Capítulo 3: The Test- Part One
A mother calls for her elder son to help her with some work.
Mother: Ashu, come here!!
Ashu: Coming!! (swiftly puts down his work and rushes to his mother.)
Ma!
Mother: Ashu, take it to the room, I am coming in a moment.
Ashu carefully lifts the utensil and holds it against his chest while starting to move into the room.
He is so focused on the utensil, trying not to spread it out.
Ashu: Oh! Its so hot !! (quickly puts it on a table near the cot.)
Mother (asking in a raised voice): Ashu! You didn't drop it, right?
Ashu: Yeah! Don't worry!!
(He quickly runs to the bed where his baby brother seems to be asleep while he is playing with some pieces of stones and wood.)
Mother enters the room.
Mother: Ashu! What are you doing??
Ashu: Look, Maa! I found something in the forest. (excited)
Mother: What is it?
Ashu: I don't know; (watches it closely) it looks like some sort of carved wood to me… Maybe it belongs to the cavalry..
Mother: You mean the Kingsman?
Ashu: Yeah!
Mother: It's so wrong, Ashu; you should not bring any suspicious thing like that home.! (scolding) It could be so dangerous. (her eyebrows drew closer.)
Ashu: Don't worry, maa; its just some broken piece. No one saw me taking that…
(Mother gazes at the wooden piece. It looks meticulously carved out, with a symbol imprinted on it.)
Ashu: Maa! When will Papa be coming this year? (a glitter of hope in his eyes)
Mother: (turns cold) Soon!! . He told me he'd take us there this time.
Ashu: Yeah, just like every time he does (disappointment and denial to show any expression)
Ashu keeps playing with the things he collected from the forest.
The tension grows outside the house as an individual approaches the door.
It's so dark outside that it's so hard to see the man wearing a bandana moving forward.
The baby starts crying suddenly. Mother quickly took him in her laps while trying to calm him down. She rubs his back while the baby unfurls his hand on his mother, trying to reach her neck.
(Mother carefully removes the baby cloth wrapped around her younger son.)
Mother: What happened, Nauna? (soft and comforting tone). Are you hungry, huh? (continues to calm him down.)
Suddenly, a knock on the door can be heard!
It's like a single, sharp rap against the oaken door, echoing through the house. A solitary pebble was cast into a still pond, sending ripples of anticipation through the air.
The mother lowered him gently, but his grasp on her wedding sutra tightened, a wordless plea for a reprieve.
She carefully lays him down on his baby- cloth while trying to get away from the hold of her son on her necklace.
Baby starts crying !!!
Mother: I'll be right back, my little one!! Ashu, take care of your little brother.. Ok!?
Ashu: Yes, Maa!
She swiftly goes to the door, opening it. However, she seems to be scared, as it's not common to have a visitor at this time.
She took a big breath and calmed down while opening the door chain.
THE DOOR OPENS!!
She looks so confused; there is no-one out there. The wind is flowing hard, making her beautiful hair all flow and cover her face.
She tries to see anyone around, but there is nothing she can see..!. She's so anxious.
As soon as she turned around, she heard something.
But its too late already, Hsssk...Ugh!! , she felt and collapsed.
The neck is being pinned down to the earth, with blood flowing all around.
Ashu: Maa! (He startled and ran quickly to her mother, while his eyes glistening with heartache. )
He saw a knife handle carefully bound with some cloth stabbed in his mother's neck!!
He bent on his knees, his shoulders shaking, a silent earthquake rippling through his body. Fresh tears welled, spilling over like a river overflowing its banks.
However, a bright light is being pointed towards him.
He can see a person approaching him with no signs of mercy.
He says, "Who are you?"!! (Anger with tears felt like molten pearl.)
While the baby is crying so loudly , its hard to listen to anything other than cries and knife stabbing.
The baby kicks while crying as the man approaches him. He took the wooden piece with a carved symbol while rasping the baby cheeks with his hand full of fresh blood.
The outcries rise as we can see the house being put on fire and the baby crying so loudly as if it continues to echo into the forest.
Then, as abruptly as it began, the silence returned.
A thick, suffocating silence pressed on your eardrums, more deafening than the screams themselves.
Stars peek through the inky sky, a silent audience listening to the fire's crackling song.
