10
A Safe Haven
Well, I guess that it’s back to the jungle for us, eh, Ren?’
He didn’t turn around to acknowledge my comment but kept treading slowly on ahead. I trudged along behind, thinking about all the questions I would ask when he changed back into a man again.
After walking for a couple of hours, we came upon a small lake. I guessed that this was the Suki Lake Phet had been talking about. There were, indeed, many birds here. Ducks, geese, kingfishers, cranes, and sandpipers dotted the water and the sandbanks looking for food. I even spied larger birds, maybe eagles or hawks of some type, circling overhead.
Our arrival disturbed a flock of herons, which took off in a brief frenzied flight and then settled again in the water on the far side of the lake. Little birds darted around everywhere in colors of green, yellow, gray, blue, and black with red chests, but I didn’t see any of Durga’s hatchlings.
Where the trees shaded the water, clusters of lily pads made good places for frogs to perch and rest. They watched us with beady yellow eyes and jumped into the water with a plop as we passed by. I saw more frogs swimming and darting among the other flowering water plants near the lake’s shoreline.
I spoke as much to myself as to Ren, ‘Do you think there are any alligators or crocodiles in the lake? I know one of those is indigenous to America, but I can never remember which one is which.’
He started walking alongside me, and I wasn’t sure if that meant there were dangerous reptiles to watch out for or if he just wanted to keep me company. I let him walk between the lake and me just to be on the safe side.
The air was hot, and the jungle drooped, sagging under the heat. The sky was bright, with not one monsoon cloud to provide shade. I was sweating hard. Ren led us through the shade of the trees as much as possible to keep us cool and help make the trip a bit more bearable, but I was still miserable. While skirting the edge of the lake, he kept up a slow and steady pace that I could follow easily. Even so, I could feel blisters forming on my heels. I pulled sunscreen out of the backpack and dabbed it on my face and arms. My compass indicated that we were traveling north.
When Ren stopped to drink at a small stream, I discovered that Phet had packed lunch. It was a large green leaf wrapped around a ball of sticky white rice stuffed with spicy meat and vegetables. It was bit too spicy for my taste, but the plain rice helped staunch the heat. Finding two more leaf wraps in the backpack, I tossed them to Ren, who showed off by leaping up and catching them in the air. He, of course, gulped them down whole.
Hiking for about four more hours, we finally broke out of the jungle and onto a small road. I was happy to walk on the smooth pavement – at least until it started burning my soles. I could have sworn that the hot, black tar was melting the rubber on the bottom of my shoes.
Ren stuck his nose in the air, turned right, and marched alongside the road for a half mile or so until we came upon a brand new, metallic green Jeep SUV. It had tinted windows and a black hard top.
Ren stopped next to the Jeep and sat down.
I panted, took a long swig of water, and said, ‘What? What do you want me to do?’
Ren just stared blankly.
‘Is it the car? You want me to get in the car? Okay, I just hope the owner doesn’t get mad.’
Pulling the door open, I found a note from Mr. Kadam on the driver’s seat.
Miss Kelsey,
Please forgive me. I wanted to tell you the truth.
Here is a map with directions to Ren’s home. I will meet you there.
The key is in the glove box. Don’t forget to drive on the left side of the road.
The trip will take about an hour and a half. I hope you are safe.
Your friend,
Anik Kadam
I picked up the map and placed it on the passenger seat. Opening up the back door, I threw in the bags and pulled out another water bottle for the drive. Ren hopped up into the back and stretched out.
I swung into the driver’s seat and popped open the glove compartment to find a small ring of the promised keys. The big one read Jeep. I started the engine and smiled gratefully as a rush of cold air blew in from the vents.
When I pulled out onto the small, vacant road, a little voice on a GPS device chirruped: ‘Drive fifty kilometers. Then turn left.’
Staying on the left side of the road and gripping the wheel, I looked down at my hand. Despite sweating and wiping at my face constantly, Phet’s ink design was still there, as permanent as a tattoo. I turned on the radio, found a station that played interesting music, and let it keep me company on the drive while Ren napped in the back.
Mr. Kadam’s directions, in addition to the GPS unit, were easy to follow. There was almost no traffic along the route he had chosen, which was good, because every time a car passed me, I clutched the wheel nervously. I had just learned how to drive on the right side of the road, and switching sides was not easy. Driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road certainly wasn’t covered in driver’s ed.
After an hour, the directions said to turn onto a dirt road. There was no name on the path, but the GPS beeped that we were at the right place, so I turned and entered deep jungle. We seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, but the road was maintained and the drive was smooth.
