Tiger's Beginning

Chapter 5: Egghead and Morning Entertainment

Gosh, I’m really getting tired of this weird dream world thing. I mean, every dream I have, I have to get these world changing prophecies or go back in time. Why can’t I just dream about normal weird stuff, like carpets of puppies or riding unicorns on rainbows? Pleasant weird things? As much as I find all this Indian curse stuff interesting, it kind of freaks me out.

I hadn’t had a dream in almost two months, and honestly had forgotten all about it. I brushed aside the supposed prophecies and blamed it all on the candy I sometimes eat in copious amounts before bed. 

Before I even opened my eyes, I knew I was in a flower garden. The intoxicating smell of jasmine I recognized, but other scents were harder for me to pin down. I then heard the sound of running water. I eventually opened my eyes and found myself on my back. A sharp pounding started in my head once I started to sit up, and I winced in pain and felt on my forehead. I found a knot forming that seemed to be the size of a small egg, and groaned before standing up.

 I surveyed my surroundings and saw I was in a beautiful garden behind what looked to be a castle. There was a waterfall with a pond in from of me that seemed to be fed from the house, and flowers on the bank of the pond and surrounding me.

I couldn’t help but smile in the beautiful place, and found myself humming. I gently reached out my hand towards a beautiful lilac colored lotus flower resting on the water. Its petals were soft and supple, and its scent was sweet and inviting. Then I noticed a flash of orange near the leaves of the lotus. I looked closer and saw swimming beneath the surface dozens of koi fish, their mouths opening and closing, and the whiskers surrounding their mouths giving them an elderly look. I was cautious at first, but then reached out my hand and gasped when my fingers touched the smooth and slimy scales of a black and orange koi.

I heard voices coming from my right, so I stood and darted into the flower garden. I remembered Yesubai’s warning about being seen, and stood behind a sculpted green bush. I waited as the voices approached.

“Yes, Kadam I know what you think, but he seems very polite and respectful of our family and land.”

“My prince I agree with you, but I believe that he has sinister plans. Please, promise me you will be cautious, I do not know what I would do if something were to happen to me.”

“I promise, and nothing is going to happen to me.”

I peered from behind the bush and saw a man in his early forties with Dhiren. The man called Kadam seemed worried about someone, I could only assume to be Lokesh.

I must have traveled farther into the past, before the curse began. I wonder why I am here.”

“Kadam let us talk of happier things. Do you think Yesubai a fine bride?”

“I…She is very beautiful.”

I saw Dhiren smiling with a dreamy look on his face as he walked down the side of the river.

“We will have strong children, and she will be by my side. Kadam I have waited for a long time for someone. You know that.”

I looked at Kadam’s face and he looked sad, but patted Dhiren on the shoulder and said,

“I know.”

I shifted slightly in my position, and a twig broke beneath my foot. Both men snapped their heads towards my hiding place and Kadam stepped in front of Dhiren, bringing a knife in front of his body.

“Sire, get behind me!”

I was exposed, and both Dhiren and Kadam could clearly see me. Dhiren looked at me curiously, and lowered Kadam’s arm before holding his hands in surrender and calling out,