✨ **Soul Verse**
Ek talwar jhalakli.
Ek shabd uthla.
Ek guru bolala.
Ek punarjanma zala.
*(One sword moved. One word rose. One guru spoke. One rebirth began.)*
"**Jai Bhavani!**"
The cry erupted like thunder, sharp and sacred, echoing through the dense jungle mist. It was a call to arms, a proclamation of faith that danced through the trees. Temple bells tolled in a rhythmic pattern, each strike resonating as a heartbeat of devotion binding the warriors, the priest, and the very land they stood upon. The ancient stone walls around the temple trembled as if answering the fervent call. Oil lamps flickered, casting warm glows that merged with the cool shadows of the evening. The air thickened with the sweet scent of incense and the weight of destiny looming over them.
Inside the sanctum, Veeraj knelt before the goddess, an imposing idol adorned with jewels that glinted in the dim light. His polished armour caught the flickering flame's glow, reflecting the flickers of hope and fear.
The priest stood beside him, his chants bringing a sacred rhythm to the moment as they echoed against the stone. "You trained well, young warrior," the priest murmured, his tone reverential yet firm.
"But remember, war listens only to dharma. It is not just your skill that will guide you, but the righteousness of your path."
With bated breath, Veeraj gently placed his sword at the goddess's feet, the cold steel a stark contrast to the warmth of the temple.
"Bhavani Mata will guide my blade. Guard my soul," he declared, conviction lacing his voice.
A red flower twitched in the priest's hand, then fell—unnaturally, impossibly—from the idol's grasp, landing softly before Veeraj. He looked up, and for a brief heartbeat, he felt the goddess's eyes shine with a divine light.
🔮 **A Flash of the Guru**
In that mystic moment, the mist shifted, revealing the figure of Swami Rudraprakash, seated serenely beneath the sprawling branches of a neem tree. The memory consumed him for a moment.
"You will walk twice," the guru had said, his eyes closed in deep meditation.
"Once with fire. Once with memory."
The swami had placed a folded leaf in Veeraj's hand, a seemingly ordinary leaf that held within it a spiral drawn in ash—symbolic and profound.
"You are not merely a warrior," he had whispered, his words a balm for Veeraj's restless heart.
"You are a vow, embodying the sacrifices and promises of your ancestors."
As the jungle light touched Veeraj's face, it felt like the warmth of forgotten memories, not the morning sun.
He could see his mother waiting patiently at the temple steps, her eyes glistening with unshed tears yet steady with resolve.
"Kumkum and rice," she spoke softly, pressing the vibrant blood-red powder and grains into his brow.
"For your protection on this journey. For your safe return to us."
Taking a deep breath, Veeraj whispered back, "I'll return with honour."
It was an oath; a promise forged in the depths of his heart.
"Return with breath," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Honor can wait for another day, but the breath of life is your priority."
Beside her, his father stood tall, adjusting Veeraj's vambrace with precision.
"You've trained hard, my son," he said, pride and concern wrestling in his eyes.
"But always remember—dharma comes first. Pride can lead to a downfall."
Veeraj nodded, asserting, "I'll fight clean, I promise. I'll fight true."
"Good," his father replied, the tension easing slightly in his shoulders. "Then the jungle will remember you as a warrior of worth."
Then there was Meera, his newly wedded wife & childhood companion, silent but expressive, tears pooling in her eyes like morning dew. She stepped forward, placing a red thread in his palm and curling his fingers around it gently.
"Say something," Veeraj urged, his voice a soft plea.
Shaking her head, she replied, "If I speak, you'll stay. The words will bind you here." "Then don't speak," he said, desperation creeping into his tone. "Just wait for me."
The red thread thrummed in his hand—a pulse that felt warm and alive, a shared heartbeat of hope and longing. At the edge of the clearing, Meghraj, Veeraj's loyal steed, waited. The stallion was as black as the night sky, with a white flame marking his proud forehead, strong and noble. Veeraj ran a hand along Meghraj's mane, grounding himself in the moment.
"You remember the last ride we had?" he asked, a half-smile breaking through the tension.
Meghraj snorted in response, a sound both mocking and affectionate.
"That ridge near Bhavani Tara, you almost threw me off!"
With a chuckle, Veeraj retorted, "Don't deny it. You were showing off, trying to make me look foolish."
As he tightened the saddle, it felt like an anchor amidst the chaos around him.
"They say war is won by steel, my friend," he continued, "but I say it's won by memory. The memories we carry give us strength and purpose."
Leaning close, he whispered into Meghraj's ear, "If I don't return, find me again. In another jungle. As another rider."
It was a vow, deep and unbroken. The horse bowed its head, as if understanding the weight of the promise. The jungle stirred around them, alive and watchful. The jungle parted like the fabric of a memory, revealing the path that lay ahead.
"Ride with me, Meghraj" he urged his friend Meghraj.
Veeraj rode fast, Meghraj's hooves striking rhythm into the earth, a beat of bravery. Behind him, a formation of warriors followed, their armour gleaming under the dim light, hearts steady, voices swelling into a fierce chorus.
"** Jai Bhavani! **" They all roared together, the chant rising once more, louder and more fervent.
"** Jai Bhavani! **"
The energy surged, echoing back from the depths of the jungle. As they reached the Warfield, it loomed before them—muddy and sacred, waiting for their presence. Flags fluttered like vibrant wings, drums thundered like storm clouds gathering, and the enemy gathered ahead, dark and foreboding.
Veeraj slowed at the ridge, eyes scanning the horizon, determined. "We hold the ridge," he declared confidently. "Let the jungle speak for us."
Malhar, his comrade and friend, grinned mischievously beside him. "You sound like a priest! All this talk of dharma and destiny."
"I knelt before one," Veeraj replied steadily. "Now I kneel before something greater—my destiny." His words were framed in the solemnity of the moment.
"And I still say you owe me a mango climb," Malhar added with a light laugh, trying to ease the heavy tension.
"Don't die before you repay me!"
With resolve, Veeraj raised his sword high, a symbolic gesture of both defiance and hope. The red thread still curled around his palm, reminding him of the love and promises waiting for his return.
"** Jai Bhavani! **" he roared, voice echoing with all the strength he could muster. And the jungle roared back, a symphony of encouragement as the battle began.
"The jungle listened, the spiral glowed faintly, and destiny prepared to test its guardian."