WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 30: The Sham Vasundari

Vaachaspati walked hurriedly towards his hut, he was already late for his mid day meal. Indeed, he was feeling hungry after the uphill climb of the rocks of west. His meeting with old Warlock was not so fruitful again; he had been to meet him for an advice.

A persistent thought had been bothering him since the Princess was poisoned. Finally he had made up his mind to talk to old Warlock to get it clarified. He had wished to travel to the seven mountains himself and bring the savior plant ‘JEEVE’ even after knowing all the dangers that involved crossing seven mountains.

He was well aware of the fact about the curse of lord Trilochana; nonetheless he could at least try to counter them with his sacred Mantras. He knew that would not please lord Trilochana at all, but that was a risk he wished to take in order to save the Princess.

To his surprise, Mahapitha had severely advised against that. He had told him in clear terms that it would certainly cost his very life, no matter how sacred his mantras were. Also surprisingly Mahapitha had certain other things in mind and had openly admitted that Princess is not going to die as per his prediction. He had said that there would be someone who will venture to the deadly seven mountains and bring the savior plant back in time to save the Princess.

With lot of surprising thoughts Vaachaspati continued his walk back to his home; he had a long distance to cover. Suddenly he noticed a tiny figure walking opposite direction. Who could it be? Certainly the tiny figure seemed to be going to meet the old Warlock.

Vaachaspati squinted his eyes to see the features of the tiny figure. He was surprised; it was a girl. His surprise turned into astonishment as he clearly began to observe the features. It was none other than his own daughter! Vasundari!  She kept walking as if she had been in a trance; she had not bothered to notice even him.  

Vaachaspati was spell bounded, how could she do that? How dare she do that? He had warned her time and again to be at the safest place, their home. Now, here she was walking towards the old Warlock’s house. He patiently waited for her to come near; he would have to teach her a lesson. 

Vasundari walked straight towards him while not even caring to pass a curious glance. She was about to cross him, when Vaachaspati grabbed her arms.

“Vasundari! Where are you going? What does this means?” Vaachaspati sternly looked at her.

“Where am I going?” She said hoarsely, “Oh! Of course to meet the Warlock.” Her voice surprised Vaachaspati, his own daughter speaking to him in such a harsh voice as if she never cared about their relationship. He could not control himself. He slapped her hard on her cheeks at once.

“Ouch! How dare you to hit me?” Vasundari began to scream in high pitched voice.

“I am your father, and I will do that again if you don’t show respect. Now tell me why you are going to meet the old Warlock?” Vaachaspati now had a firm grip on her shoulders.

“Oh! Father! You are my father! Of course, I - I am sorry father, I - I was searching just just - you.” Vasundari began to stammer showing her fear. Her face began to change the color. So were back to her senses.

“Now stop your stammering and come along with me – do not speak a single word!” Vaachaspati began to drag her gripping her hands firmly in his.

“To where? But - but I need to go - ” Vasundari looked confused and began to struggle in fighting to release his firm grip.

Vaachaspati slapped her again on the right cheek, this time much harder, he has to teach a lesson to her for her disobedience. He had never slapped any of his sons or especially, Vasundari before. But then everything has a first time.

Vasundari began to cry hard, it was hurting her too much. Nonetheless Vaachaspati gave her no sympathy and began to drag her home. He was very angry with his wife as well. How dare she neglect their daughter! Walking alone in the woods is the most dangerous thing to do. Further, he was also angry with her brothers too - how dare they are to desert her to wander lonely in the woods.

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On the way back, many times Vasundari tried to escape and had in turn received many hard slaps from her father and her face was now complete red! Vaachaspati was also astonished at the words used by her; she had cursed and abused him in using such bad languages. She had dared to call him a dirty Priest, monster and what not.

Vaachaspati had all forgotten all about his meal and hunger. He was now raging with anger instead. He himself knew that this was the first time he was unable to control his anger and had slapped his favorite daughter many times. What has gone wrong? What made her to behave such violently? He began to ask himself.

Soon they reached their hut. Vaachaspati saw his two sons sitting outside the house chatting animatedly about something. He at once thought of slapping them hard too. What an irresponsible brothers! How imprudent of them to leave their only sister to wander in the dangerous forest.

Atma and Bakula cast a glance towards the two walking figure and was astonished at once. This could not be possible! But indeed it was. Their father was literally dragging Vasundari towards the hut.  Vasundari! How could that be possible? They had just spoken to her inside the house and now, here she was with their father walking from outside! How could that be possible?

“I want you two to come inside the hut, NOW!”  Vaachaspati looked at the darkened faces of his two sons and gestured them to open the door of his hut.

He got the surprise of his life! Vasundari! She was spreading plantain leaves on the ground helping her mother Champaka to prepare for the mid day meal. Vaachaspati immediately looked at the figure he was holding firmly. It was Vasundari again! How could that be possible!

Vaachaspati took his time to understand the situation and that time was more than enough for Gorma to fly towards his house. He left the arm of fake Vasundari at once and pushed her outside screaming, “You witch, get out of my house at once.” The girl, impersonated Vasundari, began to run hard as soon as he left her arm and in an instant she was swept off from the ground by a flying broom driven by her sister Gorma.

Vaachaspati sat on the floor in a heap; he was too exhausted with the happenings. The witches of the mountain had tricked him; it was not his own daughter! But one of the Witches. He could not understand why or how she had taken the shape of Vasundari! His daughter.

“It was the Witches of the mountain again, isn’t it father?” Atma sat beside him and looked at his worried father’s face.

“Yes Atma, there were indeed! Come here my little wench, my Vasundari!” He softly called his real daughter. He hugged her and began to kiss her tender face with multiple sobs. On the other hand Vasundari was spell bounded too; she just could not understand what had happened. She too was astonished to see her duplicate form and in turn, her father’s behavior.

Slowly Vaachaspati narrated the entire incident to them as he ate his much needed mid day meal. His children and wife Champaka listened to him with much attention.

“Atma and Bakula, now listen carefully, the Witches of the mountain are planning a trick again. Make no mistake; I want none of you to roam outside freely, it is a strict order.” Vaachaspati warned his children looking at each of their horrified faces.

Bakula was immensely sad about the incident; he knew it would make their task more difficult now. Their father will now make sure that they are guarded all the time. It would be very difficult to sneak into Mahapitha’s hut. 

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