Aru Shah and the City of Gold - Roshani Chokshi Page 0,97
we’re their saviors, and they’re our number one fans,” said Aiden.
The thought sat uncomfortably inside Aru. Everyone had been staring down at them, watching them struggle and fight…watching Boo die to save them.
None of them had tried to help.
Before, people applauding her would’ve been a dream come true. Now it just annoyed her.
“Aru?” asked Kara. “I wasn’t sure if, um, it was okay to ask you, but—”
Aru could guess what Kara wanted to know. “You could have gone with the Sleeper,” she said.
“No, I—”
“But you didn’t,” Aru cut in. “So you’re stuck with us now. And that’s that.”
Kara beamed. “Really?”
“Really,” said Aru, flashing a true smile.
“Really!” chimed in Mini.
“Really,” added Brynne.
Kara looked happy, but her hand fluttered to her chest anyway, as if she were hurting. Aru knew how she felt. They’d won, but not forever, and not without losing something dear. What was the word Kara had used for situations like this? Pyrrhic. The victory had cost too much for all of them.
Except maybe Rudy.
He seemed delighted with all the new attention. He walked backward, blowing kisses to the crowd through the glass walls of the hallway. People threw flowers on top of the tunnel.
“THANK YOU! THANK YOU! FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA! MY INSTAGRAM HANDLE IS—”
Mini sighed, grabbing Rudy’s arm and hauling him forward.
At the end of the tunnel was a semi-dark room adorned with soft silken pillows and floating candles. Brynne’s eyes went immediately to the single platter of samosas on the low-lying table.
“Kubera wants you to wait for him here,” said Hanuman.
“The two of us must go back to the Otherworld,” said Urvashi. “We have left it unprotected for too long.”
They hugged each of the Pandavas.
“What you did today was truly a feat worthy of legends,” Urvashi said warmly. “The heavens will not forget your bravery.”
“And neither will the Otherworld,” Hanuman added, patting their backs.
“What about Boo?” asked Mini. “He…He died trying to protect us.”
Hanuman bowed his head. “We shall make sure his sacrifice is not forgotten, either.”
“But where is he?” asked Aru. She didn’t want to say body out loud. It didn’t feel right.
Hanuman and Urvashi exchanged a glance.
“No,” said Aru firmly. “Not that again. Don’t hide things from us anymore—”
“Peace, Aru,” said Hanuman, holding out his hands. “Kubera found something, and he wants to give it to you himself. He says it’s good news.”
Aru almost laughed. Good news from Kubera? It had to be a trick.
“He will explain,” said Hanuman.
“We must go,” said Urvashi urgently. “We have to make sure boundaries are secure. The Sleeper will try one last time….”
“And, with your help, we will be ready,” said Hanuman, looking proudly at them.
With that, they disappeared, leaving only a faint trail of music behind them. The Potatoes stared around at one another.
“I’m too sad to eat, but I’m too restless not to eat,” said Brynne, studying the table. A moment later, she dragged the entire platter of samosas toward her. Brynne was about to take a giant bite when Kubera materialized in the room with a loud pop!
“AHHH!” screamed Brynne, reeling backward.
The platter fell to the floor, and the samosas split open, dribbling out spiced potatoes and peas. All except one. Biju the mongoose hopped out of Kubera’s lap and ran to the intact samosa just as Brynne reached out to snatch it. Biju got there first and gobbled it on the spot.
“Dumb weasel,” muttered Brynne.
Biju burped, then hissed at her. Two amethysts fell from its mouth.
Brynne looked ready to clobber the mongoose when Kubera cleared his throat loudly. Aru noticed that the Lord of Wealth had changed his whole look since they’d last seen him. Now he was dressed head to toe in a pearlescent suit. White gold winked at his ears and throat. Huge pearl rings covered his fingers, and he’d even swapped out his golden eye patch for one of white silk.
“Thanks for all your help on the battlefield,” Aru couldn’t help saying straight off.
“You’re welcome,” said Kubera in his deep, rumbling voice. “Before this whole showdown shenanigan started, I was thinking to myself that war is so…boring. Why not add a little pizzazz to your doom? Set the stage a little, add some good seating.”
“Reminded me of the movie Gladiator,” said Aru, “what with all the passive watching when it comes to fatal combat.”
Come to think of it, she really should’ve shouted ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? at the end of the whole thing, but she’d been too sad. Now that sadness was turning into anger all over again.