Page 106 of Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

“Are you going to be okay talking to them by yourself?” she asked. “I can go with you….”

Aru would’ve squeezed Mini’s hand, but she didn’t need a lecture about germs just then. “I’ll be okay,” she said, smiling. “But thanks.”

Mini nodded, then frowned at the sky. “There’s something weird about this whole thing, isn’t there?”

Aru shivered as Hanuman and Urvashi turned fully in her direction. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching all of them. Perhaps it was just Kubera’s golden eye, floating through the space, its lid open wide.

“Kubera said he would only return Hanuman and Urvashi if we got past the first three trials,” said Mini. “Ithinkwe did? But he’s not here, and neither is the Nairrata army. And where’s the astra he promised us? At least Hanuman and Urvashi are safe….”

For some reason, Aru’s gaze kept returning to the storm clouds on the horizon. They seemed to be moving closer, but Aru hadn’t heard any telltale sounds of thunder rippling across the sky.

Awkward convo incoming, warned Brynne as Hanuman and Urvashi made their way to Aru.And no news about Kubera. They were trapped, and then all of a sudden they weren’t.

Aru frowned. That didn’t seem right.

Keep an eye on those clouds, she warned Mini and Brynne.

Mini shot Aru one last smile, then headed off to give her some privacy.

When Hanuman and Urvashi reached her, Aru opened and closed her mouth. For the longest time, she’d imagined exactly what she would say to them. But when it came down to reality, she was tongue-tied. Aru thought of Shikhandi and how he’d cycled through pain and vengeance and only ended up exhausted.

“I know what you said to my mom,” she finally blurted out. “I saw it and…”

Aru couldn’t keep going. She was angry, yes, but also tired. Tired of being so angry. Tired of being so worried. And now, when they had burst in ready for one last fight, she couldn’t even have that. It took Aru a few moments to realize she was shaking. It took another few moments to realize there were tears running down her face.

“Oh, child,” said Urvashi, swooping down to hug her. “I’m so sorry.”

“This may not be what you wish to hear, but please believe us when we tell you we were trying to do what we thought was right,” said Hanuman in his rumbling voice. “Sometimes there are no easy answers. All we can do is try our best to perform our duty to ourselves and the people we care about and hope everything will work out. And when something comes to a bad end, we need to ask ourselves: Is this really the end, or just an ugly middle?”

Hanuman laid his hand on top of Aru’s head. His palm was warm and heavy, and Aru was fiercely reminded of Subala. Boo should be here, sitting on her shoulder or hopping around on her head. Their pigeon mentor had tried to do just what Hanuman said: perform his duty. Boo had thought he could protect the Pandavas by betraying them. As for the ugly things he’d allegedly said about them afterward, Aru wasn’t sure she believed Kubera…though it was much easier to be angry than to be hurt.

“Guys…” called Brynne.

Aru swiped at her tears, stepping away from Hanuman and Urvashi. Maybe later there would be more for her to say, but for right now she turned, following Brynne’s pointed finger, and fear pulsed through her veins.

Or maybe there would never be another time.

What she’d mistaken for storm clouds were worse. Much worse. As the shapes drew nearer, icy fear dripped through Aru’s veins when she recognized the Sleeper’s army fast approaching, closing around them like a giant fishing net.

The Potatoes rushed over to her.

“What do we do?” asked Mini nervously.

“What about the Nairrata army?” asked Brynne.

“Or the astra?” asked Kara.

“Or Kubera?” asked Aiden.

Rudy raised his hand. “Um, can I leave now?”

“NO!” said everyone at the same time.

Aru could feel her friends looking at her. She glanced down and saw that Vajra had formed a trellis of electricity that ran up and down her arm. It kinda made her feel like Iron Man. Except Iron Man would have the entire Avengers to wreak havoc on the Sleeper’s army.

Well, she had the Potatoes.

“What’s your decision, Pandavas?” asked Hanuman.