The Third Eye (14 page)

She turned back to the cave and started walking. Her body was icy cold. Panic had her heart in a firm grip.

“There is still time to say ‘no,'” Lord Yama called out to her. “Once you step into the cave, there is no turning
back. You will not be able to get out unless you have the Water of Life with you, or I come to collect your body.”

Tara was unable to speak. She turned to look at Lord Yama one last time before she ran into the cave. The dark hole swallowed her up instantly, like black waters closing over the head of a drowning person.

Tara's eyes adjusted to the gloom as she walked deeper and deeper into the cave, which slanted down at a steep angle. A smell of decay came off the slimy walls. The air was thick and seemed to have life of its own as it swirled around her. And then there was the deafening silence.

“I will save Ananth ... I will be successful ... I will save Ananth ...,” she chanted to herself, not looking back at all. She knew she would run out if she glimpsed her freedom receding.

You can do this, you have to
, she told herself.
This is your chance to save Ananth
. She remembered what her grandfather said to her often, especially at times when she was very scared:

“Tara, courage is not the absence, but the
mastery
of fear.”

The fear was there — lots of it. Only the mastery was lacking!

As she talked to herself, the band that constricted her heart gradually loosened. She drew in a deep breath and felt calmer, panic retreating to a corner of her mind.

“
SSSSSTTTTT,
” someone hissed in her ear. It echoed in the profound silence, and goose bumps rose on Tara's hands.

She stopped and reached out into the endless void. The inky blackness had sharpened her sense of hearing. Panic jumped back to centre stage. She thought her heart would explode.

“Who is there?”

All that came out of her throat was a strangled yelp. She tried again.

“Who is that? Show yourself!”

A faint outline began to form. Within minutes, an Apsara — a beautiful goddess — stood in front of her. She had luminous skin as if lit from within. Her shiny black hair fell to her shoulders. She wore a bright red saree, embroidered with sparkling golden threads and a bejewelled tiara. On her forehead, just where the arch of her eyebrows met, was a red dot outlined in gold that seemed to light up her serene face. Tara noticed that she had six hands instead of two, each holding a different item. One held a sceptre, one a golden pot, the third held a little mouse that sat patiently on her palm. Her fourth hand held a lamp and the fifth, a round, steel plate full of sweets. Her sixth hand was empty. A mesmerizing halo shimmered around her.

“Welcome, Tara. I have been waiting for you,” she said
in a melodious voice.

“Do you know me?”

“I am a goddess. I know everybody and everything. You are here to get the Water of Life for Ananth.”

“Yes.”

“It is a long and tiring journey. Sit awhile and rest. I will give you food and water. Once you have regained your strength, you can go on.”

Tara was entranced by the beauty and the soothing voice of the Apsara. She suddenly realized that it had been ages since she had eaten a decent meal. Her stomach growled as the goddess passed the plate of sweets in front of her nose and beckoned.

“Come with me, Tara, and I'll look after you.”

Tara took a step forward, relieved that she would not have to go through this ordeal alone. She had panicked for nothing. Obviously, Lord Yama had not known about this friendly goddess. He had scared her for nothing with his grave expressions and his silly bits of advice. She almost laughed aloud with relief.

“Lead the way, Apsara. I am right behind you.”

The Apsara turned and walked ahead, leading Tara deeper into the labyrinth of caves.

“Follow me.”

At every step, the feeling that something was not right grew inside her like a large balloon.
I wish Ananth were here to guide me
, she thought. She was so undecided that her steps slowed.

“What is it, Tara? Surely you are not afraid of me? I am here to help you. You will perish without me,” said the Apsara, her eyes flashing. “Come along now, it's not far. Don't delay or I am going to get angry.”

The misgivings in Tara's heart blossomed. Lord Yama's words floated into her head, his voice gruff yet tinged with concern, “
People are not as they appear on the surface. Trust your heart, not your eyes
.” She had been so happy and relieved to have a companion on this dangerous quest — a goddess, no less. Yet her heart was very troubled.

