Raj took a deep breath and walked out of his room with his backpacks. He went downstairs to find his grandmother sitting on the couch in the living room. She was watching TV with a bored expression on her face. She looked up when she saw Raj enter the room.
"Raj! Where are you going with all those bags?" she asked with surprise.
Raj smiled nervously at her and put down his backpacks on the floor. He sat next to her on the couch and took her hand in his.
"Grandma... I have something important to tell you," he said.
"What is it?" she asked with curiosity.
Raj took another deep breath and prepared himself for what he was about to say.
"Grandma... I'm going to medical school," he said.
His grandmother's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. She stared at him in disbelief.
"Medical school? You? But... how? When? Where?" she stammered.
Raj quickly made up a story that he had rehearsed in his mind many times. He told her that he had given a medical entrance exam two month ago, and that he had scored just five marks less than the cutoff for a government medical college in his own state or any neighboring state. He told her that he was disappointed by his result, but that he had not given up hope. He told her that he had applied to a private medical college near the himalaya's Where less students Apply's, and that he had been accepted with a scholarship. He told her that he had to leave immediately, as the classes were starting the next day. He told her that he was sorry for not telling her sooner, but that he wanted to surprise her with the good news.
Raj's grandmother listened to his story with a mixture of shock, confusion, and joy. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had always wanted Raj to become a doctor, but she had never expected him to do so well in the exam or to get into such a prestigious college. She felt proud of him, but also worried about him. She wondered how he would cope with the new environment, the new people, and the new challenges. She also wondered how she would cope without him.
She looked at him with tears in her eyes and hugged him tightly.
"Raj... I'm so happy for you! You've made me so proud! You're going to be a great doctor!" she exclaimed.
"Thank you, grandma. You've always been my inspiration," Raj lied.
He hugged her back, feeling guilty for deceiving her. He knew she would be heartbroken if she found out the truth, but he also knew he had no choice. He had to go to the Himalayas to fulfill his destiny. He hoped she would forgive him someday.
He pulled away from her and wiped away her tears.
"Grandma... I have to go now. My flight is in two hours. I'll call you as soon as I land," he said.
"Okay, Raj. Be careful. I love you," she said.
"I love you too, grandma," he said.
He picked up his backpacks and headed for the door. He turned around and waved at her one last time.
"Goodbye, grandma. I'll see you soon," he said.
"Goodbye, Raj. Good luck," she said.
He opened the door and walked out of the house. He hailed a taxi and got in. He gave the driver the address of the airport and sat back in his seat. He looked out of the window and saw his grandmother standing on the porch, waving at him with a smile on her face.
He waved back at her and smiled too, but his smile was forced and fake.
He felt a pang of guilt and sadness in his chest, but he pushed it aside.
He told himself that he was doing this for a greater purpose, for a higher calling.
He told himself that he was not lying to his grandmother, but to himself.
He told himself that he was not going to medical school, but to the Himalayas.
---
In Himacala pradesh
Raj and the sword had come to the Himalayas Mountain in search of a sage who could help them unlock the secrets of siddhis, spirituality, yoga, mantra, mudra and herbs. They had seen a glimpse of him in a tourist photo, where his powerful aura had caught the sword's attention. The sword sensed that he was an ancient being, older than 1500 years, and that he might have the answers they were looking for.
They searched for him for three days, scanning the internet for clues, watching videos of fake sages and real ones, trying to locate his whereabouts. One day, when Raj was having breakfast at a restaurant, the sword felt a familiar surge of energy. It was him! The sage was nearby!
The sword pulled Raj out of his seat, dragging him towards the source of the aura. Raj didn't have time to paid for his meal, and the restaurant manager chased after him, shouting and cursing. Raj tried to apologize, but the sword was too fast for him. The manager gave up after a while, unable to keep up with Raj's speed. The sword was a divine weapon, and no one could match its power.
The restaurant manager was left behind, wondering what had happened. He was angry and confused, but he also felt a bit sorry for Raj. He thought that Raj was a nice guy, but maybe he had some mental problems. He decided to let it go and not report him to the police. He hoped that Raj would find his way and be happy.
Raj and the sword ran into the jungle, following the trail of the aura. They reached a clearing at the foot of a mountain, where a fountain gushed out of the rocks. There, they saw him. The sage was sitting cross-legged on a mat, his eyes closed and his face serene. He was in deep meditation, oblivious to their presence.
Raj and the sword did not want to disturb him, so they sat down at a respectful distance and waited for him to finish his meditation. They waited for 63 hours, without moving or speaking. They felt a calmness and a peace that they had never experienced before.
Finally, the sage opened his eyes. He looked at Raj first, then at the sword. He smiled slightly and nodded. He reached into his robe and took out a small piece of paper. He handed it to Raj and said:
"Take this. It is the address of a gurukul where you should go to learn everything that will help you, Raj."
Raj took the paper and looked at it. It had some numbers and letters on it, but he couldn't make sense of them. He looked up at the sage and asked:
"How do you know my name?"
The sage ignored his question and said:
"Tell them you are sent by Rishi Anirudha."
As soon as he said that, he disappeared. He vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind.
Raj and the sword were stunned. They looked at each other in disbelief. Who was this sage? How did he know them? Where did he go? What was this gurukul? And who was Rishi Anirudha?
They had more questions than answers, but they felt a strange curiosity and excitement. They decided to follow the sage's advice and go to the address on the paper.
They packed their bags and left the jungle, hoping to find their destiny at the gurukul.
---