"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind".

I believe that it's you, my dear daughter who has got hold of these manuscripts.
I know you are torn apart by the strange occurrences which have led you till here.

I also know that you have thousands of questions lurking in your brain, regarding all these mysterious and hideous things.

But all I can tell you now is you are only a step behind in disclosing all the truths you need to know in order to protect the temple and its legacy of thousands of years from the eyes of predatory, selfish people around us.

Every answers you are seeking are hidden infront of your eyes. There are blood-thirsty, greedy people around you. Trust no one around you in this journey my dear daughter. Follow your heart and the goddess will lead you in the path.

You are the chosen one. Entrusted by the omnipotent-goddess to ensure the divine secrets to be kept out of the greedy eyes of humans.

Now it's high time that you should know the way to reach the last step: which can answer all your questions.

The device which can lead you towards the final step is hidden in NORTHERN direction of the temple. Use the same ways that you earlier used to reach till these scripts.

Remember your each move has been watched by the atrocious people who plans to get their hold on the material you are in search of.

~~~~~

I keep aside the manuscript we got in the temple yesterday night and lean back on the couch closing my eyes gently as I try to wrap my head around the things I just read.

No, you have read it atleast five times from yesterday. My mind retorts.

It's definitely my dad's handwriting in the manuscript. But I didn't understand why he said not to trust anybody around me.

And what's hidden in the temple that people are ready to kill each other to reach it.

"You are the chosen one" , but for what. I remember even Guruji telling me the same thing, that I'm a protector.

"Stop thinking too much, we are only a step away from finding out the truth, so stop worrying unnecessarily", Adi glances at me as he continues working on his MacBook.

"Well, I'm not worrying", I reply still closing my eyes leaned against the sofa.

I hear him huffing defeatedly before I feel a warm breath on my face.

I snap open my eyes to see Adi leaning over me with his both arms resting beside my head and his face little too close to my comfort.

But you like it.

"Tell that to someone who doesn't know you enough", he mumbled close to my lips.

Does he mean he knows me well?

A strange warmth erupted in my chest hearing his words as my breathing escalated like every other time he is near me.

"You mean you know me well?", I questioned him with a sly grin against my lips as I pressed my head back into the sofa, crossing hands over my chest.

A slight smirk appeared on his handsome face as his eyes lit up with amusement, "Are you flirting with me Ms.Kulkarni?".

"No. Why will I do that?", I asked him I innocently arching my right brow.

"I don't know. Maybe you find me irresistible like all other girls so you are trying to charm me", he said with a self-satisfactory grin as his eyes glittered.

This self-conceited jerk.

I knew he was always confident about his genes but this is downright arrogance, thinking every woman wants to woo him.

Well listen carefully you boastful human-species, I'm not the one to fall for your gorgeous looks.

I glared at him venomously. Before I tried to open my mouth with a snarky comeback, he continued.

"But I have to warn you Ms.kulkarni, someone has already charmed my heart and soul. The place is not vacant anymore", he said as a rueful smile broke on his handsome face.

When did I start seeing him as a handsome man?

I'm sure I will gradually lose my sanity if he is near to me.

But there was a slight pinch- a very tiny pang at the deepest corner of my heart, hearing that, he already had someone in his life.

"And it's none of my concern", I tried to push him away with a straight face, clearly showing his words were not affecting but the man was not budging, finding amusement at my expense.

"Really?", he craned his neck slightly watching my furious eyes with delight as he bent his face near mine glancing at my lips.

No...no...danger zone.

"How badly I want to kiss the fuck out of you", he rasped as his lips grazed over mine slightly. My body jolted up, shivering at the slight contact.

"What the hell?, Why do I always show up in the wrong timing".

I pushed him away at a lightening speed as I heard the screeching voice of Hita.

Adi grunted closing his eyes irritatedly at her.

"Atleast you know you were in the wrong place", he said at her.

A pure girlish grin passed over her face, as she lifted her both arms to her waist
standing like a strict mom, "Sorry my dear cute big brother I didn't know the living-room was turned into a bedroom in this mansion".

My cheeks heated up at her comment, as I turned towards Adi to see him boringly looking at his sister.

Does this man have no shame?

"It's enough now, why were you here?", he asked her.

"Oh!, Ira's phone was ringing in her room from past ten minutes. I thought she was busy downstairs but I didn't know she was busy with you", she wiggled her brows playfully at the end towards me.

Oh god this can't be anymore embarrassing.

"I....I'm going upstairs", I ran towards my room with my face as red as beet.

"Hello, Bella...."

"It's urgent you have to come back soon", she replied before ending the call.