The sun was setting and the sky was turning dark, when the road opened up into a cobbled brightly lit drive that circled around a tall sparkling fountain. Flowers surrounded the fountain, and sitting behind it was the most gorgeous home I’d ever seen. It looked like a multi-million dollar mansion that might be found in the tropics or perhaps sitting on the shores of Greece. I imagined the perfect place for it would be on the peak of an island overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
I stopped the car, opened the doors, and marveled at the magnificent setting.
I exclaimed, ‘Ren, your home is amazing! I can’t believe you own this!’
Grabbing my bags, I walked slowly up the paved stone walkway and admired the four-car garage. I wondered what types of vehicles were housed there. Beautiful tropical plants surrounded the home, turning the grounds into a lush paradise. I recognized plumeria flowers, bird-of-paradise, ornamental bamboo, tall royal palms, thick ferns, and leafy banana trees, but there were many others as well. A curved pool and hot tub were lit up on the side of the house, and a glittering fountain sprayed water from the pool into the air while rotating its patterns and colors.
The three-story house was painted white and cream. The second floor had a covered, wraparound veranda with wrought iron balustrades, supported by cream-colored pillars. The upper floor featured tall, arched balconies while sparkling panoramic windows were the feature of the main floor.
When Ren and I approached the marble and teakwood entryway, I twisted the doorknob and found the door unlocked. The outside was warm and vibrant, reflecting the intense, bold colors of India. The inside was opulent and lovely, decorated in cooler shades.
This sure beats sleeping on the ground in the jungle.
We stepped into the wide, dramatic foyer. The entryway had vaulted ceilings, exquisite marble flooring, and a curved sweeping staircase with ornate ironwork balustrades. The room was capped by a dazzling crystal chandelier. Huge windows showcased the panoramic view of the surrounding jungle.
I slipped out of my sneakers, regretting how dirty they were, and crossed the foyer into a gentleman’s library. Dark brown leather chairs, ottomans, and cozy couches were set atop a beautiful rug. A large globe stood in the corner, and the walls were lined with bookshelves. There was even a sliding ladder reaching up to the top shelves. A heavy desk sat to one side with a leather chair. It was meticulously neat and organized, immediately reminding me of Mr. Kadam.
A carved stone fireplace took up one wall. I couldn’t imagine when a fireplace would ever be used in India, but it was a beautiful showpiece nonetheless. A golden vase full of peacock feathers picked up the teal, green, and purple accents of the throw pillows and rugs. I thought it was the most beautiful library in the world.
As we made our way into the house, I heard Mr. Kadam call out, ‘Miss Kelsey? Is that you?’
I had been determined to be upset with both him and Ren but discovered I couldn’t wait to see him.
‘Yes, it’s me, Mr. Kadam.’
I found him in Ren’s large, stainless steel gourmet kitchen. It had a black marble floor, granite countertops, and double ovens, where Mr. Kadam had been busy preparing a meal.
‘Miss Kelsey!’ The businessman rushed toward me and said, ‘I’m so glad you are safe. I hope you aren’t terribly angry with me.’
‘Well, I’m not too happy about how everything happened, but,’ I grinned at him and looked down at the tiger, ‘I blame this guy more than you. He admitted that you wanted to tell me the truth.’
Mr. Kadam grimaced apologetically and nodded. ‘Please forgive both of us. We never intended to upset you. Come. I have prepared a meal.’
He bustled back to the kitchen, pulled open the door to a room full of fragrant fresh and dried spices, and disappeared inside for several minutes. When he stepped out, he deposited his selections on the kitchen island and opened another small door to a deep, walk-in butler’s pantry. I peeked inside and saw shelves full of fancy dishes and goblets including an impressive collection of silver. He pulled out two delicate china plates and two goblets and then set them on the table.
I closed the door. ‘Mr. Kadam, something’s been bothering me.’
He teased, ‘Only one thing?’
I laughed. ‘For now. I’ve been wondering, did you ever really ask Mr. Davis to come with you to take care of Ren? I mean, what would you have done if he’d said yes and I’d said no?’
‘I did ask him, just to keep up appearances, but I also subtly suggested to Mr. Maurizio that it might be in his best interest to persuade Mr. Davis not to go. In fact, I offered him more money if he would insist Mr. Davis stay with the circus. As far as what to do if you had turned us down, I suppose we would have had to make you a better offer and keep trying until we found one you couldn’t refuse.’
‘What if I still said no? Would you have kidnapped me?’
Mr. Kadam laughed. ‘No. If our offer had still been turned down, my next step would have been to tell you the truth and hope you believed me.’
‘Whew, that’s a relief.’
‘Then I would have kidnapped you.’ He chuckled at his joke and turned his attention back to our dinner.
‘That’s not very funny, Mr. Kadam.’
‘I couldn’t resist. Sorry, Miss Kelsey.’
