Mahabharat: Cruel Fate

Chapter 9

Author's POV:

The morning sun came up and painted the sky in shades of orange and pink as Ekalavya and Esha prepared to leave for the neighbouring village. The quest to find more information about the enigmatic warrior, Karn, had become an obsession after yesterday's failure in that village, a puzzle they were going to solve no matter what happened. Esha, her face etched with a mix of determination and curiosity, packed a small satchel with essentials. Ekalavya, ever the practical one in the duo, ensured that his bows and arrows were securely fastened to his back. "We'll be back before nightfall with more information on Karn," Ekalavya promised, his voice filled with a reassuring tone. Esha nodded, her eyes filled with courage and determination.

The journey to the next village was filled with anticipation and a touch of apprehension. The dense forest, their familiar sanctuary,their home, gradually gave way to green cultivation fields and the distant hum of human chatter. The closer they got to the village, the more their excitement and anticipation grew. They made a promise to themselves to find something about Karn that day. As they approached the village, a wave of unfamiliar sights and sounds washed over them. The bustling marketplace, filled with the chatter of merchants and the aroma of exotic spices just like the previous village, was a clear contrast to the peaceful tranquility of their forest abode.

Esha and Ekalavya made their way through the crowd, their eyes scanning the faces of the villagers, hoping to find someone old and wise enough who might have heard of Karn. They stopped at a small inn, its weathered wooden sign promising food and lodging. Inside, the inn was filled with the warmth of a crackling fire and the loud chatter of weary travelers. They ordered a simple meal and began to question the innkeeper, a stout man with a bushy beard. "Have you heard of a warrior named Karn?" Esha asked, her voice filled with hope. The innkeeper scratched his head, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Karn, you say? Perhaps, I have a poor memory, I heard the name somewhere yesterday only. " he replied. A flicker of excitement passed through Esha, "Perhaps you remember the person who might have heard of him?" she pressed the innkeeper for more information. "There's an old sage who lives near the temple on the outskirts of the village. He's said to know more about the past,present and future than anyone else. Perhaps he might have heard of this so called warrior, Karn." Esha and Ekalavya exchanged a hopeful glance. It was a long shot by far, but it was their only  bet. Without wasting any more time, they thanked the innkeeper and set off towards the temple.

Esha's POV:

The temple was a magnificent structure, its towering spires piercing the sky. As we entered, a sense of peace and tranquility washed over me. The air was thick with the scent of incense, and the soft chanting of prayers filled the space. At the heart of the temple, beneath a massive banyan tree that seemed to grow out of the very walls, sat an old sage. His skin was wrinkled like parchment, and his eyes, though closed, held an aura of profound wisdom. Me and Ekalavya approached him cautiously. The old man's stillness was almost intimidating, as if he were one with the tree itself. As we stood before him, our voices hushed in respect for the sacred space and person. "Excuse us, sir," I began, my voice barely a whisper. "We are seeking information about a warrior named Karn."

The old man's eyes snapped open, revealing depths of wisdom and experience. He regarded us for a long moment, his gaze piercing. Then, without a word, he raised a hand, signaling for us to sit down in front of him. We exchanged a nervous glance before obeying the old man's command. As we sat on the cool stone floor, our bodies became stiff with anticipation. A chill crept down my spine as the old man's eyes seemed to pierce through my soul. His voice, when it finally came, was like the whisper of wind through an ancient tomb. "Some questions are best left unanswered," he intoned, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. "To seek knowledge of people who are not yet ready to be known to the world is to invite shadows into your world." I felt a shiver run down Ekalavya's spine. The old man's words hung heavy in the air, carrying an ominous weight. "But sir," I began again, my voice trembling slightly, "We seek no harm to him. We merely wish to understand our destiny." The old man's gaze turned to me, his eyes holding an unsettling depth. "Understand this," he said slowly, each word carrying the weight of centuries, "the world is a tapestry woven with threads of fate. Some patterns are meant to remain hidden. To seek them out is to invite the unseen, the devil into your life."