Chapter 10 Unknown Secrets and Shattered Hearts
The evening had set the sky ablaze with crimson and now it was cooling into the ashen grey of twilight Nirag knocked softly on the door of Agnis hut
Tauji
Agni stood by the window his back to the door He turned and Nirag immediately felt the absence the usual light in his eyes was dim That light which was always there in Neers presence
Father where is he Nirags voice trembled
He has gone out for a few days Agni tried to keep his voice steady but it wavered like a guttering flame Dont worry He will return You go now rest
Yes Tauji Nirag bowed his head and turned to leave but paused He looked back Agni had turned to the window again his shoulders bowed under an invisible weight
Nirag left but stopped just outside the door He turned back and peered through a crack in the wood
Inside Agni slowly sank to the floor as if his legs could no longer hold him He buried his face in his hands
Neer where are you his voice fell to the earth like a broken petal All these years we did everything together Why have you gone alone now I am afraid have you taken that path which
He stopped abruptly as if the words had choked him
Outside the door Nirags breath hitched That path Which path What thing is Father going to use
In the training ground Anvay and Akshansh were creating an intricate dance of stones floating in the air The stones were under Anvays control and Akshansh sent tiny threads of lightning skittering over their surfaces
Perfect Anvay smiled Your control is improving
But its nothing compared to your ease Akshansh laughed He glanced around the field But where is Nirag I havent even heard the crackle of his fire today
Perhaps in his chamber He might need peace today
Maybe Akshansh said in a teasing tone Otherwise he would have been here by now burning with jealousy that we are practicing without him
Anvay shook his head serious Dont mock him Akshansh He is changing Struggling We should support him not ridicule him
You are right Akshansh conceded though a playful glint remained in his eyes But you know sometimes it feels like you were born just to protect him
Anvay took Akshanshs hand a firm trustworthy grip You are my oldest friend Promise me you wont tease him
Akshansh took a deep breath Alright For you
They didnt know that behind a tree Nirag stood listening He saw Anvay take Akshanshs hand a touch that was simple and guileless His own hand clenched into a fist He turned and walked away silently his steps heavy
On his way he met Vedika who was carrying a basket of herbs
Anvay Vedika smiled on seeing him but her gaze immediately fixed on Akshansh You you both were practicing
Yes Anvay said Are you well
Yes yes I was just going to fetch some herbs
Akshansh touched Anvays shoulder lightly Come we should go
They left Vedika watched them go her eyes lingering on Akshansh the basket feeling suddenly heavy in her hands
At the other end of the field the tension between Aksh and Kalpit was a bubble about to burst
You humiliated me completely in class today Aksh shouted his face red with anger You placed that stone near my foot on purpose
Kalpit let out a high sharp laugh Humiliated Your entire existence is a humiliation When I pushed you you fell like a ripe papaya
That push was unexpected Aksh clenched his fist Tiny metallic particles in the air began to dance around his fingers
Unexpected Your face was a sight to behold Kalpit said mimicking him with exaggerated wide eyes Oh Im falling Save me
That was it Aksh raised his hand The metal buttons buckles and even the tips of Kalpits shoes suddenly grew heavy as if invisible stones were loaded onto them Kalpit staggered waving his arms for balance
Hey What is this trick
Taste your own mockery Aksh growled
Kalpits eyes lit up He rubbed his palms together and in an instant the world around Aksh changed The ground turned jelly like the air thick as honey When Aksh tried to step forward his foot began to sink slowly
Hey Im drowning Do something
Kalpit laughed loudly his voice bubbling in the thickened air Drown where you fool The ground is right there
Aksh looked down The ground was solid The illusion broke He stood stunned for a moment then a smile spread across his lips Kalpit was laughing too their laughter merging into one
Youre not so bad Aksh said the anger forgotten
Youre always on my case anyway Kalpit said grinning
They put their arms around each others shoulders and walked off together the recent fight completely forgotten
At midnight Nirag slipped past the Tapobhumi walls He went to the spot where he had practiced on the first day the same boulder he had turned to ash still lay there
He touched the ash It was cold and crumbly
All this because of me he whispered his voice on the edge of crying Because of me Fathers power weakened Because of me he has gone away What is Tauji afraid of Father what thing is he going to use
Tears began to stream down his cheeks hot and fast He fell to his knees his back shaking He clenched his fists and small flames erupted from them reheating the ash
