‘Ahh!’ Fayza recoiled in pain.

Prithvi had seen this happen and it seemed like she had had enough. She pulled one arrow from her quiver and loaded her bow.

Jagrav, the peacemaker, was up in an instant. He positioned his gada between Aarti and Prithvi, but in the process, it accidentally brushed Aarti’s face. The ever-loyal Payal heaved herself up and charged towards Jagrav. Her fist caught his temple, tucking aside an inch of the skin on his forehead and revealing blood-soaked flesh. Savitri, the boxer, pushed Payal aside and became part of the melee.

‘Settle down, Souls!’ Acharya Ashwini said, his calm tone in contrast with the physical blows he was witnessing.

‘Oh man!’ Yuvan said, disappointed. ‘I would pay a hundred danas to watch Payal and Savitri fight.’

‘Although I’m delighted to see you all carrying your weapons, pay heed to the necessity at hand. Conserve your energy. Chayan’s army is closing in on us. The best way to save yourselves is to conquer the journey within and learn Atmayog.’

That evening, as Aditya made his way below the horizon, Aman found himself at the top of Kalanag, at the edge of the Seven Hills. He looked out into the woods. A cold draft rolled in and crashed against his face, triggering buried memories of his mother’s embrace. He wondered if his mother missed him like he missed her.

He was a silent figure atop a silent hill.

17

Airavata

Ninda, Stuti, Haan aur Labh

(Chastisement, Compliments, Harm and Gain),

Ek samaan jo rehta hai

(the One who is unaffected),

Vo yogi Prabhu ka pyara hai

(is the yogi loved by the Omniscient).

Thoughts of the cardboard box in Sanaka’s hut consumed Aman’s thoughts. He was determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. It was no longer an escape route that he fixated on—he had to know his father’s story. For that, he had to stay put in Vanyasa.

When he woke up the next morning, he soaked in the tweeting of birds and the veena music floating in the air. Even the cut on his lip was starting to heal. The nausea persisted, however. On the bright side, the circadian chores were effortless as luck was by his side. He pondered over what Chitra had told him—the universe did seem to be conspiring in his favour. He started to revel in his newfound gift.

Aman went to Pandayam Tal and drew water for a bath. But an irrational itch urged him to do otherwise, so he set aside the filled matkas and left early for breakfast.

Upon entering Aahaar, he saw that there wasn’t much real food—just mounds of something red and chewy in the larger earthen pot. The other vessel held a curry with pebble-like mounds in it. He was about to leave, stomach still empty, when he overheard something interesting.

Sanaka had skipped breakfast. Not willing the specially cooked items to go to waste, the cooks saw Aman standing at the food counter and asked him if he was interested. So Aman walked to the sitting mat with the biggest smile on his face, carrying a plate laden with honey-dipped bananas, almonds, apple slices, jaggery and cooked sorghum.