A Small Soul

Treta Yuga: A New Start

In the heart of a vast forest, nestled among the towering trees and verdant foliage of the Western Ghats, stood a solitary hut. Its thatched roof and weathered walls spoke of a life lived in harmony with nature, far removed from the bustling world beyond.

On a serene morning, as the sun cast its golden rays upon the forest canopy, the tranquility of the hut was shattered by the cries of a newborn baby. Within its rustic interior, the midwife's gentle hands cradled the precious life that had just entered the world.

"A baby girl is born! You are now able to enter," the midwife called out, her voice carrying the joyful news to the waiting parents outside.

With trembling hands and hearts brimming with anticipation, the father stepped forward, his eyes alight with wonder and awe. Gazing upon his daughter for the first time, he felt a surge of overwhelming love that threatened to engulf him.

"My daughter," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion as he held her tiny form close to his chest.

The mother, her strength tested by the rigors of childbirth, lay upon her pallet, her eyes shining with tears of joy and exhaustion.

"My child," she murmured, reaching out to touch the tiny fingers that grasped at the air with newborn curiosity.

And so, amidst the tender embrace of her parents, the newborn baby was bestowed with a name befitting her divine origins.

"Ishika," the father declared, his voice filled with reverence, "from now on, our daughter's name is Ishika. May she be blessed with the grace and protection of the gods."

As the years passed and Ishika grew from infancy to childhood, the forest became her playground, and the rustling leaves became her companions. She danced amidst the dappled sunlight, her laughter ringing out like the chime of bells.

But beneath her carefree exterior lay a mind as sharp as the arrows of her name, which means The Daughter of God. Ishika pondered the mysteries of existence, her young heart yearning for knowledge beyond the confines of her forest home.

"This body that I possess is a Vanara," she mused, her thoughts drifting like wisps of smoke in the morning breeze. "It will be my chance to meet the five-year-old Lord Hanuman. Damn! I wish I had read the Ramayana sooner so I might have become familiar with the story. But it's still quite unfortunate, though, that being minor characters, the existence of Papa and Mom is meaningless."

As Ishika ventured deeper into the labyrinth of her own thoughts, destiny beckoned her towards a path fraught with adventure and discovery—a path that would lead her to the very heart of legend and myth.

"This is the kingdom that Sugreeva will rule—Kishkinda," the narrator intoned, setting the stage for Ishika's extraordinary journey. "Ishika is a Vanara warrior's daughter, and it seems that she is starting her training to become one. Given that Vanaras are minor characters, having a name like hers is a bit out of the ordinary."

In the sprawling training grounds of Kishkinda, Ishika honed her skills with a bow and arrow, her aim true and her determination unwavering. Amidst the whispers of her peers and the approving nods of her instructors, she emerged as a prodigy among her fellow Vanaras, her prowess unmatched even by those twice her age.

"Oh, look, it's the bow goddess," the Vanaras would exclaim, their voices filled with awe and admiration.

With each arrow loosed from her bow, Ishika felt a sense of purpose and fulfillment that transcended the bounds of her mortal existence. In those fleeting moments of clarity, she glimpsed the hand of destiny guiding her steps towards a future unknown.

But amidst the camaraderie of her fellow Vanaras, Ishika encountered a challenge unlike any other—a confrontation with Nila, a boastful young warrior whose arrogance knew no bounds.

"Are you joking?" Nila scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain as he eyed Ishika with contempt.

Yet Ishika refused to back down, her spirit unyielding in the face of adversity. With each word she spoke, she reaffirmed her resolve to carve her own path, regardless of the obstacles that lay in her way.

"If you are the son of Lord Agni, then I am too the daughter of Lord Vishnu, hm!" She retorted, her words a defiant challenge to Nila's arrogance.

In that moment, Ishika stood tall and unafraid, her spirit ablaze with the fire of determination and self-assurance. And as she faced the trials and tribulations of her journey, she knew that her destiny was hers to shape and hers alone.

As the tension between Ishika and Nila reached its peak, a voice of reason emerged from the midst of their confrontation—a voice that belonged to none other than Nala, Nila's twin brother.

" Brother, stop it! She's an archer, and you are swordsmen. I'm so sorry on his behalf, Ishika," Nala interjected, his tone apologetic as he attempted to defuse the situation.

Ishika regarded Nala with a mixture of surprise and gratitude, impressed by his willingness to extend an olive branch in the midst of conflict.

"At least one of you knows something called manners," Ishika remarked, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes as she addressed the twins. "And what's your name, Mr. Nila's twin?"

Nala, unfazed by Ishika's pointed remark, introduced himself with a polite nod and a warm smile, his demeanor in stark contrast to his brother's brash arrogance.

"It's Nala, and I apologize on his behalf," Nala explained, his tone sincere as he extended a hand of friendship towards Ishika. "We are not here to fight. I am an engineer, and he is a commander-to-be."

Ishika, impressed by Nala's humility and sincerity, found herself warming to the idea of forging a new alliance—one based on mutual respect and camaraderie.

"So?" Nala ventured, his gaze meeting Ishika's with a sense of earnest curiosity. "I want you to be on our team so that I can prepare different weapons."

But Ishika, ever the pragmatist, hesitated to commit herself to any one path too hastily. She knew that the journey ahead would be fraught with peril and uncertainty, and she was loath to place her trust in those she had only just met.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait," Ishika interjected, holding up a hand to forestall any further discussion. "So, you guys, who are just seven, are trying to recruit a seven-year-old like me?"

Nala, taken aback by Ishika's bluntness, struggled to find a suitable response. Yet Ishika, undeterred by his discomfort, pressed on with her line of questioning, determined to understand the motivations behind Nala's unexpected offer.

"What's so surprising?" Nala replied, his tone tinged with uncertainty as he sought to justify his actions. "We are all Vanaras, are we not? Why should age be a barrier to friendship and cooperation?"

Ishika considered Nala's words carefully, her mind awash with conflicting emotions. On the one hand, she yearned for companionship and camaraderie, eager to forge connections with her fellow Vanaras. On the other hand, she hesitated to trust too readily, wary of the dangers that lurked in the shadows of the forest.

"You know what?" Ishika declared, her voice filled with a newfound sense of determination. "Let's be friends. It's easier."

And so, with a simple smile and a heartfelt gesture, Ishika extended the hand of friendship towards Nala and Nila, bridging the divide that had once threatened to tear them apart.

"Accepted," Nala replied, his eyes shining with gratitude as he clasped Ishika's hand in his own. "Uh... okay?"

Ishika nodded, her heart brimming with optimism and hope for the future. In that moment, amidst the towering trees and echoing laughter of her newfound friends, she felt a sense of belonging that transcended the boundaries of age and experience.

"And here our dear Ishika started to change the course of the Ramayana without her knowledge," the narrator, A.K.A. myself, concluded, my words echoing in the stillness of the forest as Ishika's destiny unfurled before her like the petals of a blossoming flower, delicate yet resplendent in its beauty and grace.