He led me out of the kitchen to a small breakfast nook. We sat at a round table next to a bay window that overlooked an illuminated swimming pool. Ren settled himself at my feet.
Mr. Kadam wanted to know everything that had happened to me since I’d last seen him. I told him about the truck, and found out that he paid the driver to leave me stranded. Then we talked about the jungle and Phet.
Mr. Kadam asked many questions about my conversations with Phet and was particularly interested in my henna design. He turned my hand over and closely examined the symbols on each side.
‘So you are the favored one of Durga,’ he concluded, leaned back in his chair, and smiled.
‘How did you know I was the right person? I mean, how did you know it was me who would be able to break the curse?’
‘We were not really sure that you were the right person until you met Phet and he confirmed it. When Ren was in captivity, he could not alter his form. Somehow, you spoke the words that set him free. It allowed him to change to a man again and contact me. We hoped that you were the right person to break the curse, the one that we’d been searching for, Durga’s favored one.’
‘Mr. Kadam, who is Durga?’
Mr. Kadam retrieved a small golden statuette from the other room and placed it delicately on the dinner table. It was a beautifully carved Indian goddess with eight arms. She was shooting a bow and arrow – and she was riding a tiger.
Touching a delicate carved arm, I said, ‘Please tell me about her.’
‘Of course, Miss Kelsey. In the language of the Hindus, Durga means ‘invincible one.’ She is a great warrior and considered the mother goddess of many of the other gods and goddesses of India. She has at her command many weapons and rides a magnificent tiger named Damon into war. A very beautiful goddess, she’s been described as having long curly hair and a bright complexion that glows even brighter when she is engaged in battle. She’s often dressed in cerulean robes, the color of the sea, and jeweled ornaments of carved gold, precious gemstones, and shiny black pearls.’
I turned the statue. ‘What are the weapons she’s holding?’
‘There are several different depictions of her throughout India. In each one, Durga has a slightly different number of arms and array of weapons. This statue shows a trident, a bow and arrow, the sword, and a gada, which is similar to a mace or a club. She is also carrying a kamandal, or conch shell, a chakram, a snake, and armor with a shield. I have seen other drawings of Durga with a rope, a bell, and a lotus flower. Not only does Durga have multiple weapons at her disposal, but also she can manipulate lightning and thunder as well.’
I picked up the statue and looked at it from different angles. The eight arms were fearsome. Note to self: in a battle against Durga, run the other direction.
Mr. Kadam continued, ‘The goddess Durga was born out of the river to help humanity in their time of need. She fought a demon, Mahishasur, who was half-human and half-buffalo. He terrorized the earth and the heavens, and no one could kill him. So Durga took the form of a warrior goddess to defeat him. She is also called The Fair Lady because of her great beauty.’
Placing the statue back on the table, I said uncertainly, ‘Mr. Kadam, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, and I hope I don’t offend you, but I don’t really believe in this kind of stuff. I think it’s fascinating, but it seems too weird to be real. I feel like I’m stuck in some kind of Indian myth in The Twilight Zone.’
Mr. Kadam smiled. ‘Ah, Miss Kelsey, don’t worry. No offense taken. During my travels and my research trying to help Ren and his brother Kishan break the curse, I have had to open myself to new ideas and beliefs that I, too, had never considered before. What is real and what is not is for your heart to decide and for your heart to know.
‘Now, you must be tired from your journey. I will show you to your room where you can rest.’
He led me upstairs to a large bedroom decorated in plum and white with gold trim. A round vase of white roses and gardenias lightly perfumed the room. A four-poster bed with mounds of plum-colored pillows adorning it was set against the wall. Thick piled white carpet covered the floor. Beveled glass doors opened to the largest veranda I’d ever seen and overlooked the pool and fountain.
‘It’s lovely! Thank you, Mr. Kadam.’
He nodded and left me, closing the door softly behind him.
I yanked off my socks and enjoyed walking barefoot on the plush carpet. Textured glass doors opened into a stunning bathroom bigger than Mike and Sarah’s entire first floor. There was a white marble deep-plunge spa tub and a huge shower that could also function as a steam room. Soft plum-colored towels hung on a heated rack and glass bottles held soaps and bubble bath in lavender and peach fragrances.
Next to the bathroom was a walk-in closet with white padded changing benches, hutches, and drawers. One side was empty and the other side held a rack of brand new clothes still wrapped in cellophane. The dresser was also full of clothes. A whole wall was built just to hold shoes, but it was mostly empty. One new shoebox sat there waiting to be opened.
After a thoroughly relaxing shower and braiding my hair, I unpacked my few clothes and arranged them in the closet and the dresser. I set my makeup, compacts, hairbrush, and ribbons on a mirrored tray lying on the marble sink and rolled up the cord of my flat iron and stowed it in a drawer.
