A month passed by a blink of an eye. It was finally the season of recruitment. Veer had been studying with his mother about the life of cultivators. She imparted all the knowledge that she had studied during her younger days from her parents. After they passed away, she wanted to become a cultivator so, she had taken part in the selection process but was rejected because of having five spiritual roots. She was so sad that she wanted to end her life so she ran far from the city and jumped in the river. Veer's father found her while passing by the jungle. She was lying on the bank of the river – all drenched wet and having high fever. He took care of her and fed her food and medicine. She felt the warmth and love without any conditions. Chandrakanth would check on her from time to time until she got better.
Days passed by, she got better. They rarely talked. She started taking care of the household and Chandrakanth would bring firewood and groceries. She would cook food sometimes, snacks and tea. They started getting along really well. They started to know each other and fell in love. On the night of the syzygy, they got married in the village temple when the moons Yuna and Luna came together in union creating a bright halo around it. Then onwards, they started living their life together facing all ups and downs together. She gave up her dreams of becoming a cultivator for the man who meant the world to her. She felt like she had found her destiny.
Finally, it was the day they had to go to the city. They packed their luggage. It was half a day's journey from their village. His father had rented a horse cart. They hoped on and rode all the way towards the city. Veer looked at the scenery on the way and was amazed at the beauty and purity of the environment here. The air was cool and denser than the earth. He could feel the cool breeze enter his lungs making him feel relaxed. His mother pointed at the mountains, jungle and waterfalls telling him the names of them.
In the afternoon, they arrived at the city. Veer saw the city gate was so gigantic. It looked so beautiful. It was shining like gold and was embedded with many shining stones and gems. It was the first time for Veer to visit the city. The name of the city was Ratnagarh, meaning the land of jewels. There were many people lined up in the city gates for the security checks. Some people were on foot, others on horses, and some like them on the horse cart. They had to lined up as they were not a resident of the city.
Soon, it was their turn. After answering some basic questions from Chandrakanth, the guards let them pass. The city road was so beautiful. It was not muddy or gravel like they had seen on the way. It was so clean and plain. It looked like it was made from the marble but it was not. It looked shiny, but was not slippery. He was amazed by its construction. There were stalls on both sides of the roads. Some were selling sweet candy, garments, magical runes, toys, handicrafts, books and so on.
They arrived at an inn. His father parked the cart and took them inside. The owner of the inn was his friend Arun. They both hugged greeting each other and were glad to meet after a long time. He greeted Veer's mother and took them inside in a private cabin. It was so beautiful. There were paintings on the wall that looked so realistic. There were immortal goddesses dancing on the clouds, the cherry blossoms flowed in the wind. There were some goddesses playing Veena, zither flute and some seemed to be singing. On another painting there was a man holding a liquor jar on his left hand and on the other a sword. He was bleeding from his forehead looking upwards the sky. He seemed to raise the jar and drink a sip of the wine. It was so eye catching.
The talk between Chandrakanth and Arun began which brought back the focus of Veer who was lost in the paintings. "Brother, what brings you to this town?", Arun asked.
"I want my son to take part in the selection exam.", replied Chandrakanth.
"That's great! I wish your son passes the exam.", said Arun. After that, he looked at Veer and asked, what is your name kiddo?"
"My name is Veer Chandrakanth.", replied Veer. It was a custom of adding own father's name as surname until one gets married or make an achievement in any particular field. It was done to show respect towards their father.
"Veer, it means courageous. I believe you would pass as long as you have a decent spiritual root. I believe you must have learnt about it.", Arun said to Veer.
"My mother has taught me everything I know.", said Veer.
"Could you tell me how many kinds of spiritual roots are there?"
"There are eight types of spiritual roots that I know of: air, water, fire, earth, lightning, wood, ice and metal. Am I right?", asked Veer.
"Yes, but there are more to it than we know. A human body may contain more than one spiritual roots. The more the spiritual roots are, the harder it is for them to cultivate. Apart from the spiritual roots, there are will power and soul power that matters during the test. I know these because I own this restaurant. There are people telling me all these. Don't worry, just follow the instruction during the test and you'll do just fine.", Arun replied smiling taking a sip of the tea.
While they were chatting, the waitresses came and brought food to the table. Veer was lost in thoughts and started having doubts if he could be selected or not. He did not know that one's chance depended on the aptitude that they had. His mother saw his worries. She gently caressed her hand on his head and said, "Please don't worry, whatever happens happen for a reason. Don't worry about the future. Let's just enjoy this meal. Don't forget to thank uncle."
"Yes, mother. Thank you, uncle.", Veer said looking at them.
