As soon as we answered that question, the lock opened. I pulled out a paper from inside. It looked like a map of some area, but I couldn't place it at all.
Me: "Anil, where do you think this map is of?"
Anil: "It looks like somewhere underwater to me."
Nila: "Don't you have even a little common sense? Look — there's a picture of a camel here. That means it might be a desert."
Me: "Maybe… but where could it be?
Nila: "That's what we need to find out."
Anil: "But how are we supposed to figure out where it is?"
Me: "This place feels very familiar to me."
Nila: "Familiar how?"
Me: "I swear I've seen exactly this map somewhere before, but can't remember where."
Anil: "Try to remember, Huzur.
Me: "Okay… Nila, get me a mobile phone through which I can access the Internet."
Nila: "Yes — I'll see if someone in the library has one."
Nila brought me a phone. I started searching. Yes — there it is. I once read on Wikipedia about mermaids, and that article included a map of a similar desert. Hmm — the place was Rajasthan in India. That's very far from here.
Nila: "Find anything?"
Me: "Yes, I did."
Anil: "Where is it?"
Me: "India."
Anil: "So far… How do we get from Switzerland to India quick?
Nila: "Actually, we're no longer in Switzerland.
Me: "What do you mean?"
Nila: "This is the British Library in London."
Me: "You mean the demon sent us to London?
Nila: "Yes."
Nila: "The fastest way to get to India is by plane."
Anil: "Not that — there's an easier route than that."
Nila: "I don't see an easier option."
Me: "There is one. First let's get out of here. Then we can show you."
The three of us stepped outside with the map.
Anil: "Won't the Underworld's men follow us? They're coming here, too."
About ten men were stationed near the exit of the library.
Me: "We have nothing to fear. Let's attack them."
Nila: "Look, this isn't the time to charge in. Really, you're going to take on ten of them now? Wait and you'll see — twenty more will show up."
Anil: "Yes, sir, she's right. We need to get out of here."
Me: "Okay, let's go."
We slipped out the back door of the library. I grabbed a car and we headed straight for the seaside.
Me: "I don't think they're after us just for this design… There must be something else going on."
Anil: "I thought the same… They probably don't even know about the design. All the designs stay in the warehouse after they're sold. Many designs get stolen from there. It doesn't make sense that they'd chase us down just for this one."
Me: "And yet they're tracking us… They somehow know where we are and when."
Anil: "I've suspected that fairy girl from the beginning… Maybe she has been telling them our location."
Nila: "Look, I haven't done anything… If I had, why would I be saving you?"
Me: "You seem to be keeping a lot from us… You can tell us without fear."
Nila: "I am not hiding anything."
We came upon a bridge where the sea was just beside it.
Anil: "Tell us the truth — now. Otherwise, we'll have to use other means."
Nila: "I'm telling the truth."
Me: "Okay, we'll see if you're telling the truth."
I had shoved Nila. She had fallen into the water and panicked. I had put the design in a bag, and both Anil and I jumped in after her.
Nila: "Please save me, I can't swim!"
Me: "Anil!"
Anil: "Yes, sir…"
(Anil blew a whistle. Three dolphins came.
The three of us were carried on their backs by the dolphins. Nila was visibly afraid of the water.
Me: "Now look, start talking, or Anil will tell these dolphins to dive. And you know exactly what happens if they go down."
Nila: "Please don't do this… I'm telling you.
Me: "Mm-hmm, go ahead."
Nila: "They're coming for me… Not just them… If they can't find me, many more will come."
Anil: "What have you done?"
Nila: "I am Nilnithi, a princess of the Underworld…"
Me & Anil: "What???"
Nila: "Yes…my father was forcing me into marriage…I didn't want to marry now…but they said I'm of age…they said I must marry…and I couldn't even choose the wedding I wanted…that's why I ran away with you."
Anil: "What… you ran away with us?"
Nila: "Yes."
Me: "You didn't do the right thing…"
Nila: "You wouldn't understand. being forced to do something against your will, having to accept it-you don't know how painful that is.
Me: "You don't have to explain that to me."
Anil: "Sir, we cannot bring her along and get ourselves into trouble because of her… Just let her remain what she is."
Nila: "Please don't do this… don't hand me over to them, please."
Me: "Anil, can't we take her with us?
Anil: "Sir, perhaps you do not know. She is a princess… if we take her, we'll be accused of kidnapping and hanged."
Me: "Anil, we've come this far. once we reach our destination, we won't have anything to fear."
Anil: "I know that… but that would be like declaring war on them."
Nila: "Look, if you don't take me with you, I'll go to my father and say you kidnapped me — then let's see how you get your treasure."
Anil: "Alright, fine! We'll take you… but you see how they're searching for us because of you.
Nila: "I see that too… but please, don't hand me over to them."
Me: "Mm-hmm, okay, come with us."
Nila: "Are we really going to ride like this, sitting on the dolphin?"
Me: "You never sat on one before, right?"
Nila: "Mm-hmm… I'm really scared I might fall.
Me: "Then do one thing: sit behind me. Hold tight — if you squeeze me, you won't fall."
Nila: "Mm-hmm."
(Nila sat behind me and held on. The dolphin was very large, so there was no problem sitting.)
Anil: "Alright then, let's go."
Me: "Hmm, okay."
The dolphin continued churning with all the strength it could muster-surfacing, then diving beneath the water again. It continued near the surface for a long time, and Nila wasn't having too much trouble, but it had me tightly pinned.