LITMIR.BIZ

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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

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