Stop
NOW
, the voice inside her screamed. She continued walking, unsure of what to do.

Tara's eyes strayed to the little mouse clasped in the Apsara's hand. It sat there quietly, looking at her with an intense expression. She was surprised. She had never known a mouse to sit still. Suddenly, the mouse flopped over, exposing its belly. The sight made Tara shudder. It had no legs! The mouse could not run because it had
no legs
.

Who would do that to a small, defenceless creature?
A monster
, the little voice in her head said helpfully. And it added, in case she missed the point, she was following this “goddess” willingly. Who knows what fate would befall her if she, Tara, entered her home.

Her eyes darted left and right, trying to decide which way to run. The mouse seemed to understand her dilemma. It flicked its tail in the direction of a dark tunnel that was coming up on their right. Tara looked at the mouse in
confusion. Its eyes seemed to bore into hers. It flicked its tail urgently, always pointing at her, at itself, and right, again and again and yet again. They were almost past the tunnel. Tara finally understood.

She grabbed the mouse from the Apsara's hand and dived into the tunnel the little creature had been frantically pointing to, then sprinted into the black void. Mud and slush underfoot made deep sucking sounds as she ran. She bounced off the walls and tripped over rocks as she hurtled blindly along the tunnel.

A shriek reverberated around her. The “goddess” had discovered that Tara was no longer following her. Tara heard thundering footsteps behind her. She turned back for a brief glimpse and her heart almost stopped beating. A massive monster pursued them. It was a pale yellow, as if suffering from a severe case of jaundice, with glowing, red eyes. Two white fangs stuck out from either side of the blood-red mouth. Its black, bushy hair flew back as it ran, resembling a nest of seething, writhing snakes. With a burst of energy, Tara sped up and ran for her life along the dark and endless tunnel.

“Turn right here,” said the mouse in a strained voice, gasping for breath.

Tara realized that she had been squeezing the mouse so tightly she had almost suffocated it. She loosened her grip as she continued sprinting.

“Come here, Tara,” said the monster. “I'll help you. Come here, my juicy little tidbit. I can almost taste your
delicious flesh. Don't go.”

Tara galloped faster.

“Left, right, left ... left, right,” the mouse's voice came in staccato bursts.

Tara obeyed without thinking or seeing as her aching legs swerved left and right at top speed. Her breath came in ragged gasps and there was a painful stitch in her side. Her body was soaked and the acrid smell of her own sweat enveloped her. Her hands were starting to turn slippery, and she tightened her hold on her companion.

At long last, the monster's voice became fainter and then was altogether gone. Tara flopped down, panting heavily. Water from the damp floor seeped into her clothes and shoes, but she did not notice or care. She raised her hand and brought the mouse to eye level. His eyes glowed yellow so that she could see him faintly.

“Thank ... you,” she gasped as she kissed its black button nose. “Who ... are ... you?”

“My name is Mushika.”

Tara was shocked.

“But that is the name of ...”

“Yes,” said the mouse. “I am Lord Ganesh's faithful servant. We meet again.”

“Again? Have we met before?”

“You saved me from the cat not too long ago in the Ganesh temple in Morni. Do you not remember?”

“Yes. Now I do. But how did you get here?” asked Tara.

“Lord Ganesh was moved by your prayers and the hardships you have been through. He sent me here to wait for you. But that monster captured me and took away my legs using a powerful magic. You're the only one who can restore my legs, Tara. Lord Ganesh's power cannot penetrate this evil place. In return, I will guide you to the fountain.”

“Thank you,” said Tara, stroking the mouse. “Do you know how to get there?”

“Yes, but the way is extremely dangerous,” said Mushika. “I'm not sure if you're strong enough to survive this.”

“I have no choice. My brother's life is at stake. I cannot fail.”

They sat for a few minutes in silence. Then Tara pushed herself up. Her legs shook and she almost fell over.

“Which way now?” asked Tara, gritting her teeth against the exhaustion that was spreading through her body.