(Isn't it warm,?! I can feel the tender stream of emotions flowing as if it were going to crush the rock standing tall against it. But, I can't deny, it's so warm.)
The scene changes to gleaming eyes filled with fear as the herd of bison comes towards him.
While Varuna seems scared and sweating, his father stands tall with a spear in his hand, as it seems he is challenging the furious group of Bisons to attack him.
It's so hard to hear anything other than the monstrous feat of bison rushing in panic.
Varuna, being so focused, could feel every beat of his heart echoing in his ear. It's like time has slowed down for him.
He can see the feat of death coming his way; he is so helpless sitting there on his laps. The only thing that can save him is his father, standing tall in front.
He is like the wall that is going to save his son from the approaching danger.
He blinked his eyes, and everything came normal, and then there came the first impact..!
The ground trembled, a ripple of shockwaves emanating from the point of impact.
Jabali quickly buried his spear on the ground in front of him as he is trying to save himself from the devastating blow coming his way.
The blade of the spear being pointed in the opposite direction to the coming feat of monsters that could cut deep even in the thickest skin.
The dust made the sight hard to see as the bison's diverged in two directions in order to avoid any contact from the sharp cutting edge of the spear blade being buried in the ground.
Varuna's shaking so bad, and while he can see his father managed to dodge the first impact, he is not feeling good about it.
It's getting hard for Jabali to maintain his position, as he can feel the force from both sides trying to uproot him from his position.
Jabali shouts with anger: Ahhhhhhh!,
He is clearly struggling with the force he's taking upfront.
The air feels thin and sharp as he feels his skin getting teared up, making blood surge out of his cheeks, making it hard for him to see anything as the blood and dust make him vulnerable to seeing anything in that unsettling hem.
His body can't take this anymore, leading him to lose control and come to his knees while the spear uprooted and flew out with the jostling herd of bison.
While Varuna's trying to get up and help his father, his own body is denying himself.
The legs are numb while shaking. He is trying to make things under control, but it's not working for him.
Bisons are running onto him while he cries with extreme pain, as his muscles have been crushed out ruthlessly.
Jabali: AAARGHH! (Tears welling in his eyes)
His skin's turning red as blood and sweat is coming out of his body.
But he is not giving up!
He's surely on such an adrenaline rush that he managed to get his hold over the spear while he was being crushed tremendously by the herd.
Somehow he managed to stand up, balancing his weight against the spear, and watch the bison's running.
He shouted with madness filled eyes and took a giant leap backward while making a callous slash against the moving bison running towards him.
A GURGLE ERUPTS, SPILLING BLOOD!, A sickening cough of blood flew out into the air, dropping everywhere around it.
While the streaks of blood flow all over his face,. His eyes turn godly as if he is punishing for a pitiless sin.
The scene turns all red with blood coming out everywhere, while the bison loses his balance due to the shear cut it received.
It loses its balance while struggling to stand. It's moving its head in order to defend itself from any other upcoming blow.
In total panic, it growls with pain as it is losing a lot of blood.
The bison's roar stuns Varuna, as he is frustrated with himself. His legs are so numb that he is punching intensely.
He slammed his fist on his thigh in order to get everything under control, but nothing was working. A single, fat tear rolled down his cheek.
He could see his father struggling in the middle of death, and his body denied his own wish.!!
He started having a feeling of disgust towards himself, the aversion was killing him from the inside.
The herd is now dispersed so as to avoid any blow from the blade in the hands of a bloody human.
Jabali, standing while a drop of blood falls from his eyes, moves forward to the wounded bison to finally get it dead.
However, the bison seems to be so aggressive that it's literally impossible to deliver a jab at it for a final blow; however, highly spirited Jabali charged forward for another blow.
THUMP! He's being hit by its head and falls to the ground in front of it. The bison is trying to squeeze the lump of flesh and bones in the sand, pressing his face onto his chest.
Jabali shouts while he is being crushed against the land.
However, he manages to give a massive vertical blow to the middle of his head, and the spear gets stuck in it.
The bison stepped behind and started losing its consciousness while Jabali hung on the spear, trying to get up.
He's shouting with pain with the tiniest of movements possible.
He somehow manages to stand up , sensing that he might be in control.
But suddenly, THWACK!! , one of the horns of the bison was stabbed in his leg's calves all through it. THE BISON IS GONNA FIGHT UNTIL ITS DEAD!.
