Chapter 10

                                    

                                          
   Vignesh had never thought that he would lead the journey essential for the Bharatiya Samaj. What could he do? The prophecy had clearly stated that a child of the mammoth’s race would lead the quest: and Ganesha was (sorry my lord) after all an elephant headed god.
                          
Vignesh had been giving deep thought about their quest on their ride towards the Marina. As the city got nearer, the ride became smoother; with fewer bumps. Ashwin discussed the possibilities of the diamond’s location with Vignesh.
                          
‘I think this diamond would be up in the Himalayas, and not in Mount Aphrahan. It is supposed to be the guardian of our time, isn’t it?’ asked Ashwin. 
                          
‘Yes, and a daughter of Shiva, Jyoti, had disappeared after a task given to her about a month back. She hasn’t returned yet, and sources tell she had been to Naraka.’
                          
‘Naraka? You mean the underworld? How could anyone go to a place meant for the dead?’ replied Ashwin, amazed.
                          
‘Actually, the underworld is meant for the dead. Maybe Jyoti is dead. We can’t do anything about it. Let us check it with the Samudra Devta of the Marina, first. Then we will think about that.’
                          
So they decided to stay calm and the journey was very quiet, for Swati was too nervous to talk, and Nandita was in a trance, trying to appease Lord Shiva.
                          
About thirty minutes later, their car pulled up at the Beach Road, full of determined people running and walking to lose weight. A few people were running towards the ocean, and they were standing in front of the waves, staring and grinning, as though they wanted the waves to be fiercer.
                          
Swati’s face contorted with rage.
                          
‘How dare you! You think the waves will obey your command?’
                          
Swati was angry enough to go and hit the man doing the baiting trick, but Jasnoor and Madhumita restrained her from going. 
                          
‘How dare you! I mean, the waves will not obey them, and they will pollute it for a good cause! They never learn, do they? The tsunami our Pitashri triggered was not enough to make these people learn a lesson!’ roared Swati.
                          
‘Calm down, Swati! We have a quest to finish, remember?’
                          
Swati came to her senses at that. 
                          
‘I thought someone said Vishnu’s children are submissive?’ asked Jasnoor.
                          
‘Oh please, here’s a proving exception!’ said Ashwin.
                          
‘Enough is enough! We are wasting our time. We have to contact the Samudra Devta. Swati, where exactly is he?’ asked Vignesh.
                          
‘Over there.’
                          
Swati pointed at the waves, and it was funny enough to see Swati pointing at nothing. Seconds later, their mouths fell open, as a beautiful crystalline palace glittered over the horizon.
                          
‘How come the other people don’t see it?’ asked Jasnoor.
                          
‘The Dhund takes care of that. This layer masks everything we see, and we don’t see anything until we are adopted by the lords,’ said Vignesh.
                          
‘But how do we get over?’ asked Ashwin.
                          
‘That’s easy. See over there?’
                          
Swati pointed at an old broken down fisherman’s boat, The Madrasakappal. 
                          
‘That is, as far as I can see, an illusion. It is not just a simple boat. The nearer we get, the more it covers up its massiveness,’ said Swati.
                          
They approached the broken down boat, and it slowly changed before their eyes. And before they knew it, they were standing beneath a huge ship, with its sails in pale blue colour, and a marvellous deck with a great view.