The Secrets of the Elements

Chapter 12: Discussions And More

"I wish the book had never left us," said Rishi and threw his jacket on the bed. "Rishi!" said Rutuja and

picked it up. "How many times do I have to tell you this?"

She folded his jacket and kept it in his cupboard. Rishi smiled, looking at her. "You're complete wife

material," he said. "Shut up!" she snapped and smiled, nodding her head.

"What next?" asked Rishi and lay down on the bed. "We should go to the second floor of the library,"

said Rutuja and sat beside him. "The portal, you mean?" he asked. "Yes," replied Rutuja.

"But, what do we do going to that world, it's dangerous, Master Indra and Dai Ma will never approve of

it," he said. "Who said anything about permission?" said Rutuja and raised her eyebrow. "Breaking

rules ha," he said and sat upright.

"Won't you come with me?" she asked looking in his eyes. "I'll accompany you wherever you go," he

said and held her hand.

~~~~~~~

"Now who's tired?" said Maya as he offered her hand to Ray who was lying down on the sand. He took

her hand and sat upright. "We should be in the car, it's almost 4," said Advika.

"And the car will teleport us back home?" wondered Maya. "No, the book will," said Advika. Tej

unlocked the car, "c'mon in guys," he called.

"Advika, mind sitting in the front seat, I'm a bit tired, so will sleep in the backseat," said Ray. "And

where do you think we'll sit, on your head?" said Maya and walked past him.

Advika sat beside Tej, who sat on the driver's seat. Zarna sat between Ray and Maya in the backseat.

Tej helped Advika with the seat belt and then put on his seat belt.

"Ouch," said Maya as the car shook violently. An electrical storm broke out with great fury. Advika

clutched Tej's hand as the clouds thundered. Tej held her hand. "Easy," he said.

The car rose in the air; the windows covered with sand.

In the blink of an eye, the car landed with a thud on the ground.

Maya got out of the car at once. "Thank God," she said. "Who were those guys? How will we know?"

wondered Ray and stretched his arms. "Why would anybody follow us or come to this place?" said

Zarna sitting inside the car. "Aren't you guys getting out?" asked Ray. "We aren't home, we're just back

to our world," said Advika.

"Yeah, right," said Ray and sat in the car. Maya followed.

~~~~~~~~~

"You promised to get them," said an elderly man. He wore a full-length black tunic with long sleeves

and a stand-up collar. His red pupils sent a shiver down Daksh's spine as he stood in front of the man

with his head bowed.

There was an unnatural greyness in his skin. His silvery shoulder-length hair left open; his teeth as

sharp as a blade; his lips black.

"Master... Azazel" stammered Daksh. "I'm trying-"

"I don't want your tries," the man screamed and hit his fist on the stone table between them. The table Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

cracked; Daksh shivered.

"I want all five of them, alive," he whispered as he came near to Daksh and squeezed his shoulders.

"Go," he commanded.

Daksh bowed down and walked out of the dungeon.

~~~~~~~~~~

Advika threw herself on the bed and closed her eyes. Her phone vibrated. The name Sweety flashed

on the screen. Advika smiled and read her message.

Sweety: Hey babe, let's catch up this weekend.

Advika: Sure, at our favourite Dan's cafe. This Sunday at 5 eve.

Sweety: Okay, see you soon!

Her phone rang. It was Tej.

"Hey, Tej, all good? You just dropped me home," she said and stood in front of the mirror fidgeting with

her hair. "Yes," answered Tej. "You left your clip in my car, again," he said playing with the clip.

"Oh, I... I'll take it the next time we meet," she said. "Okay, yeah, I'll keep it... with me," he said, staring

at the clip. "Okay, bye," she said and kept the phone.

"Dude, what's wrong with you?" said Tej to himself and walked towards the door of his house.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"This is the magical bowl, Master Daksh," said the old man leaning on his stick.

Daksh walked towards a stone table; a golden bowl filled with water kept on it. Daksh saw his reflection

in the water and glanced at the old man.

"I don't know the exact method to invoke its powers," said the old man and adjusted his round

spectacles. "That I'll find out," said Daksh and turned to face the old man. "The next time the five come

here, don't let them escape," he gritted at the old man and walked out of the room. he climbed the

stairs that led him to the womb chamber of the temple. It was a secret underground room that only the

old man and Daksh knew about.

The old man climbed the stairs slowly, one by one. Daksh let out a sigh. "Could you hurry up!" he

yelled.

~~~~~~~~

"It's been almost a week since that temple incident," said Maya as she sat down on the bean bag with

a cup of green tea in her hands.

They all had gathered at Ray's house as his parents were out of town.

"I hope that old man doesn't remember anything about that night," said Zarna and took a bite of the

sandwich. Advika sipped her coffee and leaned on the pillow. "We have to be careful," she said.

"We'll go with full planning this time," said Ray playing with a basketball.

"Getting out at night, I mean, sneaking out of the house at night is a task," said Advika and took some

chips from the glass bowls. Ray took a handful of chips and stuffed them into his mouth. "That's the

reason you don't have a girlfriend," commented Maya and sipped her green tea.

"As if you have a dozen of boyfriends," said Ray with his mouth full of chips.

"Okay, guys," interrupted Tej. "Let's go tomorrow night. If everybody's okay with it."

"Cool!" said Maya. "I'm in," added Zarna. "Always ready," said Ray. "Ya, no problem," said Advika.

"So, the first thing we do is find out the source of that music," said Maya. "We should," said Tej. "Yes,"

added Zarna. "Maybe it will lead us to something important."