A flayed scream, a bloody wound torn open, exposing raw flesh to the world, he pulls his spear out of it's head, and with a massive blow, he cuts down the horn from it's head.
He freed himself from the hold of Bison while shouting with insufferable pain. He is trying to make his leg free from the stabbed horn, but its too lancinating for him to do anything.
While the bison is unable to move and is still trying to defend itself, being laid on the ground, it's hunter is crying and pleading for help.
Heavy breathing continues for Jabali as he has to rip that horn off of his leg.
He took long breaths while pulling his leg out sharply, exposing flesh and blood being flown out.
A wet cough racked his body, tinged with blood. The scream threatened to erupt again, but it died in her throat, replaced by a low, animalistic whimper.
He dragged himself to the bushes, where he tried to lay down on his back against the trunk.
While he's breathing heavily, he can see the bison still struggling to live.
Jabali: You are so stubborn!! Huh! . AAh! (manages his leg) Hhhh … Just die already!
He continuously watches that bison trying to stand and coming towards him while falling every time he tries to stand up.
Jabali finds the knife in his hand, in case it hits him again.
The bison's all bloody with his one eye closed. He slowly dragged itself towards Jabali while trying to jab him with its only left horn.
While Jabali keeps his guards on with a knife in one hand, a shadow appears in front of him.
It's Varuna!!!
The bison seems to be at peace now, but the sudden change in its behaviour surprises Jabali.
Varuna touches the cut on its head, his hand illuminates with a spectrum of auras exchanging.
Varuna remains silent, with no expression on his face. It's just like he is not awake; he's being controlled by some divinity.
The bison collapsed and died while Varuna bent down in front of it, his head watching the ground.
The uproar comes to an end while the sun rises from the back of the hill.
It's like a peaceful end to a difficult night where every living being feels rejuvenated to start again.
The light intensifies further, chasing away the last vestiges of the night. Butterflies, with wings painted in vibrant hues, emerge from their slumber and flit between blossoming flowers, sipping nectar.
While in the village, everyone's waiting for the arrival of the men.
There is a tense atmosphere that can cause havoc for anyone.
Its like life stopped for them as their hearts poured out for those who were risking their lives for their bellies.
No matter if its women or kids, everyone is desperately waiting for their family to get together once again.
Squirrels run through the lane; Their energy is infectious, a testament to the simple pleasures of life, so as for the villagers.
There comes a kid running in excitement, shouting, "They have arrived." .
Everyone stands up with toes on ground as they can't wait to see them anymore.
Here they come! They were all delighted with the hunt they did, carrying a bamboo sheath over which their hunt was laid open to the sun. While it smells so bad, it's a sign of nature gifting life, smiles, and the warmth to the people.
Everyone puts down the sheath while swiftly running towards their family and their kids, desperately waiting for them. It was the fierce, unwavering love that echoed in their ragged breaths, their trembling hands.
While everyone seems so happy and delighted, Naima, with tears in her eyes, moves the people to see her husband and son.
Vanya struggles to move as there is a lot of commotion while holding her mother's hand.
Finally, she could breathe!! A gasp escaped her lips, a mixture of shock and relief.
Varuna and Jabali, all covered in soil, could be seen coming at the end of the commotion. While Jabali is unable to use his one leg, Varuna's supporting him on his shoulder while they move slowly and steadily.
A single tear rolls down Naima's cheek, sparkling like a tiny jewel in the sunlight.
It doesn't fall but hangs suspended, a testament to the depth of her emotion.
Jabali reaches out a hand, his fingers trembling slightly. Soft, ethereal tendrils of light, like spun moonlight, wisp from her hand and entwine with his.
Vanya started crying as his father's injured so badly, but she's happy that he's finally safe.
Varuna stands behind them while he's happy that they have survived, but his frustration with himself can't be hidden. He stands alone, watching the moment.
Wild hair stuck to tear tracks, and his jaw clenched a sob he wouldn't release.
(He's not a kid anymore, after all!!)
The people start gathering for their leader as the men from the hunt have returned.
Everybody is so delighted by the moment, as there is no loss of life for their tribe, while the ritual is famous for being the deadliest and most lethal.
Everybody is praising Jabali for the kind of courage he has shown that no one has seen before.
The leader Athini, shows up, calling for the celebration.
