The Third Eye (18 page)

“You saw this happening, didn't you?” said Tara.

Parvati nodded.

“But why did you not tell us?” snapped Tara, her eyes flashing, her voice strident. “Why did you let us think you had disappeared forever or worse, died? That was a very cruel thing you did to us, Mother.”

“How could I do otherwise, my child?” said Parvati, stroking Tara's hair. “No one could know. If you had known, Zarku or Kali would have tortured you till they made you tell the truth. But I was always watching over you. Always! On Diwali night, I could not restrain myself and I came out of hiding and kissed both of you. Do you remember?”

“Mother was that snake,” said Suraj, unable to keep quiet.

Tara remembered it vividly. She had already recognized her mother when she'd come to rescue them from Zarku. This is why they had survived — why Bela had licked her cheek; she had known it was Parvati watching over them.

“Father turned me into a snake so I could see both of you,” continued Parvati. “I missed you so much. I was able to inject some of my powers into you so that you would know when you were in danger. You'd see an image that would warn you. Do you remember?”

Tara nodded as many things started to make sense.

“When the two of you escaped into the jungle, I followed you, keeping a safe distance.”

“The black cobra that saved Suraj from the python — that was you,” breathed Tara in awe. “You saved Suraj's life.”

“Yes.”

“Oh Mother, how could I
ever
have doubted you?”

She hugged her mother, breathing in the smell of her and feeling calm and safe in her arms.

“But then Suraj fell ill after we got caught in that rain shower,” said Tara, sitting up again as the thought occurred to her.

“Yes, I know. I saw you struggle to keep him alive. But he was getting worse. He needed more advanced medicine than you knew how to make. That is when your grandfather and I decided to take him with us and nurse him to health.”

“And you left me all alone. How could you do that? Don't you love me as much as Suraj?” asked Tara, her face blotched with colour at the memory of the pain and despair she had felt when she thought Suraj had died.

“Hush, child,” said Prabala. “Don't speak to your mother that way. There was a reason.”

Parvati looked anguished and very hurt at Tara's outburst. Tears leaked out of her eyes and she wiped them away with the edge of her blue and gold saree.

“What reason could there possibly be?” yelled Tara.
She stood up and stamped her foot on the ground, raising a puff of dust.

“Do you know the pain I went through, thinking that I had lost my mother and then my brother? Do you know how much I blamed myself for having failed him? I'm furious with all of you for doing this, and
you
most of all, Mother.”

A sob escaped Parvati. Tara whirled on her heel and was about to stomp away when Prabala spoke up.

“Tara, I am going to tell you a story and then you decide whether your mother and I did the right thing. Please sit down and listen to me.”

Tara turned and stood with her hands folded over her chest, glowering at them.

“There was once a little boy who saw a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. The hole in the cocoon was extremely small and the butterfly struggled for hours to get out. It seemed to be making no progress at all. After some time it stopped to rest. The little boy felt extremely sorry for it and, taking a sharp knife, he slit open the cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily, but its wings and body were tiny and shrivelled. The boy had crippled the butterfly for life by helping it out of the cocoon. It was never able to fly. The struggle was Lord Brahma's design to strengthen the butterfly's wings so that when it finally got out of the cocoon using its own strength, it would be ready to take flight.”

Tara was enthralled by the story, but she maintained
her sulky expression.

“What has that got to do with me?” she asked.

“My child,” said Parvati in husky voice, “this was our way of making you strong; of allowing you the opportunity to strengthen your spirit. It was very, very difficult, but I had to do it, for your sake.”

“You used to be such a coward when you knew that you always had someone to look after you and who you could rely on,” said Prabala. “Could you have braved the dangers in the cave to bring Ananth back to life, before your mother disappeared? Just look at yourself now and tell me if the last few days have not made you stronger than ever before.”

