Page 20 of Aru Shah and the End of Time

“Shh!” said Boo.

“How will we know if one of the gods is claiming us?” Aru asked.

“Simple. They’ll choose to keep you alive.”

“WHAT?” cried Mini and Aru at the same time.

The walls of ribbon-lights started flickering.

“Don’t worry,” said Boo airily. “I’ve only been wrong about someone being a Pandava once.”

“So that means that person—”

“Watch out!” screamed Mini, pushing Aru.

The ribbon-lights slowly changed into a bunch of tiny bright spots, like stars. But then they came closer, and Aru saw that they weren’t stars at all.

They werearrow tips.

And they were heading straight for them.

Who’s Your Daddy?

Aru watcheda lotof movies. Probably more than was good for her. Not that she cared. According to movies, right about now was when she should be seeing her life flash before her eyes while a bunch of people tearfully screamed,Stay with us! Don’t follow the light!

The arrows grew bigger the closer they got. They cut through the air, and the sound they made was halfway between a wince and a whistle.

Aru’s gaze darted across the empty sky. Forget the rules from a movie. She’d follow anything—even a suspiciously bright light at the end of a tunnel—if it meant getting out of here.

But then the rain of arrows stopped short. It was as if someone had just hitPAUSE.

“Don’t worry,” said Boo. “The arrows won’tactuallyhit until you’ve paid your respects to the five father gods of the Mahabharata.”

Aru and Mini were crouched and huddled together. Both of them were staring up at the quivering arrows hovering just a couple of feet over their heads. Maybe it was her imagination, but the arrows seemed really annoyed that they had to wait a bit before they got to launch themselves at Aru and Mini.

“Um, great?” said Aru.

“Dharma Raja, we acknowledge you,” said Boo in a deep voice.

The statue of the Dharma Raja, Lord of Justice and Death, loomed above them. He was as gray as ash. Two sharp tusks curled from under his lip. In one hand he held hisdandastick, the rod used for punishing souls in the afterlife. In the other, he held the noose he used to rope the souls of the dead. Aru’s breath quickened as she remembered which Pandava was his son: Yudhistira. He was the oldest Pandava brother, and was known for being noble and just and wise.

Aru wasn’t sure she wanted the Dharma Raja to be her dad. Being known for being the wisest and most just?Waytoo much pressure.

“Pranama!” hissed Boo.

Mini and Aru rushed forward and touched his feet.

“Lord Indra,” said Boo.

The statue of Indra, king of the heavens, was next. His skin was the color of a thunderstorm. In his hand, he held the weapon Vajra, the thunderbolt. There was no way Aru could be the daughter of Indra. His Pandava son was Arjuna the Triumphant. Out of all the Pandava brothers, Arjuna was the most famous. He had the most adventures, and was known for his incredible skill with the bow and arrow. If being wise and just was pressure, imagine being considered the greatest hero out of the entire story.

No thank you, thought Aru.

“Lord Vayu.”

Huh, thought Aru.That wouldn’t be so bad.

Vayu, Lord of the Winds, stirred a slight breeze. He was dark-skinned and looked like the handsome star of a Bollywood film. He held a spinning flag that heralded the directions. His Pandava son was Bhima the Strong. Bhima was known for having a ridiculously large appetite, being superstrong, and also having a temper. All of which Aru thought she could deal with.