The sound of the rustling of leaves and the noise of animals coming from all sides of Aamir's team made it seem like the jungle was alive. The air was feeling quite thick due to the encounter with the girls. As they started going deeper into the jungle, Rahul turned towards that beautiful tall girl who was also the leader of that group of girls, his curiosity was increasing.
"So, do you also want to take admission in Nalanda University?" Rahul asked
Meera, who was walking ahead of him, stopped in her tracks. She turned her face towards Rahul, her eyes were still and moving. A deep breath came out of her lips as she started to explain, her voice was very calm and full of pride.
"Yes," Meera replied, her voice was solid. "We have also come here for the trials of Nalanda University, but this is not just about survival. It is about proving something profound—our strength, our independence, our ability to flourish without depending on anyone. She stopped for a while, her eyes passed over her companions who were following her. "We have come from Vasundhara, a place which is different from everyone else.
Aamir's team listened to her carefully, their curiosity increased. Meera kept her voice steady while talking about her motherland.
"Vasundhara is not just a city," she explained. "It is a way of life. For centuries, it has been a society that is completely dominated by women. There are no men in Vasundhara. We don't need them, nor do we want them." She looked at her team, each one of them standing with the same pride she had in her heart. "The culture there believes that men often think highly of themselves, and we are better off without them."
Aamir was a little surprised and he asked, "So, there is no man? Not even a family?"
Meera said with a slight smile. "That is right. In Vasundhara, as you might be thinking, there is no traditional family structure. We raise the children together. Orphan girls are raised by the community like our own children. This is not about biological relationships, but about the bonds we make with each other. Love and respect are the foundation of our families, not a necessity."
This revelation shocked Aamir's team, especially Rahul, who was still thinking about this idea. "Heaven is for women, isn't it? But men are not allowed at all?"
Meera nodded, and a smile came on her face as she continued. "Yes. People who come from other places misunderstand us. They think we need them, but we don't. We have built everything ourselves – our home, our life and our future. We don't need their help, nor do we want their help."
"How did you become the leader of your group?" Aamir asked, his curiosity increased further.
Meera's eyes did not stop meeting Aamir's eyes. "I was chosen because I understand our feelings from outside through someone else. I was swallowed by the head of Vasundhara, so I always knew what responsibility I had to bear. As a leader, it is my duty to ensure that the women of Vasundhara never have to bow their knees before anyone - not even in such matters."
She looked at her team, her voice filled with pride. "My team is made up of girls who exemplify these ideals. For example, Sita is a trained warrior. She is adept at defensive magic and hand-to-hand combat. She has come here to show that the women of Vasundhara can fight like any man."
Meera continued, "Then it is Pooja." "She is a unique talent in elemental magic. Though she can be a little self-confident at times, there is no doubt about her unmatched abilities. Aarti is our strategist - calm but patient, always thinking several steps ahead. And Lila, the youngest among us all, has a rare talent for light magic. Though she is not there, she is an essential part of our team."
Mira looked at Aamir's group and felt a little soft on her face. "We are a team and each of us plays an important role."
Aamir's group listened attentively, and deeply understood the determination of the girls and the strength of their feelings. Meera's words touched their hearts, and they began to realize how much the girls had put into these trials.
Aamir nodded, now he understood why he did this. "So when we asked you, due to your pride you had no intention of accepting help. But after facing those predator class beasts, you realized that you are not Ajay."
"Not every man is the same, you cannot consider your pride bigger than your life, so there is no harm in taking help," Aamir said seriously.
A slight glow appeared on Meera's face. She admitted, "None of us is invincible. But we are strong. We learn from our mistakes and with every challenge we become stronger."
With this the situation changed. Aamir's team had already collected five predator-class beasts and they knew they had enough numbers to pass the trials. But the trials were not over and there was still time. Riya spoke, there was a sense of pride in her voice. "We have already killed five predator-class beasts. We have enough numbers to pass."
"But we don't have enough numbers yet" Lila said worriedly
Meera looked ahead, her resolve was firm. "Yes, but there are still two hours left for the trials to end. We cannot wait now. This time is enough for us to truly prove our strength."
Aamir's team shook their heads, they were declared. They had already crossed the passing marks, but they couldn't stop. The test was not just about surviving - it was about finishing it with strength, no matter the cost.
With this, Aamir and his team moved ahead leaving the girls behind. They had learnt a lot from this encounter, and while they respected the strength and admirers of Vasundhara girls, they knew that their journey was not over yet. Every step ahead was almost a step to complete the trial and prove one's strength - not just for themselves, but for everyone watching.
As they continued their journey, the jungle began to seem less intimidating, the burden of challenges on their shoulders decreased a bit. But the way ahead was still difficult, and they had to complete what they had started.