Dressed in pajamas, I scooted to the back of the bed and had just pulled out my poetry book when I heard a light tapping at the open veranda doors. I looked out at the veranda and my heart started pounding in my chest. A man was standing out there. I caught a flash of blue eyes – Ren, the Indian prince version. When I stepped outside, I noticed that his hair was wet, and he smelled wonderful, like waterfalls and the woods mixed together. He was so good looking that I felt even mousier than usual. As I walked toward him, my heart began to beat even faster.
Ren looked at me and frowned. ‘Why aren’t you wearing the clothes I bought you? The ones in your closet and dresser?’
‘Oh. You mean those clothes are for me?’ I asked, confused and tongue-tied.
‘I didn’t . . . But . . . Why would you . . . How . . . Well, anyway, thank you. And thank you for the use of the beautiful room.’
Ren smiled at me widely and almost knocked me off my feet. He took hold of a wisp of my hair that had come loose in the breeze, tucked it behind my ear, and said, ‘Did you like your flowers?’
I just stared at him, then blinked and managed to squeak out a tiny yes. He nodded, satisfied, and gestured to the patio chairs. I bobbed my head faintly and sucked in a breath as he took my elbow and guided me to a chair. After making sure I was comfortable, he moved to the chair opposite from me. I guess because I was just staring at him and couldn’t come up with a coherent thought of my own, he began speaking.
‘Kelsey, I know you have many questions for me. What would you like to know first?’
I was mesmerized by his bright blue eyes, which somehow sparkled even in the dark. Finally, I snapped out of it. I mumbled the first thought that came to mind: ‘You don’t look like other Indian men. Your . . . your eyes look . . . different and . . .’ I stammered lamely. Why can’t I get it together?
If I sounded idiotic, Ren didn’t seem to notice.
‘My father was of Indian descent, but my mother was Asian. She was a princess from another country who was betrothed to my father to become his bride. Plus, I’m more than three hundred years old, which might make a difference too, I suppose.’
‘More than three hundred years old! That means you were born in—’
‘I was born in 1657.’
‘Right.’ I fidgeted. Apparently, I find older men extremely attractive. ‘Then why do you look so young?’
‘I don’t know. I was twenty-one when I was cursed. I haven’t aged since then.’ About a million questions popped into my mind and I suddenly felt the need to try to solve this puzzle.
‘What about Mr. Kadam? How old is he? And how does Mr. Kadam’s boss fit into this? Does he know about you?’
He laughed. ‘Kelsey. I’m Mr. Kadam’s boss.’
‘You? You are his wealthy employer?’
‘We don’t really define our relationship that way, but his explanation was more or less accurate. Mr. Kadam’s age is more complicated. He’s actually a bit older than me. He was once my man-at-arms and my father’s trusted military advisor. When I fell under the curse, I ran to him and was able to change to a man long enough to tell him what had happened. He quickly organized things, hid my parents and our wealth, and has been my protector ever since.’
‘But, how can he still be alive? He should have died a long time ago.’
Ren hesitated. ‘The Damon Amulet protects him from aging. He wears it around his neck and never takes it off.’
I flashed back to our plane ride and remembered catching a glimpse of Mr. Kadam’s pendant. I shifted forward in my seat.
‘Damon? Isn’t that the name of Durga’s tiger?’
‘Yes, the name of Durga’s tiger and the amulet are the same. I don’t know much about the connection or the amulet’s origins. All I know is that the amulet was broken into several parts a long time ago. Some say there are four pieces, each representing one of the basic elements, the four winds, or even the four points of the compass. Some say there are five or even more. My father gave me his piece, and my mother gave hers to Kishan.
‘The man who placed the tiger’s curse on me wanted our pieces of the amulet. That’s why he double-crossed Kishan. No one is sure what kind of power the amulet would wield if all the pieces were reassembled. But he was ruthless and would stop at nothing to claim all the pieces and find out.’
Ren continued, ‘Mr. Kadam wears my piece of the amulet now. We believe that the amulet’s power has protected him and kept him alive all this time. Though he’s aged, it has been, thankfully, very slow. He is a trusted friend who has given up much to help my family through the years. I can never repay my debt to him. I don’t know how I would have survived all this time without him.’ Ren looked out across the pool and whispered, ‘Mr. Kadam cared for my parents until their deaths and watched over them when I couldn’t.’
I leaned over to place my hand on top of his. I could sense his sadness as he thought about his parents. His lonely ache filled me somehow and entwined with my own. He turned his hand over and began absentmindedly stroking my fingers with his thumb as he stared out at the landscape, wrapped in his own thoughts.
