Chereads / The journey through seven lands / Chapter 2 - The flock of sheep

Chapter 2 - The flock of sheep

Kabir was the grandson of the richest man in the village. The man had the largest flock of sheep and owned the most land but people still called him "the crazy stories guy". The man was all about stories about city of gods and fairies and how desert drank all the water of her share and how thirsty oceans were. Kids loved him but he used to take children to the mountain top during sunset without even informing the parents. The did that thrice and so people never allowed their kids near the man. His wife was a simple lady who used to love the stories his beloved had to tell. And he loved her too. But then one day he disappeared. A 67 year old, probably crazy man, was missing and no one had any clue. Kabir's father and his uncle spent months trying to find him but they eventually failed. Everyone in the house was devastated except for the old lady of the house. Every time someone came to ask about the old man she just smiled and sometime used to kiss the ring with a big red ruby that he gave her. The younger son of the old man, Kabir's uncle never stopped looking for his father and in the end he, out of depression committed suicide by jumping in the river. Kabir's father blamed all these on his father.

"Old man never even thought about his wife or his family. Where could he possibly be happier than with his family?"

But at least the old man left almost everything behind for his family except for some sheep. Kabir's father, since then took care of his family. Kabir was born few years after. From since he was a kid, he was fond of taking sheep for grazing. He used to sit under the tree watching clouds of all shapes carried by wind. And the setting sun, it was magnificent. He had 1 elder brother and a younger sister. As Kabir was growing, his father tried his best to teach him about farming and maintaining a flock but he was never attentive. Very often he used to bail off or call sick when his father used to call him to the field. It was not a problem when Kabir was just a kid but now he was 14 and he is still riding the largest sheep. His elder brother was already helping his father by then. This was becoming grave problem for Kabir's father now. Scolding never worked on Kabir. He used to run off to the mountain to sit under tree playing flute, waiting for the evening twilight.

one day, while Kabir took his flock for grazing and sat under the tree to play his melody, few of his sheeps went towards the restricted side of mountain. Kabir's father cautioned Kabir many times not to go there as he told that thieves shelter there. But Kabir went there. The place always fascinated him. Although he was scared to death every time he heard anything in the bushes (most of those sounds were either made by his foot or his head). There were thorny bushes and tough track and it seemed that it was less travelled. By the whole sky was getting dark as the sun was going down. Just when Kabir thought that he should turn back he realised that he has reached somewhere.he went a little further from where the end of the bushes was visible. He paced towards that. Excitement grew with every step till it took the form of deep satisfaction of reaching the destiny. It was edge of the mountain and was so high up. There was river flowing down there and a tree. So secluded tree there. It was amazingly surreal. And the best was and the most satisfying part was the setting sun. It was as if the king of the sun slowly dissolving in the sky making colouring the sky red and purple while he descends down to rest for the night. Kabir sat there. Out of appreciation for the old king, Kabir played his flute. He played the melodies he didn't even knew and when opened his eyes he was the sun has set. Only a little trace of him is left so he kept his flute beside him just to see the king sleep.

Sometimes the best music is in the silence.

It was quite night. The sheep were probably home and it would be difficult to find his way back so Kabir decided to stay there for night. The whole night Kabir was up, looking at the moon roaming around in his room of stars. Even though the night was scary for a bit, But it was most beautiful night with the most beautiful moon in the sky with the most stars he ever saw. The next morning he went to his home as fast as he could. He entered the house slowly and went straight to his granny's room without making any noise. And he almost made it until his father came from outside to see his son, covered in dirt and nervously smiling or almost frozen. His father had been looking for him all night. He went everywhere. To Kabir's friend's house and then practically to every house in the village. His mother was also up all night. She thought maybe the witch took him for her purnima (full moon night) rituals. Kabir thought that he would be be facing some series of scolding followed by interrogations followed by scoldings and taunts. And he was ready for that. Even if he gets a little beating from his father, it was worth it. The feeling was worth anything. But he was neither scolded nor interrogated nor taunted at that moment. The mother was too busy crying and hugging him and praising god and the father was too angry to do anything. Although he got all that afterwards but still he didn't regret. He was sure he would go there again.