: Mischief, Meditation, and Sparks
The Gurukul was calm that morning, bathed in the gentle light filtering through the trees. In the yoga courtyard, all the students sat cross-legged, their eyes closed, deep in meditation. Silence reigned… or so it seemed.
A sudden burst of muffled laughter broke the calm. A boy—Neervrah—was sneaking around, mimicking Guru Niranjan's gestures and voice. A few students couldn't hold back and laughed out loud.
A pair of sharp eyes immediately fixed on him. Agnivrat, ever disciplined and serious, frowned, his gaze piercing.
Agnivrat (in a firm tone):
"Such childish behavior is not appropriate during yoga."
Neer grinned without guilt.
"Oh, come on, Agni! Why so serious all the time? Live a little. You follow rules so blindly, one day you'll become just like the Acharya!"
Agnivrat said nothing, his eyes steady on Neer, exuding silent authority. The subtle tension between them was already palpable.
Guru Niranjan's voice cut through sharply:
"Peace is essential in yoga! No noise! Everyone, back to your places at once!"
Students (in unison):
"Pranam, Acharya!"
---
Later, in the scripture class, Acharya Manu entered with an air of command.
"Tell me, who can answer my question today?" he asked.
Neer whispered something cheekily, and Gopal, a fellow student, immediately tattled.
"Acharya, Neer is mimicking you!"
Acharya Manu:
"Stand up, Neer!"
Neer laughed as he rose, unbothered.
Acharya Manu asked:
"If a seemingly innocent Brahmin appears to betray the king, what should the king do?"
Neer:
"If the Brahmin is innocent, quietly exile him. A king's duty is to protect, not to seek revenge. If he is guilty, the gods will determine his punishment."
Acharya Manu nodded slowly.
"Your answer is emotional. Now, Agni, you answer."
Agnivrat:
"The king must distinguish between guilt and innocence. If a Brahmin is proven guilty, punishment should follow dharma, not caste or favoritism."
The Acharya's face brightened with approval.
Turning back to Neer, he scolded,
"Your behavior is inappropriate. Today, you will clean the entire scripture hall. Agni, observe him closely and report any mistakes."
Agnivrat (obediently):
"Yes, Acharya."
---
Afternoon, the Gurukul Courtyard
Neer moved slowly, his eyes downcast, sweeping the floor. He whispered softly,
"So… was my answer really wrong? Shouldn't a person care for another's feelings?"
Agnivrat remained silent, simply standing, his gaze fixed on Neer. Words were unnecessary—his eyes alone seemed to ask questions, seeking truth through a silent understanding.
Neer chuckled softly, exhaustion in his tone.
"Well… at least the hall is clean. Time for a little rest."
He turned to leave, but Agni stepped forward, intending to speak. Before he could, Neer suddenly spun around, catching Agni's wrist.
"Wait!"
Agnivrat froze and slowly turned. Their eyes met, and the world seemed to pause. Agni's eyes were calm, steady, while Neer's swirled with energy, mischief, and a hint of pain.
Neer (with a trace of sarcasm and a twinge of hurt):
"You really think you're so great, don't you? Was my answer really so wrong that the Acharya punished me? (laughing lightly) You probably think every word from the guru is a verse from the Gita. Ever tried understanding feelings, Agni? Do you even have a heart? Ever smiled? Ever laughed? No… because you're all rules… and no emotions."
He let go of Agni's hand slowly. Agni kept looking, as if he wanted to speak but could not form the words. There was something unsaid, a tension neither fully understood yet.
Neer (turning away, teasing lightly):
"Fine… go. I'm leaving."
He strode off, his movements confident, playful. Agni just watched him go, a strange ache in his chest, before finally turning toward his own quarters.
---
Nightfall
Under the cover of darkness, Neer quietly stepped beyond the Gurukul's boundaries, evading the watchful eyes of the guards. The night was his secret playground. A few moments later, when he returned, Agnivrat was already waiting.
Agnivrat (sternly):
"Where have you been, Neer? Don't you know leaving the Gurukul at night is forbidden? You've broken the rules."
Neer laughed, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"So? You've never broken a rule yourself, have you? Oh yes, I forgot—you are the Acharya's favorite student, the perfect Agnivrat, bound by rules. Well, I enjoy going out whenever I like. The guards didn't even notice. And mark my words… I will do this every night."
He looked at Agni with a teasing smile.
"Does it burn you, Agni? That I can go wherever I want, and you're trapped in chains of rules?"
For a fleeting moment, a spark of anger flared in Agni's eyes. Without warning, he drew his sword and struck at Neer.
Neer ducked and parried with grace.
"Oh, so you are really angry now!" he laughed.
Agni stepped forward, striking again, and Neer dodged, countering swiftly with his own sword. The clash of steel rang through the night.
---
Gradually, the duel escalated. Agni unleashed his fire-element technique, flames swirling toward Neer. Neer ducked, water rippling around him as he extinguished the flames threatening a nearby cottage.
Quick as a flash, he conjured icy arrows from his water-element and sent them toward Agni. Agni's flames melted them mid-air.
Lost in the thrill of battle, both forgot self-control. Their powers surged, dancing in tandem—fire against water, intensity against playfulness, discipline against freedom.
Suddenly, a stern voice broke through the chaos.
Dharaaya (authoritatively):
"Enough!"
With a graceful motion of her earth-element, she raised a stone wall between them, halting the battle.
Both boys paused, breathing heavily, eyes still locked. Even in the quiet, there was an unspoken tension—anger, curiosity, challenge, and something else… a spark neither fully understood.
---
That night, as they retreated to their quarters, the air was thick with unresolved words. Agni's gaze lingered on Neer, whose playful defiance and fearless nature had struck a chord in him. Neer, on the other hand, felt a strange pull toward Agni's silent intensity.
The Gurukul's night was calm, yet beneath the serenity, fire and water were quietly circling each other—opposites drawn together, bound by fate, testing limits, and challenging rules.
Even now, years later, one could see that their bond was being forged—not by friendship alone, but by rivalry, curiosity, and an unspoken understanding that neither could escape.