Normally, I would have felt awkward or embarrassed holding hands with a man I’d just met. Instead, I felt comforted. Ren’s loss echoed my own, and his touch gave me a sense of peace. As I looked at his handsome face, I wondered if he felt the same way. I understood the sting of isolation. The counselors at school had said that I didn’t mourn or grieve enough after my parents’ death and that it prevented me from forming bonds with other people. I always shied away from deep relationships. I realized that in a way, we were both alone, and I felt great compassion for him in that moment. I couldn’t imagine three hundred years without human contact, without communication, without anyone looking into my eyes and knowing who I am. Even if I had been uncomfortable, I couldn’t have denied him that moment of human contact.
Ren shot me a warm, lazy smile, kissed my fingers, and said, ‘Come, Kelsey. You need to sleep, and my time is almost up.’
He pulled me up so that I stood very close to him, and I almost stopped breathing. As he held my hand, I felt a slight tremor pass through the tips of my fingers. He pulled me along to my door, said a quick goodnight, bowed his head, and then was gone.
The next morning I investigated my new clothing situation, courtesy of Ren. I was surprised to see that they were mostly jeans and blouses, modern clothes that American girls would wear. The only difference was that these were the bright, vivid colors of India.
I zipped open one cellophane bag in the closet and was amazed to find a silky blue Indian-style dress. It was detailed with tiny silver teardrop pearls all over the skirt and bodice. The dress was so beautiful I rushed to try it on.
The skirt slid smoothly over my head and down my arms to settle at my waist. It fit snugly at the top of my hips. From there, it fell to the floor in swirling, heavy folds – heavy because of the hundreds of pearls clustered at the bottom hem. The bodice was cap sleeved and also copiously beaded with pearls. It fit tightly and ended just above my belly button, which gave me two inches of waistline exposure all around. Normally, I would never wear midriff-exposing clothing, but this dress was stunning. I twirled around in front of the mirror feeling like a princess.
Because of the dress, I decided I would make an extra effort with my hair and makeup. I retrieved my seldom-used compact and brushed on blush, some dark eye shadow, and blue liner. I finished it off with mascara and a pink-tinted lip gloss. Then, I pulled out my braids from the night before and finger combed through the locks of hair, arranging them in soft curls down my back.
A sheer blue scarf came with the dress, and I draped it around my shoulders, not really knowing how to arrange it. I hadn’t planned to wear the dress during the day, but once I had it on I couldn’t bring myself to take it off.
Barefoot, I sashayed down the stairs and headed to breakfast. Mr. Kadam was already in the kitchen, humming and reading an Indian newspaper. He didn’t even bother to look up.
‘Good morning, Miss Kelsey. There’s breakfast for you on the kitchen island.’
I flounced over, trying to get his attention, picked up my plate and a glass of papaya juice, and then conspicuously arranged my dress and sighed dramatically as I sat down across from him. ‘Good morning, Mr. Kadam.’
He peeked at me from around the side of the newspaper, smiled, and then set the paper down. ‘Miss Kelsey! You look charming!’
‘Thank you.’ I blushed. ‘Did you pick it out? It’s lovely!’
He smiled at me with twinkling eyes. ‘Yes. It’s called a sharara. Ren wanted you to have some more clothing, and I purchased it while in Mumbai. He asked me to acquire something special as well. His only instructions were “beautiful” and “blue.” I wish I could take all the credit for the selection, but I had a bit of help from Nilima.’
‘Nilima? The flight attendant? Is she your? I mean, are you— ?’ I stuttered, embarrassed.
He laughed at me. ‘Nilima and I do have a close relationship as you have guessed, but not the kind you’re thinking of. Nilima is my great-great-great-great-granddaughter.’
My jaw hit the floor in shock. ‘Your what?’
‘She’s my granddaughter with several greats added.’
‘Ren told me that you were a bit older than he was, but he didn’t mention that you had a family.’
Mr. Kadam folded his newspaper and sipped some juice. ‘I was married once, a long time ago, and we had a few children. Then they had children and so on. Of all my descendants, only Nilima knows the secret. For most of them, I am a distant, wealthy uncle who is always away on business.’
‘What about your wife?’
Mr. Kadam lost his smile and became thoughtful. ‘Life was very difficult for us. I loved her with all my heart. As time passed, she began to get older, and I did not. The amulet affected me profoundly in ways I didn’t expect. She knew about my situation and claimed it didn’t bother her.’
He rubbed the amulet under his shirt. Seeing my interest, he pulled out a thin silver chain and showed me the wedge-shaped, green stone. At the top, there was a faint outline of a tiger’s head. Glyphs ran down the outside circle, but Mr. Kadam said that he could only read part of one word.
With melancholy, he rubbed the amulet between his fingers. ‘My dear wife became old and very sick. She was dying. I took this amulet from around my neck and begged her to wear it. She refused, wrapped my fingers around it, and made me swear to never remove it again until my duty was fulfilled.’
