Chapter Thirty-Seven: Sacred Waters and Divine Blessings
The third day dawned soft and golden.
Jay woke before Keiran—a minor miracle. The hotel room was quiet, the city outside just beginning to stir. She slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Keifer or their son, and stood by the window.
Ayodhya awaited.
Something about today felt different. Special. Sacred.
Keifer's arms wrapped around her from behind. "Couldn't sleep?"
"Too excited. Too peaceful. I don't know."
He kissed her shoulder. "Today feels important."
"Yeah." She leaned back into him. "It does."
---
Keiran woke slowly for once, rubbing his eyes, Rex clutched tightly.
"Mamma? Where we going today?"
"Ayodhya, baby. It's a very special place."
"Special how?"
"It's where a very important god was born. Lord Ram."
Keiran's eyes widened. "God born? Like baby?"
"Like a baby god, yes."
"Rex wants see baby god place."
"Rex will see it."
---
The lobby was calm.
Unusually calm.
Percy stood quietly by the doors, looking out at the morning. Honey held his hand, equally serene.
C.N. was reading something on his phone, but his expression was thoughtful, not competitive.
Even Mica was quiet, leaning against Calix.
Yuri had his camera, but he wasn't filming. Just... watching.
Jay approached Aries. "What's happening? Where's the chaos?"
Aries smiled slightly. "Even we know when to be still. Ayodhya is different."
Ella nodded. "It's the energy here. You can feel it."
Jay could. Something in the air. Something peaceful.
---
The drive to Ayodhya was quiet.
No Percy commentary. No C.N. corrections. Just the scenery—fields, villages, the occasional temple—passing by in golden morning light.
Keiran pressed his face to the window. "Mamma, so green."
"It's beautiful, baby."
"Gods live here?"
"Many people believe so."
"Rex says he can feel them."
Jay smiled. "Rex is very spiritual."
---
They arrived at the Ram Janmabhoomi complex—the birthplace of Lord Ram.
The temple was magnificent. Newly built, ancient in spirit, rising toward the sky in carved sandstone. Devotees moved around them, some praying, some simply gazing in awe.
Percy was speechless.
Actually speechless.
Honey squeezed his hand. "Babe? You okay?"
He nodded slowly. "It's... it's more than I expected."
C.N. put away his phone. For once, he wasn't researching or analyzing. Just experiencing.
Mica whispered, "It's so peaceful."
Calix nodded. "Yeah. It is."
---
They entered the temple complex.
The main sanctum was crowded but orderly. Devotees moved in lines, hands folded, eyes lifted to the deity.
Keiran held Jay's hand tightly. "Mamma, that's the god?"
"That's Lord Ram, baby. Well, the murti—the statue that represents him."
"He pretty."
"He is."
Keiran tugged her hand. "Can Rex see?"
"Rex can see from here."
Keiran held Rex up. "Rex, look. God."
Rex looked.
Keiran nodded solemnly. "Rex says thank you for letting us visit."
Jay's eyes filled with tears.
---
They moved through the temple slowly, each in their own space.
Felix and Bridget walked hand in hand, not speaking, just being.
David was quiet for once, Freya leaning into his side.
Aries and Ella stood before the deity, eyes closed, praying.
Even Yuri had lowered his camera, just watching.
Keifer found Jay near a pillar, Keiran in her arms.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"You okay?"
She nodded, wiping her eyes. "It's just... so beautiful. So peaceful. I didn't know places like this existed."
"They do. We just had to find them." He kissed her forehead. "Together."
Keiran reached for Keifer. "Pappa, hold?"
Keifer took him. "Always, buddy."
---
Outside, they found a quiet spot in the temple gardens.
Flowers bloomed everywhere. Devotees sat in meditation. The energy was gentle, kind.
Percy sat on a bench, staring at nothing.
Honey sat beside him. "What are you thinking?"
"Nothing. Everything." He shook his head. "I don't know how to explain it."
"You don't have to."
He looked at her. "I love you."
"I love you too."
C.N. approached Jay. "Baby girl?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for making us come."
"You wanted to come."
"I wanted adventure. This is... more." He looked around. "This is different."
"It is."
"I'm glad we're all here."
She hugged him. He let her. No protest.
---
They had lunch at a small restaurant near the temple.
Simple food. Rice, dal, vegetables, chapati. Nothing fancy. But somehow, it tasted better than any fancy meal.
Percy ate quietly. C.N. didn't argue once.
Mica didn't even ask for seconds.
Keiran fed Rex tiny bits of chapati. "Rex likes Indian food."
"Rex has good taste."
"Rex says thank you for bringing him."
"You're welcome, Rex."
