Page 4 of Twisted Bonds

Thanking the man, Mihir stepped out.

He didn’t wait for the bus. Instead, he followed the directions on the map to the temple.

The streets were on an uphill path, but he was able to navigate them easily without losing his breath. Horse riding and rigorous training, which was mandatory for all the Thakvar heirs, kept him healthy and fit.

He arrived at his destination within twenty minutes. However, he was confused for a moment because he didn’t see a structure resembling any of the temples in his native land. He only saw a building that resembled the rest of the structures around the area.

The faint sound of temple bells coming from inside confirmed he had arrived at the right location. With a small smile, he stepped in.

The place was big enough to fit dozens of people comfortably inside. Leaving his shoes in the designated area, he stepped towards the prayer hall, where there were marble statues of God.

Offering his prayer, he went towards a large courtyard.

Soothing sounds of flute music filled the air. He saw that a group of children were performing a play. He stood behind a small crowd and watched the performance. Since he was taller than most of the crowd, he could see clearly. The children were enacting the life of God Krishna during his childhood.

The children were quite young, but they acted well. He also noticed that the children were looking towards someone during the play. It was a young woman.

She wore traditional clothes and guided the children with her expressions and hand gestures during the play. The woman was pretty.

Her expressive face captivated him so much that he watched her for the rest of the play.

The play ended, and the audience began dispersing, but he stood watching. The children ran towards the woman while she smiled and laughed with them.

He felt a tug inside his heart.

As though the woman’s beautiful smile lit up the world, the clouds disappeared, and the sun suddenly began to shine brightly.

Is she one of the children’s mothers?

The woman didn’t look old enough to be someone’s mother. And she seemed to treat all the children with the same affection. He assumed she was their teacher.

She looks too young to be their teacher as well.

Before he could determine, the woman held the children’s hands and directed them away from the courtyard.

It took him a moment to realize he was following her when he abruptly stopped.

What am I doing?

The woman was a stranger and most likely would not appreciate a strange man following her. He wasn’t even sure what he would say to her.

With a small laugh and a shake of his head, he turned and walked in the opposite direction.

The temple was small, but it was organized well. There were dozens of people who appeared to be from diverse ethnicities and countries.

He followed the people into an enclosed room. It was a dining hall.

“Please take your seat,” a man said.

He sat at one of the tables while the temple volunteers served food.

He ate heartily as the food reminded him of home. As soon as he was done, he got up with a small, satisfied smile. He decided to frequent the temple often as it offered him a slice of home that he truly missed.

Clearing his plate, he washed his hands before leaving the dining hall.

As soon as he stepped out, his heart jerked when he saw the familiar pretty woman standing outside the dining hall. She was volunteering at the donation box.

She was even prettier up close, and he was captivated by her large, almond-shaped eyes.

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