The Secrets of the Elements

Chapter 33: New Adventure

A black car came to a halt as Advika stepped out of her apartment and started walking in its direction.

The girl sitting in the driver's seat rolled down the glass of the window and lowered her black goggles

looking at Advika. Advika rolled her eyes and nodded her head. She opened the door and sat beside

her keeping the bag in the backseat. "Didn't know you had a car."

"It's my sister's actually," said Maya and hit the engine. "Told her I had to go on a trip with my girl gang."

"Dressed as Sherlock Holmes?" said Advika rolled down the glass.

Maya wore blue jeans, a black top, and a leather jacket to go with it. She had tied her curly hair in a

bun and wore black goggles. "You have no style, do you?"

She took a left turn and proceeded towards the highway.

Advika wore a full-sleeve light blue top and a three-fourth to go with it. She too had tied her hair into a

messy bun and wore her black cat-eye spectacles.

"Did you inform Zarna that we're going to the temple?" asked Advika staring into the bright blue sky.

"Yes," she said, her gaze fixed on the traffic ahead. "She insisted on coming but I said that she can join

once she's back to normal."

They reached the temple after half an hour drive. "Looks so much different in the daylight," said Maya.

"Yeah," agreed Advika. "So we go from the backdoor, right?" quizzed Maya. "Yes, then look for the

source of the music," replied Advika as they got down from the car.

~~~~~

Tej stood in front of the mirror, preparing himself for another difficult day at the office. His thick hair set

on one side neatly. He wore a washed blue ripped jeans and a v-neck black tee that fit him well,

complementing his medium, yet well built and stout body. He donned a mulberry blazer over it that

highlighted his fair skin. He wore formal black leather shoes under it.

"You ready?" asked Ray as he leaned on the door.

"Yeah, let's go," said Tej adjusting his tie. He looked at Ray. "Zarna is fine," said Ray as though reading

his mind. "Did you talk to Advika?"

"About what?" said Tej as they headed towards his parents' room. "Are you still mad?" asked Ray. "It

doesn't matter," replied Tej and knocked on the door.

"You?" said the boys in unison. "What are you doing here?" asked Tej. "When did you arrive? We didn't

see you coming?" said Ray. "You should have been at home, resting," said Tej.

"Guys, I'm fine, easy," said Zarna. "I came to check on aunt as-"

"As?" said Tej. "Where's Maya and Advika?" questioned Ray.

"They had work," lied Zarna and tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Advika has to complete this

story of hers, and Maya had to go to her office so."

"Is aunt sleeping?" asked Ray. "Yes," replied Zarna. "I just gave her the medicines, don't worry."

"Okay," said Tej. "I'll see you guys at dinner then. You are waiting, right?"

"Yeah, of course," said Zarna and smiled. "I bought my laptop as well, will complete my work here."

"Yeah, I'll go check on uncle, and then go to the radio station, then come back here," said Ray.

"Hey," said Zarna. "You didn't tell us about this new internship of yours. You're an RJ, that's cool."

"Well, yes, thought of using the spare time after college," he said and adjusted his colourful headband.

"Good luck, RJ Ray," said Zarna and giggled.

~~~~

Advika and Maya stood in front of an enormous door covered with webs and dust. It looked like nobody

had touched it in years. Advika could feel her heart thump vehemently. Maya dusted the knob as

Advika tied a handkerchief around her face covering her nose and mouth. Maya looked at her and

arched her eyebrow.

"There's a lot of dust here," said Advika.

Maya pushed open the door. The old, mahogany wooden door opened and the hinges made a loud

squeaky noise. Maya stepped inside followed by Advika.

The dusty air entered her lungs and she began coughing. More and more dust released from the

parquet below with every step they took. It was dark and gloomy, the air filled with the sense of

petrichor. The only source of light in the king-sized room was the light coming from their phones.

Maya turned on her heel all of a sudden and rushed towards the door, closing it. Advika looked around

the room and found old paintings, a chandelier, a few wooden chairs, a broken mirror, a king-sized bed,

and a rather odd-looking huge treasure box.

Maya looked around the room frantically. "What is it?" asked Advika. Maya made a small run to the bed

and picked up the dirty bedsheet lying on it. She walked up to the broken mirror and covered it.

"What's with you and mirrors?" asked Advika. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

"I thought you might know," said Maya and stepped away from the mirror. "You're the know it all girl."

Advika pursed her lips and closed her eyes for a second. She knew this was not the right time and

place to pick a fight with Maya. "Anyway," she said. "The sound was coming from this room, the music I

mean," she said and made her way towards the treasure box.

"Be careful," said Maya as Advika sat down on the floor and examined the treasure box. She picked a

cloth lying nearby and tried cleaning the box. She gaped and turned to look at Maya who was equally

surprised. The box was made of what looked like pure gold. Advika held the small silver lock in her

hands. "Wish Ray was here," she said.

She stared at the lock for a minute or so and removed a hairpin from the bag she was carrying. She

stuck the flat end of the pin into the top of the lock and bent it. She attempted to disengage the pins in

the lock. "Try with one more," suggested Maya.

Advika produced another hairpin from her bag and inserted it into the lock. She turned both the pins in

every possible way but in vain.

~~~~

"Well," said Maya. "It's an ancient lock, can't be that easy to unlock it."

"Wait a minute," said Advika. "You remember we had got a key in that other room where we found that

magic bowl?"

"Yes, but, what are the odds?" said Maya. "Why will the key be there, so far from the treasure? Let's

look for other clues."

Advika looked at the treasure longingly.