Brahmastra: Part 1

 “So, you mean to say that I’m a key to the temple which was locked 5000 years ago.” I said.

“No, you’re not just a key but the evidence to that incident and only heir to the temple.” said Vishakha.

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I was like any other teenager until that day; at least l thought that I was normal.

I had a very typical schedule; waking up, going to school, coming back home, doing home work and freaking out about my future. To say the least, everything was so typical except for my dreams which were way too big.

But what happened that day was nowhere even in my wildest nightmare.

Like any other day, before leaving from school, I hugged my mom as tightly as I could.

“By what time you would come back today?” she asked.

“I can’t say…....As soon as the practical would finish, I’d leave.” I replied.

 That was what I supposed.

I opened the door, stepped out, and waved to Mrs. Sharma who was watering her plants. We both exchanged smiled and I moved on.

I was waiting for the school bus, nattering to myself (I love doing it) while hearing passersby talking about politics, crime and yeah, gossiping. I was laughing over the talks of the people when I felt a jerk and a darkness started to cover my vision.

I looked around, nothing just complete darkness.

Thankfully that went off as suddenly as it came.

It was not the first time. Doctor said that it was due to some deficiency.

I took a breath of relief and saw my watch which read 7:18 am.

It was weird because the school bus usually picks us at 7’o clock and no one else had arrived.

I thought maybe they’ve called school off and hence I was about to go back home when a car stopped by my side.

The window glass lowered; a man probably 20-25 year old took his face out. He was wearing a bandana around his neck.

“Sorry the school bus is out of order today, so, we’ve come to drop the students to schools.” he said.

I gave a vague expression. How all the other students knew that and if not then how they all can be on leave together.

I smelled something fishy. Nodding to him, I was stepping backward slowly.

I had just taken a few steps when he along with two other men came out of the car.

I was quivering.

Two of them held my arms and he wrapped my face in a black bag. I was trying to scream but as soon as I took a breath, my body felt paralysed.

They took me in the car and it kept on driving for hours.

I was not feeling or thinking anything. I was just like a corpse at that time except for the fact that I was alive and could feel that I was in a dreadful situation.

Finally, the car stopped and they pulled me out of the car.

I heard a voice, somewhat like that of opening a shutter door.

They pulled inside and then removed the bag from my face. Before I could look where I was, I was dragged to a small room.

Small.............Small to the extent that I could not even stretch my arms sideways. Its width was the same as that of its door. They threw me in.

I was still high and remained unmoved as I fell from the throw.

After hours, they opened the door and kept some food on the table my side. The door closed with a bang.

I wake up horrified as if I woke up from a nightmare. I was feeling hungry and even the half cooked rice served in that grubby plate wee making my mouth water. I was about to have a bite but thought if it contained some kind of poison. So, I threw the bite back.

My stomach was crying due to hunger. But I was helpless, sitting in that room in a corner.

I was in deep despair but a ray of light fell upon my face. I looked up there was a window. ‘A window! It could be a way to escape.’ I thought.

I climbed up the table and saw outside through the net. I just touched the window and it fell down. It could have been due to the mites and rusting of the iron net but I didn’t have time to think how it happened.

I tried to escape through it. After many tiring and unsuccessful tries, finally, I was able to escape through it and have a fall, hard enough to make me cry.

After weeping for a few minutes, I realised that I was in the middle of a jungle. It was definitely not a safe place to be in. I got up and started running as wildly as I could until I was out of breath.

I stopped by a huge tree. I was breathing heavily.

I looked around.

Every corner looked exactly the same.

Then I looked up at the sky.

That full moon night was way too bright.

There was a bright constellation in the form of Phoenix. Suddenly the light became too bright for my eyes. I closed my eyes, covering them with my hands. When I opened my eyes, I was shocked to find two eerie creatures in front of my eyes. They looked at me and then at each other. One of them had a close look at me and then they started discussing.

I was frozen; I was unable to control my limbs.

A woman in red and green sari, wearing all the jewels one could think of and the other one was..............I don’t know.

I had never seen someone or something like him before. He had a terrifying face of a lion with body of a mystic tiger. His legs were that of a horse and the tail of a peacock. He also had wings of an eagle and horns of a bull.

“You are Narad, the boy with yellow eyes! We were looking for you since a decade.” one of them said.

“You are frightening him. Step back!

Hi, Narad! My name is Vishakha and I’m an Ichadhari Naagin (shape changing serpent) and he is Vikurma, a navani. Come with us, we’ll save you.” she said.

I was like, ‘What the hell is happening. Firstly those men and now these creatures. Am I even awake?’

How something like them could even exist and what were they doing in the middle of a forest and yeah, how do they know my name.

She held my hand and helped me climb the back of Vikurma with thousand thoughts running in my brain.

