Tara Zenyora : and the Seven-Jeweled Lighthouse Read online

  Tara Zenyora

  and the

  the Seven-Jeweled Lighthouse

  Samantha B. Adra

  Tara Zenyora and the Seven-Jeweled Lighthouse

  Copyright © 2021 by Samantha B. Adra

  All Rights Reserved

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. This book is intended for educational purposes only.

  This is a work of fiction. The names, places, settings, and characters in this book are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, is coincidental.

  Publisher: Lotus Happiness

  Editors: Dr. Melissa C, Paul S. D., Michael P., Venkata M, Laraac.

  Cover Designer: Shashika

  NATIONAL LIBRARY BOARD OF SINGAPORE

  Physical Book ISBN : 978-981-18-1403-7

  eBook ISBN: 978-981-18-1193-7

  DEDICATIONS

  To my Teachers of Deva and Manusia,

  my parents,

  and my loved ones.

  May this book of True Love

  bring Healing and Awakening to You,

  for all Humanity,

  for Eternity.

  Lighthouse of the Seven Jewels

  Theme Song, All Rights Reserved

  Songwriter: Samantha B. Adra

  Music composer: Patrick Trentini

  Singer: Victoria

  Listen in Youtube: https://bit.ly/3pr1GE7

  Verse 1

  Home is where my heart is

  I yearn for the True Light

  that banishes all Darkness

  in the everlasting Wheel of Life

  leading me to arrive

  at the Island of Supreme Paradise

  Verse 2

  Floundering in the Ocean of merciless Tempest

  I am trapped in the shackle of Darkness.

  Where is the Lifebuoy to keep me afloat?

  Where is the Anchor of my happiness?

  Chorus

  O Hero of the World!

  I have given my heart to You.

  Guide me to the Lighthouse of the Seven Jewels!

  Shine the Light of True Love upon me!

  I want to go back Home with You

  for Eternity

  Verse 3

  In times of trials and tribulations,

  the Eternal Light of White Lotus,

  is my adamantine fortress.

  In times of joy and jubilation,

  turning the Golden Wheel,

  is the bedrock of my Invincible Will.

  Chorus

  O Hero of the World!

  I have given my heart to You.

  Guide me to the Lighthouse of the Seven Jewels!

  Shine the Light of True Love upon me!

  I want to go back Home with You

  for Eternity

  Bridge

  Go, go, go all the way to the shore of Light!

  Awaken the Aspiration of Purity!

  Unleash the Power within me!

  Transform me to become the Vajra of the Thunderbolt!

  I vow to be the Sunlight,

  and walk the path of Your True Might.

  Chorus

  O Hero of the World!

  I have given my heart to You.

  Guide me to the Lighthouse of the Seven Jewels!

  Shine the Light of True Love upon me!

  I want to go back Home with You

  for Eternity

  Last Chorus

  Everyday I am thinking,

  How can I be the Hero,

  who leads the World

  to enter the Path of the Unsurpassed,

  and quickly return Home, return Home

  to the Lighthouse of the Seven Jewels.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER 1

