Secret of the Himalayan Treasure

by Divyansh Mundra

  ​ “I have personally been to his room countless times, but I have never seen any locker here”, Aanya exclaimed as she led both the men to her father’s room.

  ​ “We’ll have to dig deeper, I guess”, Aarav replied. “Whatever it is in the locker, he obviously didn’t want anyone else to find out.”

  ​ Aarav and Rehann started with the corners while Aanya opened the cupboards and started taking out her father’s stuff. She shuffled though his array of suits and shoes to look for a hidden locker but didn’t find anything. Rehann cared more about the magnificent house than the locker, being more distracted by lavishness was a weakness he was born with. He was lean and stood just less than six feet above ground. He was blessed with an oval face and didn’t carry the sharp features like Aarav, but a boyish charm coupled with a gifted sense of humor made him stand out. He wore round spectacles, like most computer nerds, and preferred to dress quite casually; boasting to spend an entire month in a pullover and a pair of worn out jeans. Aarav darted his sharp gaze to admire the well maintained mini-library of Mr. Vashishtha on a wall to his right. The others continued with the search meanwhile but weren’t able to find a locker to their dismay.

  ​ “The Maps of Shangri La?” Aarav gazed at a title that seemed rather misplaced between the collections of non-fiction books. “That’s odd”, he went ahead and pulled out the book from the shelf which suddenly gave way to a slightest of click sound from under the rug.

  ​ “Did you hear that?” Rehann uttered as he pulled up the rug and started stomping his feet on the marble floor. His feet soon made a hollow sound as both Aanya and Aarav gathered around. “I think that if I press this it will…”, he stopped speaking as a marble tile slid up, revealing a square compartment with a little locker resting in the middle. “There’s our locker”, Rehann continued as he picked it out and kept it on a table nearby. The locker was jet black in color and petite, with four scrolling bars at the front and numbers marked on their faces.

  ​ “SEEK. LOCKER. MY. ROOM”, Aarav uttered. “So far so good. Now let’s enter the code.” He moved ahead and scrolled the digits on the face of the locker. “Zero. Four. Three. Two”, he muttered as he progressed before turning a little knob and opening the locker. Inside it, they found a little brown book with the pictogram of a lion made on the top. Aarav took out the book and was about to open it, but Rehann signaled him to pass it over to Aanya first, as a courtesy. Aarav did the same, although he appeared to be disappointed while handing it over.

  ​ “It is okay. You can open it. I wouldn’t have been able to find this book without you in the first place”, Aanya responded.

  ​ “Very well”, Aarav opened the diary and displayed it across for all of them to read.

  Dear Aanya,

  If you are reading this, it means that I am dead. And thus it is my duty to pass over this information to you since it is of essence that you, my only heir, come to know about who your old man really was. I was told this secret when my father was on his deathbed, and even though by that time I had had my doubts, I could have never imagined the kind of history that is associated our family. Among other things, the Vashishthas were always rich. My father was an industrialist, his father was a prominent landlord during the time of the British rule, and his forefathers held various high and powerful positions under the reign of their respective rulers. My father told me that he was a member of an ancient group, a society of powerful individuals, who were all designated protectors of an ancient treasure. It all began during the times of Emperor Ashoka. He believed that the kingdom of Kalinga had their coffers filled with a historic treasure, one he called ‘The Treasure of the Gods’. His grandfather, the great Chandragupta Maurya tried to claim the treasure, but failed. So did his father Bindusara. Hence it was only after Ashoka waged and won the greatest battle in the history of our nation that he finally uncovered that treasure.

  ​ But the war had changed hi­m. He was so much moved by the bloodshed that he realized that there was more to being a ruler than just waging wars and annexing empires. He came to the conclusion that the lust of the Kalinga treasure had blinded him. Thus he moved the entire wealth secretly at some place in the Himalayas, ensuring that no one could ever access those riches, because whoever was to lay his hands on it, would become the most powerful person in the history of mankind.