A small tear slipped out of the corner of my eye. ‘Couldn’t you have forced her to wear it and maybe take turns?’
He shook his head sadly. ‘No. She wanted to follow the natural course of life. Our children were married and happy, and she felt it was time for her to move on to the next life. She was comforted knowing I would be around to care for our family.’
Mr. Kadam smiled sorrowfully. ‘I stayed with her until she died and with many of my children and grandchildren after that. But, as the years passed, it became harder for me to bear seeing them suffer and die. Also, the more people who knew Ren’s secret, the more danger he would be in, so I left them. I return to visit from time to time to check up on my descendants, but it’s . . . difficult for me.’
‘Did you ever marry again?’
‘No. I seek out one of my great-grandchildren to work for me every once in a while, and they’re wonderful to me. Also, Ren was a good companion for me until his capture. I have not sought out someone to love since then. I don’t think my heart could take saying goodbye again.’
‘Oh, Mr. Kadam, I’m so sorry. Ren was right; you have sacrificed many things for him.’
He smiled at me. ‘Don’t feel sad for me, Miss Kelsey. It is a time for celebration. You have come into our lives. And you being here makes me very happy.’ He took one of my hands in his, patted it, and winked at me.
I didn’t really know what to say in response, so I just smiled back at him. Mr. Kadam let go of my hand, stood up, and began to wash the plates. I got up to help as Ren padded lazily into the room yawning widely as only a tiger could. I turned around and patted his furry head, only a little awkwardly.
‘Good morning, Ren!’ I said brightly, and then spun around to show off my outfit. ‘Thank you so much for the dress! It’s quite beautiful, isn’t it? Nilima did a great job picking it out.’
Ren abruptly sat down on the floor, watched me twirl in my dress for a moment, and then got up and left.
‘What’s up with Ren today?’ I asked.
Mr. Kadam turned while drying his hands on a towel. ‘Hmm?’
‘Ren just took off.’
‘Who knows with tigers? Perhaps he is hungry. Excuse me for a moment, Miss Kelsey.’ He smiled at me and went after Ren.
Later, we both settled down in the lovely peacock room, which housed Mr. Kadam’s amazing book collection. The books were stacked carefully on polished mahogany shelves. I picked out a book on India that was full of old maps.
‘Mr. Kadam, can you show me where the Kanheri Cave is? Phet said that’s where we need to go to speak to Durga to figure out how to get Ren out of this mess.’
He opened the book and pointed to a map of Mumbai. ‘The cave is in the northern part of the city, in Borivali National Park, which now is called the Gandhi National Park. The Cave of Kanheri a basaltic rock cave that has ancient writing chiseled on the walls. I have been there before, but I have never found an underground passage. Archeologists have been studying the cave for years, but still no one has yet found a prophecy written by Durga.’
‘What about the Seal that Phet spoke of? What is it?’
‘The Seal is a special stone that has been in my care all of these years. I keep it safe with many of Ren’s heirlooms in a bank vault. In fact, I must leave now to retrieve it. I will bring it to you tonight. It might be a good idea for you to call your foster parents today and let them know you’re alright. You can tell them you are staying on in India through the summer as my apprentice in the business, if you like.’
I nodded. I really did need to call them. Sarah and Mike were probably wondering if I’d been eaten by a tiger by now.
‘I must also gather a few things from town that you will need to take with you on your journey to the cave. Please make yourself at home and rest. There is a luncheon and a dinner already prepared for you in the refrigerator. If you go for a swim, please wear sunscreen. It’s kept in a cabinet near the pool, next to the towels.’
Wandering back upstairs, I found my cell phone left on the dresser in my room. Nice of him to give it back after the jungle incident. I sat down in a gold velvety easy chair, called my foster parents, and had a long chat about the traffic, the food, and the people of India. When they asked about the tiger reserve, I evaded the question by saying that Ren was well taken care of. Mr. Kadam was right. The easiest way to explain my staying in India was that I was offered a position working as an intern for Mr. Kadam through the end of summer.
After I hung up with them, I located the laundry area and washed my clothes and my grandmother’s quilt. Then, having nothing else to do, I explored every part of the house. The entire basement was a fully appointed gym, but not with modern exercise equipment. The floor was covered with a black cushioned mat. It was a daylight basement, so half of the room was built underground in the hillside and the rest was open to the sunlight with large floor-to-ceiling windows. A sliding glass door opened to a large deck that led out to the jungle. The back wall was paneled and smooth.
