Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes (Pandava Quartet #3) - Roshani Chokshi Page 0,44

goddess nodded.

“Who among them deserves another chance at life? You are the daughter of the Dharma Raja—surely you can choose fairly?”

Their three friends floated, completely oblivious to the decision placed before Mini.

“Will it be the naga prince whose quick smile and musical talents have captured, perhaps, a little more than your eyes and ears?”

When Yamuna said this, a slender ribbon of water dangled Rudy right before Mini’s face. Aru jumped back. The snake prince’s head lolled to one side, and water ran down his neck. Mini bit back a sob, and her lip trembled, but she didn’t weep. Instead, she reached out and grabbed Aru’s hand tightly.

“Or the boy who has come to be another brother to you? The one who always listens?”

A strip of Yamuna’s dress bore up Aiden like a wave. Aru turned her face. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see him like that.

She couldn’t.

Something in her soul recoiled at the thought.

“Or your sister…?”

There was nothing else Yamuna needed to say as her sari drew out the third Pandava sister. Brynne, who would probably try to wrestle the river if she thought it was insulting her. Brynne, who would protect the rest of them no matter the cost to herself.

Tears stung Aru’s eyes. If she’d known the dangers of this river ahead of time, she would’ve figured out some other way into the House of Months. She couldn’t bring herself to think of losing any of them—

“Rudy,” said Mini.

Aru stood there, stunned.

What?!

Aru looked between Mini and Yamuna and—Brynne! Their Pandava sister, who was slowly melting back into the folds of the goddess’s gown…

“Why?” asked the river goddess.

Yeah, Aru wanted to scream. Why? Why him and not their sister? What would happen to Aiden?

Mini lifted her chin and spoke in a clear voice: “You asked me to think like my soul father, the Dharma Raja,” she said. “He would look at who had already lived…and, judging by that, me, Aru, Brynne, and Aiden have had more lives than most people. We’ve been reincarnated a lot…but not Rudy. Therefore, he would be the most deserving of another chance at life.”

There was a cold, almost godly logic to it, which struck Aru like an arrow. And yet, all she could think when she looked at her sister was How could you?

Yamuna considered Mini for a moment, and then…

Burst into laughter?

The liquid dress trembled with the force of her laughter and the goddess raised her hands and clapped. Instantly, water crashed down, filling the riverbed beneath the bridge once more.

Aru felt warmth spread through her throat, and she clutched her neck, gasping. “What the—?”

Hey! She could speak! That would’ve been awesome if not for the fact that Mini had just let Brynne and Aiden die. Aru whirled on Mini, only to see something land on the far side of the bridge.

Brynne, Aiden, and Rudy lay on the metal rails.

They were unconscious, but color had returned to their cheeks and lips, and their facial muscles twitched faintly, as if they were stuck in a long dream. The water dripped off them quickly, and their clothes gradually lightened as they magically dried.

Behind them stood Yamuna, no longer an embodiment of the river, but a young woman with dark skin, a pearl clip in her hair, and a long blue maxi dress.

“You did better than I expected, niece,” said Yamuna.

Mini looked shocked. “Wait…niece?”

The goddess grinned. “I guess you didn’t know that your soul father, Yama, had a twin—me! It was truly awful growing up with him. He could never take a joke and haaaated it whenever I flooded his bedroom. Oh well.”

“So I…I passed your test?” asked Mini.

“Oh, completely,” said Yamuna, waving her hand. “You were coolheaded when others usually aren’t. You followed the rules when most people can’t control their impulses. And you had the empathy to put yourself in someone else’s place and set aside your feelings. That is a rare quality, my niece. And for that, I will spare your friends.”

“All of them? Really?” asked Mini, bright spots of color touching her cheeks. “I’m never the one who, you know, saves stuff.”

Relief flooded Aru. “Wait till we tell them what you did!” she said. “They’re gonna lose it! You were amazing!”

Mini grinned. “I was?”

“Completely.”

Yamuna smiled, but her expression turned regretful. “I’m afraid there’s one last condition I must make,” she said, “though it pains me to do it, for you are my own family.”

Aru clutched her throat. “No take-back on the speaking. Please?”

Yamuna gestured at their three unconscious friends. “Before