Vanishing Tides 7 (Takshak's Secret)

TAKSHAK’S SECRET:

Red had a terrible headache when she woke up, probably because of bumping her head against the table. Red loved gazing at Almond when he was sleeping. He seemed so gentle, caring even when he wasn’t aware of her presence. The way his hair crept over his face hiding him beyond those long locks…. Ah! Sweet! As she looked on Almond slowly opened his eyes and poor Red was taken by surprise when he asked her, "What? Is something wrong with my hair?" Red frowned and said, "You dork! Wake up! Do you care about anything but your hair? We’ve got to go meet Takshak remember?" Calling Almond a dork, was she trying to hide the look that had just been on her face? Red bent down to pick up her books from the ground. Almond was more careful and left his books on the table before standing up. He stretched his arms and yawned. Red apologized, her back towards him, "Hey Almond, I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have called you a dork. I’m sorry. You’re elder to me. I am honestly sorry." Almond came from behind and poked her saying, "Its Al, for you. Oh how I wish you would be less formal." She turned and smiled. He shrugged and both exited the study together as Almond thought to himself, "I want to be close enough to you , close enough to be called a dork. I’ll be there, waiting for you whenever you need me."

That evening all of them assembled in Takshak’s study. Takshak had some eatables put up on a table in his study. Red helped him arrange the lime juice flasks on the table. Sherry and Cleo both were listening to songs from the same iPod. Almond sat on one of the bean bags leaning against the wall. He felt tired for heaven knows what reason. No, he knew what reason – soul transfer. His eyes burned as he searched the room for Red. She was standing with Takshak, content he fell asleep again. Sometime later Takshak began, "Well, today we have gathered here to discuss our course of action to reach the other world. That shall be our first step. After our last members join us, I shall tell you about the next steps. First of all let me tell you about who you all will stand for in the other world. As Cleo and Sherry have already been told, they are the Direct Advisors to the king and the queen. The two commanders-in-chief are our twin warriors – Tess and Zhi. No decision pertaining to public welfare shall be made without the consent of the Advisors in any case. In their absence, decisions shall be made jointly by the king and queen." Red looked at Sherry and Cleo with awe as she thought of them as the advisors, not knowing she was to be the future queen. Almond felt suffocated for some reason. He was sitting at the back. His hair seemed to be getting in his eyes, troubling him. Red asked curiously, "Dad, what’s there in the other world?" Takshak said, lost in his own words, "There is a vast kingdom, a lost kingdom of hope. Spirits are trapped there some alive and some dead. You have to get there and release all the spirits so that the dead can finally sleep and the live can regain their lives. That constitutes our second step. Well folks that’s all for tonight! Assembly dismissed!" Takshak said as they all broke into smiles seeing his face. Red got up to serve everyone lime juice and chips. She went and sat next to Almond. He was acting weird according to Red. She prodded him and asked, "Hey Al! You alright?" Almond nodded and started sipping from his glass. Red didn’t mind much. She was too busy admiring Sherry and Cleo. Before long all of them had dispersed. When Almond and Red were leaving; Takshak asked Red to give them some time alone and called Almond to one side. What followed was a discussion of how Takshak would be sealing the portal forever after all of them would enter the other world. Also Takshak explained to Almond why and how he could not and should not bring Takshak back to life. Almond was of course shocked but he took it well considering his condition. Almond felt his heart beat race. There was too much to digest. Takshak asked him to take care of Red after he was gone. He also asked him to not tell Red about them being King and queen and their apparent fates until the time comes. Almond sealed it in himself and Takshak walked him to his room and smiled at the Almond Ato sign. He made him calm down and asked him to rest till diner. Takshak later went across to Red’s room and knocked at her door, "Red honey! May I join you?" Red yelled from inside, "Yup dad! Come on in!" He found her standing in the balcony looking at the dark sky. It was getting darker by the minute. He put his arm around her shoulder and said, "Red, you know in future you may have many responsibilities. Be strong. Remember those you love and those who are loyal to you will always be with you. Trust in the person you love. Know that I’ll always watch over you." He stroked her head, her smooth hair under his palm. She said still gazing out, "Dad, you know what I’ll always be grateful to you for being my family, thank you." Takshak asked her softly, "Do you miss your mother, Red?" She thought for a minute and said, "How can I long for something I never had? I was too isolated to have to be jealous of other girls who have mothers. For a namesake I can put it like I lost my mum but still retain my family, right dad?" Takshak nodded holding back tears that could have rolled down his face. Takshak had to leave this world after all he was a resurrected spirit. A dead spirit who was brought back to life by a sacrifice that involved Takshak’s wife. Something she had gladly done for her husband. Takshak had waited patiently for his reunion with his wife. It would be soon. Very soon.