Athini: Mother nature has blessed us with food and joy this morning. I am so happy that our men have returned, showing the great courage that has always been what Raji's are known for!!
Not only is our king proud of us, but we are proud too. We have always been the greatest hunters in the Himalayas, and no-one comes near us.
And Jabali (short silence and breathing), you are a Raji!
And we are proud of you.. You've passed the ultimate sacrifice!...
(Jabali nods while respecting his leader.)
Athini: And Varuna (laughs with pride) - our kid showed us that even the little Raji's are true hunters!!
(Varuna smiles just to acknowledge everyone cheering for him and his family.)
Athini: We shall depart for the mountains soon!! We will be leaving once the Sun reaches the top. And everyone.,
Eat Well!!
(Cheers, a joyous roar, exploded from the villagers. Faces beamed, children danced, a celebration symphony of clanging pots and joyful shouts. Even elders swayed, wrinkles crinkling in their smiles. Pure joy.)
The sun has climbed to the top with sunlight so bright that it hurts sometimes, yet this cool, swaying wind makes it too overwhelming and soothing.
The bride's trail seems to be ready, as two carts were made ready for the bride and Athini's family.
While every other villager used straps made from cloth or animal hide to carry heavier loads on their heads, freeing up their hands for navigating the terrain.
Vanya(laughing): Woo-hoo! We will be travelling finally!
Naima: Yeah !! But you should sit down here quietly, ok? The journey's going to be so tiring!!
Yukti: Maa! Don't worry, she will be sleeping all the time, I swear!! (Everyone laughs unanimously.)
Vanya (seems too annoyed now): Where's Varuna Da?
Naima: I think he's helping other people carry their loads.
Yukti: Maa! Is he alright? (seems so concerned.)
Naima: Yeah but why?
Yukti: He's so quiet after he came back from the hunt… I think we should talk with him?
Naima: Yeah! I know it would be so difficult for him to watch those things with his tender eyes… We will make him feel light, okay?
Yukti and Vanya: Yeah!!
Varuna enters while carrying some load in his hands, and two other people follow him.
Varuna: Maa! We have to make some space for the babuji. And his apprentice too!!
Baka: Hey kid! I am not his apprentice or anything!! (offended)
Varuna: I mean!! (tries to clarify his thoughts)
Baka: I am Baka!! I am the closest friend of the fiancée of your older sister.
Billaji: Ok, baba!! (seems hurried) It's not important who you are to me. Just help me sit in the cart.
Baka: Let me tell you! He's blind.. And I am here to help him. (whispers slowly) ' He's just the uncle of my friend, that's it! I don't like him anyway. He snores too loud!! Ccche ' (frustrated as hell)
Varuna: Let me help you, Babuji!!
(He hold his hand while Baka pushes him, navigating him to the right place to sit.)
Billaji is an old man who might be in his 70s, but he's well respected in the Raji tribe. He seems to be well aware of all the politics and philosophies that the leader of the tribal group might need every time. However, he's into writing songs and poems whenever he feels like it.
He's fatty and wears a goat fur cap on his head.
{I am not sure if other people like his poems or not, but Billaji do.}
Billaji: (while patting Vanya's head) Son!! How old are you?
Vanya: huh!!? I am not a boy, Babuji. (sounds so angry while others hide their laughs.)
Billaji: Oh, okay, I thought you had long hair, just like your brother has!! (a scornful laughter )
Varuna blushes so hard while others were worried about his condition.
It seems now he is okay.
Naima and Yukti nodded in agreement.
Billaji calls Baka: Hey, Baka (so loud)!!
Baka: Yeah!! But why are you shouting?? I am sitting right beside you.. (frustrated)
Billaji: Give me some water … I am so thirsty. It's getting so hot already. Find out when the cart's going to move. I can't sit here like this..
Baka: Wait, uncle!! (while handing him the water vessel he's carrying with him.)
(He engulps the whole container in a single sip. While everyone saw him in awe, Baka's annoyed so much.)
Baka: Uncle, its for us on the journey..!! Now what I am gonna drink huh…? (annoyed for his silliness)
Billaji: Don't worry!! You can fill it anytime, son, we will be moving by river every other time!! And don't shout at me, okay.. I am so older than you. Show some respect!!
Baka is so frustrated that he wants to punch Billaji on the head, but he gets shy with people watching him closely.
