Thank you for stumbling upon this mini book.

I had initially wrote Part 1 of this story as just a micro tale, posted in Instagram and that's all. But a few of my friends wanted to know what happens further in the story and thus I was tempted to do the same.

I hope you enjoy reading the story and if possible drop your comments wherever you like and do vote and comment more and share if you like!

Thanks in advance!

Part 1

During an excavation, her team found a beautiful lady sculpture buried along with other artifacts in an aged ruined temple ground. The perfect looking brass sculpture was then cleaned and brought to her tent for further studies.

It was around midnight when she had finally finished her work for the day and was about to leave the tent, she heard a crack. Followed by a few more. Rushing back into the tent she found the sculpture wasn't where it was supposed to be.

She frantically looked around, it was nowhere to be seen either. Sprinting out of the tent, she screamed for her other team members but stopped midway. She couldn't believe her own eyes as she stood frozen and her mouth sealed.

All she could do was watch the sculpture ran far away, leaving pieces of metal on the way as the statue turned into a living lady.

"How am I going to explain myself?"

Part 2

"Why have you returned?" A voice thundered abruptly, nearly had those hidden behind a huge rock reveal themselves.

"Careful Kamali," whispered one of her two team members, Ananthi. She quickly pulled Kamali further in to avoid being seen.

Kamali had been staring at the once statue now a six-feet lady ever since they reached the cave like place. Even from the back, Kamali could guess the lady was a beauty yet the statue turning into a lady was rather a mystery she wanted to discover.

When the two of her team mates found her in the middle of the excavation site, the young archeologist was too stunned to speak a word. Only a vigourous shake, did she told them about the statue. The three of them then had followed the trail of the metal pieces left by the statue which led them to an unknown place.

A place that looked like a cave from the outside only to surprise them with luxurious interior. It hardly gave away as a cave when they quietly snuck in.

The statue now a lady was seen pleading to a man dressed in an iron shield body cover and a dhoti with a pointy staff in hand. He appeared as if he came out straight from some ancient story. Not just him but those around him too dressed the same, matching the lady's dressing theme—ancient attire.

Kamali and her mates waited along with the lady from afar behind the only huge rock present in the cave. A long wait later, a guard announced the entry of a 'king'.

She almost laughed out loud for the ludicrous existence of a king in a land that doesn't have monarchy rule any longer. However, Kamali refrained herself from taking a peep and listened attentively to the conversation inside.

"I'm asking you again!" The man commanded.

"Someone had dugged me out of the ground. I had to return..." The lady muttered.

"Ha, another excuse!" The king huffed in annoyance. "You wanted to penance for your mistake, didn't you, Vadivu? Then why did you return even before your time?"

Kamali and her two friends exchanged a bewildered look.

'Penance underground? That to, to be embalm in brass plating? What kind of brutal practice is this?' The archeologist wondered and shivered at the disturbing thought of the embalming process of oneself.