part0019

Kalki had his bruises and wounds healed by the medicinal leaves from the Soma Caves of Shambala. They were up in the mountainous terrains, hidden from the village. Inside, Kalki had heard, there were the soma reservoirs, commonly referred to by the villagers as the “Gift from the Gods”. According to the legends, Lord Indra, the God of thunder and king of all Gods, had situated himself in the land of Indragarh and he had told his celestial servants, the Gandharvas, to spread the medicine across Illavarti to aid the Manavs. So far this had been the only such repository discovered.

And the people who believed in science said the Soma Caves were nothing but shiny, blue stones that had developed due to intense heat and pressure, nothing else. They weren’t magical per se.

People had tried extracting the juices from the stone, but many had been unsuccessful. Those who were successful, they had grown to be immortals or had gone mad, so the stories said. But for now, the caves had shut down as a quake had caused boulders to block the pathway. But the villagers still used the herbs found around the outskirts of the terrain. The Soma Caves, or popularly known as Indravan, were also the holiest place for worship, as it was considered the last place Lord Indra had stayed in, until his ascension to heaven. The caves had become almost too sacred, frightening and at the same time grandiose during the days of the festivals.

“I still don’t believe you are able to fight all these animals with your bare hands,” Lakshmi said to herself, as she slowly massaged the leaf paste over his wounds.

Kalki had learnt about his powers when he was nine years old and he was able to grab a poisonous snake and squeeze it hard till it choked to death. He had learnt he wasn’t like other boys. He had powers unimaginably great. His skin wasn’t impermeable to wounds, but his strength was. He had powers greater than the soldiers of the city; almost remarkable like the Rakshas, he imagined. But Kalki was humbled, especially when his father, Vishnuyath had made him sit down and narrated to him why he was like that.

“Some are born great and some embrace greatness. You are both. Use it wisely, but do not reveal it to anyone, for many won’t understand your power and will be frightened of your potential.”

“But why am I like this?”

He looked down, thoughtfully, perhaps searching for the right words. “If I knew the answer, I would have told you. But all you should worry about is to use it for the right cause, son, for power this great comes with a great price. One day you might have to pay for it, but for now, use it to help others.”

Kalki hadn’t got the answer then. He had hidden this fact from his brother and even his mother, but had been caught picking up a huge boulder effortlessly by Lakshmi. He told her this and she had said to him, “perhaps you are the son of a God.”

Kalki had brushed it aside, a little bashfully. “I’m sure my father isn’t any God. He’s a dairy farmer. Perhaps he’s the God of cows.”

“The God of milk?”

And they had laughed, but both of them were puzzled. Kalki had known he found a friend in someone who didn’t judge him for being who he was.

“You still have not got any answers for the powers I have, do you?” he asked.

“I know you told me to look up through the history books…”

“Or science textbooks.”

“Yes, but I couldn’t find anything substantial. Perhaps, there are some things that you don’t need explanations for or perhaps it takes time to know for oneself. You’ll know about whatever you have, soon in your life. You just need to wait.” She paused. “Did you find anything here?”

“Bah! Here out of all the places? I’m devoid of any knowledge here. I seek to escape father. I feel I owe my parents a great deal and thus I’m stuck working on the farm for them.”

“I just want to know.” He gritted his teeth.

“You will, I’m sure.”

Kalki walked to the polished copper plate that was hung in the living room and saw a burnt mark over his right arm. “Yes, perhaps.” He had got the burn when he was younger. “So many questions, and such few answers.”

“Don’t worry, we will find it. For now, worry about going back.”

Kalki smiled, as he hugged her and made his way out. He saw Lakshmi’s mother, to whom he waved as he passed her by.

He was going home late. He hadn’t even gone to work today, though there was time till sunset to finish some leftover work on the farm. As he made his way to the field, he passed a tavern where an old hermit sat, drunkenly blabbering things to himself, before he lurched and fell on the floor.

As Kalki helped him get up, he saw the strange eyes of the hermit. They were wise beyond his visible age.

“I’m…I’m…so-sorry, mate.”

“It’s all right, man. Are you fine?”

“As always,” he grinned foolishly, baring his rotten teeth.

“I should leave then…”

“Have I…have I seen you somewhere, mate?”

Kalki smiled. “I don’t think so. In fact, by the looks of you, you are not from here. Came with the Tribals, perhaps?”

“Long lives the future, right?” he laughed and fell again.

This time, Kalki didn’t pick him up. He strolled to the farm, which had a wooden entrance and high fences that didn’t let the cows escape. The fields were pasture lands for the cows and there were sheds at the back, where the cows were tied. But as of now, the ground was soaked with blood and the cows had disappeared. He saw his father’s men, sprawled on the floor, lifeless.