The Temple Secrets

Shapra and Anmol stood frozen in front of the statue, still trying to process the near disaster that had just unfolded. The poojari's intense glare lingered on them, and neither of them could figure out how to respond.

Anmol, trying to break the awkward tension, chuckled nervously, "You know what would make this better? A plate of momo, hot and steamy—"

Shapra, taking the cue, added with a grin, "Oh yeah, momo sounds great right now! Maybe with some extra chutney, you know, to spice things up!"

The two burst into laughter, clearly trying to relieve the stress of the situation with humor.

But their laughter didn't last long.

The poojari's eyes narrowed, and his voice rang out sharply. "This is no time for jokes." His gaze was intense, and the playful atmosphere vanished in an instant.

Anmol tried to play it cool, but the poojari's angry gaze stopped him in his tracks. "I'm sorry," Anmol said, scratching the back of his head nervously. "We... we were just trying to lighten the mood."

The poojari's anger didn't waver, and instead, he looked directly at Shapra, expecting an explanation.

Shapra took a deep breath and then spoke calmly, "We didn't come here to make trouble. I noticed something strange with my mom and the photo of my grandparents... and then, well, I saw this statue, and I thought there might be something hidden beneath it. That's why we were... exploring."

Anmol glanced at Shapra, his eyes wide with surprise. "Wait... you didn't mention all that before. Why'd you leave out the part about your mom? And what's this about your grandparents?"

Shapra gave Anmol a sheepish grin. "Some things... I didn't think it was the right time to share but now I will tell you about it later on."

The poojari listened to their exchange, and after a long pause, his expression softened. "Alright," he said. "You two seem to mean no harm, but this place is sacred. I will help you, but you must be cautious."

Shapra raised an eyebrow, feeling both relieved and confused. "Thank you. But… how did you get here? I mean, isn't this place supposed to be locked up?"

The poojari gave a knowing smile. "The sensor... It was installed here by the previous poojari, and I'm here because of it. It's designed to protect the statue and the secret hidden beneath."

Shapra frowned, a new question forming in his mind. "Why would anyone need to protect the secret like this? What's down there?"

The poojari's gaze darkened, and his voice dropped to a whisper. "You should ask yourself that. Who would be chosen to protect a sacred place like this?"

Shapra and Anmol exchanged uncertain glances. "So, you're telling us this temple has a secret... but you're not going to say anything else?"

The poojari gave them a hard stare before replying, "Yes, you'll find out soon enough. But remember, this is not a game. Whatever is under this temple has been hidden for a reason."

Shapra nodded, sensing the weight in the poojari's words. "So, you'll let us see it?"

The poojari gave a single, deliberate nod. "Follow me."

They both stepped forward, but as they neared the entrance to the underground passage, the poojari held up a hand. "Before you go down there, you must understand: there's no turning back. Once you enter, you'll know what you're truly dealing with."

Shapra's heart raced, but curiosity pushed him forward. "We're ready."

The poojari smiled grimly, and just as they took their first step towards the path that led to the unknown, the poojari's words echoed one last time in their minds: "Whatever you find, remember... this is only the beginning.

To be continued…