  THE WEDDING

  CHAPTER 2

  THE DREAM

  CHAPTER 3

  THE PERANAKAN MANSION

  CHAPTER 4

  PULAU UBIN

  CHAPTER 5

  THE BURNING CASTLE

  CHAPTER 6

  PURPLE BAMBOO GROVE

  CHAPTER 7

  CLASSICAL CHINESE DANCE

  CHAPTER 8

  PLANTS AND ANIMALS

  CHAPTER 9

  WATCHING SUNRISE

  CHAPTER 10

  MANGO DISASTER

  CHAPTER 11

  THE STARRY NIGHT

  CHAPTER 12

  THE DUNG COLLECTION

  CHAPTER 12

  THE BATH HOUSE

  CHAPTER 14

  THE DRAGON LIBRARY

  CHAPTER 15

  QIBAOTA MEDITATION

  CHAPTER 16

  IMPERIAL TEA HOUSE

  CHAPTER 17

  DRAGON FLOWER DOME

  CHAPTER 18

  DRAGON TEA PLANTATION

  CHAPTER 19

  MARTIAL ARTS

  CHAPTER 20

  DURIAN FIESTA

  CHAPTER 21

  BALLROOM DANCING

  CHAPTER 22

  THE PHOENIX RIDER

  CHAPTER 23

  KATONG LAKSA

  CHAPTER 24

  THE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

  CHAPTER 25

  SUMMER SOLSTICE WATER FESTIVAL

  CHAPTER 26

  SPORTS TOURNAMENT

  CHAPTER 27

  THE CINTAMANI PEARL

  CHAPTER 28

  REINCARNATION

  CHAPTER 29

  THE PRINCESS INVESTITURE

  CHAPTER 30

  MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

  CHAPTER 31

  DRAGON ENGAGEMENT RITUAL

  CHAPTER 32

  THE SEASON OF PURIFICATION

  CHAPTER 33

  LOVING-KINDNESS MEDITATION

  CHAPTER 34

  THE WISDOM OF QIBAOTA

  CHAPTER 35

  RETURN OF BO

  CHAPTER 36

  DRAGON MEMORIAL DAY

  CHAPTER 37

  DRAGON EGG FERTILITY CENTER

  CHAPTER 38

  FAREWELL PARTY

  CHAPTER 39

  TETE A TETE AT CLOUD NINE

  CHAPTER 40

  DRAGON QUEEN’S CASTIGATION

  CHAPTER 41

  THE ESCAPE FIASCO

  CHAPTER 42

  THE PHANTOM ISLAND

  CHAPTER 43

  THE CONSUMMATION

  CHAPTER 44

  THE SKY BATTLE

  CHAPTER 45

  THE SEVEN-JEWELED LIGHTHOUSE

  CHAPTER 46

  MOUNT PUTUO ISLAND

  CHAPTER 1

  THE WEDDING

  Thus I have heard.

  Life is magical; if we have the wisdom, compassion, and determination to awaken the Hero of the World within us to achieve Enlightenment.

  For many years, Tara could not accept herself for who she was: a not-so-ordinary girl born with a tiny donut-shaped emerald jade in her mouth. It made her unique and different, when all she wanted to do was to lead a normal life. However, the truth remains that had it not been for the nurse who extracted the jade out of her mouth in the nick of time when she was still a baby, she might have died of suffocation. It remained a mystery as to how a jade stone ended up in her mouth while in her mother’s womb. Nevertheless, everyone concurred that Tara was a miracle baby and that she would enjoy boundless blessings in the future. As a Chinese proverb goes, “Those who sur
vive a catastrophe are bound to have good fortune and great blessings in the future.”

  Born in the zodiac year of the dragon, Tara was deemed fortunate based on Chinese tradition. Yet, she was not sure of that. Persistent illnesses tormented her while she was young. It all started when Tara was still a baby. She was diagnosed with atrial septal defect (ASD), a congenital birth defect commonly referred to as “a hole in the heart.”

  Tara almost lost her life to a rare bacterial lung infection known as Pulmonary Actinomycosis when she was five years old. Tara’s mother, Siew Lee, had a close friend who happened to be a Feng Shui consultant. Since Tara had a deep affinity with the healing jade (being born with it in her mouth), she advised Tara’s mother that she must wear the jade at all times for protection. Convinced, Siew Lee made sure that Tara always wore an emerald jade pendant.

  As a baby, Tara would fuss and cry, refusing to wear the donut-shaped gem. But shortly after Tara began to wear the emerald jade, the hole in the heart disappeared naturally within three months, and the rare bacterial lung infection healed within a week without any further medication. This miracle cemented her mother’s faith in the unexplained, mystical power of the jade and its ability to protect Tara from all calamities. The fact that the donut-shaped emerald jade grew from the tiny size of a kidney bean to the size of a one-dollar coin was a testament that the gem was indeed a miracle pendant.

