‘Don’t let your mind wander,’ Idhika said. ‘We shall not forget the wrong done to us; we have to bring justice. Before Sanaka finds out that we have Madhu and a way inside the valley’—she said looking up at the sky—‘we must reach there and expose him. Reveal to all that he has hidden barrels of Madhu, lied for decades and allowed the Preservers to weaponize the divine tree. Therefore, we must haste, reach before sunrise and enter the valley with warm faces, not revealing anything of our plan until we are in front of the Sabha and Samiti. On your feet, Jagrav.’

Jagrav held his ankle in pain and did not get up.

‘Don’t worry, brother.’ Aarti bent beside Jagrav. ‘I’ll help you up. Not to walk further but to assist me to gather wood. I’m building a small fire here. We can heat all the clean snow by that tree and allow ourselves some water—and Payal will see if she can find some berries for you. We must take care of our own. Cannot lose another soul like brother Aman.’

How dare she?! Idhika thought. ‘Aman went of his own choice. Let me reveal something to you all. He had an option to abandon us. And that would have meant that the rest of us roam these terrains with no Madhu or a way back. But he chose his way so that our return could be guaranteed. So that we could go back and foil Sanaka’s plan, once and for all. He went for no fault of his.’ Her voice dropped. ‘He suffered an untimely and tragic end, without any moment to comprehend what was asked of him. And he did it for us, for Vanyasa.’

Jagrav begrudgingly stood up and put his hand on Idhika’s shoulder. ‘We shall walk until our legs allow.’ With that, he started slowly limping forward. Idhika followed and Savitri joined her. Payal too pulled Aarti along with her before the others went out of sight.

Little time was wasted after that brief pause in their journey. Aarti was lost in a deep conversation with Payal for most of the way. Savitri walked Jagrav, holding up his weight by her arm across his back. Idhika carried Jagrav’s kamandalu for him. And after hours of walking downhill, while simultaneously staying alert to any danger, the five remaining Souls reached the threshold of the clearing of Hathi-Paun, home to Rishi Ajan.

Idhika bolted towards her father’s hut, eager to meet him after their recently rekindled relationship. She reached a couple of moments earlier than the rest and rushed straight in. She saw him busy in his palm leaves, oblivious to her charge inside his hut, and said, ‘Namahkrita.’

In a fit of surprise, Rishi Ajan dropped his pankh and shot up. ‘Bacche! What—how . . .? But you’re the Eka.’ His eyes misted and he gave her a tight hug. ‘I’ve never known happiness until now . . . Thank you, Indra, for sparing my daughter.’