Apparently my mom came to know that I was not having any surgeries scheduled and forced Bella to tell the truth. But as usual as dumb as she is, she lied that I was out of the village as I was feeling bored here.

"Didn't guruji tell you, that nobody should leave the village before he permits", grandpa started looking at me disapprovingly.

Oh god, the same question is being repeated from past 1 hour.

"Grandpa I'm telling you the truth, it was an important surgery, so I was needed there", I repeated the same thing for the infinite time.

"And more over see I'm good now, nothing really happened to me", I said moving towards him with a smile. "So please stop frowning now, you will lose your sexiness if you keep frowning", I joked massaging his contorted brows.

Everyone laughed at it and discarded the matter after informing us to get ready to visit the temple for an evening recital arranged in praise of goddess.

Stuti and her fiancee Rahul went forward to take the blessings of the divine-priest of the temple, as we all came outside to circumambulate around the pillar that was situated in the temple premises.

"Common girls, pray that you will get married soon, while you circle around the pillar", grandma advised.

"Common girls, do it faster", Otto chided amusingly repeating grandma's words.

"Yes, we will certainly do that. And I will not forget to pray that you won't get married in this whole life", Bella
taunted him.

"As if god will hear the wishes of a crazy woman", he muttered snickering at bella who stomped her foot hearing him.

"Alright guys stop it we are in the temple right now", I dragged her away to complete the ritual.

After almost half-an-hour I was examining the intricate carving of the temple walls, while Otto was photographing the same as we heard the giggles and laughters of the young girls.

"What a wonderful sight. I'm sure they are devouring him through their eyes", bella grinned.

I turned at the said direction only to be awestruck by the sight. Adi was circumambulating around the pillar, while wearing the traditional attire, while the whole lot of young girls were flocking around him giggling and snickering while following him around the pillar.

What the fuck? What are these silly girls doing?

My eyes enlarged at the sight. How dare he entertain those idiot girls? Can't he see they are creating a noise pollution here by giggling like kids.

"Feeling like plucking out the eyes from the sockets of each girl looking at him , right?" I heard a gruff voice nearby.

"Yes", I replied still lost in my thoughts of finding ways to kill each of those women around him.

"Wh......Wait.....what?...... no...", I snapped out of my daze, to see Krish looking amusingly at me.

"Krish!,  yeah.... I mean n...No, I didn't listen to you properly. Sorry, what were you saying?", I asked him as a knowing smile appeared on his face.

Damn it. I'm literally going insane.

"Yeah, i'm sure you didn't listen to me. You were busy sending daggers at them", he pointed towards the girls.

"No!!"  , I exclaimed.

"Ok, I believe you", he said while there was a mischievous glint in his sparkly eyes.

We continued chating for some time while my eyes unconsciously drifted towards Adi, who was now speaking to a young woman, dolled up like a bride.

She is getting too touchy with him.

Remove your hands off him you fake-barbie!

"She is trying hard to impress him", Krish said glancing at them.

"Come let's see what's happening", he dragged me towards them.

We heard the unlady like screeching giggles as we neared them, as she was trying to touch him at every chance she got.

God, if only murder was not a crime.......

"Ira....", I heard Adi's relieved voice when he saw us approaching them.

I just stood beside Krish lifting my chin up as I didn't bother acknowledging him.

Flirting with the barbies!!!

"Who is this woman, Adi", I heard the barbie's high-pitched, donkey voice as she held Adi's arms leaning towards him innocently.

You fake plastic-barbie.

I glared at Adi who tried to remove her plastic arms around him, glancingat me nervously like a child caught stealing.

I don't know what came over me, because the next moment I was infront of them as I removed her plastic hands which were around Adi.

She pouted looking at me.

Is she a kid?

"Ms. Whatever your name is. I have an important matter to discuss with my
Adi, so if you will kindly excuse us", I threw an acid glare at her before dragging him away.

"Rude", I heard the plastic-barbie's voice which was followed by Krish's loud laughter.

Rude? As if I give a damn about it...

I dragged him towards the relinquished site outside the temple, where there were no one. I jerked my hands away from him which were touched by the barbie previously.

"If you had a heart-filling moment with that woman, now can we start with our
task?", I asked pissed at him, who was watching me with a smirk on his pretty face as his eyes held a glint in them.

How dare he? Does he think I'm entertaining him right now?

"What the hell is wro........."

My words stuck in my throat and a shiver ran down my spine, as he pulled me towards his chest with one harsh tug sealing his lips over mine.

I promise you next chapter will be more exciting....

No.... it's not because of their kiss.

As they will unveil the final door which may lead them towards the truth and the reasons y only Ira is experiencing those weird things..........