Ujal did not return. No one knew if and when they would see him again. But they had to get going. Of the eleven, only seven remained. The Eka was failing. Idhika led them into the depths of the mountains with a burden in her heart that she could no longer hide.

28

Eka

Aman’s lips trembled. His chest felt heavy. He fainted and fell to the ground, his face touching a sharp pebble as it did so. A deep gash appeared in his cheek.

Fayza grabbed him before his body rolled down the steep slope. ‘Quick. Give me the water!’ she said. ‘His nausea has resurfaced.’

She poured some water between his lips. After a few seconds, Aman opened his eyes.

Two days had passed since the battle. Despite the deaths of Prithvi, Yuvan and Dhara—and the departure of Ujal—the remaining seven had journeyed on into the Himalayas. They had walked tirelessly, trudging up endless mountains, surviving on a few fruits and sips of neer. When the wind became strong, especially at the ridges, they ducked and walked contiguous to the mountainside. The landscape looked the same everywhere, white and desolate, and the cold continued to ruffle the life out of them.

Their spirits were low but the seven found some comfort—thanks to Aman—in their recent victory against the kirtimukhas, allowing them to continue their search for Madhu.

Aman asked for another sip of water and allowed Fayza to help him to his feet. Still queasy, he looked at their spent faces and then turned to the Eka. ‘Idhika, I feel we need to turn around,’ he said. ‘Instead of climbing further up this mountain shoulder, we should head back down.’

‘Why?’ Idhika asked, taken aback.

‘I just feel that we are more likely to find the beehives in lower altitudes.’

Idhika thought for a moment but shook her head. ‘No, we must continue on our path.’

‘How dare you question the Eka, Aman?’ Aarti said sarcastically. ‘Doubt her brilliant judgement?’

Idhika’s muscles tensed.

‘It seems the doubt is in everyone’s mind. Eka, if I may ask.’ Aarti turned around, a subtle smile on her lips. ‘Weren’t your instincts supposed to keep us safe from Chayan?’ A few nodded lightly.

‘You are to blame for that, Aarti.’ Idhika’s voice rose. ‘Angering the kirtimukhas with your foolish teasing. Perhaps Prithvi would have been alive had it not been for you. Maybe Ujal would have been with us—’

Aarti laughed sarcastically but her eyes turned misty. She spoke softly, ‘I am truly devastated at the loss of the twins. I really am. But what about Dhara? Did you even get a chance to know her? Ever talk to her? I lost a dear friend in the battle too, Idhika. I’m not the enemy here. Your leadership is.’ Then, Aarti changed her tone, addressing all the Souls. ‘Jagrav, Savitri . . . even you, Fayza and Aman . . . surely you all see it too. We’ve been in these mountains for days and haven’t spotted a bee, let alone their hives and—’