In my Devil's Arms

Riya finally came clean to Vicky.

" I would never stop you from doing your work Riya", he said. Why do you lie"?

He was hurt.

" I am sorry", she said. " Vishnu is scared of you", she teased.

" Because he wants inside your p*nts", answered Vicky.

" No he does not", she opposed vehemently.

" I am a sleaze. I recognize my kind", he shrugged.

" You are incorrigible ", she exclaimed.

He smiled and shrugged.

" My friends think you are my boyfriend ", she said to see his reaction.

" I would love to", he answered without hesitation. " But fear of slaps and that competition with dead king is still on".

" You. You..",

" Okay calm down. Come here lets have vada pav".

They ate chatting happily.

Meanwhile

Laxmi's father was keenly looking at proofs Riya provided her with.

" Papa I really want to help Mrs Pundit. I like her. If the authenticity is proved then they can say good bye to their poverty", said Laxmi.

Mr. Shukla was happy. Laxmi had grown up. His business got a perfect heir.

" The places these memoir mentions, specially that temple could be pin pointed. Remember the memoir says earth opened up at the girl went inside with the Lord", said Mr. Shukla.

" Yes".

" There was a ruined temple nearby. Shiva temple. It was hit by an eathquake. The old idol was lost in that. The British documented it. Indian government remodelled it and here take the location".

" Thanks papa", she said. " Do we have any literature supporting it".

" A few books by archaeologists", he wrote one name on a paper.

" Thank you papa".

He now has to start looking a man of principles for her.

Laxmi told Riya about the temple at college. As Lisa was working and Zoya went out with Salman both of them started together.

" Have you started reading the memoir", asked Laxmi.

" No", sighed Riya. " But that old piece of original I got from uncle I submitted it for carbon dating."

" I really hope it works out for Mrs Pundit", said Laxmi.

" I hope so too".

They saw some village ladies going out with Puja things.

" Excuse me", said Riya. " Where is that Shiva temple that grants wishes."?

" Go straight on road beta. From hill take a left then as you move forward you see a Chauraha ( four way bifurcated road). Take the one which has Banyan tree. A few metres ahead you reach the temple", said one elderly lady.

" Don't take the road where there is peepul tree. It goes to demon forest. Its forbidden".

" The forbidden forest", asked Laxmi.

" Where people disappear".

" Yes because a vicious demon eats them".

" Okay thank you", said the girls.

They reached the chauraha and took the correct route.Within next five minutes they reached the temple.

" So this is the place", said Laxmi.

It looked like a village temple. It was up on a small hill. There were 50-60 steps. Signs of renovations were there with murals, the steps, the paint etc. They started climbing up.

" I have been here before", thought Riya.

She got a vision.

Young Gunjan and Srikant climbing it to get blessing.

Oh God..this was the temple where her marriage was blessed....on the foot of which she.she..died.

Coming here was no coincidence.

Riya was sure route to Gunjan's peace lies here.

As they reached the top they saw thousands of bells tied in the compound on railings on trees on roof on a rope everywhere.

" These bells are nostalgic", said Laxmi. Their view with the backdrop of hills is amazing. "

" Yes", said Riya. She was trying to remember more about her past life. She looked lost.

" Riya", said Laxmi.

" Yes".

" Lets do Puja inside", she said.

" Okay".

They both went inside and performed Shiv puja. As Riya offered water, milk, sandal, rice and flowers on the idol; a soft breeze blew. They could hear a gentle chime of the bells. A sweet fragnance spread over the temple.

A voice came in her ears...

" You purified yourself my child.Its time for justice A war lies ahead. Get ready".

Immediately she looked up. It seemed to her that Shiva idol was glowing.

" Did you speak to me Shiva", she wondered.

" Bless you". A voice spoke in her mind.

" What shall I do", she thought.

" Guide him on the righteous path. Be his power."

She kept staring at the idol.

What did she just get? An advice, a warning..or a forecast.

" Riya". Laxmi's voice brought her out of reverie. " You look a bit lost", she said.

" Sorry all these old places", she smiled a self depreciating smile.

Laxmi chuckled. She knew how her friend could get lost in all these.

" Come lets talk to the priest", she said.

" Okay", she said.

Laxmi took the permission for recording.

" Will it come on TV. The publicity will be good for the temple", said the head priest.

" We will try our best", said Riya.

As the set up was completed Laxmi asked,

" How old is the temple"?

" About ten centuries".

" Who commissioned it"?

" It is said that it was made by two Brahmin brothers with the grants the received from ancient Gupta kings. Some of the names are carved on walls in Sanskrit. ".

Riya noted the information.

" What about the granting of wishes", asked Riya.

" People tie bells here to ask for wishes from Lord Shiva. Shiva answers every prayer. When a bell comes out it means a wish is granted."

" Ohhh", said the girls

" Is it true the original idol was lost", asked Laxmi. " In an earthquake".

" Yes around four centuries ago".

" Ohhh".

" Government rebuilt it around 21 or 22 years ago. It was in ruins before that. We are salaried by Government too."

But he knew nothing about the girl that died here. He was not a local.

" You can ask someone from around here", he said.

" Thank you punditji ", said the girls.

They roamed around clicking pictures of the old stones, the names of kings. There were stone idols of two men performing Shiv Puja.

" They are Brahmin brothers", concluded Laxmi. " They wear three holy thread"..

Riya noted down few ancient pictorial script written below it. She wondered,

THEY KNEW LANGUAGE THEN. WHY THE PICTORIAL SCRIPT?

Laxmi clicked pictures.

Of walls, Nandi, bells, compound..

" Hey Riya", she hollered.

" Yes", she asked.

" Lets take the picture of these bells. You take mine first then I will take yours".

" Okay".

She clicked Laxmi's pictures. Now it was her turn. She stood smiling at the camera.

" Ready", asked Laxmi.

" Yes", she held a bell.

" Click", sounded the camera.

Taannnnaask", came another voice. Something fell it seemed. A metallic thing.

The girls looked down in surprise..

A bell came off..