Vishakha kept her hand on my forehead and I got back to my senses. I was not tensed or feeling uncomfortable. I don’t know if she spelled some curse upon me but I was enjoying flying with the breeze kissing me and watching the clearest sky I had ever seen. The sky was lighted with numerous constellations and falling meteorites.

“This is the signal. Thank God, we found you. Our motto is to safeguard this world and ultimately, you.” Vishakha said.

“Me, Why?” I asked her.

“You’ll come to know once we’ll reach Kailash. Only you can save the universe now.” she explained.

Vikurma landed on a peak surrounded by sky touching mountains.

“Now, we’ll have to walk.” he said.

We kept on walking through the trail. After hours of walking, finally, we reached the Mansarovar Lake, the lake of Gods.

“Now, you’ll have to go alone. We cannot accompany you.” Vishakha said.

I looked at them, nodded and continued to walk. There was complete silence in the route except for some recurring screams and the chant of Om. I kept on walking without paying much heed to the screams, at least pretending not to pay any heed to them. The sky was dark blue and the meteorites were still falling. My heart was pounding so fast as if it would bounce off my chest.

Finally, I reached the foot of Mount Kailash. I joined my hands and lowered my head in the respect of lord Shiva. Then, I heard a voice calling my name. I looked around but there was no one. Again the voice called my name. I followed the sound which led me to the source of Brahmaputra River.

I looked at the source. The sound became clearer. So, I eventually realised that it was coming from that source and the only way to find more about it was to jump into the source.

‘Either you are in a dream or all these things are only happening in your brain. But even if it’s real, then judging from whatever happened today since morning, it would be better to jump into. Either I would get my answers or die peacefully.’ I told myself.

I looked at the source. It was deep dark crack with ice cold water coming out from it. I took a deep breath and jumped into it.

I was falling.................... and falling................and falling..........

And then finally, I landed in a corridor, unharmed. I again started walking and found myself in front of a huge door which was guarded by two holy men.

Both of them looked as if they were identical twins.

One of them was wearing yellow coloured dhoti and the other one was wearing saffron-colored dhoti. They both had gentle smiles on their faces.     

“Tell us, what is it that can bind every living being together. What is more powerful than any other weapon in this world? What can cause sorrows as well as give a ray of hope in sorrows?” they both said together in a placid voice.

I pondered.

“Desires. A determined common desire can bind all living beings together. A desire born from despair and anger is more powerful than any weapon. Desire if not fulfilled can bring sorrow and can provide motivation for good in bad times.” I replied.

The two disappeared and the door opened with fog and light approaching from it.

I walked in and saw Lord Brahma, sitting on lotus meditating. I lowered my head in gratitude.

“I knew you would come, Narad.” Lord Brahma said opening his eyes.

“I know that you are confused what is happening to you.

Let me tell you, firstly who you are. You are born for a reason. Everyone knows that Brahmastra was last used after the battle of Kurukshetra by Arjun and Ashwatthama. But few know that when the Kaliyug started Kali demon was worshipped by Rakshasas, since he had the power and they demanded Brahmastra. They would have used it then but Lord Vishnu stopped them and converted the energy of the Brahmastra into Brahma Mai As Kaliyug is approaching its end, Kali is getting more powerful. Narad, you are the only living descent of the Astras, only you can handle the power but that too not alone until Lord Vishnu takes his Kalki avatar.” he explained.

“Pardon me, Brahma dev, but I’m just a normal boy. I do not know anything.” I said.

“You will have to know. You cannot change your destiny. Go to Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra where your destiny is waiting for you.” he answered.

“As you say Brahma Dev, but I need your blessings.” I said.

“I am always with you, in one form or the other.” He told me and blessed me.

I again folded my hands and lowered my head and turned.

“Don’t trust anyone. Some may sound friendly but are not. Remember, evil can never surpass the power of positivity. They may use you to get their work done but you need to be wise. If you wouldn’t be able to find your destiny, your destiny will find you.” he explained.

As I walked outside the door, everything disappeared and I found myself outside the source of Brahmaputra River.

I took a deep breath and decided to continue my journey to Kurukshetra.

I reached the Mansarovar Lake but I could find neither Vishakha nor Vikurma. I looked around and suddenly a beam of radiance fell upon me which made me unconscious.

When I returned to my senses I found myself in a dark cave with shallow water upto my ankles flowing in it. I screamed, knocked but no one answered.

I looked around.

Nothing. Just darkness and stones lining the walls of the cave and the ice cold water.

The sound of ‘Om’ was still audible.

I gave up. I didn’t know why I was there. I didn’t know where I was and how I reached there.

Suddenly, I heard someone’s footsteps approaching me. The water splashing with the steps was echoing in the cave.

They were becoming louder.

I saw a rock, large enough to hide me. So, I went behind it.

The steps stopped.

“Narad?” a familiar voice called.

I sneaked by the rock to find that it was Vishakha.

She was bleeding. The water around her had turned red due to her blood.

I was horrified to see her in that condition but before I could do anything, she felt unconscious.