  Time flew in a twinkling of an eye. Having graduated with a Law degree from National University of Singapore, Tara had started working in a law firm. The harsh realities she witnessed in her career and life ― countless acrimonious divorce cases, the failed marriages of her friends, and her Irish father’s two divorces out of three marriages ― made her perceive love as a disposable mask ready to be discarded once soiled.

  Tara always wondered: What is True Love? Can I ever find True Love in my life? Somehow, she intuitively understood that True Love was no longer a feel-good Disney fairytale; it had to be something loftier.

  If I wish to find True Love, I have to awaken the True Love within and become the embodiment of True Love, Tara thought. Since then, she aspired to live a purpose-driven life committed to personal growth and self-actualization in the service of humanity.

  As such, Tara spent her weekend not only in dancing (her talent and favorite past time hobby), but also in volunteering her time in various charitable organizations. When she turned twenty-seven years old, she met her Prince Charming while doing volunteer work at a hospice. Prakash, a cardiologist, was ten years her senior. After six months of a whirlwind romance, she finally tied the knot with him in a cross-cultural marriage spanning Indian, Chinese, and Western contemporary marriages.

  It was a sunny April morning. The weather was balmy with white fluffy clouds floating by in the sky, and the wind was breezy with a hint of sea salt. Two dragonflies flew in the air, forming a heart-shaped wheel. Tara was excited to marry Prakash in a romantic nautical-themed beach wedding in Langkawi, a tropical island not far away from Penang, Malaysia. While the traditional Indian marriage was held a week earlier in Singapore, the traditional Chinese marriage was held in Penang two days before the contemporary beach wedding.

  “My dear, you look amazingly divine,” said Prakash, holding Tara’s hands tenderly.

  “Thank you, honey,” Tara blushed ever so slightly. “You look awesome in your all-white Indian tunic.” Tall and lanky, Prakash was handsome in his own distinctive way. His gentle smile and compassionate gaze never failed to bring peace and assurance to Tara’s tender heart. She had fallen head over heels in love with Prakash’s kindness and gentleness, the noble qualities that she found irresistible in men.

  The solemnization was held in a heart-shaped, white-and-turquoise floral arch under a round floral canopy on the sandy beach. With Mr. Lim as the wedding officiant, Tara and Prakash signed the wedding document to officially register their marriage with two witnesses: Tara’s father, Patrick, and Prakash’s eldest brother, Ravi.

  The immediate families and close friends of Tara and Prakash were seated on the floral-decorated wooden chairs placed on the white sandy beach, witnessing the moment when the wedding vows were exchanged.

  After solemnization, the music, A Thousand Years, by Christina Perri, blared out from the stereo, signaling the time to exchange rings in tandem with modern wedding vows.

  I have died every day, waiting for you

  Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years

  Tara looked absolutely gorgeous in her white, deep V-neck, diamanté-embellished satin bridal jumpsuit with a cowl back. Her hair was tied up in a floral chignon, and her slightly well-toned arm made her appear vivaciously fit and seductively dynamic. Her mixed Irish and Chinese blood made Tara a Eurasian Chinese of exotic beauty. Fair-skinned and slender with an hourglass figure, her emerald-green eyes set in an oval-shaped face with Obsidian black hair were most alluring.

  Tara created the Nautical Marriage Vow with Prakash for their beach wedding theme. Mr. Lim initiated the wedding vow ceremony by saying, “Prakash and Tara, please hold each other’s hands to begin the Nautical Marriage Vow Ceremony. Prakash, please.”

  Holding both hands of Tara and looking into her alluring green eyes, Prakash said, “Tara, I am deeply grateful to have you as my wife today. Since the time without beginning and ending, I vow to love you and cherish you forever, just like the eternal revolution of the Dharma Wheel. I vow to be your Anchor of happiness in times of joy and jubilations, and I vow to be your Lifebuoy to keep you afloat in times of trials and tribulations. I vow to be your Life Compass pointing to the everlasting true self of purpose, passion, and purity. I vow to be your Lighthouse to show you the ever-present light of wisdom and compassion. I vow to be absolutely committed to you: high tide or low tide, I will always be by your side, hand in hand, heart to heart, in this enduring journey of Amaranthine True Love.”