Veer's father said laughing, "Brother, this time I will have to bother you to help us out."
"Please don't mention, brother. If not for you, I'd never be here. Your son is like my son; I'll make sure he is selected to a good cultivation sect."
They laughed and ate the delicious food that was served on the table. Chandrakanth and Arun started drinking the wine and talked about their younger days. They talked how they would sneak out of their house and go to the jungle to hunt deer and rabbits. They would often go fishing. Arun always wanted to go to the city and open his own restaurant whereas Chandrakanth wanted a carefree simple life. They would hunt together and sell their prey to the market and gathered money. Later, Chandrakanth gave his personal savings to his friend to go to the city and build a life. Arun, after coming to the city started working as a waiter in a few restaurants. He learnt their cooking style and saved money too.
After a few years, he bought a place in the middle part of the city where there were only a few restaurants. He started small and soon his business grew. He called Chandrakanth to his restaurant to become partner with him but he refused as he wanted to live in the village, a simple life. Arun said that he will keep a part of the profit in his name and he could get that whenever he wanted.
It seemed that now was the time for that. Arun reminded Chandrakanth that he did not worry about the expenses for Veer. He had plenty of money now. Even if he does not get selected, he could bribe a few recruiters who he knew. He did not say that loud. He was a genuine friend and it was the least he could do for his friend.
Veer was looking at them and thought about his friend on earth. She had supported his dream and also worked together on the heart strengthening tonic together. She would stay by him late at night and brew him coffee as he would calculate the formula and temperatures of the herbs in which it was cooked. He was suddenly worried if she was okay or not. He was killed for that single vial of the tonic. It was not too big of a deal for Sunaina to kill Yuthika too. He understood now that it was all a lie between them. She didn't really care about him. She was just after the tonic he was working on.
"Heaven is really unpredictable", he thought. He also took a few sips of tea. It was very refreshing. He got up and said to his mother that he wanted to have a look around outside. His mother asked him to come back early. They would wait for him in the room upstairs. He nodded and went outside.
He walked on the road looking at the stalls and people. He went to a book store and started looking at the books. "Do you want anything young man?", the stall owner asked.
"I was just looking. Do you have anything that may contain the geographical knowledge about the world?", Veer asked.
"I just have a few maps. You can choose which one you want. You can have it for 25 copper coins.", the stall owner said.
Veer saw the maps. There were so little details. He could remember all the contents just by looking at them. Also, his mother had told him about most of the places. So, he did not need it. "It's fine. I wanted a full detailed map.", Veer said to the stall owner.
"I'm really sorry young man; I do not have anything apart from these. In fact, you won't find it anywhere. Nobody has ever travelled so much or cared enough to make one. I have a few cultivation techniques, sword manuals and alchemy books.", the stall owner said to Veer.
"Are they authentic?", Veer asked. He knew that this was the recruitment season. Many vendors would setup their stall to cheat money out of people.
"I won't lie to you; these are just low-level cultivation techniques. However, I have something you won't find anywhere outside." The stall owner said and took out an old book of about 25x15 cm. The cover was hard and was made up of animal skin. The pages were also made up of skin of different texture – it was bright. It was written in the language nobody at this place knew.
"It has been with my family since my great-great grandfather. He was a rogue cultivator and had found this in a cave in a far away place. He could not decipher the contexts of this. He had travelled across many kingdoms and countries searching for the way to translate it. He even gave up his cultivation in obsession with this book. He passed this book to his son, and asked to pass it to the next generation. With time, everyone forgot about this book. It was kept in the old library of the house and was getting dusty. So, I just brought it today to sell it rather than letting it rot. But nobody bought it as the language was not recognizable.", the stall owner said gently rubbing the cover of the book.
"May I have it?", Veer asked. "Please tell me your price."
The stall owner said, "Are you sure you want to buy this? Do you understand this language?"
Veer had no option other than lie to him. He said, "No, but I would like to give it a try. I am young and have plenty of time. I will try to decipher it." Veer could understand it as it was written in Sanskrit. The name of the book was 'Swayamsootra' In his past life, he had studied Sanskrit in his high school and also when he was studying in college, he had been interested in Vedas, that had helped him in creating the heart strengthening tonic. He found himself so lucky to have found something recognizable from his home planet 'Earth'.
"You can have it for 10 silver coins.", the stall owner said the price.
Veer felt it was too expensive, but didn't want to let it go even if there was nothing inside this book. "This is too expensive. I can offer you 2 silver coins and 20 copper coins.", Veer replied.
The stall owner said, "It's too low for me. Just take it for 5 silver coins."