There was a button pad by the door. I pushed the top button, and a section of paneling flipped out to reveal an assortment of ancient weapons such as axes, spears, and knives of various lengths hanging in specially made compartments. I pushed the button again and it flipped shut. I pushed the second button, and it flipped open another section of wall that contained swords. I moved closer to inspect them. There were many different styles ranging from thin rapiers to heavy broadswords and one that was specially encased in glass. It looked like a samurai sword that I’d seen once in a movie.
Wandering back up to the first floor, I found a high-tech home theater with a state-of-the-art media system and reclining leather seats. Right behind the kitchen was a formal banquet-style dining room with marble floors, crown molding, and a glittering chandelier. Off to the side of the peacock library, I discovered a music room with a shiny black grand piano and a large sound system with hundreds of compact discs. Most of them looked Indian, but I also found several American singers, including Elvis Presley. A very old, odd-shaped guitar was hung on the wall, and there was a curved black leather couch set in the middle of the room.
Mr. Kadam’s bedroom was also on the main floor, and his room looked a lot like the peacock room, full of polished wooden furniture and books. He also had a couple of beautiful paintings and a sunny reading area. On the third floor, I found an inviting loft. It had a small set of bookshelves and two comfy reading chairs and overlooked the sweeping stairway.
I also found another large bedroom, a bath, and a storage room. On my floor, I found three more bedrooms, not including mine. One was decorated in rose colors for a girl, which I thought might be for Nilima when she came to visit. The second appeared to be a guest room, but the colors were more masculine. Almost all of the rooms had private baths.
Stepping into the last room, I saw glass doors that led out to my veranda. The decoration of this room was plain in comparison to the others. The furniture was dark polished mahogany, but there were no details or knick-knacks. The walls were plain and the drawers empty.
Is this where Ren sleeps?
Spotting a desk set in the corner, I approached it and saw thick, cream-colored paper and an ink well with an old-fashioned fountain pen. The top sheet had a note written in beautiful calligraphy.
Kelsey Durgaa Vallabh
Bhumi-ke-niche gupha
Rajakiya Mujulaain Mohar
Sandesha Durgaa
A green hair ribbon that looked suspiciously like one of mine lay next to the ink bottle. I peeked in the closet and found nothing – no clothes, no boxes, and no possessions.
I went back downstairs and spent the rest of the afternoon studying Indian culture, religion, and mythology. I waited until my stomach growled to eat dinner, hoping for some company. Mr. Kadam still hadn’t returned from the bank, and there’d been no sign of Ren.
After dinner, I went upstairs and found Ren standing on the veranda again, looking at the sunset. I approached him shyly and stood behind him. ‘Hello, Ren.’
He turned and openly studied my appearance. His gaze drifted ever so slowly down my body. The longer he looked, the wider his smile got. Eventually, his eyes worked their way back up to my bright red face.
He sighed and bowed deeply. ‘Sundari. I was standing here thinking nothing could be more beautiful than this sunset tonight, but I was mistaken. You standing here in the setting sun with your hair and skin aglow is almost more than a man can . . . fully appreciate.’
I tried to change the subject. ‘What does sundari mean?’
‘It means “most beautiful.”’
I blushed again, which made him laugh. He took my hand, tucked it under his arm, and led me to the patio chairs. Just then, the sun dipped below the trees leaving its tangerine glow in the sky for just a few more moments.
We sat again, but this time he sat next to me on the swinging patio seat and kept my hand in his.
I ventured shyly, ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I explored your house today, including your room.’
‘I don’t mind. I’m sure you found my room the least interesting.’
‘Actually, I was curious about the note I found. Did you write it?’
‘A note? Ah, yes. I just scribbled a few notes to help me remember what Phet had said. It just says seek Durga’s prophecy, the Cave of Kanheri, Kelsey is Durga’s favored one, that sort of thing.’
‘Oh. I . . . also noticed a ribbon. Is it mine?’
‘Yes. If you’d like it back, you can take it.’
‘Why would you want it?’
He shrugged, looking embarrassed. ‘I wanted a memento, a token from the girl who saved my life.’
‘A token? Like a fair maiden giving her handkerchief to a knight in shining armor?’
He grinned. ‘Exactly.’
I jested wryly, ‘Too bad you didn’t wait for Cathleen to get a little older. She’s going to be very pretty.’
He frowned. ‘Cathleen from the circus?’ He shook his head. ‘You were the chosen one, Kelsey. And if I had the option of choosing the girl to save me, I still would have picked you.’
‘Why?’
‘A number of reasons. I liked you. You are interesting. I enjoyed listening to your voice. I felt like you saw through the tiger skin to the person underneath. When you spoke, it felt like you were saying exactly the things I needed to hear. You’re smart. You like poetry, and you’re very pretty.’
