Maurya Empire

"The name is Vikramgad." The director said in a low, muttering tone. The name had sent chills down his spine after he heard the rumoured stories he had gathered when the minister proposed they dig around the town that was believed to have hidden temples and valuable monuments deep inside the woods.

"To answer your first question, yes. The research should be conducted in secret." The director spoke, not giving the reason for this discreet operation which raised suspicion in Anjali's mind.

"Why?" Anjali glanced at the old man for a good second. "Excavating artefacts is a part of our rich culture. Why do you want an archaeologist to do the undercover operation?" Anjali wondered if the old man had lost his sane mind since he was catching up with old age. She is an archaeologist who understands the language of rocks, history, and lost civilizations. She believes in truth and speaks the truth. She is proud to represent the country's rich heritage. Why does she have to work in secret like her Rakshas husband? Speaking of that man, she wondered if his anger curbed.

Anjali had the urge to suggest her husband's name for this mission, a perfect match, but backed down at the last second. Her sarcasm might be disrespectful to the old man.

Sensing Anjali's dubious looks, the director pursed his lips and snorted with a loud sigh. "You might be thinking I am insane, Anjali. But you got to read this." The director opened the drawer, pulled out a document, and handed it to Anjali.

"What is this?"

"Look for yourself."

Articles were leafed on the paper as Anjali turned the document's first page. There were several pictures and news about the artefacts, but her eyes were drawn to a nude sculptor of a woman, her hand touching a tree in a sultry pose.

"A Yakshini, a mythological creature of Hindu Mythology?" She read her thoughts aloud, her fingers involuntarily brushing the picture, processing the information about its origin.

Anjali read the article written about the artefact. "The British archaeologists confirmed this artefact to be 2500 years old through the carbon dating." Anjali gasped. "So, it dates back to the Maurya Empire!" Aren't Yakshas and Yakshini supposed to be mythological creatures just like the devas and Rakshas? When did they become part of history? If the Maurya kings sculpted these mythical creatures on temples and stone carvings during their reign, they must have set a mark on the Maurya empire. She read about the myths surrounding the Yakshas. They are sensuous and lure humans into their charm with their seductive bodies.

"You are one genius to remember the empire names just by the dates, Anjali." The old man smiled in appreciation.

"You probably think it was the right decision to take me under your wings," Anjali giggled, speaking his words. The director fervently nodded his head. "Of course, yes!"

The term Archeology was foreign to Anjali until she attended a relative funeral with her family. For some reason, the smell of the decaying bodies and skeletons brought a sense of satisfaction. After going home, the eight years little Anjali asked her father. 'Papa...grandmother is sick, isn't it?"

'It's just a fever, beta. She will be fine tomorrow.' Dev Anand scooped her daughter into his arms, a smile on his face. 'My little princess is so caring.'

Anjali flashed a smile; with her baby tooth gone, she looked like a teething toddler. 'So will grandmother die the day after tomorrow?' Anjali innocently asked so that she can attend the graveyard again. The little girl thought her father was mindfully calculating the time her grandmother would die, but only when she grew up, Anjali realized her father was too paralyzed by her question to speak.

After a handful of reprimands from her mother, Anjali learned about archaeology from her father, where she could meet the skeletons she was fond of. Honestly, it was not the only reason Anjaly wanted to become an archaeologist. The main reason was something she dreaded Parth to know. She would be doomed if he knew it.

....

Assuming she was sidetracking the subject, Anjali brushed off the thoughts and returned to the topic. She looked into the document and read the name of the archaeologist who excavated the Yakshini artefact.

"George Aggarwal."

"Yes." The director nodded. "His roots are Indian, though his family settled in London after the British Raj left for their country. George Aggarwal came to India in 1960 to attend his friend's marriage in Vikramgad town, and while going back, he took the artefact to London in secret."

He continued. "After that incident, in 1962, our Indian archeologists team went to dig up. All went well for a week until they began digging the town's south borders, which surrounded the forest. They heard cries; went mad; but continued the research until one of the Archeologists died.

"The townsfolk took it as a divine sign and banished them. They tried to kill themselves if anybody tried to enter the forest. So, the government was forced to retreat from the mission."

"But little did they know, their nightmares started." The director then explained the paranormal activities and the disappearance of a pregnant woman. He was sure Anjali's head was spinning in folds.

He continued. "Some town folks believe it's a ritual, a god's way of protecting their people in return. However, the educated folks don't believe in religious sentiments, but the fear of going against God has bound them in unison."

Anjali, who was silently listening to the conversation, spoke up. "So, the people of that town will hamper our research if we expose ourselves," Anjali concluded in a whisper. This is too much information for the day. Why did the pregnant woman disappear? Is it a work of a phsyco killer? Or a ritual killing? She definitely doesn't believe in the latter.

"Yes..." He wavered, looking at Anjali in hesitation. "Also...I have another problem."

"What is that?" Anjali asked with a tired sigh. Is he going to drop another bomb?

"Err...Ayush will be leading the team as the senior head." He blurted.

"What!" Anjali shouted, getting up from her seat in anger.

"Wait, Anjali...listen to me...I have no hand in this. He is a close relative of the ministry of culture. So, the minister recommended Ayush take the lead." The director quickly said.

"He is a pain in the ass," Anjali flared. Although unfiltered words are not to be uttered in a workplace, she doesn't care. She is mad and angry.

"I can't work with him. It's him or me. You decide." Taking the document, Anjali turned to walk away. Just as she opened the door handle, a shiny bald head sprawled inside clumsily. The short arms and plump legs spread in an ungainly way, and fell on the floor with a loud thud.

...