Baka: okay! Let me go and refill this out.. (moves quickly)
Varuna (asking):Maa! Where's Papa?
Naima: He's with your grandmother. He's injured so he will be there along with her.. (calming him down)
Varuna: Okay!! (sits beside her mother)
The procession starts moving with carts, followed by people walking on foot.
Everyone seems so pleased with the journey while the terrain looks so stony-uneven and it gets too hard for the people moving barefoot.
However, it feels like the day is going to be great. The silent noise of water flowing through the river calms everyone's heart with cool wind gusting the face, making the moment so magical. The hair is flowing while the kids seems so cheerful for visiting peaky mountains.
Surely, a wonderful place to be !! However, it seems different for the people moving in carts.
Billaji: Hey, Baka!! I told you to bring something to eat, right!!
Baka: Haan??? When? (frustrated)
Billaji: You are just good for nothing, truly!! (taunting)
Naima: Babuji, don't worry, we'll be stopping somewhere for the day's meal soon. (finding something) For the time being, you can have these fish pork's!! (smiling)
Vanya watches with displeasure; it might be her portion of food.
Billaji:
Sun on our backs, bellies a-rumble, free food's the best kind, no need to fumble.
With joyful belches, a silly song, we thank the world the whole night long!
Everyone's laughing while making no sound …
Baka: Billaji, gulp it at once, so that you can be silent for the rest of journey!!
The procession stops in the middle of the valley, filled with green pine trees all around. Everyone seems to be busy in catching fish and collecting wood for food.
While Varuna seems busy in helping other people, Vanya and Yukti seem to be enjoying the view and the chilled water.
Vanya: Di! Don't go in there; it's so cold .. (her teeth shrilling.)
Yukti: Then how are we going to get our food, huh!! My langur…
Vanya sneezes while Yukti laughs on her.
Vanya calls Varuna for some help!! Varuna hands her the berries he collected from nearby trees. Vanya took them and handed over some to her older sister. While her older sister is trying to catch some fish!!
Athini (to Jabali): The boy looks so frightened and stunned after that… What happened there??
Jabali (thinks deep for some moment while hesitating to tell): He might be somewhat scared and tired of all this venture he had gone through. But he is all right and he is not hurt. (tries to comfort her while he gazes Varuna with anxiousness.)
Everyone seems to be ready to move forward, as there will be a steep ascent ahead of them.
The ascent somehow reduces the speed of the whole procession while some people are pushing the carts up as the donkeys are unable to lift them on their own..
THE SUN sets right behind the mountain, and the group is trying to cross through; however, it doesn't seem good as they won't be able to stop anywhere for the night…
People are firing their torches now, as they climb ahead.
The wind is getting so cold with the sun's setting down. Cheeks feel so numb while the clouds are on their heads.
Now, as they pass through the cliff surrounding the mountain, the passage gets narrower, as if any negligence could be life-threatening from here on!
It's pitch dark, as the only light source is the moonlight.
The carts are moving ahead just to be visible to other people moving on foot.
And then suddenly, the earth shuddered with a deafening roar as a section of the cliff face above exploded in a shower of rocks, leaving the path in treacherous disarray.
Everyone grew so shocked, as if there were cries that could be heard with echoes falling down the cliff.
Varuna gets off the cart , running to get to the point where people are scared and injured too. He tries to see the people who could be falling down, but he can just hear the echoes of daunting cries.
His breathing turns heavy while he sets his foot back.
The haunting echoes of their terror scraped his insides, a symphony of despair that promised only oblivion.
He runs to his grandmother while calling for some help,
Varuna (anxious and scared): Grandma! Some of them are there under the valley; they might be alive, right? (struggles to talk.)
Athini: Varuna, we should move forward! We can't let other people be on the verge of death because of some. We must respect them as well. (It is so compelling that Varuna has no answer to it. )
Varuna: But they are our people too!! (emphasizing)
Athini: No!! No more questions. The clouds are dark; we shall move forward.
Varuna seems so scared and depressed that his eyes start getting wet… He runs back to his cart.
The journey continues for the Raji Tribe!!
Varuna enters the cart while everyone seems so silent, which is a bit unusual for that to happen.
His mother patted him on the head while he kept telling her he was fine.
