Music for the Chapter: Bachke O Bachke by Shankar Mahadevan, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shaan from Aladin
Trust me when I say the training was nothing easy. Ask a couch potato like me who loves her comfort how it feels to be training like a German Shepard joining the Police Force. Only, here you don't get treats when you achieve a goal. Not even a 'Shabash beta. Bohot acche' kind of remark. Only Guru Parshuram shaking his head in disappointment at what a couch potato you are.
You start on a high note. Excited, energetic, and very determined to do this. You want to do this. Full of energy and determination. By the fourth round of the entire Gurukul, all that is kicked out of the window. You'd be begging for rest and would be ready to pretend that you passed out from exhaustion. By the fifth round, you'd be crying to stop. By the sixth, your legs will be giving out. By the seventh, you'll collapse because your legs refuse to move anymore.
In that moment if you find some person showing off their stamina, the fire that burns inside you can turn you to the dark side. That is how people turn evil. Taunting. That is how Dr. Doofenshmirtz turned evil. His brother took away everything that he wished for. Then his parents taunted him with that.
I felt that. I wanted to strangle that boy to death. Too much of a show-off. I felt so close to stabbing him. Almost tempting me to get violent. I might as well become Dr. Doofenshmirtz. Although, not much of a scientist to become that. Though, I might have to find a different way. Maybe I can become the real Syndrome who turned to the dark side because Mr. Incredibles did not understand his feelings.
"That's it? All your energy is gone? This is just the seventh round. I was expecting at least 14 rounds before you start feeling tired." Akshay taunted.
"Yes. Of course, kids on steroids can run even 30 rounds without getting tired."
"You're Narayan's daughter," Nishi commented.
"Yes. What should I say!! My life was so privileged that I never needed to do all this peasant work. I could simply buy out the idiots to stay out of my life. You people don't have that privilege."
Harsh couldn't help the laughter. He knew I was in a bitch mood. Yes, I get into bitch mode when I feel irritated. You can excuse me for that. Everyone would become a bitch when they are annoyed.
"Are you calling us poor?" Nishi asked, almost offended.
"I can understand. Your brains are too fried out to comprehend sarcasm."
"As lovely as your sarcasm is Alaknanda, you aren't going to survive with just that." Chirag said.
"Who knows? I might get lucky."
"You can't always be lucky."
I laughed, "Pshhh... tell that to someone who has luck in scarcity. My mother is the Goddess of Fortune. I'm in no scarcity of good luck and good fortune. People say money can't buy you happiness but I'd equate a good dress, Six Keventers milkshakes, and a good shopping spree as happiness. You might feel sad and cry but at least you would have an expensive handkerchief to wipe your tears. That is enough assurance that it could have been worse."
Harsh laughed.
"Adi, just calm the hell down," Harsh commented.
"What?!"
"You get more and more bratty as you get more annoyed."
"What is this about?" Guru Parshuram asked. I started running. You wouldn't want to argue with him. If you don't finish the routine, he will put you to sparring exercise with him. That will mean you end up with several bruises. He doesn't go easy.
"Do you think the daityas, danavas, or rakshasas will go easy on you because you're not that well trained? No. They'll kill you with no remorse at all." He would tell you.
Guru Parshuram had started to train me with Kalarippayattu. It would take a little longer before I can gain any expertise. That doesn't mean he doesn't get harsh with training. I'd probably end up with at least four bruises. He's an excellent teacher, though. Like anyone who is taught by him is grateful. They achieve their greatest heights. Yet, he's a bit harsh.
After morning rounds, all of us sat in the arena sitting area. Guru Parshuram showed a few moves. Akshay and Omakara were in the arena with him.
Akshay took a duel with him. The fight went on. I was surprised. He was extremely good if he lasted even 10 minutes with Guru Parshuram. The fight went on. Even Guru Parshuram was impressed with him.
"He is really good, man." I whispered to Harsh.
