Sunshine and shadows

Swarg and Narak

Aman heard a deep rustle in the jaded emerald forest. He paused for a minute and his entire body went as still as a rock. When no further sounds were ventured, he silently pulled out his longsword, avoiding the telltale zing of the metal that would give away his presence.  

Inching towards the forest, he pushed his way through low-hanging branches and leaves that were as huge as his head, and came upon a clearing ringed with trees.

As soon as his eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight of the clearing, he hid behind a tree and gaped at the sight before him. 

A gravelly injured Mayura lay kneeling on the hard ground. Its vibrant feathers were stained with blood that had congealed over a terrible wound. The creature was laboriously breathing, and Aman knew that if it didn't get help soon, it could die.

It suddenly lifted its head and stared at the tree he was hiding behind, even though he hadn't many any noise. He muffled a scream and slowly started backing up when the heavenly peacock called out his name in a guttural rasp. He froze on the spot, but something about its mournful call drew him toward it instead.

"Aman," it said weakly when he stood before it. "I... I've been looking all over for you. I don't have much time left, and that means neither do you."

He raised his eyebrows at Mayura, but something deep in his heart told him that it was true. Mayura was dying, and so would he if he didn't do anything to fix it.

"I see that you believe my words," it said with a rattling breath. "Good, good. That means you're my sambandh, my special bond. It also saves both of us a lot of time and energy."

"Time and energy? In what way? I think you're the one who's losing time and energy here, not me," he replied, trying to avoid looking at the terrible wound.

Inspite of its injury, Mayura laughed weakly. "Then come closer, my sambandh. Let me tell you a story. Let me tell you our story."

Aman could have just run away from there, or even called for help, but a deep ache had rooted itself in his heart, and refused to let him go until he heard Mayura's  tale.

So he nodded, crossed his legs and sat down in front of it. Mayura seemed happy at Aman's attention and began its tale.

"I was born long ago in Swarg. I've lived a long, happy life with my parents and celestial beings. But I was haunted by the feeling that a piece of me was missing. I questioned everyone around me, but they just averted my eye, and I learned to live with the incompleteness."

Aman's breath hitched as painful memories of similar incidents passed through his heart. Those feelings had followed him throughout his years as well. 

"Then one day, our peaceful abode was disrupted by the wicked Asuras. They destroyed Swarg and dethroned our king. I was grievously injured, and my parents hastily explained to me that I had a rare sambandh with a human and that only this sambandh could save us all." 

Aman scrambled to his feet as realization struck him like lightning. "You... you mean that sambandh is me? I'm the one who's supposed to save the celestial beings?"

Mayura cocked its head at his frightened stance. "Yes. You are. Why do you react like that? Don't you see that it's a great honor to be a hero?" 

He shook his head frantically. "No way. Helping you means I'm put in harm's way. That means I could very well die."

In spite of its pain, Mayura laughed sardonically. "Oh, my dear sambandh. Don't you see? If you don't help us, you'll die with me anyways."