The next morning Yul wakened up Liya after he got ready and asked her to be downstairs in an hour. He left the room to meet Thamina after that. In an hour Liya and Inu came down and they left for the mountain temple with Thamina and Fariya. Yul's grandmothers didn't come as it was hard to climb the long stairs to the temple.
The temple was located at the top of another hill surrounded by lush forests. It was a very old one standing there from the times of royal period. There were rock-cut steps that lead to the temple from the foothill. And climbing those steps really took some effort.
The steps were taller for Inu to climb easily. Therefore Yul picked up him directly from the car without giving him a chance to walk on his own. Liya saw how Inu was getting more accustomed with Yul now and walked beside them.
Thamina was already walking in front talking to a monk who had come to welcome them. The temple was a patronage of the royal family and the Amaroks held an upper hand in its matters and prayers ever since. Liya saw how easily Thamina and the monk ascended the steps. They must have done it a thousand times seeing their speed and familiarity. A few servants also accompanied them with some heavy packages.
As for Liya it was a trouble. The traditional costume was really a burden. She had to hold the skirt up with both hands in order to climb and it was a similar situation for Fariya. Seeing Liya struggling, Yul changed Inu to his right hand and supported Liya with his left. She couldn't reject it as she needed some help urgently.
Fariya watched Yul supporting Liya and stood in front of them a few steps above. She was really envious and complained, "You know… I am also wearing the same dress and is going through same issues like your beloved wife. No offence sister in law. But brother...how could you ignore your dear sister so blatantly for your wife? At least I am the younger one here…"
Yul wasn't interested in her tantrums and continued walking without giving her any response.
"All the things that one does for love….Now even your sister became a stranger…." Fariya babbled on seeing an unprovoked Yul and went on her way.
Liya was the one actually envious now. To have a sister like this was really a blessing. As a lonely child, who had lost her parents early, she really enjoyed Fariya's childishness.
It took them around one hour to reach the top at the speed they were moving. Everyone was ready for the prayer and was just waiting for the main persons to be present. On reaching the prayer hall, the high priest asked Yul and Liya to come forward and stand at front. Liya saw the same god figurines from yesterday and felt uncomfortable.
It was all together a miniature version of what occurred yesterday before the wedding. And after that Thamina and Yul distributed the presents they brought to the monks. The main benefactor of the temple was the Amaroks. So the presents mainly included essential supplies for the monks and the daily functioning of the temple.
Seeing how everyone was busy with something, Liya started to walk around the temple a bit. She was really curious as to why she was feeling uncomfortable at the sight of the gods' images as well the chanting. As she was examining the old stone made temple from a distance the high priest walked towards her.
He was old enough to be around his late sixties, and had a bald head. Even then, his eyes were bright as that of a young child and his smile unfathomable. "Are you interested in history?" The priest asked Liya who was trying to figure out the temple construction.
Liya bowed in respect and said, "No, I was just looking around."
"Then do you mind looking around with me?" He asked and started walking forward from Liya towards the paved path that lead to the herbal garden nearby.
Liya looked at Inu who was all good in Yul's hand and followed the priest.
"Do you know why people visit the temples?" He asked Liya.
Thinking why he was asking such an obvious question, she answered, "To pray…?"
"Not really." The priest said and guided her towards an old cave temple behind the main temple complex.
"Then for what?" Liya was all curious as well as a bit cautious as she saw where she has been lead to.
The priest smiled lightly on seeing her anxiousness and said, "People usually visit temples for two things – one out of fear and the other out of desires."
Liya nodded in agreement but she asked nevertheless, "Isn't that why they pray?"
"Well… praying is for getting oneself close to God. If one is asking for some desires to be granted or harm to be done, then how can it be called a prayer?" The priest said and walked to the inside of the cave temple.
Liya was impressed by the explanation the priest gave, after all this much was expected out of a monk who was experienced and old as him. So she went after him to see what he was going to show her.
Inside the cave, there was an ordinary earthen oil lamp lit before a medium sized oval stone. There was nothing more and nothing less. The only light inside the cave was from this lamp but it still lit the inside well.
Liya was confused as to what this was about. Seeing her face, the priest said, "This is the real temple that has been here for centuries. The stone idol there is the mountain spirit that everyone worships."
Liya was not getting what he was trying to say. But the priest asked Liya to sit in front of the stone with him and sat down. Liya followed and the priest continued.
"Before the royal reign, all these place where thick forests and the tribal people who lived here worshiped the mountain spirit for their safety. When the Amaroks' ancestors were sent here to siege Poonj, they found that having control over these hills would make it easy to capture Poonj. So they started clearing the forests and ousted the tribal people from their land. It is said that the mountain spirit that protected them came for retaliation and killed every soldier who came up here top."
The priest stopped and glanced at Liya who was now immersed in the story like a child. He continued with the story.
"The Amarok chief laughed at the story and punished his subordinates for failing the mission. That night he asked his son to lead a troop of elite soldiers and to go and find out the truth himself. But neither the son nor the soldiers came back from the mountain. They searched for the missing son and soldiers for days but none were found. Then the chief itself decided to…"
"What are you doing here?" Yul's sound echoed from behind and interrupted the story.