The Secrets of the Elements novel Chapter 38

"Daksh," said Rishi and took a few steps towards him. Daksh leaned against the wall staring at the ground.

"Yes, I did keep an eye on you," confessed Rishi. "Even while I was at school and training, away from you and Rutuja."

Daksh looked up at him, astonished. "How do you know?"

"Listen," said Rishi and kept his hand on Daksh's shoulders. "I never meant to harm you. I was only protecti-"

Daksh pushed Rishi's hand off his shoulder and grabbed him by his collar, pushing him towards the wall. "I don't need protecting," he snarled.

Rishi could feel Daksh's hot breath on his face. He closed his eyes and bent his neck. "You did not follow me," it was more of an assurance Daksh made to himself than a question to Rishi.

"No, of course not," said Rishi removing Daksh's hand from his collar. "I always had a doubt. You never really liked the way master Indra did things or taught us."

He walked away from Daksh and turned away. "I followed you only once," he revealed. Daksh could feel his heart hammering; he clenched his fists and shut his eyes.

"The first time you had entered Azazel's den," began Rishi. "Back then, you did not know how to hide traces, so it was easy to follow you. I pledged I would keep an eye on you to-"

"Why didn't you tell dad?" asked Daksh and marched towards Rishi. "Why didn't you tell Rutuja? You always wanted them to hate me. You had a chance." He smiled and shook his head. "Oh, right, did not have any proof, did you?"

Rishi looked up and swallowed the lump in his throat. "That was never the reason," he said. "I know you mean no harm. I know why you-"

"Guys," Rutuja came running from the stairs. She ran towards Rishi and half hugged him. She walked towards Daksh and held his hand. "I saw Dai Maa."

~~~~

Advika shut the door of her bedroom and sat on the bed. "Try to talk to Grantha. Wow," she said. "How?"

She glanced at her vision board on the wall and closed her eyes. Grantha, she thought. Please talk to me. How do we go ahead with this? Grantha please, help.

She flinched as the bag kept on the floor moved and opened her eyes at once. She stared at it for a moment, then strolled towards it, sat down and opened it. The book named Queen Bhilangana jumped out of it.

Advika was taken aback; her heart skipped a beat.

"Grantha," she said with quivering lips. "Is that you?"

She leaned and took the book in her hands, her heart still hammering, her breath unsteady. Opening it, she read through the pages, meticulously analyzing the information.

"Weird," said Rishi and got to his feet. He held Rutuja's hand and took her away from the shelf. "Books, Ru, can be dangerous as well."

"This is the shelf," said Rutuja and stood in front of a wooden, rather odd-looking shelf. The books looked as if someone had carelessly thrown them on the shelf. Most books were without a cover.

Rishi glanced at Rutuja and strolled towards the shelf. He scanned through all the books and sat down to search the section at the bottom. "Why does this section have books like these?" he asked. "Did you remove them and not arrange back. I don't think you did, but still."

"Of course not, Rishi," she said and sat next to him. "The thing is that," she picked a few books, sort them, and kept them back. The books rearranged themselves, jumping on their own accord, as though they were living beings.

Daksh blinked several times and stared at the sky outside. The stars and the moon were shining bright. It reminded him of his mom and his childhood. He closed his eyes and pictured them together. He, his brothers, mom, and dad.

"Weird," said Rishi and got to his feet. He held Rutuja's hand and took her away from the shelf. "Books, Ru, can be dangerous as well."

"What do you mean?" she asked and glanced at Daksh, who was lost in his own thoughts.

"I mean, Ru, we have heard about King Himaqat, haven't we? The black book, white book, Shaktigrantha and all. It is enough to know that books hold immense power, and they can be dangerous too."

She opened her mouth to argue, but Rishi stopped her. "We will come here in the morning."