Since Saranya had been living in the temple, she had followed her old routines, waking up before the sun rises and taking a bath in the spring before anyone wakes up, cleaning the whole temple and then starting her hard training on her own.
She was a vegetarian, so living in a temple and eating fruits and vegetables was not a problem for her.
At seven, she would have an apple and a glass of milk, and then she would go into the meditation hall to meditate.
She would stay there for 4 to 5 hours and come out only when it was the time for lunch.
Later, she would again practice her martial art and take lessons in the evening, she would just have her dinner at night and after a walk, she would go to the temple and sit there until she would feel sleepy.
No matter what, her life was shaken, her faith was broken and her soul was shattered.
She needed to mend it as soon as possible.
Living her for this long, she had got to understand that this was the best decision she had made in her life.
If she wouldn't have come here, she might have not been this patient and would have done the unthinkable!
Today, she woke up as usual and did everything that she used to do, but what she didn't do was to take her breakfast and even her lunch.
"What are you doing, child? You have not had any meals today?"
One of the fellow priests asked as he looked at her face, "Sir, It's… It's just that I am not going to drink and eat anything for 24 hours! It's… It's some kind of fast you see!"
The priest heard her and smiled.
"Got it! But you shouldn't do much when you are fasting this hard."
"It's alright, Sir! I know what I am doing!"
Being hungry was not anything new for her, she had been hungry at many occasions!
Even when Ritzy moved in her house and when Sam came to live with them.
After all, she was just 16 or 17 and taking care of 3 kids' studies and their whole livelihood and adding new family members in her life, she had to cut her meals to feed them.
Saranya took a deep breath and looked up at the eyes with her eyes closed.
It was cold but still her heart was feeling fuzzy and the emotions she had in her heart, she wasn't sure where to take it out.
It's all been pent up in her for 3 years now and all the things she went through still felt like it happened just yesterday!
She would be turning 26 in the next 9 months and she wanted to be back before she did.
She had plans of staying here for a year but deep in her heart, she didn't want to leave.
She wanted to stay here forever but now it was time for her to leave.
Staying in bed for one and a half years and then living here for a year was more than enough.
Even though her eyes were not working well but with all the things she had learned, she was more than confident that if she couldn't see, she would still be able to live her life well.
The head priest was right, every person has hidden inner talent and all they just need is to find it.
And She was thankful that if God had taken her eyes but her senses were the best and even with her eyes closed, she was able to see a little when she could concentrate!
- - - - - - -
After living there for a year, she had decided to extend her time to live here but it seems like her life wasn't that blissful after all!
A tragic news traveled to her ears, breaking her from inside!
She couldn't believe it!
It was a voice note from Dr. John.
'Anya! I'm really sorry that I am disturbing your peace but you know how much my mother loved you and when she was on her 'deathbed' She kept asking for you! We are waiting for you to come back! I just hope you won't leave her alone in the last journey of her life!'
Hearing the message, her heart turned cold! Even though she was broken, no tears came out of her eyes as always, making her look like an emotionless monster.
She was broken but she had to Stick herself together to leave.
Saranya went to the head Priest and asked his permission to leave.
"Child, You lived here and it's more than enough for you! I just hope that you can keep you heart calm and mind calmer!"
He said and took out something from a wooden box and tied it on her wrist.
"It's the blessing of our Goddess! Just keep it to yourself!"
He said and she bowed her head to him, "Do not bow your head to me, bow your head to the supreme Goddess that has given you, your life!"
She did as he told and stood up, "Child, Your new journey starts here and trust me, the things you have been through were nothing! Those whom you have are lost but the people you have are hard to protect! You have enemies all around you but your loved ones are the ones who are in danger more than you! I think you know who I am talking about!"
"Thank you, Sir! I will take care of everything! And I promise, If I could live, I would come here some time soon!"
Saying this, she went inside the temple and prayed for Dr. John's mother's soul.
"You are the mother of the whole world but yet again, you took my mother for the second time! You know very well that if it was not for her, I would still have been blind and must be living somewhere in an orphanage rather than having the best treatment! Now, She is gone too! I just can't understand how much I have to lose in order to achieve what I don't even know I am aiming for!"
She said with a straight face and head bowed down.
"I'm sorry for being rude, but since childhood, I have looked for you every time I was restless and I think, I will come again and again to you! You are with me forever! Just don't leave me alone! If you leave too, I will have nothing left in my life!"
She said and walked away after closing her eyes and taking a deep breath!