WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 12: A Sweet Pain

Swarnapuri market was crowded as usual. It was not really a very big place. It was located towards the north of Palace. There were a thin aroma of fresh vegetables and fruits in the area. Nazir and Wazir, the twin vendors were popular among the other vendors for many reasons.

Nazir and Wazir are the fruit vendors; their carts invariably stood side by side. Both twins loved to chat a lot with each other when there were no customers. Further, being generous, both would give an apple or an orange to the kids who accompanied their parents without taking any extra coin. They were also popular because of their unique way of speech which time and again, began addressing each other by their first name. The common people (buyers!) too, enjoyed chatting with twin vendors as they thought both are very funny and humorous.

Although the twin vendors are originated from the neighbor Kingdom Sampada, they have settled well in Swarnapuri after the Great War, abandoning their own home in Sampada Kingdom. They knew their Sampada King was cruel and filled with evil ambitions. They had understood his wickedness very well and once after he forcefully installed the Great War, they had made up their mind to leave Sampada. They strongly believed that great Kings make great Kingdom. They had understood that Swarnapuri King was one among them.

After the Great War many people especially with high morals had abandoned Sampada and willingly came to seek the shelter in Swarnapuri. King Maheepati was very kind enough to shelter them without asking any questions. Vaachaspati, the great Priest was also one among them. Nazir and Wazir just followed his example; they had greater respect towards the Priest.

“Ho Wazir.” Nazir was in good mood today.

“Ho ho Bhai Nazir.” Wazir encouraged him.

“Did you hear the news?”

“Yes Bhai Nazir, thank god, Princess is safe.”

“Isn’t that fisher woman’s girl brave, Bhai Wazir?”

“She is, Bhai Nazir. Those dirty Witches should be killed.”

Wazir smiled remembering her. He had seen her on numerable occasion. She was the most talkative girl he had ever seen. She had asked so many questions to him when he offered her an apple. She was very eager to know all about their home Kingdom Sampada.

“Oh! Bhai Wazir, killing them is not at all easy for they are treacherous, for they are powerful, for they are as cunning as a red fox.” Nazir pointed out.

“Yes, I agree Bhai Nazir, but why doesn’t the King send our army and kill them?” Nazir always wondered about it.

“Oh! Bhai Wazir, the mountain Witches are very tricky, they never give away their hiding place so easily and moreover they possess dark potions that could dissipate them in thin air.” Nazir explained.

“Is that so Bhai Nazir? By the way yesterday the old Warlock was here in the market.” Wazir said suddenly recalling the old Warlock’s visit.

“Was he Wazir? Sorry I was away yesterday. Did he buy fruits from you?”

“He did Bhai Nazir and - and he gave me a gold coin too.” Wazir had a twinkle in his eyes.

“He is very generous! Bhai Wazir, you are lucky.” Nazir smiled with satisfaction. He too has seen the old man visiting the market one or two times. Whenever he did, he would generously give a gold coin to few vendors whom he liked. Nazir also secretly wondered how the old Warlock acquired so many gold coins. He remembered people talking about his regular visits to forest; perhaps he has found a secret source of treasure.    

**

Vasundari began to pant heavily. She had not thought it would be so hard to climb the rocks which looked very small from their home. Moreover, it was farther than she had estimated. She was desperate to reach it as fast as she could, and wanted to be the first to reach the old Warlock before Atma and Bakula. All night, she had dreamt of walking and climbing the rocks which certainly looked very much fun. But in retrospect, everything seemed extremely hard, especially climbing the rocks. She wondered what had made the old Mahapitha live here. 

Vasundari looked down again and saw none of them. So, she thought they may not have started yet. She was delighted to be the first again. She looked up above the uphill rocks; yes she could see a small thatched hut now. “I am going to be the first”, happily she uttered and started to climb it again. She also wondered whether the old Warlock would be happy to see them, what if he didn’t like them. A worrying thought crossed her mind.          

She put her leg on the edge of the small rock and tried to push herself up hard. Suddenly the small rock gave way and crumbled down, Vasundari whose small hands could not hold on the hard surface gave way too. She began to fall down with the rock. She uttered a painful scream as she fell down on her back.

Vasundari opened her eyes slowly; there was a sharp pain in her neck. Did she break her neck? The thought horrified her. Tears began to drop down from her fearful eyes. She tried to gather herself.

