THE DIVINE ASTRAS

Chapter 14

This is overwhelming. I don't seem to understand what is happening. That woman, they seem to have denied and forgotten her presence. Did I just dream? Have an unforgettable nightmare? What was she talking about?
All these thoughts raced inside his mind. Sangrām was confused. He didn't know how to react, the station was brimming with people, other officers, constables, complainants and more, it was the afternoon, but somehow, he had seen the darkest night in the history of his life ever.
It was natural to be confused. He was walking slowly, to the outside of the station, chaos filled in his mind.
Who am I going to join? Who needs my help? My guidance? I need a drink.
He slowly walked towards his bike and inserted it's key.
"Son, you must be confused. Well, don't you worry, you'll see your path soon." said a gentle, mild tone.
He turned around to see the source of the voice.
It was a monk. A bald monk.

*

A few people were sitting around the round table. Nine to be precise. The nine most powerful men in the world. Unknown to anyone, they controlled the world. These nine unknown men. They had formed for one cause a long, long time back. To protect the Mauryan empire and keep it in power. Long back these all people had different responsibilities, but now, they held different provinces in the world, and they decided when war would be waged, and when it would cease, how it would start, and how many people would die, how revolutions would start and how they would triumph or fail, very few had the power or wisdom to become aware of these people's existence. But, these people, the most powerful people in the world, they answered to only one.
The one who had formed them, the one long thought to have died on his bed from a severe illness. Legends say that his body had burned for seven days and nights during his cremation.
"ALL HAIL ASHOKA THE GREAT!" chanted one of the men.
"HAIL! HAIL! HAIL!" shouted all men in unison.
One of the white walls in the room turned on to reveal it to be a screen, and a dark contour of a man appeared on the wall, by means of a projector.
"Greetings my fellow Mauryans. Let's have the daily report." said the man in a rough voice. It seemed to have been made rough with a machine. It had the same sort of static a television had back when there was cable.

*

"So, how was it?"
"Guruji, what can I say! I am out of words. This is art! I mean, it feels like I have so much power because of this. Feels like I can fly! This feeling is like no other. I mean, now I can fight so much better because of this!" said Rudra.
"You got all this from a bite?"
"Yeah, this food is awesome!"
"Well, eat up. We shall be training you pretty soon now."
"I have a feeling."
"What feeling?"
"Well, I find it hard to explain. You know? I mean, it seems I can feel everything in this world. All at once. I am confused though, all these dreams, all these signs, what am I?"
"You are asking the wrong question, O divine one."
"Then what should I be asking? And don't call me that. It irritates me."
"I'm sorry, sir. You are not a thing, so asking what are you is wrong, a better thing to ask would be who are you?"
"Okay. Who am I? And just call me Rudra, or just address me as your student or son."
"Okay, son. You see I don't actually know, who you are, maybe you are a God, maybe a demigod, who knows, haha. I mean, you have some sort of role in this divine plan of His, and a really important one. People like you don't really come to train here. You merely come here to remember your abilities and skills, sort of. When you're done, you teach us sometimes, and we help you hone your skills."
"People like me...umm...how many people have you trained?"
"Well, it has been a long time...I think the last one we trained was Lord Krishna?"
"The Lord Krishna? You must be kidding. How old are you?"
"I have no age. I am merely a cybernetic being. An android if you will!"
"Guruji! An android? But you feel so human!"
"Yes, our culture was all about technology, but now it's...let that be."
"Okay. Guruji, what is your name?"
"Drona."

*

Many years Back
Sambhala
"Bhaiyā, can you teach me that trick?"
"What trick Kartik?"
"The one where you separate the thumb from your hand?"
"Oh, hello, that is not a trick! I can do magic."
"Yeah, right."
"I won't ever teach it to you."
"Oh come on, Bhaiya. Please!"
"Okay, first you have to get me a chocolate."
"And then?"
"Get the chocolate first."
"I'll get you 2 chocolates. Please teach it to me now."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"Okay. The trick is to hide the back thumb by bending it behind one hand, and then using the thumb of the other hand, also bent, and join them together, and then cover them with two fingers and move the thumb with the nail showing up like this!"
"Ohhhhh. Like this!"
"You're so smart Kartik!"
"Thank you, Bhaiya."
Present Day
"Hey, cut that out. It's stupid." said Jai.
Kartik continued to do the thumb separation trick.
"Come on, man stop it. It's bumming me out."
"My Bhaiyā taught me this."
"So? See man, what you need to understand is that you are a captive here. And you cannot just do whatever you please. Or I'll kill you."
"If you kill me, you will get killed too, and then how will you meet your sister?"
"You heard all that? Why are you out of your room?"
"I'm normally abled. I can see and hear like a normal person."
"You mock me, eh?"
"I'm not mocking you. Just pointing out your stupidity."
"So now, I'm stupid."
"No, you're not stupid...now."
"I'll...."
"Jai!" called out Shukra.
"Yes sir."
"I need you for a moment."
"Okay sir."