Author's Notes:--
Please make sure to read the Bonus Chapter following this one, else there might be many points that remain unclear...
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"Let's go!" Arjun stroked the mane of the chestnut coloured horse, that neighed affectionately in response. Beside, there stood a milk-white horse, presumably for Mallika to ride.
They were about to set off for the Vindhyas, and Mallika's excitement knew no bounds. This was a new life, unlike any she had imagined it to be. They had a breakfast of a variety of fresh fruits, cold milk and honey. Though she felt her tummy to be full, she didn't have the least bit of lethargy in her body. Instead, she was feeling light, and brimming with energy. Surprisingly, Arjun led her to a lake in a nearby forest clearing soon after they had finished their food.
"Want to bathe?" His voice was as calm as ever.
But Mallika was stupefied. How can somebody bathe in an open lake? Not to mention, she was a girl.
"Umm..no," she replied, blushing as she turned her face away to avoid meeting his eyes.
"Don't worry. Your privacy is well guarded here. Look at the lake before you decide."
Mallika felt her heart beat rise. "I can't bathe in the open, however safe it might be," she protested firmly, not sparing the lake a single glance. What was there to see? The lake she had seen moments ago was a pristine body of water, silver and smooth, reflecting the nearby trees like a mirror. But it didn't matter how beautiful it was. After all, the problem remained the same. She couldn't bathe in an open space like this.
"Fine if you don't want to," Arjun chuckled. "I will let the fog disperse then."
Curious at the word 'fog', Mallika turned to face the lake.
For a moment, she thought something was wrong with her vision. But after a while, she couldn't help gasping.
"This...!!!"
In front of her, there was nothing but plain white. There was no lake, no trees or anything else-- only a thick impermeable white.
A blanket of fog had wrapped the whole lake. A chilly wind ran along its sides. Mallika stretched her hands into the fog, and to her amazement, she couldn't even see the tips of her outstretched fingers!
"What?" Arjun's voice sounded. "Still don't want to bathe?"
Mallika turned to face him, looking very serious. "What did you do?"
Arjun smiled. "I created some fog here to cover the lake for you."
"How can somebody create fog? It's a natural phenomenon. Man cannot control it, right?"
Arjun smiled, leaning leisurely against a nearby tree. "Unless man has unleashed his potentialities to the fullest, it is difficult for him to."
"What do you mean? Are you a sorceror?"
"Very few sorcerers can control nature."
"Then? What are you?"
"A yogi."
Mallika paused. This explained a lot of things. She had always heard of the extraordinary abilities of many yogis, but she had never expected to meet one of such accomplished men by herself.
Arjun smiled, reading through her thoughts. "In the path of yoga, one has many possibilities for development. There are many paths that one can take. With time and dedication, one can gradually use his faculties to gain mastery over the Pancha Tattva, the Five Elements. The level of mastery one has can also vary. Some yogis may have immense power over many different aspects of this existence but simply refrain from using them, again for various reasons. I used to be that way at some point in time. But now, given my present situation, it does not matter to me if I use those abilities. I just used a bit of them to create this fog. Is it more understandable now?"
Mallika nodded, unsure of whether she really had understood anything.
"But your martial skills?" she suddenly asked. "When did you train yourself in martial arts if you are a yogi?"
"I didn't train," Arjun replied nonchalantly. "Nobody taught me. I just have those skills."
Mallika frowned, feeling extremely surprised. Just when she was about to conclude that there could not be anything more puzzling and mind boggling than this, Arjun flashed her a sly smile. "Don't you need fresh clothes?"
"Fresh clothes?" Mallika raised her brows. "How are you going to get fresh clothes now even if I want them? You cannot create clothes, right?"
Arjun grinned. "There aren't many things that I cannot do." And before Mallika had figured out his words, a set of women's clothes materialised on a rock some distance away.
"My Goodness!! What on earth is all this?!" She gasped, staring so wide eyed at the set of clothes, that she felt her eyes might pop out any moment. Her heart had gone crazy with all these palpitations. It wouldn't be surprising if she ended up with a heart disease of some sorts.
"Nothing to be scared of," Arjun replied, still grinning. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the play of emotions on Mallika's face. Generally, he wasn't the kind of person who would take pleasure in flaunting his abilities. But he really didn't want to hold himself back with Mallika. He didn't want to keep her in the dark about his identity. After all, she was the one who was closest to him. If he had to hide himself from her, then that would be the most painful thing for him.
"This is called Prapti Siddhi. It is one of the Ashta Siddhis, the eight accomplishments. Heard of them?"
Mallika nodded. "I have only heard of them. I never thought someone can use them in reality!"
"They are very possible. If your state is of a certain kind, all Siddhis are very much possible. Of course it is up to you whether you want to use them or not."
"Can I gain these Siddhis as well?" Mallika suddenly asked, her heart burning with curiosity. How wonderful it must be to have such magical abilities!
"Yes, very much. But, remember, having supernatural abilities must not be the main goal of a Yogi." Arjun suddenly shifted his tone, stressing on his words with such seriousness that Mallika was compelled to engrave them in her mind.
"The main objective of a Yogi must not be the gaining of these abilities. If they come as a by product of your spiritual process, it is okay. But your main goal should never be them."
"What should our main goal be then?"
"How can there be just one main goal?! What your goal is, depends entirely on you."
"Then, will you be my guide, Lord Arjun? I want to try this world." There was an earnest urge in her eyes.
"You are being impulsive because you saw me display some unusual skills," Arjun replied solemnly. "But remember, the path of yoga isn't a cake walk. It is difficult. It needs you to stay motivated and dedicated despite the conditions you undergo in your life. It requires you to realise yourself. If you really want to achieve something, you will have to strive for it. Momentary impulses can propel you to arrive at hasty decisions, but in the long run, they can strangle you. I would love to guide you into this world, but I want you to think again. Remember, once you have made a decision, there is no turning back."
Mallika nodded, silently feeling grateful to the man in front of her. Indeed, she was being propelled by her urge to gain some unusual skills. But would that keep her motivated in the long run? Perhaps she needed a cause more than this to start on this journey.
A part of her heart told her she had already found that elusive cause. She wanted to know-- know this man in front of her. She wanted to understand his world-- understand the way he saw things. She-- wanted to understand him.
"I will think it over, Lord Arjun. But I can assure you, I will walk this path. If walking into this world means I can be any closer to you, I am willing to do it."
Arjun's eyes momentarily widened and his lips parted in surprise. But the next moment, his expression became as collected as usual, and a gleeful look shone on his countenance.
"So, was that a confession?" he teased.
Mallika blushed immediately. What had she been saying? How could she say that to him so directly?
"You...you are imagining things!" she stomped on the ground. "I did not say anything! You...you did not hear anything!"
"Haha!" Arjun waved merrily in the air, rocking his body back and forth. His eyes gleamed with joy. "I get it, miss. You did not say anything. And I did not hear anything. Is that okay?"
Mallika blushed a shade more. Without waiting to say anything, she grabbed the clothes and ran into the wall of mist, only to disappear from view.
Some time later, she appeared before the men gathered around Arjun who had already made all preparations for their journey. And even then, her cheeks were flushed red.