Life is always about ups and downs, but how we fight through and how we react to it defines us. Life's path is filled with peaks and valleys, yet our fortitude and the choices we make in facing them reveal our true essence. Because the concept of life's meaning is highly personal and individualistic, there is no single, universally accepted definition.Some might define life as the experience of living, but others believe life has an intrinsic purpose, assigning roles of protection, nurturing, or destruction to different individuals. Life is a tumultuous journey, a winding path that takes us through breathtaking peaks and treacherous valleys. It is a symphony of emotions, a kaleidoscope of experiences that shapes our very being. The sights that greet us along the way are awe-inspiring, from the majestic mountaintops that touch the heavens to the dark abysses that threaten to swallow us whole. As we navigate this unpredictable terrain, our senses are heightened, attuned to the smallest of details. The sounds that reverberate through the air are a medley of triumph and despair. We hear the triumphant roar of victory, the resounding cheers of those who have conquered their trials. But we also hear the mournful cries of defeat, the echoes of shattered dreams and broken hearts. The air carries with it a myriad of scents, each one unique and evocative. We inhale the crisp scent of success, the intoxicating aroma of accomplishment that fills our lungs with a sense of fulfillment. But we also catch whiffs of the acrid stench of failure, the bitter reminder of missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential. And then there is the feeling, the intangible essence that permeates our very being. We feel the exhilaration of triumph, the warmth of pride that spreads through our veins like liquid fire. But we also feel the weight of disappointment, the heaviness that settles upon our shoulders when life doesn't go as planned. In the end, it is not the circumstances themselves that define us, but rather our response to them. It is the fortitude we exhibit in the face of adversity, the choices we make in the aftermath of life's challenges. For life, with all its complexities and uncertainties, is ultimately a canvas upon which we paint our own meaning, our own purpose.
-Raina
The silence in the room was palpable. Anahita, who was listening to the narration of Rishi Krathan, stiffened. Tears welled up in her eyes, and one had already betrayed her control and fallen down. Achyuta had a similar yet a little less impact on the words of Guru.
They had now discovered why their paths had connected. They knew each other since their childhood, but this was something unknown to them. Achyuta remembers vividly about the adventures of his mother, although what he considered a friendly getaway was something far too dangerous.
Anahita, who thought that out of all people, she was the one who knew her mother the most, was silent; this wasn't the usual silence. No, this silence gave away the depth of her emotions on how much painful it seems to be, on how shocking it is!!!
Soon, the Guru made some noise, helping them come out of their own chain of thoughts. They had nothing to offer to them except a small comforting smile and some reassurances. But they knew that right now above these reassurances and smiles, they require the truth, not those half-unspoken ones, rather the harsh and ultimate one.
'My children, I know that it must be hard for you to take in, but you both need our help in fighting against Mounika, you both were chosen for the same. You, Anahita, are the daughter of Manasa who was a brilliant person; remember, Mounika and your mother Manasa are two distinct personalities. Manasa was the greater one always, but Mounika is what her decisions made her. And you, Achyuta, are the son of Adhiraa, a woman who was the epitome of kindness and the one who never backed down from their responsibility and now it is your responsibility to continue with her legacy. Which I am sure you would. So now let me continue with my narration for now, for stopping isn't an option for us.'
Both of them unknowingly straightened their backs, meant that they were ready to hear the next part….
'This marked the beginning of a new beginning in the life of Mounika, she; had already chosen something for herself, but Vikrant is who you both need to find, my dear children. This one, too, has its own story, as you must have predicted.
After the death of Adhiraa, when Vikrant's soul grew more and more restless, was the time when he started to mingle in the outer world. He started to initiate some conversations and many more things. He always had a knack for storytelling and hence every month he visits place to place telling tales of braveries and teaching the generations something or the other. And it was one time when Rishi Devagya crossed paths with him, as charismatic Vikrant was; Rishi Devagya immediately recognized him, and they had some exchange of words, that is when Vikrant again went missing. His trace was completely erased, as if he never existed and whatever the person felt or saw was all just a play of their mind, their dream. As Rishi Devagya returned here and shared this news, we started finding out clues or anything in that matter which would help us get to Vikrant, but with practiced patience, his power had just grown stronger.
