THE STORY OF LIFE | A 21ST CENTURY RAMAYANA

ON THE LAND OF VATIKA

(YEAHHH! THANKS FOR YOUR IMMENSE SUPPORT! DEDICATED TO ALL OF YOU!)

"Are you serious Jamshed Sir?! Vatika, really?" Ram asked in an exasperated voice. His tired arms seemed all powerful again, and he could alone take them to Vatika no matter whatever came in their way now.

"How did we reach here so quickly?" one asked.

"I believe, the storm acted like a blessing. It guided us towards a route which even I was unaware of, a shorter one."

Jamshed stared towards the island again with greater concentration and a hawk's eye.

"Those boats are Raghavan's, that I am sure because of the fact that the sails contain his company's emblem. What an idiot he is to reveal his identity so powerfully in this desolate part of the world, as if any one will come to oblige him here."

Lakshman smirked.

"His power his limited to his narcissism itself."

Pawan sighed. He NEEDED to know if that really was Vatika or not, for then he had to prepare the team for the procedures ahead.

"Sir, please tell us if that really is Vatika or not."

Ram glanced at Pawan, asking him to remain calm in the politest way. He understood the turmoil of emotions that ran through Pawan, but in this situation, hyperactivity was wanted the least.

"I really am Sure it is, Son. I.." Jamshed stopped speaking midsentence and moved ahead towards the deck head, as if in search of something in the boundless ocean. Ram left the wheel to Lakshman and walked behind him.

Jamshed held on to the railings with his wrinkled hands and gulped. Ram could sense, something was not right.

"What happened Sir?"

Jamshed slowly raised his finger to point towards what seemed like a floating small island in the midst of the blue.

"Ram.. That is.."

Ram placed his hand on Jamshed's shoulder and asked,

"What Sir, what is that?"

"Raghavan is cruel, he is cunning. Look Ram, he's put guards. Rather, pirates. Pirates he's fed and pushed. They're here to kill us. Kill us, all of us."

Anger, terror, horror and shock all came up together in front of Ram's eyes. Raghavan had gone to this extent too. To this cruel an extent, to KILL everyone before they could reach him ! And Pirates, Ram never thought of them out of fictional tales. The world seemed like a story, a game to him.

"I .. dont know what enmity he has against me , Sir. But whatever he may have, I won't let any of you get harmed."

"Ram, I understand all your emotions, but face the reality. I am not asking you to back away, but what I say is, dont do anything alone or out of instinct. Wait, let us understand the situation and contemplate what to do next."

Ram looked down and closed his eyes. He sighed.

"Ofcourse Sir, the killers.."

"Killers?!"

Ram and Jamshed turned to look at Lakshman and Pawan, whose faces turned white in shock. Sujit stood behind them with the others , anxious for an answer.