ON THE DAY OF POURNAMI:-
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The path leading to the Kariamma temple was unusually lively that evening.
It was the day of Pournami.
Villagers from nearby settlements walked toward the temple carrying flowers, coconuts, and small brass lamps. The temple courtyard glowed with rows of oil lamps, and the smell of incense filled the air.
The temple itself stood ancient and weathered. Its stone pillars were carved with figures of the goddess, and bells rang steadily as devotees stepped inside to offer prayers.
Puru and Raghu made their way through the crowd.
"I had forgotten how crowded this place becomes on Pournami," Raghu said while looking around.
"You are the one who insisted we come," Puru replied.
Raghu shrugged. "The goddess must not think we have forgotten her."
Near the entrance, Tanuj moved quickly between the devotees. His father led the rituals inside the shrine, while Tanuj assisted him—guiding people in line, arranging offerings, and distributing prasadam.
When he noticed the two approaching, he smiled.
"You finally remembered the temple exists," Tanuj said.
Raghu folded his hands dramatically toward the shrine. "We came seeking blessings."
"For what?" Tanuj asked.
"For patience," Raghu replied. "Living with Puru requires divine support."
Tanuj laughed.
Puru simply shook his head.
Tanuj handed them prasadam before returning to assist his father as more devotees stepped forward.
The bells continued to echo through the temple courtyard as the evening prayers carried on.
THE MINISTER'S FINDINGS:-
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The court of Suvarna Mandali gathered again the next morning.
Scrolls and reports collected from across the villages lay open on the council table. King Karthikeya Kautilya listened as the ministers presented their findings.
The first minister stepped forward.
"After reviewing the letters and responses from the families, several similarities have been observed. All the missing persons are men. Most fall between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five. Nearly all the disappearances occur during the night."
He paused briefly.
"And most of the cases reported so far come from the southern region."
A murmur passed through the court.
The second minister continued.
"In many houses there were no signs of struggle. Some families reported that the missing men left their homes quietly. In several cases, their sandals were still inside the house."
He lowered his voice slightly.
"It almost appears as if they walked out in their sleep."
The court grew quieter.
A third minister stepped forward.
"If that is true, what could cause so many men to walk outside during the night without awareness?"
Several suggestions arose.
Some spoke of illness.
Others suspected poison or manipulation.
Then one minister cautiously said,
"Could it be something… unnatural?"
Until then, Minister Vikrantha had remained silent.
He finally spoke.
"When answers are unclear, it is easy to blame forces we cannot see."
The murmurs faded.
"But ten men do not vanish because of rumors. Let us examine what we can verify before we attribute the unknown to superstition."
The court grew silent again.
King Karthikeya rose.
"If most cases come from the southern villages, then our investigation will begin there."
He turned to the captain of the guard.
"Dispatch patrols to the southern region. Inform the people to remain cautious and avoid traveling alone at night."
He paused before continuing.
"And while you are there, ask about any missing cases that have not yet reached the capital. Record every detail."
The captain bowed.
"It will be done, Maharaj."
Within the hour, patrols were already leaving the capital
THE UNFINISHED CONVERSATION:-
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The Gurukula training ground echoed with the sound of steel.
Puru had been practicing since morning. Sweat ran down his arms as he repeated the same movements again and again.
From the edge of the courtyard, Raghu approached slowly.
"Puru."
Puru lowered his sword and turned.
Raghu's expression was unusually serious.
"I need to tell you something," Raghu said.
Puru rested the sword on the ground.
"What is it?"
Raghu glanced around the courtyard.
Students were still practicing nearby.
"Not here," he said quietly.
Puru followed his gaze.
"It's difficult to find a quiet place right now," he replied. "Everyone's still around."
Raghu shifted uneasily.
"It's important."
Puru wiped the sweat from his face.
"I've been training since morning. I'm exhausted."
He leaned slightly on his sword.
"Come earlier to bed tonight," he said. "We'll talk then."
Raghu hesitated before nodding.
"Alright."
Neither of them knew that the conversation would never happen.
THE ROYAL WARNING:-
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Nearly two hours after Puru had fallen asleep, the quiet of the village was broken by the sound of approaching horses.
A group of royal soldiers rode into the main street.
One of them raised his voice.
"By order of the throne of Suvarna Mandali!"
Villagers stepped out of their houses.
"Several missing cases have been reported in the southern villages," the soldier continued. "Most of the missing are young men between fifteen and twenty-five years of age."
Uneasy whispers spread through the crowd.
"Until further notice, young men must avoid traveling alone after nightfall."
The soldiers then began speaking directly with the villagers.
"If anyone in this village has gone missing recently," one of them asked, "or if there are cases that have not yet been reported to the capital, inform us now."
Another soldier added,
"The king has ordered that every such case must be recorded."
After gathering what information they could, the patrol moved further into the village to repeat the announcement.
THE MISSING:-
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Master Sukarna heard the warning from outside the Gurukula walls.
His expression tightened.
He hurried back toward the training grounds.
"All students gather in the courtyard," he called.
The boys assembled quickly.
Puru stepped out slowly, his eyes still heavy with sleep.
Sukarna began counting.
Once.
Then again.
His brow tightened slightly.
"Who is not present?" he asked.
The boys looked around.
"One went home earlier, Master."
"Two went to the market."
"Some went outside the village."
Sukarna nodded slowly.
Meanwhile Puru stood beside Tanuj, still half awake.
"What is happening?" he murmured.
"Something about missing men," Tanuj replied quietly.
Suddenly something struck Puru.
Raghu.
He straightened.
"Where is Raghu?"
Tanuj frowned.
"I saw him at lunch. Maybe he's sleeping in the room."
Puru didn't wait.
"Come."
The two hurried to the dormitory.
Puru pushed the door open.
The room was silent.
Raghu's mat lay empty.
His belongings were still there.
But Raghu himself was nowhere to be found.