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

did he mean by that?
    Why was he talking in riddles? Should she call his bluff and run? Tara glanced at Kali who glared back at her malevolently. The darkness looked so much more desirable right now; she’d gladly face that than Zarku. Tara stood still, thoughts blowing in her head like leaves in a storm, first one way then the other.
    â€œJust so you know,” said Zarku. “I hate waiting. It makes me cranky.”
    Tara closed her eyes, stilled the storm raging inside of her and made her decision.
    â€œI’ll go with you,” said Tara staring straight at the urn. “But you have to promise me that the children will be unharmed. Even my friends. Promise me now!”
    Zarku cackled and Kali joined in. “This girl thinks she can make me promise things,” said Zarku. “Ahhh, Tara, you are so brave and so stupid. I’m really going to miss you.”
    Another painful jolt. Black spots danced before her eyes. She refused to let herself think about what he meant by that. Not now. Right now she had to focus on rescuing her brother and her friends.
    Kali scooped up the urn gingerly and started back toward the temple. Tara followed, dreading the look on everyone’s face when they saw her.

    The moment Tara stepped out of the forest, Ananth’s face tightened. Kabir looked accusingly at her, Raani looked relieved, and Vayu refused to meet her eye. They had all suffered; teeth marks and rivulets of dried blood adorned their arms and legs.
    Kali shoved her toward the others and disappeared into the temple with the urn. The hyenas, snapping at her ankles, herded her toward her friends.
    â€œI told you to run,” said Ananth. His expression was livid. “You never listen to anyone, do you?”
    â€œI tried,” said Tara. “But I had to come back.”
    â€œWhy? Because you couldn’t outrun that buffalo?” said Kabir. “You were our only hope, Tara. And now you’ve let us all down.”
    â€œI’ll explain later,” said Tara as soon as she saw Kali return with a lantern.
    â€œWhere are the children?” asked Tara. “I want to see them. He promised.”
    Kali’s laughter echoed around them and a bird from a nearby tree flew up in alarm. “I don’t remember any such promise,” she said. “But maybe if you were to ask me politely ...”
    â€œWho is he ?” asked Ananth, looking from Kali to Tara. “What is she talking about?”
    Tara ignored him. “ Please can I see Suraj and Sadia?” she repeated.
    â€œNo,” said Kali. “Maybe tomorrow. I’m tired and I need to sleep. Thanks to you lot, tonight is completely ruined. Now follow me.”
    Tara wanted to lash out at that swaying backside in front of her. She remembered the time when Suraj had placed a lizard on Kali’s back and made her dance in the middle of the road. They had laughed till their sides ached, but right now the thought of it made her want to cry.
    The hyenas hustled them along, growling at their heels. It was a bit cooler in the temple and the chance to get out of the heat and the mosquitoes was a huge relief.
    Kali led the way deeper into the abandoned temple, expertly navigating sharp turns through a labyrinth of damp corridors. Her lantern illuminated the ivy and creepers climbing the walls in lush abandon. Slimy green sections of moss-covered stone slid past, and the air had a closed, musty smell.
    â€œPay attention,” whispered Ananth.
    He and Kabir looked around, trying to memorize the route. Vayu looked straight ahead and Raani could not take her eyes off the floor that had many a slippery patch and was littered with debris from the forest.
    Kali stopped in front of a set of heavy wooden doors that gaped open. “Get inside,” she said. “Hurry! I don’t have all night.”
    They filed into the room silently. It was like walking into a deep, dark cave that had no end. What if something