WANDERERS – II

And standing there, enjoying the view he was calculating his steps to descend. One step ahead, taken back, another a little further but aback. He thought sitting down and sliding could be easy and stood firm for once before venturing, when the silence was broken by a scary creature that came running towards him. It looked black and ran fast, displayed its canines as his legs shivered. At such times you should stand still he decided and the dog almost bit him when it was hit badly by a few big stones. He lost his balance with all this and fell in a way he had not planned and slid badly to fall at the entrance of the cave like a rugged ball!

It pained badly and had already started itching when someone was laughing almost uncontrollably making him embarrassed. It was a small boy who had thrown stones at the dog and saved him, but was laughing at his fall. He came running towards the stranger and helped him get on to his feet.

'Bhayya, you haven't learnt how to walk yet?' he teased.

He just smiled at the boy who looked quite naughty and strong for his age, who wore some old clothes and appeared to be back from school with a small bag on his back.

'Are you new to this place?' he asked.

'Yes, I've just come here and was looking for the cave'

'Oh! No wonder you've come from the wrong way. See there,' he pointed - 'this is the way you should come from next time or else I might not be there to help you when you fall' he laughed again.

'Thank you, can you get me some water?'

'No bhayya, you've to first finish your meditation else god will punish you!'

'If I don't drink water now I won't be alive to meditate' he watched what the boy would reply.

'Ok, there is the tap and you can drink as much water as you want' and he ran into one of the rooms.

At the other entrance where the half broken compounds survived, a tap was planted to facilitate for washing and drinking purposes. He walked up to the tap wanting to kill the thirst however no drop of water emerged from it. A lady walked out of another room with a vessel container out of which some water spilled. Without saying anything, she signaled him to join hands as she poured water for him to drink and he consumed all until the last drop. She smiled generously and looked puzzled at him.

He went on to explain,
'I'm new to this place and I've come to see the cave and a few other places in this town'

She didn't say anything and left with another smile.

'Mother, don't give him water. He has not yet meditated' the small boy again teased him.

She signaled him towards the entrance of the cave and said, 'Here's the idol which you should see first and then you can walk inside the cave. If you want to pray or meditate, don't remain for long. It's getting dark'

He thanked her and looked at the idol which didn't generate any interest in him. He looked at the lady again and observed that she was a widow with a son who stayed at the cave house as a care-taker and yet looked younger in her 20s.

He walked into the cave with slow steps, almost like crawling and half bent not to hurt his head. There was chilling wind generating inside and it looked like a dark habitat with pleasant fragrance and a small lamp being lit near the idol. There were chants of a voice that was strong and soothing and a trance was developing in him. He looked at who it was...

Continues...