wrong!â said Suraj suddenly. âMy Didi would never harm anyone. Iâll fight anyone who says so.â
Tara tousled his hair. âIâm all right, Suraj, but thanks.â
âI think we should all calm down and finish the pooja,â said Karthik. âWe can finish this discussion later.â
âOh no, take as much time as you need,â said Punditji. âI canât finish the pooja now.â It was evident from his sulky expression that he was unhappy about the spotlight being snatched away from him once too often. âThe auspicious time has passed. Weâll have to do it some other time. Go home, all of you.â
For a moment there was complete silence and then everyone spoke at once.
âNo, we want prasad,â yelled the villagers. âWe need the blessings of Lord Ganesh. Finish the pooja.â
âNo,â said Punditji. His bald head shone with sweat and his pudgy arms were crossed over his hairy chest. âYou can take all of your offerings away. They have been partially blessed. Thatâs the best I can do right now.â
A buzz ran through the crowd. Never before had Punditji stopped a pooja in the middle. This was another first and Tara could sense their resentment turning to shock and then to anger. It came hurtling toward her in a huge, towering wave and crashed down.
âPunditji, for all our sakes, could you please complete the pooja?â asked Raka.
Punditji drew himself up. âNo! The favourable time is past and I will not do it today. You may take your duties lightly, Raka, but I do not.â
It was Rakaâs turn to look sulky, but he did not say a word. Tara looked from the chief to Punditji, her heart unbearably heavy. She had imagined month-long festivities upon her return; being honoured and treated like a queen. The reality could not have been further from her dreams. Her eyes came to rest on the person who had started this.
Layla stood next to Sumathy, trying to act calm, but her eyes gave her away and Tara knew she was very happy. Raka tried to quiet the crowd and send them home. Slowly, the temple began to empty. Punditji was talking to the Panchayat, gesticulating in agitation. Tara strained her ears, but she could not hear a word of the whispered conversation.
âThis is really bad, Shiv,â said Parvati. âWhatâs happening ⦠and why? We have to talk to Layla tonight. By attacking Tara in public sheâs causing a lot of tension and fuelling their superstitions. This is so wrong.â
âWe told you she was evil, Mother,â said Suraj. His eyes shone with anger as he thumped his small fist into his palm. âTara and I had warned you, but you wouldnât listen.â
Tara, Shiv, and Parvati gaped at him.
âWhat did you say?â said Parvati.
âWhen Kali was thrown out of the village, you offered to look after Layla, remember?â said Suraj. âWe knew she was just like her mother. She always tried very hard to get us into trouble. It made her happy to see us sad. Sheâs doing it again.â
Parvati drew in a shaky breath, but did not reply. Tara could only think of the ruined evening. Surely this was one more black mark against her. The last of the villagers were streaming out. The Panchayat and Punditji were still talking in whispers, glancing their way now and then. Layla seemed glued to Sumathy as they stood a short distance away from Raka.
Shiv herded them together. âLetâs go home. We need to have a serious talk.â
Parvati called out to Layla. âCome on, Layla. Weâre all going home.â
Layla stared at them, blank-faced, as if strangers had asked her to accompany them home. âIâm staying here,â she said. âI have to talk to Rakaji as soon as heâs free.
There are a few more things I have to tell him.â She stared straight at Tara.
Tara had to use all her discipline to hold Laylaâs gaze without
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