I laughed at his statement. Me, pretty? He can’t be serious. I was average in so many ways. I didn’t really concern myself with current makeup, hairstyles, or fashionable, but uncomfortable, clothes like other teenagers. My complexion was pale, and my eyes were so brown that they were almost black. By far, my best feature was my smile, which my parents paid dearly for and so did I – with three years of metal braces.
Still, I was flattered. ‘Okay, Prince Charming, you can keep your memento.’ I hesitated, and then said softly, ‘I wear those ribbons in memory of my mom. She used to brush out my hair and braid ribbons through it while we talked.’
Ren smiled understandingly. ‘Then it means even more to me.’
When the moment passed, he continued, ‘Now, Kelsey, tomorrow we’re going to the cave. During the day, there are many tourists, which means we’ll have to wait until evening to look for Durga’s prophesy. We’ll be sneaking into the park through the jungle and traveling on foot for a while, so wear the new hiking boots that we bought for you, the ones in the box in your closet.’
‘Great. Nothing like breaking in new hiking boots on a trek through the hot Indian jungle,’ I teased.
‘It shouldn’t be that bad, and even new hiking boots should be better on your feet than your sneakers.’
‘I happen to like my sneakers, and I’m bringing them along just in case your boots blister my feet.’
Ren stretched out his long legs and crossed his bare feet in front of him. ‘Mr. Kadam will pack a bag with things we might need. I’ll make sure he leaves room for your sneakers. You’ll have to drive us to Mumbai and to the park because I’ll be back in tiger form. I know you don’t like the traffic here. I’m sorry that you’re burdened with this.’
I muttered, ‘Not liking the traffic is an understatement. People don’t know how to drive here. They’re crazy.’
‘We can take back roads with the least traffic on the way, and we’ll be driving only to the outskirts of Mumbai, not through the city as before. It shouldn’t be too bad. You’re a good driver.’
‘Ha, easy for you to say. You’ll just sleep in the back the whole way.’
Ren touched my cheek with his fingers and gently turned my face to his. ‘Rajkumari, I want to say thank you. Thank you for staying and helping me. You don’t know what this means to me.’
I mumbled, ‘You’re welcome. And rajkumari means?’
He flashed me a brilliant white smile and deftly changed the subject. ‘Would you like to hear about the Seal?’
I knew he was avoiding answering, but acquiesced, ‘Okay, what is it?’
‘It’s a carved rectangular stone, about three fingers thick. The king always wore it in public. It was a symbol of the duties of the royal family. The Seal of the Empire has four words carved upon it, one on each side: Viveka, Jagarana, Vira, and Anukampa which translated loosely means “Wisdom,” “Vigilance,” “Bravery,” and “Compassion.” You’ll need to bring the Seal with you when we go to the cave. Phet said it was the key that would open the passageway. Mr. Kadam will put it on your dresser before we leave.’
I stood up, walked to the railing, and stared up at the budding stars. ‘I can’t imagine the life that you came from. It’s so different from what I know.’
‘You’re right, Kelsey.’
‘Call me Kells.’
He smiled and approached me. ‘You’re right, Kells. It is very different. I have much to learn from you. But, perhaps I can teach you a few things as well. For example, your scarf . . . May I?’
Ren removed the shawl draped around my shoulders and held it out.
‘There are many different ways to wear a dupatta scarf. One way is to arrange it across your shoulders as you did just now, or you can drape one end over your shoulder and the other across your arm as is the current style. Like this.’
Wrapping it around his body, he turned around to show me, and I couldn’t help but laugh. ‘And how do you know the current style?’
‘I know lots of things. You’d be surprised.’ He pulled it off again, twisting the scarf another way. ‘You can also fold it across your hair, which is appropriate when meeting with your elders, as it shows respect.’
I bowed low to him, giggled, and said, ‘Thank you for showing me the proper respect, Madam. And might I say you look lovely in silk.’
He laughed and showed me a few more ways to wear it, each one funnier than the last. As he spoke, I found myself drawn to him. He’s so . . . attractive, charming, magnetic, compelling . . . captivating. He was easy to look at, no question about that, but even if he weren’t, I could still picture myself sitting happily beside him talking for hours.
I saw a tremor run through Ren’s arm. He quieted his demeanor and took a step closer to me. ‘My favorite style, though, is the way you were wearing it earlier when you had it draped across both of your arms loosely. That way, I get the full effect of your exquisite hair tumbling down your back.’
Wrapping the filmy fabric around my shoulders, he pulled the shawl and gently tugged me closer. He reached out, captured a curl, and wrapped the hair around his finger.
‘This life is so different from what I know. So many things have changed.’ He let go of the shawl, but he kept hold of the curl. ‘But some things are much, much better.’ He let go of the curl, trailing a finger down my cheek, and gave me a little nudge back toward my room.
‘Goodnight, Kelsey. We have a busy day tomorrow.’