“We have to go deep down to the heart of the Kailash Parbat. Be as quiet as possible. I'd rather not disturb any of the things that sleep here.”

“What things?” asked Tara.

“The less you know, the better. Let's go,” said Mushika.

Impenetrable blackness surrounded them and she was starting to feel its oppressive weight. Mushika's eyes glowed a deep yellow, casting a dim light in the thick gloom. The tunnel sloped downward. She took a deep breath, trying
to shake off the feeling of claustrophobia in this close, dark place. They walked deeper and deeper and, with each step, Tara felt as if the entire weight of the mountain was pressing down on her.

Splash!

Tara had stepped into freezing water. Her foot was soaked all the way up to her ankle.

“
OH!
” She gasped and drew back her foot immediately. Mushika's eyes glowed brighter. Tara saw a large, black, underground lake stretched out in front of her. The water had an oily surface with barely a ripple on it.

“What should we do?” asked Tara, not liking the look of the water at all. Who knew how long this water had lain and what kind of dark, slimy creatures lurked in its turgid waters? She stood there chewing her lip, running a trembling hand through her hair.

“Surely there is another way to the other side,” she said to Mushika, hope in her trembling voice.

Mushika shook his head.

“This is the only way. If we go any other way we may get lost, or encounter a danger far greater. We have to go on. Remember, time is running out. You have twenty-four hours to save Ananth. We do not have the luxury of a detour.”

Tara closed her eyes as her imagination took over. What if there were water-snakes, or crocodiles with powerful jaws, or slimy monsters waiting to suck her down to the watery depths? What if the lake was endless and her
strength gave way before she reached the other side? What if she drowned?

“Lord Ganesh, help me! I can't do this, I
can't
,” she said as she sat down at the edge of the lake and sobbed.

“Don't cry, Tara. It's not that bad. Do you really want to try another way?” asked Mushika, moved by Tara's evident fear of the water.

She looked up hopefully. To their right, she could see a tunnel branching off upwards, toward light, toward air, toward freedom. She would go up and ask Lord Yama to spare Ananth's life. She would beg for his forgiveness at not having brought the water, but at least she would not be here, faced with the prospect of living out one of her worst nightmares. She looked back and forth between the black water and the path to freedom. The voice inside screamed
RUN
, but images of Ananth kept popping up in her head. Lord Yama's next piece of advice swam into her fatigued brain:

“Sometimes the right way is the most difficult, while the wrong way the most easy and tempting. Make your choice wisely.”

Tears slid down her cheek as the familiar downward-spiralling feeling of panic started, and she was powerless to stop it. She knew what she had to do. Time was running out; she had to go across the lake. Mushika snuggled up to her, squeaking encouragement. He, too, was worried, but trying not to show it. His little body shivered, and Tara could feel mini vibrations in her palm.

Tara saw a faint movement in the centre of that oily blackness and large ripples tiptoed lazily to shore. She stood up, shook her head, and straightened her shoulders.

“Lord Ganesh ... please look after us,” she muttered, her heart thumping loudly in her ears.

She stepped into the water, which inched up her legs with icy fingers. It reached her ankles, then her knees. She forced herself to keep moving. She could already feel slimy things swirling around her, rubbing against her legs through the soaked cotton of her pyjamas. Every nerve was taut and frozen, but she forced herself to put one foot in front of the other, refusing to let panic take over. In she went, deeper and deeper, till the water was past her waist and creeping up to her neck and shoulders.

“Brave girl,” squeaked Mushika, who was perched on Tara's shoulder. He was shivering so much in the icy air that rose from the surface of the lake that it seemed he might topple over. Finally, he decided to say no more. He dug his teeth into the collar of Tara's kurta and hung on. Mushika's eyes were like twin beams of faint light in that complete darkness. Tara's teeth were chattering as the intense cold seeped through her wet clothes and sucked out all the warmth from her body. Around her, the water swirled and churned. She heard splashes, gurgles, hisses. Something intertwined her legs and then slithered away. Bile rose in her mouth, but she clamped it shut and forced herself to keep going.