  ​ He then created nine guardians, nine masters whose purpose was to guard the treasure forever. After his passing, the nine masters collected together and brainstormed on a way which could ensure the survival of the treasure and prevent anyone from among them to betray the others and claim it. They thus created sacred books, nine books of nine different arts which each of them had mastered and fashioned a map which could highlight the location of the treasure when each of the books were combined. They picked out the heirs to continue their secrets and thus ensured the survival of the map. Within the first hundred years however, two of the masters tried claiming the treasure, leading to a messy war, making the other masters eliminate them in the end, and thus shortening the number of masters and leading them to rewrite the books among themselves, effectively giving birth to the Ring of the Seven.

  ​ The seven masters had seven secret books and then they decided to part ways. In each book, a single other master’s name was mentioned, thus making each master responsible to keep a watch over one other, and that master wouldn’t know about the one watching over him. The system worked effectively for hundreds of years, until recently when I suspected that someone had killed a man, whom I had doubted to be a master. I supposed that someone from the inside had ordered a hit, and my suspicion was proven when I discovered that two more masters have already been murdered. Soon I learnt that I was their next target. And hence I tried to sort out this chaos. I tried to find other masters, for their identity was unknown to me. But if you’re reading this note, it probably means that they got to me.

  ​ Consider this note my farewell, my dear child. I know we have had our differences and I wasn’t able to raise you with the love and affection that your mother showered upon you. I know that I was not a great father to you, and I only wish it was possible for us to spend some time together, happily and without any regrets. I wish for the time to stop and go a little back in history, to a place when your mother was free of cancer and you were still my baby girl, who would walk in the halls of this house wearing huge glasses of your mother on your petite face and pretend to be a grown up. I wish I had paid more attention to my family. I wish I got to spend some more time with both of you. I wish… that I could get that time back, somehow. And I am willing to shed all my wealth, trade all my secrets for just a single day with both of you….

  ​ But I am afraid that I do have a motive behind writing this note. I know that I got myself in deep with somebody who is hell bent on killing the other masters and claim the secret treasure of the Himalayas once and for all. Unfortunately, the ones I found were already murdered. And if you are indeed reading this letter, it means that I am gone too. Although I will do everything in my power to make them believe that I have destroyed the only thing which could lead them to the treasure. I am however losing my will to fight this anonymous foe, who for all that we know, could become the most powerful man on Earth. So if it isn’t much to ask, consider this my dying wish.

  ​ I want you to complete this task.

  ​ I want you to end what I started, to find the secret treasure in the Himalayas and prevent it from falling in the wrong hands. You are stronger than you think you are. Do whatever you can, by employing any necessary tactic that you can think of. But you have to stop that evil from laying his hands on the treasure of the gods.

  ​ In the end, I can only say that it all does matter; your opinions, your choices, which I was too blind to see. It all does matter. I was scared when you decided to make your own career. But, now I will go with a smile on my face, knowing how strong a woman you have become.

  ​ Guess you are like your mother after all.

>   ​ Go to the location I will mention on the next page and you will find your answers. I know I failed to realize this, but amidst all the riches, all the fame, and all the power… you are the best thing that has ever happened to me.

  Stay safe. Stay strong.

  Love

  Harish.

  ​ Aanya had tears rolling down her eyes. No matter her differences, she had loved her father and adored how he led his life with his principles. The memories of all the good times she had spent with him came rushing back, making her sit down on her knees and cry vehemently. Rehann held her up by the shoulder and dragged a chair for her. Aarav on the other hand, had turned the note and looked at the address:

  ​ The Asiatic Society of Mumbai

  ​ Contact: Mrs. Lehi Daruwala

  ​ Aarav had a smile on his face. “The Asiatic Society of Mumbai. Fantastic. It’s hardly an hour from here.”

  ​ “Aarav”, Rehann whispered to him and then pointed towards Aanya, trying to control Aarav’s excitement and make him focus more towards Aanya’s memory of her father. They both stood there for a moment. Aarav trying to awkwardly handle the situation and Rehann understandingly comforting her.