But then again, as everyone knows that life has a wicked way of teaching or telling someone something. The senior students were cleaning the ashram's library when they found a book. This book was precisely of Vikrant; he had written multiple things in that book, but what it says or means is unknown, although what the first page of the book said was something like this…..
"यः कश्चित् एतत् पुस्तकं पठति तस्य अर्थः अस्ति यत् अहं मृतः अस्मि वा किमपि घटितम् अतः, एतत् पुस्तकं भवतः कृते प्रसारयति। स्मर्यतां यत् एतत् पुस्तकं भवन्तं स्वयमेव विश्वसिति। एतत् मम कन्यायाः समर्पयतु; सा तस्य अधिकारिणी अस्ति। अस्मिन् पुस्तके किं अधिकं लिखितं तत् केवलं सा एव व्याख्यातुं शक्नोति ।
अहम् इदमेव प्रथमं पत्रं संस्कृतेन लिखामि, परन्तु इतः परं पुस्तकस्य शास्त्रं विदेशीयभाषायां स्यात् यत् मां मोहितं कृतवान्। यदि भवान् एव मम बालकः एतत् पुस्तकं पठति तर्हि भवता अवश्यं ज्ञातव्यं यत् एतत् पुस्तकं मम अतीव प्रियम् अस्ति तथा च भवतः कृते अपि भविष्यति, यावत् भवतः पठनं समाप्तं भवति तावत्.....
एतत् पुस्तकं भवन्तं सम्यक् मार्गं प्रति मार्गदर्शनं करोतु, जगति सर्वाणि सुखानि प्राप्तुं च साहाय्यं करोतु। मया त्वां सदा प्रियं वत्स, त्वं मां दृष्टवान् न वा इति न कृत्वा । स्मर्यतां, अहं भवता सह सर्वदा निवसति, अतः परं अस्य पुस्तकस्य आज्ञां गृहीत्वा पठन्तु।
प्रेम्णा आदरेण च,
विक्रमः"
( Whoever is reading this book means that either I am dead or something has occurred and hence, this book is reaching out to you. Remember, this book trusts you with itself. Hand this over to my daughter; she is its rightful owner. Only she can decipher what is further written in this book.
I am writing this very first letter in Sanskrit, but from now on the scripture of the book would be in a foreign language which fascinated me. If it is you, my child, reading this book, then you must know that this book is very dear to me and so would it be to you, by the time you finish reading it.....
May this book guide you towards the right path and help you attain all the happiness in the world. I have always loved you dearly, my child, irrespective of whether you saw me or not. Remember, I always reside with you and from now on, take the command of this book and read it.
With love and respect,
Vikram)
This means that this book has something written for his daughter, Anahita. But it never came as a surprise to us. But what actually did was the symbol of seven daggers.
I think that both of you may not know it; Seven daggers had their own legend…. It was somewhere in the line of that, there were seven siblings of a royal clan who decided to go on an adventure that is when they found an old man sitting beneath the tree of Banyan and they decided to help him because the man looked stressed. They reached out to him and asked what was the matter that made him too stressed. That is when the old man smiled slightly and told them to go toward the east and stop when you find a mayurah (peacock) sitting on a dismantled statue.
And the siblings were about to ask their own doubts about why they should go there. But before that, the man had embraced his death with happiness.
Because they were unaware of the deceased's family's location, the brothers performed the last rites. Soon, they started walking towards the east from the exact banyan tree where the man embraced his death. After hours of walking was when they saw something similar. It is true that they almost lost their faith in what the man had said, but something in them kept pulling them forward.
After finding this was when they realised that the significance here was not only of a peacock but also of the broken statue; the statue itself was a reminder that if something was made, then it would be destroyed one day. Although there are many more meanings hidden in this symbol.
The mayurah was not an ordinary peacock, which we see but he was the one who had a mission. Which was to bring the seven siblings to the unknown temple. That temple was beautiful; words would never be enough to describe its beauty, but in contrast, at night, it became no less than a horror scene.
Mayurah left them there and went away; although the siblings were confused, no one dared to speak; they thought this would disrupt the silence and peace of the temple. The youngest ran inside the temple with a knack of curiosity, and soon the other siblings chased him. He was too fast, and that was to be admitted even by their father himself. All the siblings entered a secluded area which was prohibited from entering and this was something not known. They felt the aura changing around them as soon as they entered the area. But none of them wanted to mention it. Soon after they saw something shining bright… too bright for their vision...'