Weeks turned into months. Arjun's meditation deepened, and the river became a constant companion, its gentle song echoing the rhythm of his breath. Yet, even as he grew, doubt began to creep into his heart.
One night, the forest seemed darker than ever. The stars were hidden behind heavy clouds, and the wind whispered through the trees with a tone that chilled him. Arjun sat alone, knees drawn close, feeling a heaviness he had never known.
"Why am I here? Am I truly moving forward, or am I wasting my life chasing illusions?"
The questions tormented him. Sleep abandoned him, and even the river's familiar song could not soothe the storm inside. Every memory, every fear, every desire he thought he had released returned in full force. The darkness pressed against him like a suffocating wall.
For the first time, Arjun considered turning back. Perhaps he had chosen the wrong path. Perhaps home, with its warmth and certainty, was the only refuge.
But then, in the depths of despair, something unexpected happened. A soft glow appeared—not outside, but within him. At first, he thought it was a trick of his imagination, but it grew, pulsing gently with warmth and calm.
A voice, soft and ancient, seemed to whisper:
"You are the universe itself. You are not lost. You are the river, the sky, the stars, and the space between them. All that you seek is already within."
Tears welled in Arjun's eyes. The fear, the anger, the longing—all the shadows—suddenly seemed small against this vast inner light. He understood, in a way words could not capture, that the darkness had never been an enemy. It was a guide, a test, a threshold he had to cross to see the light that had always been there.
He sat for hours, allowing the vision to wash over him. His chest felt light, his mind quiet, and for the first time, he experienced an unbroken sense of peace. Not the fleeting calm of a river's surface, but the deep, enduring stillness of the ocean beneath.
By dawn, the clouds had parted, revealing the stars once more. Arjun opened his eyes, a gentle smile forming on his lips. He had faced the dark night of his soul—and discovered that the light had never left him.
The river's song continued, as ever, but now it carried a new meaning. It was no longer just a teacher. It was a mirror, reflecting the infinite within him.