Veer passed the coins and took the book. He kept it inside his pocket in his robe and went ahead. He bought a sweet candy and while enjoying it, he came across a shop of artifacts. There were different kinds of artifacts and weapons. Amulets, daggers, protective charms, and so on. He was not interested in any of them. He knew if he was selected, he could make these things on his own.
"Get out of here, you beggar. You are not allowed here if you can't pay.", An inn owner kicked a boy about his age out. He was carrying a sword on his back. His clothes were torn. Even so, he looked handsome. He got up smiling and said in a cursing tone, "You scoundrels, I have paid for the meal yet you cheat seeing a young boy. Let me be selected, and I'll see you all."
Veer was passing by him. The boy stopped him and asked in a friendly tone, "Hey, are you here for the exam as well?"
Veer replied cupping his hand, "Yes."
"My name is Sagar. I am from the Jyotipura village. So, new here, huh?"
"Yes, I came with my parents. I was just about to go back. It's almost dusk now.", Veer replied.
"You really don't know how to enjoy the view. Do you? Today, there will be firework celebration in the midnight. Will you join me tonight?"
"I don't really know you. Why should I?", Veer said.
"We know each other's name Veer. Aren't we friends now?", Sagar said.
They started walking and chatting along the way. "Hey, what was the matter earlier that they threw you out?", Veer asked.
"Don't ask. They are just cheaters. I paid for the meal. They served, and after I ate, they were asking me to pay more. So, I rebelled. If I were a little stronger, I would have kicked their ass.", Sagar replied and laughed.
They both laughed and soon, Veer reached his inn. His mother saw Veer and Sagar talking and was glad that his son was making friends. Veer said that he won't make it tonight at the fireworks. He shall see it from the balcony itself. Sagar said goodbye and left.
Veer went inside with his mother to their rooms. Veer was given a room with the balcony attached to the room. After his mother left his room, he shut the door and opened the book and started reading.
चिन्ताः भावाश्च विशुद्धाः।
शून्ये लीनोऽहम्।
निःशब्दात् उद्गतोऽहम्।
सृजनकर्ता, जीवनरक्षकः, मोहनाशकः।
सर्वं अहम्, न च किंचित्।
शून्ये पूर्णत्वं मम।
It means – "My thoughts and emotions are purified. I am absorbed in the void. I have emerged from silence. I am the creator, the sustainer of life, and the destroyer of illusion. I am everything, and yet nothing. In emptiness lies my completeness."
This mantra is a declaration of spiritual realization. It moves from purification to dissolution, from silence to cosmic identity, and finally to the paradox of being everything and nothing. It is the voice of one who has touched the Absolute and returned with the fragrance of truth.
There was just a single mantra and all that was present was about the explanation and about the creation and destruction of the universe.
"When there is chaos in the emptiness, one is born
One splits itself and creates light and darkness,
From the two, forces are born
Creation, preservation and destruction
These three creates everything and balance between them."
He tried to turn the page but he could not. After reading two pages, it seemed like the pages were glued together but it was not. He was trying to understand the meaning of the mantra lying on the bed with the book in his chest.
"Shoooooooo… boom!" ..... The fireworks had started. It was midnight. Veer jumped out of the bed and went to the balcony and started enjoying the sight.
The moons were bright; the fireworks were filling the sky with different colours. It was so mesmerizing. Veer remembered in his past life, during the festivals, there were fireworks too. But he was so busy in his studies and projects that he rarely celebrated any festivals. Only when his friends visited him and took him to their home, he had the chance to celebrate. He did celebrate during his childhood with his family. After his grandpa passed away, and his parents being busy in their work, he did not celebrate much and had distant himself from the gatherings and celebrations.
This time, he wanted to enjoy every moment. He ran to his parent's room and knocked at the door, "Father, mother, come let's watch the fireworks."
"We're coming, go wait for us in the balcony.", His mother said in shocked voice. They were enjoying their quality time together. "
"Alright! I'll wait.", said Veer. Being in his late 20's in his past life, he knew that his parents were busy.
Honey, let's stay for a bit more.", Chandrakanth said to his wife. "No, let's go.", Swarna said to him hitting him in his chest.
They dressed up and went to the balcony. Veer was sitting on the balcony wall resting himself on the pillar and looking at the sky. The fireworks were still at play. It would create the figures of dragons, birds, trees, and different creatures after it went boom in the sky.
He was having a great time with his family. All three were happy. After an hour or so, they went to their rooms.
Veer lied in his bed and fell asleep unaware of the future that was about to come for him. Will he succeed in the exam? – Or will he fail? Nobody knows….