"I've heard from Hanuman that he has been trained for around 10 years. He started his training when he was four years old. At the time when he started saying words properly, he was already learning battle skills. I'd say after 10 years of training, anyone would get as great as him. They also say that he has done penance for around 8 years."
"I never knew penances were still a thing. I've never heard of any Devansh doing penances." I commented.
"Penances are of several types. One is the penance of their duty and the other is spiritual penance." Sona explained. "Most Devansh do the penance of their duty. They are blood bound to serve their godly parents, the gods of Swarga. The majority of Indra's army is made up of Devansh and their descendants. The Devansh train their descendants. The descendants don't come here."
"Wow."
Akshay still hadn't given up. He was still fighting Guru Parshuram. All the students were still looking at them in awe. No one had ever lasted this long.
"I have been in this Gurukul for around 14 years and still never found anyone who could do anything close to that." Naina di commented.
"Hi..." Nandini came ahead. I smiled at her. She sat next to me.
"Hi." I replied.
"Better than before? You were a little down before. Hope you're better now."
"Starting to feel right at home." My sarcasm reached her and she laughed.
She was dressed in a dhoti and white top. Most of the white top was covered by armour. She paired it with white shoes. Her hair in two french braids. She looked pretty. A thought poured into my mind that pink would suit her a lot more. She did manage the wing eyeliner but I could tell it was a hard attempt. She had never done it before. Her nude brown lipstick was pretty much a solid choice. I could see an extremely light patch of black near her eyes. It was from wiping off the eyeliner and trying the edge again. I smiled at the thought. She had put quite some time into dressing up.
"Next time you take a few more attempts at eyeliner, you might want to use coconut oil as a makeup remover. It works wonders." I told her. She turned to me. A soft blush appeared on her cheeks.
"I tried my best. I have never done it before but then that day I saw you. You look so perfect with your makeup. I felt like I should give it a try but seems to have failed by a large margin. Is the black that visible?"
"No. People wouldn't even notice. I happened to notice because I've been at the stage. By the way, if you want a makeover, you know where to find me. I'll be glad to doll you up."
"Blue eyeliner?" She pointed to my eyes.
"Goes with my top. We're wearing this armour so you can't see it but this top is one of my favourites. I had bought it like a month ago but never got the chance to wear it but today I decided to take a tip. Then the tragedy struck. Guru Parshuram had us run around like 10 rounds around the Gurukul."
"Do you like blue a lot? I mean you even have it in your hair."
"Well, I have several colours that I like. But yes, three of my most favourite colours are the basic colours on the template. Red, Yellow, and Blue. They're the most basic colour and are bright. I have a thing for bright colours. Majorly people like black but I sort of think it is so common. Like yellow is such a pretty-"
"Alaknanda..." I whipped my head in the direction of Guru Parshuram. He looked a bit irritated that I wasn't paying attention. He signalled me to come and stand before him. I got up and followed him. There goes nothing. I'm going to get my bones broken. "It is a suggestion that you pay attention in the class."
I was asked to pick up the sword. I face him with the sword. The duel started. I was struggling but was trying to keep up. My reflexes had got in tune with my acrobatic side. Guru Vashista and Hanuman had helped me with that. In a fight, my reflexes just knew the moves. I used to learn acrobatics and gymnastics.
The only downside at the current state was that I would get tired quickly. I had yet to build up the stamina to fight someone as skilled as Guru Parshuram or Akshay. My stamina would normally withstand humans in a fight but these people have higher stamina in fights.
"You need to increase your stamina, Alaknanda. You can't get tired in a battle." He told me.
I nodded. "I'm working on it."
"Guru Vashista told me that you plan to leave today."
"Yes. Sona and I agreed on it together."
Guru Parshuram dismissed everyone. Sona, Harsh, Akshay, Omkara, and I stayed. I waved at Nandini as she left.
"Five of you are going to leave in a while." Guru Parshuram gave us a small coin. "This is a tracker. We'll know wherever you are. In case you need some help, we will know. Soon, we will send someone to get you out of there."
