When Sapni stood still looking ahead of her, the supersticious guards dropped their swords and spears, Raja Davinder who just then had finished his prayers also saw this was taken aback and kneeled down before Sapni. The mysterious disappearance of the Pandit and a strange woman standing right near where he was had never seen anymore was terrifying. Witness to this were also the holy men of the temple, a mysterious man who was talking with Pandit earlier, another man who belonged to the bandits whom she recognised immediately.

Everyone in their hearts believed that she some a woman of great probably a devi, a goddess. It is not every day that anyone vanishes into thin air and that too during a flash of lightening and woman shining like a very bright star, standing there unaffected.

It occurred to Sapni everyone there had fallen in a spell and thought she some goddess. She took full advantage of the situtation, proudly walked into the temple withoug being stopped by anyone. , everyone was bowing before her, even the mysterious man. They were all clasping their hands towards her. The bandit had run off scared out of his mind.

“Ask me what you want Raja” Sapni said as she sat on the floor, although legs were quivering.

“I had come here goddess to pray for a safe journey, please bless me”

“Only if you will have twice as many guards as you will be taking and they should very well armed , I will save you from any harm”

The Raja listened silently. He took out from suit his made of golden thread a large packet of gold.

“I do not need this petty amount, but I will keep as an offering for the temple. The raja and the guards left soon after. After some time the sardar of the bandits and his showed up and their palms together.

“I pray that my quest should be fruitful, you have never failed me”

“It was the pandit’s prayers who helped you, he prayed to all the gods and the goddesses. But I am here to make sure you do what is right”

Sapni started chanting then closed her eyes. Opened to lookaed as frightening as she could.

“Your quest will fail and all your men will be slaughtered, this time you can never win, be warned”

“But, you always gave your blessings!”

“It was not I, it was the Pandit, do you see him anywhere?”

“No, who will you believe the Pandit or me”

“Of course you, he was just a man you’re a goddess.”

“Then mind my words If you disobey me, you will see my wrath.”

The Sardar left with his gang disheartened by what he had heard.

The mysterious man came close to Sapni.



To be continued