Billaji quoted suddenly:
you mustn't be afraid of death; ,you're a deathless soul
you can't be kept in a dark grave; you're filled with God's glow
Varuna: You must be joking, right!!? (in a raised voice)
Naima: Varuna!! No.. (scolding him)
Varuna: It's hilarious, Maa. We've lost our people to this journey, and he's still sounding like it's worth nothing. (dejected.)
They've entrusted us; they were accompanying us for our family, for our tribe. They are not some bison that we can kill off and have fun with!
Aren't we going to mourn for them?? (asks violently)
On the other hand, we will be celebrating tomorrow. It sounds like we are some demon or anything!!
Billaji:
when your heart is immersed in this blissful love,
you can easily endure any bitter face around,
in the absence of malice, there is nothing but happiness and good times
don't dwell in sorrow, my friend !
Varuna: I think we should at least be silent, showing some respect to them! (silence) That's so enough ..!
(stands up and jumps from the cart, joining other people walking by and helping them lifting their luggage.)
Everyone seems so tensed and sad while Vanya looks towards her mother while she tries to calm her.
Piercing whistles cut through the rustling leaves, sharp and unexpected against the gentle sighs of the wind. The isolation of the environment amplifies the owls' calls, making them seem lonesome and mournful, echoing across the water.
It's nearly midnight, and people start feeling sleepy as they have been walking for a whole day now without any sleep.
While Varuna seems too engrossed with his own thoughts while watching the beautiful starry skies, a sob can be heard.
Vanya who seems to be slept watches something and asks her mother while pulling her mother's arm.
Vanya: (pointing) Maa!! See, that boy is crying while sleeping.
Naima: Huh!! (still sleepy)
She rubs her eyes a bit and calls out his name.
Naima: Baka!! Bakaa! (the poor boy wakes up with tears coming out his eyes.)
Baka: Yeah!!
Naima: What's happening? Why're you crying? (concerned)
Baka: (tries to breathe while rubbing his eyes) I am crying?? (yawning)
As soon as he started yawning, he quickly reached out of the cart while vomiting so hard.
Baka: Yuck!! CChe…. It smells like some animal is dead!
!!! I am going out I can't sleep next to this demon anymore. (shouting in frustration) !!!
Billaji's snoring continues while Vanya tells her mother to close her nose while she has already started sleeping.
Baka joins Varuna while asking if he needs some help.
Baka: (sniffing) Haaaaaa! The air is so refreshing out here!! Right
(while expecting some reply from him.)
Varuna doesn't seem to be interested in talking with him while he gives Baka a look.
Baka: (changing his tone) Ok, Sorry?
The night is starting to fade out as the first rays of gentle warmth reach out, kissing the dew-laden leaves with a golden glow.
The world awakens slowly, bathed in a soft, ethereal light. It's a moment of peace and serenity, a quiet transition from the slumber of night to the vibrant promise of a new day.
Entry to the Mana Village:
Kids can be seen playing, running towards each other. While seeing the procession coming towards their village, they ran away, calling out for their parents.
Athini: These kids won't tell us anything! They are too scared of non-natives.
They proceeded to a place where a large group of people started to gather while the leader of Mana's clan reached out under the mighty Himalayan Cedar.
Athini: Shail!! I am really pleased to meet you after so many years.
Shail:(reaching her foot to show his respect) I hope your journey has been great. (smiles)
Athini: We've lost some people on course of mountains. I think we need to perform our rituals first.
Shail: Yes! We'll make all arrangements for that, Di!
Athini: Thank you! You have always been our tribe's pride. And you are serving for the king!! I am so happy we have you.. (shows appreciation while other tribe members listen quietly.)
Shail: It is my duty, Di!
(enters a young man with a tattooed chest. His charm attracted everyone standing around there.)
Advaik: Pa! More men have been called for the royal duties. I am sure something bad is going on in the palace!
Shail: Well, son! We can discuss it afterwards. First, meet your fellow leader.
Advaik: (bows in front of Athini) Pleasure to meet you !!
Athini raises her hand in order to show some appreciation to him.
Athini: It looks like your son has grown a lot, huh! I am here for a proposal, Shail!! (talks intensifies)
Shail: Yes, my leader!
Athini: This is my granddaughter, Yukti (here comes a girl who is hesitating). I want your son to marry her so that our Mana's village prospers with harmony.
