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

it.
    â€œStupid, stupid tree!” she said, rubbing her aching forehead.
    â€œTsk, tsk, Tara,” said a soft voice. “Such bad language from your mouth the first time we meet after so long?”
    Tara stopped. Turned round. The heat had vanished once more, replaced by a chill. The shadows shivered as the hint of a breeze flitted past. She scanned the trees around her. Who was it? The darkness seemed lighter somehow.
    But why … she could see no one, no source of light.
    â€œWhat? No words of welcome for an old friend?” said the voice, a bit louder now. “We’ve been waiting so long to see you. Bring me closer, Kali.”
    It was like she’d been struck by lightning. Kali and a voice she knew … a voice she’d heard before. One she’d been expecting, but hoped never to hear again in her lifetime.
    Kali stepped out from behind a tree, her face tinted by a red glow. She carried something very carefully, but it was hard to make out what exactly it was.
    The chill trickled down to her toes, reached her numb fingers, and climbed all the way to her scalp. Kali placed the mysterious item on the ground and stepped back. Tara finally got a good look. It was an urn and she knew where she had seen it before. She screamed silently, her body thrumming with the urge to flee, to run far, far away. Kali grinned at her and it was like old times. Something really bad was about to happen.
    Tara forced herself to stand still. She opened her mouth. No words came out of her parched throat. She swallowed, tried again.
    â€œZarku?”
    â€œAhhh, she remembers,” said Zarku. “Bring her to me, Kali. I want her to take a good look at what she’s done.”
    Kali moved toward Tara and she involuntarily stepped back. Kali’s hand shot out, imprisoned Tara’s wrist in a tight grip and jerked her toward the urn. A smell of burned flesh hung in the air. Tara gagged.
    â€œYou’re alive,” said Tara. Her heart fluttered in her chest. “How is that possible?”
    â€œ Barely , thanks to you and your interfering grandfather.” The red glow dimmed and brightened as Zarku spoke. Tara had a sudden urge to kick the urn high into the air, see it fall and smash to smithereens. But the thought of that evil presence floating in the air around her, having to inhale him, made her shudder. The urge passed.
    â€œWhat do you want,” said Tara.
    â€œRevenge,” said Zarku.
    Tara’s insides quivered. “Never!” she said. “As soon as I get Prabala, we’ll finish you for good this time. You’ll never ever come back to trouble us again.”
    The urn rocked back and forth with Zarku’s maniacal laughter. Tara clapped her hands over her ears.
    â€œYou don’t scare me,” she said. “You’re nothing but a pile of ashes with a voice. And I don’t think this buffalo will be able to keep up with me if I decide to run.”
    Kali sucked in her breath audibly, but said nothing.
    â€œOh, I won’t try and stop you, Tara,” said Zarku.
    â€œYou’re free to go. Know that if and when you come back with that fool of a healer, there won’t be anyone left to rescue. I will kill them all.”
    Her stomach twisted painfully. He was as mad and bloodthirsty as ever.
    â€œYou’ve already killed an innocent child,” yelled Tara. “And now you’re going to kill more? Why? What harm have they done to you?”
    â€œAll in good time, Tara,” said Zarku. “If I tell you everything now, I’ll ruin the surprise I have for you. It’s such a nice one.”
    Tara knew she’d hate it. “Where is Suraj?” she asked.
    â€œCome with me and I’ll show you.”
    â€œDo I have a choice?” said Tara.
    â€œOh, you always have a choice,” said Zarku. “The question is will you be able to bear the consequences of the choice you make?”
    Tara stared at him. What