  ​ “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to… sorry. Can you both please excuse me for a moment”, Aanya managed to speak.

  ​ “Of course”, Rehann spoke and went for the gate before signaling Aarav to follow him.

  ​ “It is almost half past four”, Aarav pointed to his wristwatch once he was out of Harish’s room.

  ​ “So?” Rehann enquired.

  ​ “So… the library is almost an hour from this place. If we get there by six and find the Jolly person, then we can probably get our hands on Mr. Vashishtha’s secret book before it closes.”

  ​ “She is grieving Aarav. She lost her father. You can’t just expect her to give up on her emotions and follow you on some treasure chase.”

  ​ “Rehann, didn’t you read the things he had mentioned in that letter? Didn’t you read his exact warning about the kind of evil that is chasing this gold? This is the biggest secret in the history of mankind. Much bigger than I would’ve fathomed. Thousands died in the Battle of Kalinga and many have been murdered since for the protection of the location of this treasure. And now, after so many centuries, someone is on his way to claim it. Someone evil, who’ll probably misuse it. Can’t you see the history associated with it? The greatest Indian emperor waged the most brutal war in our history for the sake of finding this treasure, and upon seeing the bloodshed and the deaths it had caused, he converted to Buddhism and helped in spreading one of the most prominent religions of Asia. This treasure is our history, you see. It is our heritage. And there is nothing bigger than that.”

  ​ Rehann looked at Aarav with a blank face. He was out of words. The way Aarav had explained the value of the treasure to him made him realize the magnitude of the problem looming over it. He had always been mesmerized by the way Aarav perceived the things differently. More than the value that the treasure carried, Aarav cared about the history associated with it. “I forgot that you were always a history geek”, Rehann mocked him.

  ​ “That’s how I make my living my friend”, Aarav replied with a smile. “But what should we do now? If she is not in a position to come, should we head out to the Asiatic Society on our own?”

  ​ “And hijack her quest? Mr. Vashishtha didn’t write that note for us Aarav. He wrote it for her.”

  ​ “I don’t think that Mr. Vashishtha would mind much if I solve this mystery and save the treasure from going in the hands of some madman.”

  ​ “You can’t do this Aarav. I won’t let you go without her.”

  ​ “What are you going to do? Hit me?”

  ​ “You don’t want me swinging punches at you. I have a black belt in Karate, remember?”

  ​ “Which you got in fifth standard and then left Karate to focus more on your love of computers. Like it or not, but you are just another computer nerd.”

  ​ “We are waiting for her, Aarav. And that is final.”

  ​ “I wouldn’t mind if you won’t come, Rehann. In fact, I would be honored if you stayed behind and erm… comforted her.”

  ​ “What are you trying to say?”

  ​ “Well, it is quite obvious. Isn’t it? There is a beautiful damsel in distress and you just can’t stop yourself from rushing for her help.”

  ​ “You… are mad. You’ve lost it”, Rehann spoke with a blush on his face.

  ​ “It is just like the last time you see. Only more obvious on this occasion. What was the name of your ex?”

  ​ “Shut up Aarav. Now.”

  ​ “She was the daughter of the hotelier, wasn’t she? Or was she the one before the daughter of that builder from Delhi? I must say Rehann, your taste in women is quite rich.”

  ​ “You are an utter moron, Aarav. And at least I have a taste in women. What about you? When was the last time you went on a date? In tenth standard I think, with the daughter of our English teacher, right? That didn’t end so well”, Rehann uttered with a smile.

  ​ “Oh! She was a charmer. I would marry her tomorrow if I meet her again.”

  ​ “She is my friend still. I must tell you, she is fat now.”

  ​ “Love doesn’t see shape or size, my friend”, Aarav spoke shedding some knowledge on a topic he knew nothing about.