It seemed as if someone had lifted the huge rock that was crushing her heart. This was all part of their plan. They knew she would meet Ananth and that the hardships she'd endure before reaching them would strengthen her. No one could have helped her become the person she was today. If they had rescued her along with Suraj, she would again have come to rely on her mother and grandfather for help. She gazed at all the faces around the fire and was warmed by the pride she saw there.

She walked back to Parvati and sat down beside her, head bowed.

“I am very sorry, Mother. I understand now. Your actions forced me to look inward rather than outward for strength. Will you forgive me?”

Parvati kissed the top of Tara's head.

Ananth spoke up.

“Mother, how did you get here? The last I saw of you ...,” he fell silent and clutched her hand tightly.

“Prabala, disguised as a tiger, saved me from those merciless villagers who were going to burn me on my husband's funeral pyre,” said Gayatri in a choked voice. “I wanted to live — for you, my son. I am so sorry for the pain and anguish you have been through. Thanks to Tara you have returned to me. We are both very lucky.”

Tara now understood what had really happened. She was glad she had spared Ananth the pain of believing his mother had been eaten by a tiger.

Parvati continued.

“We brought Suraj back and nursed him back to health, but all of us kept a watch on you, waiting for the time when you would have the strength to face the biggest ordeal yet.”

Tara turned pale as she gazed at Prabala.

“Yes, Tara, you know what I mean,” said Prabala. “We have to rid Morni of Zarku and Kali. We have to free all those poor souls that make up his army of Vetalas. But it's not going to be easy. They are both very evil and will put up a good fight. Kali had Zarku hypnotize your father. This is why he never said a word, even though she ill-treated both of you.”

“And tried to kill us,” said Suraj with a grimace.

Parvati looked very grave. “It is due to the mercy of Lord Ganesh that both my children escaped death time
and time again.”

“You are a good woman, Parvati,” said Prabala. “Your good deeds and all the kindness you have shown to the villagers were rewarded and that is why your children escaped death.”

Tara nodded. “Lord Ganesh sent Mushika to help me.”

Mushika, who was still nibbling rice from a small portion of the banana leaf, looked up and said, “Now that you are safe, it is time I went back to my master.”

Tara kissed his nose and stroked his back gently. He flicked his tail in farewell and disappeared.

“How do we kill Zarku?” asked Ananth. “The people of our village have seen the wrath of his third eye,” he said, shuddering.

“I have seen it, too,” said Tara, looking extremely fearful. “That ray from his eye turns people to ash, but not before it scorches their flesh and burns them alive. He enjoys watching them die a horribly painful death. The louder they scream, the more he giggles!”

“Father, we must do something to save the villagers,” said Parvati.

“I'd like to show all of you something special,” said Prabala.

Instantly, everyone was quiet, staring at him.

Prabala held out his palm. On it lay a gnarled, brown seed through which was strung a black, cotton thread. Prabala gazed at it reverently.

“What is that seed, Dada?” asked Tara.

“My reward for years of penance and devotion to the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva — the holy Trinity.”

“You didn't do a very good job, did you Dada?” said Suraj with a wry expression, “if all they gave you was a dry seed.”

Prabala threw back his head and roared with laughter. Suraj joined in without knowing why.

“This is no ordinary seed, children,” he said, looking around. “It is the rudraksha; a gift from the gods. When I tie it on my arm, it infuses me with strength, wisdom, and courage. And most of all, immunity against evil influences.”

There was silence.

“This little seed can do all that?” asked Ananth.

“Yes,” said Prabala. “But it must be tied to my right arm at all times. Without it, my powers are weak.”

“So then, let me tie it on your arm, Dada, and let's go back to Morni right away,” said Tara, jumping up.

“Patience, my child,” said Prabala. “We must wait for Soma, the Moon God, to appear. He will be at full strength tonight. We will say a prayer in his honour. At night, the Moon God reigns the sky, and if we have his blessing, we can conquer anything and anyone. Get some sleep today, because tonight is our final test.”