At the same time Agni sat in his hut An old parchment lay open before him depicting a damru a damru with a celestial face on one side and a Tamansh on the other
Neer Agni touched the drawing his finger trembling Are you searching for that Shadow Damru of the Mayaangini The one that lets you speak with the souls of the dead but takes a piece of your soul in return Have you fallen into the web of those dark powers Where do I search for you where
He rested his head on the table A lamps flame cast dancing shadows on his face shadows that looked terrifying and sorrowful
The next morning there was a heavy silence in the pranayama class All the disciples sat on their mats eyes closed focusing on their breath But Nirags breathing was irregular fast then slow then halting
Anvay opened his eyes He got up and went to sit beside Nirag without a word
After a moment he asked softly Is everything alright
Yes Nirag said but his voice was so faint it seemed to speak from the air itself Everything is fine
Anvay placed his hand on Nirags shoulder The touch was light but it held a strength the strength of the earth that bears all things Something is troubling you I can see it You can trust me
Nirag opened his eyes They held a pain beyond words Anvay do you ever feel that you that you are a burden That because of you your own people are unhappy
Anvays breath caught for a moment A burden Nirag how could you be a burden You you are the light for all of us How many times has your fire shown us the way
But this same fire is burning my Father Nirags voice broke Tears returned to his eyes Because of me his power has weakened and now he is missing who knows where he is in what condition
Anvay pulled him into an embrace It was a gentle firm hug Listen Nirag Your Father gave you his power to save you That was his love not a sacrifice And love love never weakens It strengthens He will return He has so much faith in you You must have faith in him too
From a distance Akshansh and Vedika watched the scene A gentle smile was on Akshanshs lips
It seems Anvay has finally broken through his wall he said
Vedika nodded a special light in her eyes the light she had when healing Everyone needs someone to lean on sometime He just needed someone to be there
In Margdarshak Vishrayans hut sunbeams danced with dust motes Agni stood at the door deep lines of fatigue and worry etched on his face
Margdarshak his voice was little more than a whisper I must go I must find Neer
The Margdarshak opened his eyes His eyes held a depth that contained memories of centuries Agni he said weighing each word Sometimes those we love the most must go far from us So they can save us from a darkness we ourselves cannot see
Agnis eyes widened Save us From what The Shadow But we defeated it
We defeated its physical form the Margdarshak said slowly Not its shadow Shadows they never die They just wait For the right time The right weakness And love love is the greatest weakness Agni And the greatest strength
Agni gripped the doorframe as if losing his balance So he he knew Neer knew it still exists
The Margdarshak did not answer He simply closed his eyes returning to his meditation
Night fell again Nirag lay on his bed in his chamber eyes open staring at the ceiling The door opened softly
Did you know I would come Anvay asked standing at the doorway
You always come Nirag said a new softness in his voice When I am alone
Anvay came in and sat on the edge of his bed I cannot leave you alone
Nirag reached out his hand Anvay took it Nirags hand was warm Anvays cool Their touch created a balance
Will you always be with me Nirag whispered
Always Anvay said and no more words were needed
Far away in the deep secret cave of a mountain Neer knelt Before him was a stone altar and on it lay an object a damru but this was no ordinary damru It was carved from black stone and the figures etched on it seemed to move On one side was the face of a celestial serene and compassionate On the other the mouth of a Tamansh open in a silent eternal scream
Neers eyes were fixed on the damru His face was weary but his eyes held an unshakeable resolve the resolve only a parent possesses
He picked up the damru It was unbearably cold like a shard of ice
I will save you Agni he whispered his voice echoing back from the cave walls And our son Even if the price is my own soul
He began to shake the damru The first slow shake A sound resonated a sound caught between music and a scream
The second shake
The air in the cave grew cold The shadows lengthened
The third shake
And then from the Tamansh side of the damru a black mist began to seep out slowly beginning to take shape Neer closed his eyes a prayer trapped on his lips
Far away in Tapobhumi Agni sat up suddenly A sharp pain pierced his heart as if an ice stake had been driven into it
He looked out the window to the north and he knew
Neer no you couldnt have
But his heart knew he had And now the chain of time was about to break
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