  ​ All of a sudden, the giant oak doors to the room of Harish Vashishtha flung open and Aanya stepped out. She had washed her face, put her glasses back on and composed herself.

  ​ “Miss Aanya, are you alright?” Rehann went at once to her aid.

  ​ “Yes. I’m fine. Thank you”, she replied. “The address was the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, wasn’t it? I think that if we leave right now, we could reach there on time.”

  ​ “Of course”, Rehann spoke as he looked at Aarav.

  ​ “I’ll meet you both outside in a moment. I have to go to my room first”, she spoke before calling out an attendant. “Nancy, ask someone to pull out the Rolls please. You both can wait by the car. I’ll be there soon”, she uttered before exiting.

  ​ “Save it Aarav”, Rehann stopped him from speaking as they both headed out of the house to board a white Rolls Royce Phantom waiting ahead.

  Chapter-3: The Secret Book

  ​

  “Oh! Wow!” Rehann exclaimed as they arrived at the Asiatic Society of Mumbai. “I have been born and brought up in this city, how come I have never seen this building before? It is magnificent.”

  ​ “My father used to drop me here during my school days sometimes. It is one of the finest libraries in the country”, Aanya remarked.

  ​ “And one of the oldest”, Aarav continued. “It was built sometime in the early nineteenth century and was home to the Chief Judge of Bombay, who formed the Bombay Literary Society here, for intellectuals to meet and discuss various aspects of the Indian sub-continent. The group later evolved into the Asiatic Society of Bombay and then to Asiatic Society of Mumbai after the renaming of the city. The library here houses over a hundred thousand books, many of which have been classified as rare and valuable. It also has one of the only two known original copies of Dante Alighieri’s famous poem, Divine Comedy among many rare and ancient texts in Sanskrit, Persian, Prakrit and Pali. This place you see, is heaven on Earth to a man like me.”

  ​ “They have an original copy of Divine Comedy? I didn’t know that”, Aanya said, surprised.

  ​ “In fact Mussolini offered them one million pounds for that copy in 1930, only to be turned down. I’m guessing that your forefathers might have played a role in that, Miss Aanya.”

  ​ “Please don’t call me Miss. It makes me sound old.”

  ​ “Alright”, Aarav spoke as the car stopped. “Shall we?”

  ​ Rehann was awestruck by the beauty of the building. It was heavily influenced by the classic Roman and Greek architecture and had a portico with eight pillars supporting it. A flight of th
irty steps led up to the library, and the vastness of the building only exemplified the kind of history it carried. Aarav was growing more and more excited, imagining what next secret will greet him inside the library. He was almost skipping the steps while climbing up, asking both Rehann and Aanya to keep up with him. The library was splendid. Tall statues of prominent men and busts of historical figures adored the various hallways of the building. But the best part about the place lit up Aarav’s eyes and made him nostalgic; soaring shelves and cupboards, stacked with various pieces of literature adorned the giant rooms, and invoked the love which he shared for reading.

  ​ “I’ve never said this about a library before, but this place is beautiful”, Rehann spoke before stopping in his tracks and pointing to a table in the corner. “Hey guys! I think I found her.”

  ​ That table was graced by a tiny brass nameplate, bearing the name of the head librarian, Mrs. Lehi Daruwala. The three of them moved towards the desk, behind which sat an old lady, who was typing something on a computer.

  ​ “Excuse me”, Aanya spoke to her.

  ​ “If you want to borrow a book, come tomorrow”, the old lady uttered without shifting her gaze. “We are closing early today due to some restoration work and so it is…” she stopped speaking all of a sudden as she looked up and gazed at the face of Aanya. She soon looked at the men standing with her suspiciously, before getting up from her chair and bringing her hand forward to grab a bell placed on her desk. She rang it around five times as she snatched the attention of the few men who were sitting in the library. “We are closed now”, she mustered all her strength to speak as loudly as she could in her mellow voice. “You can all head out. We are having restoration work done here today. Please stack your books back in the columns you took them from before leaving. Thank you.”