"THE FORGOTTEN ONES"

Pieces of the Puzzle

A man is often called selfish, but that's not entirely true. He just desires things and is determined to achieve all the luxuries he dreams of. So, is it really wrong for him to claim what he believes is his right?

Dreams are what bring happiness, but they can also cause sorrow to others. You might ask why, and the answer is simple—I've consumed everything and everyone around me to gain what I have now. And I don't feel guilty about it. This is just who I am and what I've become, an unknown voice echoed through the air.

The scene shifts to a dimly lit room where Abhinav, Gouri, and Honey are gathered.

The room is cluttered with old books and papers scattered across a wooden table. A faint smell of dust lingers in the air, mixing with the scent of aged paper. The walls are lined with tall shelves, some of which are filled with books, while others are partially empty, as if they've been recently rifled through.

Abhinav is searching frantically for something among the piles. His movements are quick and restless, and there's a look of determination on his face as he sifts through the clutter. Gouri, sitting cross-legged on the floor, watches him with curiosity, her mind wandering. She's trying to figure out what kind of person Abhinav really is. Is he someone who hides more than he shows?

Honey, seated nearby, seems troubled. His eyes dart around the room as if something is bothering him, but he's holding back from saying anything. He's hesitant, unsure whether speaking up will make a difference.

Suddenly, Abhinav stops and exclaims, "Found it!" He wipes the dust off an old book with his hand and then sits down on the floor beside them.

"Yamini kept these books hidden here," Abhinav says, his voice a mix of excitement and nostalgia. "She was always so mysterious, never telling anyone where she got them. I think she might have taken them from the projects she was working on."

He opens the book and continues, "This one is about the feelings we experience throughout our lives. It's a lot like the theory of sins in Christianity. Every feeling we have is connected to a specific sin, but we don't realize when our normal behavior crosses the line into sin."

Abhinav flips through the pages, his eyes scanning the text. "This is the story of Lord Brahma," he begins, "who was creating the universe. He grew tired and began to sweat. From his sweat and dirt, these creatures, or feelings, came into existence, each holding a tiny fraction of his power."

He looks up at Gouri and Honey and asks, "Do you guys know the story of how the demon Kali came into existence?"

Gouri hesitated, then said, "Not really. I've heard bits and pieces, but I'm not sure about the full story."

Honey shrugged and added, "Beats me. I just think it's something we were never taught about."

Abhinav leaned forward, the book resting on his lap. "Okay, let me tell you. After Lord Krishna sent his messenger to the lower world, different types of sins began to appear. The people of that world narrated these sins, and it's said that after the period of destruction, the entire world became calm. During this time, Lord Brahma, the grandfather of the universe, produced a great impure sin from his own back."

Gouri looked puzzled. "Wait, what do you mean by 'produced a sin'? How did that happen?"

Abhinav smiled slightly and continued, "Well, this sin was named 'Adharma,' which means unrighteousness. Under the influence of Adharma, by simply remembering or meditating on it, living beings could be freed from all other sins."

Honey raised an eyebrow. "So Adharma was some kind of powerful force?"

Abhinav nodded. "Exactly. And Adharma had a wife who had eyes like a cat. She was named 'Mithya,' which means falsehood. The two of them had a son named 'Dambha,' which means deceit."