We nodded.
"Just because you think you two are well trained gets you no leverage to be relaxed. Stay alert. I don't care what the situation is but you five are to have each other's back. When we say a team, it means a team. No one is solo." He told Akshay and Omkara. They nodded. He turned to all of us. "Here is what you will be doing. You will go down to Patala, get Vijaya, and return straight here. No detours. Absolutely no touring around Patala. That place is not safe at all. You need to be back soon. I want every single one of you in a single piece back in Gurukul. I am going to wait for 144 hours starting from the hour you would be leaving. If you do not return in 144 hours, I will automatically assume that you are in danger. I'll have a team send to you and if needed I'll be finding you myself."
"You must really like me to go to that lengths to find me yourself." I commented, teasingly.
"What part of 'us' did you not understand?" Akshay asked me.
"Shshh... you're stamping my space with just saying a single letter in the alphabets. Please shut up." I told him.
Harsh and Sona tried to hide their laughter. Okay, yes. I know I'm dramatic but I would let myself be damned in Naraka for the rest of my existence if I don't annoy this Prat Prince out of his life.
"Team, Alaknanda. Team." Guru Parshuram reminded me.
"Of course, Guru Parshuram. Team. Totally a team. Sona, V, and I have always been a team. They're my forever tribe."
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You, Sonakshi, Harsh, Omkara, and Akshay. All of you are going together as a team."
"No... no... these are just Indra's spies. Not my team. They're Indra's backup."
"Listen...." Akshay tried to tell me but I cut him off.
"No thanks. I listen to better things."
"Alaknanda..." Guru Parshuram warned me. I sighed.
"I'll get my backpack."
I went back to my cabin and picked up my backpack which I had packed earlier. I changed into light blue jeans, a yellow puffed sleeve heart-shaped neckline top. The top was tuck inside the jeans. I paired it with yellow high-top sneakers. My baseball cap fixing my hair in place. Wearing out light blue fingerless gloves.
If I was going to go and get into danger of getting myself killed, at least I'm going to do it with style.
"You look like you're going for a picnic." Akshay retorted.
"Your perspective is your problem, not mine. I'm a free bird. Don't have to please you."
I spotted Sona in grey jeans and a black shirt. The sleeves were folded up.
"Adi as always dressed like she's going on a runway." Harsh chuckled. Harsh never paid much attention to fashion. Out of the three of us, I was the one who was fashionista kind. I wouldn't be caught dead looking just okay. I'd be looking my best.
"So, you are all set." Hanuman came across us. Bhaiya was with him.
"You remember what I told you?" Bhaiya asked. I nodded with a smile. He patted me on my shoulder. He gave me an encouraging smile.
"I hope all of you return safe and sound," Hanuman said. He hugged me. "I know you sometimes feel like you're not what everyone thinks you are but just follow your heart when you're in distress. Do what you feel is right inside your heart."
"I will." I nodded to him.
Before going I met up with Guru Vashista. He was teaching so I waited for him to finish his class. When he finished, he walked up to me.
"Have you decided on your fashion theme to be Sunflowers?" He asked, slightly teasing. I chuckled.
"We would be leaving after the pooja."
"There are always people in the world who love you, Alaknanda. Sometimes quests change people a lot. For better or for worse. It either scares them for a lifetime or makes them stronger."
"Change is inevitable, Alaknanda. We all have to change ourselves. What we can do is decide in what direction should this change take us."
I nodded in understanding. He hugged me.
"I'll be alright, Guruwar. Don't worry about me."
"Just as how a mother can never be not worried about her child, a teacher will always worry about their student. I cannot help but worry about you. Regardless, I have faith that you will emerge victorious out of this."
He looked at me with the sweetest affection and held my face. He kissed my forehead.
"Do come back safe and sound, putri." He said softly. I couldn't help but smile and blush softly. It was rare that anyone showed me so much love who wasn't my family or my best friends.