On the bridge, despite the heat that surrounded him, Aman shivered because of the sense of desolation he felt. His left knee was heavy and the box in his hands seemed even heavier. He felt paralysed. Time had slowed down. He closed his eyes and wondered why his mother had abandoned him. He hadn’t the faintest idea. He was as alone as one could be, in the middle of nowhere, with no family or friends.

Aman made his way down to the other side of the bridge, trying to avoid the patches of mould. But he slipped on one and felt the back of his head hit the crest of the bridge. He fell unconscious, not waking up even when the clouds above gave way and poured themselves dry on to him.

Much later, a four-foot-tall man arrived and stood next to Aman’s fallen body. ‘Plain-dwelling piece of filth,’ he murmured as he checked his vital signs and examined his knee. Reassured that the boy was still breathing, he lifted him on to his back.

He tried to evenly distribute Aman’s weight on his own body but was secure in the knowledge that the closer he got to home, the stronger his arms would get. He walked with lengthening steps, skipping over boulders when required. It was an impossible path to discern, but Sanaka never second-guessed himself as he cut across the dense forest. Aman was still asleep, and his limp body started to flap like a piece of cloth against Sanaka’s calves when he started jogging.

Aman woke up yet again. Sanaka had taken a large leap—and his heel had collided with Aman’s head. As he jerked awake, Aman realized his world was upside down. Drool from his mouth had pooled in his eyebrows, straining his vision. He tried to pull himself up and almost managed to wring his way out of Sanaka’s grasp.

‘Stop it!’ Sanaka snapped, redoubling his grip.

‘Is that—I know you!’ he said, still hanging upside down. ‘There has been a mistake.’

Sanaka refused to let go of him.

‘Umm . . . Thanks for the ride!’ Aman protested. ‘Put me down now.’

‘No, not even upon divine request,’ Sanaka said hotly.

‘I need to get back home!’ Aman said.

‘It is home where I’m taking you,’ Sanaka said. ‘Home to all the Souls of Samsara.’

‘Souls of what?’ Aman was confused. ‘Just let me go!’ His right hand formed a fist, and with all his strength he threw a punch into Sanaka’s thigh.

Sanaka didn’t even register the impact. When Aman pulled away, he snapped, ‘Delusional fool! No idea of the bigger plan of the gods, have you? We have a religion to save, you and I! I am only acting as per your mother’s wish.’

Aman thought back to the conversation and realized something he should have long ago: Sanaka obviously knew his father. Before he could think of a befitting reply to the insanity Sanaka spouted, he remembered something with dismay. ‘Papa’s box!’ Aman suddenly said. ‘We left it on the bridge. All his notes . . .’