Shail: I will be so happy, my leader!! If your grand-daughter becomes our village's daughter too! (full of gratitude)
Every other person surrounding cheers in joy as the tribe is going to have a wedding soon in the mighty village of Mana, after such a long time.
While Yukti seems hesitant and shy about watching Advaik,. He doesn't show much emotion at the moment. It seems he's trying so hard while controlling his emotions.
{it makes sense, right?}
Yukti: Maa! You go rest, after all, there is another sibling inside you!! (Naima grazes her hand on her cheeks.)
The sun dips below the horizon, igniting the sky in a fiery farewell. Crimson and rose hues dance across the heavens, a breathtaking tapestry woven by twilight.
Birds, silhouettes against the blaze, flit and weave in their final aerial ballet before night descends.
Varuna seems curious about the village and is roaming around to have a look. He confronts Advaik, carrying some wood.
Varuna: May I help you? (asks politely while there is some stammering.)
Advaik: I don't think so; our guests have to do any work. Don't worry, I can handle it.
Varuna: We are going to be a part of the same family, so I think I can help here too!?
Advaik smiles while handing some logs of wood to Varuna.
Advaik: I am going to see the sunset from the peak. Would you like to come with me ? (asks him)
Varuna: Yeah! sure. I think the mountains are calling, and I must go..
Both of them climbed together to the mountain, and while Advaik climbed swiftly , Varuna struggled to catch his breath.
Varuna: (breathing heavily) How long have you been climbing these mountains, huh?
Advaik: Haha! From my childhood itself. (laughs freely)
Varuna: You are too good at this. (breathes) But I am too good a swimmer, so you can't beat me there!! (taunting)
Advaik: (laughing) I don't know how to swim!
Varuna: I knew it!
Both laughing and enjoying the sunset, gasping heavily.
Varuna: So, are you happy for the marriage?
Advaik: Yeah! It has been decided by my father and our leader, so it doesn't make much difference from what I feel.
Varuna: But still, you can tell me what you actually feel. I can hear you like a friend.
Advaik blushes while scratching his head.
Advaik: Well, your sister is so beautiful. And.. (struggling to say)
Varuna: Don't worry; I got you!
Advaik: Are you sure? (worried)
Varuna: Yeah!! (laughing secretly)
Varuna lifted his head, his gaze drawn to the starry sky. There, the moon shone brilliantly in the clear night sky.
He gazes at something else and asks Advaik, "What's that?" pointing to the flame that can be seen from that height.
Advaik: I don't know! Maybe someone's cooking there!? (sounds confused)
Varuna quickly starts moving towards it. It looks as if he needs to find this out in any way.
Advaik: Varuna! You should not go there at this moment! It can be so dangerous with wild animals moving nearby. (shouting so that the charged, moving Varuna can hear him.)
Varuna quickly raced towards the flame. He is so focused that he can't see anything else except the flame.
As he started getting closer, his heart beat kept getting faster while his eyes shone with flames reflected on them.
The surroundings awakened with energy as Varuna reached the spot, finding a sage meditating.
His might following the flame disturbed his meditation, while when he seemed to open his eyes, Varuna reached the spot, finding it unusual to see a sage in this dark forest.
And as soon as the sage opened his eyes, his lips trembled with fear, repeating the same words.
समयम् उपस्थितम् |
समयम् उपस्थितम् |
He seems to be so scared that he left without saying anything to Varuna.
While the flames got bigger with every time the sage repeated those words, it compels Varuna to sit down and start meditating.
Varuna, half naked above the waist, sits in front of the flame while repeating those same words again and again.
Driven by a sense of purpose, he strives to complete the legacy of the departed sage.
Everything stops!! Even in the wind, there is only one thing that can be heard in that surreptitious stillness.
समयम् उपस्थितम् |
And then suddenly, reality has been torn apart, soaking up everything belonging to the world.
The world seems to melt as if it starts to collapse and amalgamate.
A blinding light spills from the ruptured continuum, casting a fading pallor over reality itself. Within this luminous chaos, a colossal entity strains to tear the very fabric of existence apart. As the flame intensifies, shifting to an ethereal blue, a corresponding luminescence suffuses Varuna's blood. His very form seems to resonate with the otherworldly glow, hinting at a divine presence coursing through his veins.
Everything fades to white as the chanting Varuna's teardrop echoes in the void.
You were reading Episode Three (The Test)-Part One from Am I? Volume One The Time is Now...
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