Of Magic And Lies

From time immemorial mountains have been the abode of mysteries and mystics. I have always adored mountains for one I have my window facing the majestic vellengiris and for the other, I am fascinated by the variety of flora and fauna amidst the rugged terrain. Mountains are nature at its best. They hide the deepest of secrets which one can't imagine; those secrets can blow your mind. Be aware. 

I happened to have faced one. 

In those days my father's goal in life was to acquire all the knowledge about the all-pervading atma. His chamber was no better than a study. One day while trying to find an ideal location for hiding and seek, I sneaked inside his room. Panting due to a narrow escape, I tried to breathe properly.My heart was racing with excitement and my throat was throbbing with thirst.And you know, how ever old you are;  hide and seek is always fun. In my hurry to find a safe spot for hiding I broke my father's favorite antique vase. I tried fixing it, but things weren't happening the way I desired. My mind was filled with every damn excuse possible.   While staring at the gloomy, dust cladding floor with my mind racing for some solution and philosophy,  I noticed some old yellowing scrolls fallen just below the window. Like always curiosity got the better of my scruples. I bent down and grabbed those scrolls. Unrolling one of them I found some abstract scribbled -"only those with pure hearts shall find, the mysteries of that which lies beyond me and mine. The risk lies at every step you shall take. Once discovered life and its ways shall unfold, if you are fortunate you shall be endowed with wisdom. You shall find what lies beyond life and only those with pure hearts shall find........... "  The next scroll had a map of the Indian subcontinent with a terrain marked in red ink. The terrain marked was somewhere near Coimbatore and Nilgiris. The third scroll read -" the terrain you seek lies amidst the silver cliff. Discard your believes the smallest it shall be where the doer must face his true self, listen to your instincts and you shall find that which has been hidden for eons ......."

This was the kind of adventure I had awaited. The very thought of this quest made me grin from ear to ear. It had been a sort of thing I had just had once dreamt. After a quick reference into my Sanskrit dictionary, I was able to locate the cliff. It was indeed the vellengiris roughly translated meant silver peaks. I packed my bag and equipped my self with other necessary instruments. Convincing my mom was as easy as humans breathing on Mars and Rahul Gandhi becoming wise. No comments.She wouldn't agree. I had to cry and beg her. After too much begging and crying she let me out but with a condition to come home before dinner. I was flabbergasted.  Seriously I was going to unravel a mystery and not going to a market . I felt so incensed that I left her and went to our garden to meet Agastya kaka. He lived in an ancient-looking cottage with a thatched roof. He is a shining being in his late 50s with big amber eyes. He happens to be an encyclopedia when it came to vellengiris. He is a meek person who has exceptional knowledge about herbs and could cure any disease.A man with great knowledge and great opinions. For one he always said rather like a nature activist -" our ideas of human importance have to change; we must remember that we are just another life form on this planet. Every other being from a giant elephant to a feeble worm helps the planet flourish but we humans are too obsessed with their own comforts ." I narrated him the whole story from head to tell. He was very delighted and agreed to accompany me wholeheartedly. He handed me two long  sticks with a look like you-don't-know-you-are-climbing-for-the-first-time. The same look my mum gave me when I would exclaim that there is no salt in the food . We started trekking. The path was rough. It was very rocky and rugged; like my life -with ups and downs. If it wasn't for kaka I would have slipped and broken my bones into a fine powder of motar. It was mid-afternoon and the sun was glaring above me. I was too tired and hungry to move even a foot. Some adventure it was. My legs!  So we halted for a break near a stream. The stream had crystal clear water moving swiftly with ripples spilling all over swirling around in a frenzy. The stream was surrounded by rose bushes and exotic species of plants I had ever seen. To be truthful I only know 2 plants - tulise and money plant. Everything there mesmerized me including my lunch. In my desperate attempt to share my lunch with kaka I slipped on the muddy surface and fell in the stream. O god!! At that moment I cursed myself for bunking the swimming classes that meant that I had zero knowledge on how to swim. I held on a wooden log which was floating. My body had become stone but my mind was stuffed with ideas to save my self. At that time I felt the great presence of the creator of this world and this universe. I tried in my imagination to write in bright letters outside my little heart the words O God!!! The stream was approaching a steep rocky slope from which the water was about to fall forming a cascade. I closed my eyes replaying the best moments I ever had. Passing a test without studying. Winning a bet. And all those petty things .  Suddenly the ground below me disappeared and I was falling down at a great speed. It seemed to me that gravity worked better here than anywhere else.  I landed on a soft plain; on my torso with a great thud. Pain surged all over my body. Every cell in my body was screaming for rest. It ached to lie down on the comfortable mattress and to snuggle under my pillow. The last of life seemed to retreat. I had badly hurt my ribs and blood was oozing from the corner of my mouth. I thought of my mother and wished I had listened to her and not revolted. Suddenly my mother's voice echoed in my ears -" acceptance is the first step of understanding. Only with the understanding, there could be a complete recovery. Don't lament on what's gone, rise and seek"  these were the words  seemed to be working with my longing for home, so  with the last of strength left in me I sat bolt upright. Wincing in pain. It took time for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. This was a damp and derelict place with creepers growing all over. To me it seemed to be a cave. The only source of light was the mute and mystic moonlight and yon horned but radiating stars casting ghosty shadows. The mud underneath was fine and porous. It felt warm in my hands. Only through mud warmth could be experienced otherwise only cold draughts could be felt everywhere. The water descended down to form a huge lake. Tiredness was taking a toll on my body blurring my vision. My eyes were burning and wanted rest. I went near the lake and splashed some water on my muddy face. The splashing of water had a soothing effect. I sat down very far away from the lake not risking my neck. I am no fool.  Trying to rack my brain for some solution that could get me out of the cave because fear was fastening its grip on me. With all the worries in my head ,I dozed off only to be woken up by the blinding rays of the colossal sun. All was the same except for the fact that I was covered with a blanket and an outline of a man was grinding something near the lake. I was terrified out of my wits and without even thinking I screamed, "reveal yourself. " The man stood up and walked towards me with a faint smile on his face. I gasped, "kaka, how come you found me? " 

"This is a long story child but before listening let me see your wounds " 

At the very sight of kaka I was overwhelmed but felt safe. He applied a thick paste , on my wounds and covered them with some worn cloth. 

"you look surprised my child, this cave is no ordinary .it is a cave brought into existence with magic," said kaka

This shocked me and in an attempt to ask a question I opened my mouth and suddenly my vision seem to blur and everything turned dark. It seemed I fell unconscious and......... 

"o my dear, everything turned dark because you can't think of any further input. Stop fooling your friends, your father is a skeptic person and whose is kaka; I don't know anyone such " replied a calm voice coming from the kitchen. 

"Mmmaaaaaa you ruined my thriller " I exclaimed in a whinny voice. Like why mum? Why?