Read Online The Silver Anklet by Mahtab Narsimhan - Free Book Online

escaped.
    Kabir and Ananth were gazing into the forest surreptitiously, no doubt wondering where she was.
    â€œAll right. Have it your way,” said Kali. “I’ll leave the hyenas to persuade you.” She walked away.
    Tara shifted and a stone clattered against the wall.
    One of the hyenas swung his head in her direction. She froze and held her breath.
    â€œTara,” said Ananth. “If you can hear me, go away.
    Get help. Don’t try and save us. You won’t succeed.”
    A hyena lunged at Ananth and bit him. “Get off you mangy beast,” he yelled. He clutched his bitten hand and kicked out. The hyena retreated with a yelp.
    Tara watched bright red blood drip to the ground. The scene dimmed. She jerked her head up furiously. She couldn’t afford to pass out. Not now when they were all depending on her.
    â€œHe’s right, Tara,” yelled Kabir. “Get Prabala. He’ll know how to handle this. Go now!”
    Tara massaged her throbbing temples. Everything was going so wrong. They had come to rescue Suraj and Sadia. Instead, Kali had captured all her friends. She had to save not two but six people now. All by herself.
    Should she try to find her way back to Morni for help? Or ignore Ananth and rescue them? Once she was gone, would Kali let them live? What should she do?
    â€œDon’t leave us, Tara.” Raani called out. “Help!”
    â€œStop it, Raani,” snapped Ananth. “Don’t listen to her, Tara. Go!”
    Tara felt a pang of guilt. Raani sounded terrified. They were in this mess because of her. She had decided to go into the forest without telling anyone. How brave it had sounded then, how right ... Now she realized what a foolish thing they had all done. No one knew where they were and there would be no help on the way.
    Raani started to sob and Tara was almost ready to run to them. How could she even think of leaving? She stood up. A twig cracked underfoot. The hyenas pricked up their ears. One of them trotted a short distance away and sniffed the air. Her stomach wobbled. Any moment it might pick up her scent and come charging at her.
    â€œDon’t do it, Tara,” said Ananth, his eyes still sweeping the forest. “RUN, you’re our only hope.”
    What if he’s right? Her mind floundered like a child in deep water. Go or stay, stay or go?
    Kali was nowhere to be seen. What if she sent some more hyenas after her? Tara couldn’t linger. She had to go, run all night for help if she had to. This was too big for any of them to handle alone. They needed Prabala.
    She took one last look at her companions staring forlornly into the forest. Bright red bite marks on their arms and legs glistened in the firelight. Tears shone on Raani’s cheeks as she sobbed softly. She couldn’t fail her friends.
    Tara took a deep breath and ran and ran and ran.

— six —
Zarku
    T ara ran straight into the arms of darkness, leaving behind her companions. It was hard. As the glow from the fire receded, the gloom grew thicker and heavier. The dank odour of rotting leaves and a nameless fear surrounded her. She had followed Ananth and Raani all the way here. Which way should she go now? Which way was home?
    The trees crowded in, trying to crush her. The heat pushed down with an invisible fist. She dropped down on all fours and crawled, trying not to scream for help. Sharp stones bit into her palms. Something soft squished under her knee, releasing a foul odour. She tried not to think about it as she scuttled on. This was a mistake, a huge mistake. She should have stayed with the others. She was never going to find her way home. “Help,” she sobbed softly, “Please God, help me …”
    Only the mosquitoes answered her, buzzing hungrily around her head.
    Bushes rustled up ahead. Leaves crackled. Tara jumped to her feet. Arms outstretched, she ran headlong into a tree and smacked her forehead hard against