After offering the prasadam at the temple, Pavan stepped outside with the holy offerings in hand. He wandered toward a majestic tamarind tree nearby, its branches swaying slightly in the soft summer breeze. Beneath it, the grass shimmered in a soft, welcoming green, a perfect spot to escape the world. He slipped off his shoes, letting the cool earth touch his bare feet, and sat down on the grass, lost in thought.
Pavan's mind raced as he pondered over how to tell his friends about his upcoming journey to the Gurukul. The weight of the decision pressed on his chest, and his mind swirled with anxiety. But as he sat there, a cool breeze swept through, carrying with it the scent of distant flowers. It gently tousled his hair and brushed across his face, as if nature itself was offering him comfort.
He blinked, pulled from his thoughts by the sensation of the wind. For a moment, he was no longer weighed down by worry. Instead, he found himself relaxing. With a deep breath, Pavan decided to set aside his concerns about the future. For now, he would live in the present. He let out a soft sigh, leaned back into the grass, and stretched out his arms and legs, allowing the earth to cradle him.
As he lay there beneath the sprawling branches of the tamarind tree, the summer heat of midday felt distant, replaced by the cool shade that enveloped him. The soft grass tickled his bare feet, like the playful fingers of nature, and the gentle breeze sang through the leaves, creating a melody that whispered in his ears. Every breath he took was filled with the mingling aromas of fresh blooms from the temple's garden, along with the faint, earthy fragrance of moist soil.
Pavan was lost in the serenity of the moment, his senses completely attuned to the nature around him. His mind, once filled with worries, now danced to the rhythm of the wind. Sensing Pavan's relaxation, Chee, far away, also felt a sense of relief. To help him unwind even further, she sent a soft, melodious tune directly into his ears. The lullaby was soothing, and in no time, Pavan's eyes grew heavy, and he drifted into a peaceful sleep under the shelter of the tamarind tree, leaving his concerns far behind.
Scene Shift:
Meanwhile, Vikram had already asked Krishna to meet him at the temple on the hill. He stepped out of his house and began walking along the winding path that led up to the hill. Before long, he arrived at the foot of the path leading to the temple. He paused for a moment, taking in his surroundings before heading toward Chotu's store.
As he approached the store, Vikram glanced around and asked, "Where's Ramu Chacha, Chotu?"
Chotu, who had been annoyed by Pavan and Krishna earlier, snapped back in frustration, "Can't you see? I'm the only one here!"
Vikram, unfazed by Chotu's anger, quickly realized that Pavan had likely already gone up the hill. Pavan and Krishna often teased Chotu, so it was clear that Chotu's current frustration was only with Pavan. If Krishna had passed by, Chotu would have been much angrier. With this in mind, Vikram calmly replied, "Alright, pack me a box of those milk sweets with cashews and almonds."
Still fuming, Chotu hurriedly packed the sweets and handed them over, his voice thick with irritation. "Now hurry up and get out of here."
Vikram took the box and began his climb up the hill, his mind swirling with thoughts of how to tell his friends about the difficult decision he had made. Step by step, he ascended, lost in thought, until he reached the temple. Glancing around, he searched for Pavan but couldn't spot him anywhere. Deciding to enter the temple, he asked the priest to offer the prasadam to Lord Hanuman.
The priest looked at Vikram with mild surprise and asked, "Did you have a falling out with those two rascals?"
Vikram, equally surprised, shook his head. "No, nothing like that. Why do you ask, Pandit Ji?"
The priest chuckled softly. "It's just strange to see you alone. Usually, those two are glued to your side. But if you're looking for Pavan, he's under the tamarind tree."
With a grateful smile, Vikram thanked the priest and headed toward the tamarind tree. As he neared the spot, he scanned the area, but there was no sign of Pavan. For a moment, he wondered if the priest had been teasing him. Then, a soft snore reached his ears. Vikram followed the sound, walking around to the other side of the large tree.
And there he was - Pavan, sprawled out on the grass, sound asleep. Vikram felt a flash of irritation as he took in the sight. Pavan had called him out here, claiming there was something important to discuss, and now he was peacefully napping without a care in the world. For a brief moment, Vikram considered waking him up, but instead, he sighed and sat down beside his friend. Looking at Pavan, Vikram's irritation melted into a quiet sadness. Who knew when the three of them would be together like this again? Lost in thought, Vikram lay down beside Pavan, and soon enough, sleep claimed him as well.
Scene Shift:
Krishna, having just stormed out of his house after an argument with his father, was walking angrily toward the hilltop temple. His mind was racing with a whirlwind of emotions, and he barely noticed the path ahead of him. Suddenly, his foot brushed against something soft, but he paid no attention, too lost in his thoughts.
A low growl from behind snapped him back to reality. Krishna turned around and saw a brown dog, fur bristling and eyes glaring at him. It was Bhura, the neighborhood dog. Unfazed, Krishna smirked. "Not today, Bhura. I'm already in a bad mood."
He turned away and kept walking, but Bhura wasn't about to let the insult slide. The soft thing Krishna had stepped on earlier was Bhura's tail, and the dog wasn't going to let him off so easily. With a furious bark, Bhura chased after Krishna, who kept ignoring him at first. But as Bhura's barks grew louder and closer, Krishna's patience snapped.
He stopped, turned around, and glared at the dog. "I warned you, Bhura. Now you've done it!"
Bhura froze as Krishna lunged at him. The dog's heart pounded in his chest, and in a panic, he darted away. Krishna gave chase, and the two of them ran through the village, with Bhura yelping in terror and Krishna laughing as he sprinted after him.
After a while, Krishna managed to grab hold of Bhura near Ramu Chacha's store, pinning the dog down with a triumphant grin on his face. "Got you now, Bhura!" Krishna growled playfully, his grin turning mischievous. "Today, I'm going to turn you into a nice little snack. Maybe fry you up with some chili and salt."
As Krishna taunted the poor dog, a pair of eyes watched the scene unfold from behind the counter inside the store. It was Chotu, trembling in fear. He muttered to himself, "That monster's going to turn Bhura into dinner!"
Bhura, desperate for help, looked pleadingly at Chotu, but Chotu only shook his head. As much as he wanted to help Bhura, there was no way he was getting involved. He knew Krishna too well. If he tried to intervene, Krishna would turn on him instead. The boy could already picture his limbs being sold off for scrap metal while Krishna ate sweets from his store. Chotu decided to stay hidden, hoping the storm would pass.
Just as Krishna was about to continue his mock threats, a sandal flew through the air and hit him square on the head. Startled, Krishna looked around in confusion, gripping the sandal. "Who dares interfere with my business?" he shouted angrily.
A deep, gravelly voice answered from behind him. "Oh, you're in for it now."
Krishna turned around and froze. It was Ramu Chacha, and he was already pulling off his second sandal, ready for action. Krishna stammered, "Ra-Ramu Chacha... I-I was just playing with Bhura..."
Ramu Chacha raised his sandal, ignoring Krishna's excuses. "Oh, you were playing, huh? Well, now it's my turn!"
Before Krishna could react, Ramu Chacha gave chase, wielding his sandal like a weapon. Krishna bolted up the hill, running as fast as he could, with Ramu Chacha hot on his heels. Eventually, Krishna reached the temple, panting and gasping for breath, finally safe from Ramu Chacha's wrath.
To be continued....