Tara woke a few hours later to the fragrance of tea, freshly cooked chappatis, and rice kheer. For a moment, she thought she was back in Morni. As she came fully awake, she realized she was safe with her mother and grandfather in a cave in the heart of the Shivalik Hills. Her beloved brothers Suraj and Ananth were close by. She lay there smiling to herself in the darkness, watching the flames. Content, she stretched like a cat and yawned. The very next minute, all the breath was knocked out of her.

“
OOOOF,
” she gasped as a large, heavy object landed squarely on her stomach.

“Suraj! Get off me,” yelled Tara, pushing her brother off.

He clung to her like a leech, making weird faces. They punched each other in a mock battle. As Tara rolled on the floor, the mirror she wore fell out. It sparkled orange with the reflection of the flames.

“Good girl, you still have it with you,” said Parvati, stooping to look at the exquisite, triangular mirror.

“It was your last gift to me before you disappeared,” said Tara, sitting up. “Do you remember what you said when you gave it to me?”

“Wear it always and look into it whenever you need strength,” said Parvati.

“I have looked at it often these last few days,” said Tara.

“Tara, there is more to the necklace than just pretty stones. Do you want to hear it?” asked Parvati, stroking the stones lovingly with her thumb.

Tara nodded. Parvati sat down next to Tara with her feet folded gracefully to one side.

“The three sides of the mirror represent the highest of the Hindu God Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Together they represent the heaven, the earth, and the underworld.”

Tara was entranced once again by the beauty of the necklace. Suraj and Ananth had also gathered round and were listening intently to Parvati's explanation.

“Now, see these stones? The round red stones represent the sun — Suraj — and the blue, star-shaped stones represent ...”

“The stars ... me,” piped in Tara with a smile on her face.

“Yes, you, my beloved Tara. This necklace is a representation of my most precious belongings in this
world: the two of you, my star and my sun,” said Parvati. “This necklace was blessed by Lord Ganesh during a sacred prayer ceremony conducted by your grandfather so that no matter what, both of you would always be protected. Now you see why I left it with you?”

“Attention,” called out Prabala, who had come up to them. “We have a lot to do before we go back to Morni.”

There was immediate silence.

“We will go to Morni tonight,” he said, the wrinkles on his forehead more pronounced than ever.

“Zarku intends to make his final and most deadly move tonight. I can feel it. Tonight, he plans to put all of Morni under his spell. I will not let it happen.
MORNI IS MINE!
”

Tara stared at her grandfather in amazement. She had never heard him speak like this before. He almost sounded like ... and she stopped.
Zarku
, the voice inside her completed. She ignored it.

“First of all, let us pray to the gods for their help and their blessings,” said Prabala.

Parvati had put together prayer offerings in a copper plate: milk, fruits, and flowers. Prabala took the plate from her and they all trooped to the cave entrance. Prabala uttered a few words and the stone in front of the cave rolled away, letting in the cold and crisp night air. They followed Prabala to the clearing outside. He raised the plate to the sky and murmured a prayer under his breath.

Everyone was silent behind him, heads bowed and hands
folded in prayer. Prabala took some holy water from a small copper cup and sprinkled it in the air. Soma, the Moon God, emerged from the dark horizon in full splendour. He beamed at the group in front of him. Prabala supplicated himself in front of Soma and the others followed suit. Soma glowed brighter, accepting their prayers, and bathed them in a crystal clear light. The next moment, everything went black, though there was not a single cloud in the sky. It seemed as if some powerful force had extinguished the moon.

“What happened?” asked Tara. “Is Soma angry with us? Did we do something to annoy him, Dada?”

“No, Tara,” answered Prabala. “Soma is showing us what he can do. He will give us light when we need it and darkness when we don't.”

A single beam of moonlight shot out of the darkness and touched Prabala's forehead. He bowed to Soma once again.

“Let's go,” he said, rising. They all filed back into the cave.

“Parvati, can you see what is happening in Morni? Something is very wrong,” said Prabala as he paced the length of the cave.

“No, Father. Every time I try to picture the village, there is a grey fog that seems to shroud it.”