the friends were lost in their thoughts, both mulling over the new things they had learned.

Dinner Time at the Banerjee

The dinner table was groaning under the weight of the food. The men had already started their dinner.

"I thought I saw the Mullick girls here today. Were you giving them a tour of the house, Ishaan", asked Anubha.

"Yes Mom. I wanted to introduced them but you were in the Puja room and we did not want to disturb you. It was Runa Mullick with her friend Isha" replied Ishaan.

"Isha Chatterjee will be joining our village school from next month", said Avik, Indra and Ishaan's father. He is the chairman of the school recruitment commitee. "Isha is a very bright student and we feel we are lucky to have her", added Avik.

Indra suppressed a silent groan. Isha is already getting under his skin. It will be a problem if she settles here permanently. The only relief is that he will be travelling constantly, looking after his businesses all over the world.

"Where will she live?", asked Anubha worriedly. She was already fond of the quiet and beautiful girl.

"She will offer her a teacher's quarters. However, it will be awkward for a girl staying on her own in a village. We will have to think of alternative arrangement", said Avik.

'I can imagine village youths finding numerous excuses for knocking at her door or engaging her in conversation' thought Indra sarcastically. 'She is more trouble than worth, he noted.

After dinnet Indra retired to his study, after retrieving the family history book from he library. The book has reached a cricial juncture. This is the part that deals with the treasure that is rumoured to be buried under the old temple.