  Prakash began to get emotional, tears welled up in his eyes. It was a bumpy courtship for him because of his conservative mother’s fervent rejection. The latter did not want a Eurasian daughter-in-law. Instead, she wanted him to marry a Tamil woman so that she could pass down Indian cultures and traditions to their children.

  “Tara, please,” said Mr Lim, slightly waving his hand on Tara’s side as a signal for her to begin her vow.

  “Prakash, I am deeply grateful to have you as my husband today. Since the time without beginning and ending, I vow to love you and cherish you forever, just like the eternal revolution of the Dharma Wheel. I vow to be your Anchor of happiness in times of joy and jubilations, and I vow to be your Lifebuoy to keep you afloat in times of trials and tribulations. I vow to be your Life Compass pointing to the everlasting true self of purpose, passion, and purity. I vow to be your Lighthouse to show you the ever-present light of wisdom and compassion. I vow to be absolutely committed to you: high tide or low tide, I will always be by your side, hand in hand, heart to heart, in this enduring journey of Amaranthine True Love,” said Tara, her eyes glistened with tears of joy and gratitude.

  After the Nautical Wedding Vow ceremony, Tara and Prakash exchanged their platinum wedding bands and shared a kiss. Glancing at her one-carat solitaire engagement ring dazzling brilliantly in the sunlight, Tara was imbued with boundless love to become Prakash’s wife.

  The wedding vow ended with Tara throwing her bouquet of pink roses, peach peonies, and periwinkles to the guests. Her best friend and bridesmaid, Mayreen, managed to grab the bouquet.

  After the completion of the solemnization and the marriage vow exchange, Tara and Prakash, as well as their immediate families and close friends boarded the luxurious two-tiered catamaran called the Sea Falcon for the post-wedding celebration. The yacht was decorated with aquamarine helium balloons, bedecked with nautical-inspired paraphernalia such as the navigational wheel, anchor, life buoy, oar, lighthouse, starfish, compass, pearl, and seashells. A balanced assortment of sweet and savoury delicacies was ready at the tastefully designed dessert bar.
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  Inside the yacht’s private suite, Tara took a quick glance at herself in the mirror. Oh dear, my jade pendant! How can I forget about it? I promise my mother to always wear my jade pendant no matter what!

  Penang was the hometown of both Tara and her mother. A few days ago, she went to pay respect to her late mother at the Kek Lok Si temple, a renowned Buddhist temple, in Penang, Malaysia. The photo of her mother on the niche was still vividly etched in her mind. Her mother had passed on seven years ago.

  “Tara, are you ready for the photoshoot?” Mayreen asked. Dressed in a turquoise, knee-length chiffon halter dress, Mayreen looked charming with her slim stature, short ebony hair, and a warm skin tone.

  “Give me a second, I’ll be ready in a jiffy,” she said, as she went to get her jade pendant from her jewelry box.

  When Tara touched the jade pendant; she noticed it was warmer than usual. She knew from her past experience that the jade became warm before something untoward was about to happen to her. Nonetheless, because it was her wedding today, she brushed off the sense of foreboding doom as irrelevant.

  “Let me help you with the pendant,” Mayreen said, offering to help Tara put on the pendant. “You look absolutely gorgeous today.”

  “Thank you, Mayreen.”

  Once she put on her pendant, she stepped out for a photo session organized by the photographer, Jun Yang. Patrick came along to join them in the photography. The videographer, Sean Tan, was also busy recording videos.

  “Daddy, thank you so much for everything. I’m so sorry, I love you.” Tara embraced his father who was tall and stout. When she saw his wrinkled face and silver hair, her heart was filled with regrets for holding grudges against him. She was not on speaking terms with her father for the past seven years because she always believed it was her foul-tempered father who contributed to her mother’s untimely death. She resented the fact that shortly after the death of her mother, her father married his mistress. However, his father’s third marriage was short-lived. It lasted only six months.