“DON’T MOVE.” Said a very sharp voice. Vasundari at once panicked and started to look here and there. She saw a tall white figure walk from her right. He had the white hairs and very long beard. He seemed to walk as if he is in pain too. Vasundari understood at one, he is Mahapitha; the old Warlock.

“Oh! You - you..” Vasundari stammered as she began to feel the excitement in spite of the sharp pain in her neck.

“Don’t fear my little darling; don’t move until I check your injuries.” The old man came closer.

“Mahapitha, I - I am hurt.” Vasundari could no longer contain her happiness and sorrow together. She was happy she had found him first, she was sorrowful for the fall that that caused pain.

Mahapitha knelt beside her and began to check her body for injuries; he softly put his hands on her neck and began to rub it gently. Suddenly she felt a very strong pain and next instant it was gone, just like that! Mahapitha smiled at her and started to observe her legs and arms.

“Ah! Nothing to worry about darling, you will be alright soon.” He gave her hand and motioned her to get up gently.

“I am so glad, I found you first.” Vasundari looked at his kind eyes and felt very affectionate.

“ha ha you didn’t, but I did.” The old Warlock smiled at her mischievously.

“I mean, I found you before Atma and Bakula.” Vasundari had always problem accepting her defeat. 

“Let us go to my hut, I shall wash your wounds.” the old Warlock held her hands and began to walk up.

Vasundari on the other hand wanted to talk to him so badly that she started to shower him with her never ending questions.

“Mahapitha, we have so many questions, I, Atma and Bakula want to know lot of things - so we decided to meet you and and -”

“Enough little thing, you shall talk later.” The old Warlock smiled at her curiousness and concentrated on walking ahead. 

**

Gorma stopped her broom ride, landing near a very old well deep in the forest. Rukma too stopped behind her sister with utter confusion, she knew they were going to Underworld, but now Gorma has brought them to the forest and near an old well. Rukma could not contain her curiosity no longer when Gorma started walking towards the well.

“Gorma, why are we here?” Rukma peeped into the well, she could see no water but only thick multiple layers of green fogs.

“Rukma, this is the door to Under World.” Gorma Observed and took out the Moonstone from her pocket and began to chant something strange in a very unique language that even Rukma couldn’t understand. To the utter amazement of Rukma, soon she saw a white ray emit from the Moonstone and clear all the thick green fogs instantly.  

“Wow! What was that Gorma? You cleared all the green fogs just like that! What are we supposed to do now?” Rukma asked.

“The underworld had been blocked by these magical green fogs since long time. With my magic, I just unlocked the door to the underworld. Now we have to go down this well!” Gorma explained to her sister.

“How? - How can we possibly do that? it - it looks very deep.” Rukma began to change her color with fear.

“It is indeed very deep, but this is the only way to the Under World.”

Gorma picked up a stone and tossed it into the well. She peeped further to hear the sound so that she can estimate the distance. It took long, too long for her to hear the noise of the falling stone, once she heard the faint sound Gorma smiled very sweetly, she has estimated the distance and felt they could travel.

“I have a horrible feeling Gorma, we are going to hurt ourselves?” Rukma was very conscious of hurting themselves. She was weak hearted and despised the dangerous adventures. Nonetheless, Gorma was too keen to take her. Gorma knew it is difficult to convince her sister; she began to think fast and brightened up after a while. She knew exactly what to do.

“Oh! Don’t worry, just peep once again, I shall show you a surprise.” She cajoled Rukma very sweetly and gently took hold of the broom of Rukma in her hand.

“Aha! I can’t see a thing.” Rukma was always easy to make fool of. She started to peep into the well leaning over it. Gorma slowly moved towards her back and in the next instant she pushed Rukma hard. Rukma at once fell into the well giving a hard scream.

“Here you go, sorry dear sister, this was the only way I could make you jump ha ha ha ha.” Gorma too screamed hard after her sister.

“Aha! I am going to die - Gorma save me - Save me for our witch mother’s sake.” Gorma heard her sister scream again from the depths of the well.

Gorma tied her rucksack on her back fast and with her broom in hand, she too jumped into the well screaming an assurance to her dear fearful sister Rukma, “Worry not Rukma, I am coming to save you.”

****