Setting: Ten years later in the gurukul
Ten years had flowed by like the river beside the gurukul. Agni and Neer, along with the other students, had blossomed into young adults, now around twenty years of age. Their education was comprehensive, encompassing the profound philosophies of the scriptures, Vedas, and Upanishads, the physical and mental discipline of yoga, and the sacred duties of a Kshatriya. Only their final lessons in the practical application of valor remained.
Yoga Class Scene
The morning air was still and serene. In the dedicated yoga area, all the students were seated in a perfect lines, their spines straight, immersed in the practice of Padmasana (Lotus Pose). The only sounds were the chirping of distant birds and the soft, collective breath of the disciples. Guru Niranjan moved among them, his voice a calm murmur.
"Release all tension. Let your awareness settle at the point between your eyebrows... the Ajna Chakra," he instructed.
It was then that Neer, the ever-present spark of mischief, cracked open one eye. Seeing the Guru's back turned, he perfectly mimicked his serious, contemplative expression, puffing out his cheeks and squinting his eyes. A few students nearby saw it and burst into suppressed laughter, breaking their postures.
Agni, who was holding his Siddhasana (Adept's Pose) with impeccable discipline, did not even need to turn. His jaw tightened. He slowly opened his eyes, their sharp gaze cutting directly towards Neer.
Agni (his voice a low, sharp whisper):
"Such childishness is profoundly inappropriate duringDhyana (meditation)."
Neer (grinning, not the least bit chastised):
"Oh,unclench, Agni! Practice a little Hasyasana (Laughing Pose) sometimes. You're always wrapped in the rules of Yama and Niyama. You'll become a fossil like Gurudev one day!"
Agni fell into a stony silence, his eyes returning to a fixed point ahead, his focus regained but his irritation palpable. Guru Niranjan had heard the exchange. He turned, his face stern.
"There should be Shanti (peace) in yoga, not this noise! Everyone, proceed to your scripture class! Now!"
All students (chanting in unison, hands folded):
"Pranam,Acharya!"
Scripture Class Scene
Acharya Manu entered the classroom, the scent of old scrolls filling the air.
"Today,we discuss Rajdharma, the duty of a king. Who can answer my question?"
As the Acharya turned to write on the board, Neer leaned over and whispered an exaggerated imitation of the teacher's raspy voice. His friend Gopal immediately raised his hand.
"Acharya! Neer was mimicking you again!"
Acharya Manu:
"Stand up,Neer!"
Neer stood up, a chuckle still playing on his lips. Acharya Manu fixed him with a gaze. "Tell me, if an innocent Brahmin is accused of being a traitor based on mere appearances, what is the king's duty?"
Neer (his tone flippant, yet his answer thoughtful):
"If the Brahmin is truly innocent,the king should send him into a quiet exile to avoid public scandal. A king's primary duty is to protect his subjects, not seek personal revenge. If the Brahmin is guilty, then let God decide his ultimate punishment."
Acharya Manu (nodding slowly):
"Your answer is compassionate,but emotional and impractical for a ruler. The world of men cannot always wait for divine justice. Now, Agni, you respond."
Agni (standing tall, his voice clear and firm):
"A king must be the ultimate arbiter of truth.He must use his intellect to rigorously distinguish between the innocent and the guilty. If the Brahmin is proven guilty through evidence and witness, he should be punished according to the law of the scriptures, regardless of his high caste. Justice must be blind."
Acharya Manu's face broke into a pleased smile. "A precise and dutiful answer. Neer, your intellect is sharp, but your behavior lacks all Shaucham (purity and propriety). As a consequence, you will clean the entire scripture hall today. Every scroll, every shelf. Agni, you will supervise him. You are to report to me if he makes a single mistake."
Agni (bowing his head slightly):
"As you command,Acharya."
---
As the other students filed out, chattering amongst themselves, Neer casually leaned against a towering stack of ancient scrolls, a wry smile on his face as he watched Agni, who remained standing rigidly by the door.
Neer (teasingly):
"So,the perfect prince is to be my jailer. Tell me, Agni, will you be reporting every speck of dust I miss? Or perhaps you'll just hold a Drishti (yogic gaze) so intense the floor cleans itself out of fear?"
Agni's expression remained an unreadable mask, but a muscle twitched in his jaw. The order was a simple punishment, yet it felt like a test of a far greater magnitude—a test of his patience, his authority, and the strange, unresolved connection that had always pulsed between them.
Agni (coldly):
"Just do your duty,Neer. Perform your Karma. And I will do mine."
But as he said the words, a flicker of that same, unspoken question from ten years ago passed between them, as palpable as the dust motes dancing in the slanted sunlight. In the silent, hallowed hall, the air grew thick with a tension far heavier than any classroom chastisement. Supervising Neer's cleaning wasn't just about discipline; it was the first deliberate step on a path that fate had written for them long ago.
Would this shared Karma force them to find a common ground, to understand each other's Prana (life force), or would it be the first spark that ignited their final, tragic clash?