---
After lunch, they drove to Triveni Sangam.
The confluence of three rivers—Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. The place where waters meet, where prayers are offered, where souls find peace.
The sun was beginning its descent, painting everything gold.
Boats lined the shore, waiting to take visitors onto the water.
Percy perked up. "Boat ride?"
"Boat ride," Jay confirmed.
"I LOVE BOAT RIDES!"
And just like that, some of the chaos returned.
But it was a gentle chaos. A happy chaos.
---
They split into two boats.
Jay, Keifer, Keiran, Rex, Percy, Honey, Aries, Ella, and Yuri in one.
C.N., Rakii, David, Freya, Mica, Calix, Felix, and Bridget in the other.
The boatmen pushed off, and they floated onto the sacred waters.
The confluence was visible—darker water meeting lighter, swirling together. Devotees on small platforms offered prayers, flowers, lamps.
Keiran pointed. "Mamma, look! Flowers on water!"
"Yes, baby. People offer them as prayers."
"Can we offer?"
Jay looked at the boatman. He nodded, smiling, and produced a small basket of marigolds.
Keiran took one carefully. "What I say?"
"Whatever's in your heart, baby."
He closed his eyes tight. Thought hard. Then opened them.
"I said thank you for Mamma and Pappa and Keigan and Rex and everyone."
Tears. Again.
Keifer pulled them both close.
---
Percy was quiet again, watching the waters.
Honey leaned against him. "Thinking deep thoughts?"
"Trying to. It's hard."
"You're doing great."
He kissed her temple. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Aries and Ella sat close, not speaking, just being.
Yuri had his camera out, but he wasn't filming. Just taking photos. Quiet ones. Respectful ones.
Of the waters. The sunset. The flowers.
Of his family, peaceful for once.
---
The other boat floated nearby.
Rakii was taking photos, but slowly, thoughtfully.
C.N. had his arm around her, watching the sunset.
David and Freya sat hand in hand.
Mica was actually still, leaning against Calix.
Felix and Bridget were at the front of the boat, watching the waters merge.
"It's beautiful," Bridget whispered.
"Yeah." Felix looked at her. "It is."
She caught him looking. Blushed. "I meant the river."
"I know." He smiled. "I meant you."
---
The sun set slowly, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink and purple.
Lamps began to appear on the water—tiny flames floating on leaves, carrying prayers into the darkness.
Keiran was mesmerized. "Mamma, they're like stars."
"Like stars on the water, baby."
"Rex wants to make a wish."
"Rex can make a wish."
Keiran closed his eyes, held Rex up. "Rex wishing."
"What did Rex wish for?"
"Secret." He opened one eye. "But it's about everyone being happy."
"Rex has a good wish."
"Rex always good."
---
They floated back to shore as darkness fell.
The city lights began to twinkle. The temple glowed in the distance. The waters whispered against the boats.
On land, they gathered together.
No one wanted to leave. No one wanted the peace to end.
Percy broke the silence. "That was... that was really something."
"It was," C.N. agreed. No argument. No correction.
Mica leaned against Calix. "Can we come back tomorrow?"
"Different place tomorrow," Jay said. "But we can always come back. Someday."
"Someday," Keiran repeated. "Rex likes someday."
---
The drive back to the hotel was silent.
Peaceful silence. Not awkward silence.
Keiran fell asleep on Jay's lap, Rex clutched tightly.
Keifer held her hand.
"Today was perfect," she whispered.
"The most perfect."
"Thank you for bringing us here."
"Thank you for being here. With me. With all of us."
She smiled in the dark. "Where else would I be?"
---
At the hotel, everyone dispersed quietly.
Percy hugged Jay—actually hugged her. "Thanks for today, baby sista."
"For what?"
"For making us come. For keeping us together." He pulled back, eyes suspiciously bright. "You're the best thing that happened to this family."
She hugged him back. "You're not so bad yourself."
"I'm amazing."
"There it is."
He grinned, then headed to his room with Honey.
C.N. stopped her too. "Baby girl."
"Yeah?"
"Today was... I don't have words."
"You don't need them."
He nodded. "Yeah." Paused. "I love you."
"I love you too, genius boy."
He walked away.
---
Jay tucked Keiran in—again—and found Keifer on the balcony.
Again.
"Hey."
"Hey." He opened his arms. She walked into them.
"Today was special."
"Very special."
"I'm glad we're here. All of us."
"Me too." He kissed her hair. "I love you."
"I love you too." She looked up at him. "Until the end of the universe?"
"Until scientists find it and then keep going."
She smiled.
And the night held them close.
---
End of Chapter Thirty-Seven