Meeting Master

Meanwhile at Abhi's house, his mother woke up with a scream. Maid standing outside the room panicked and rushed inside.

"Mistress..! What happened?" Maid asked with worry.

"Where.. Where is my son?? I need to see him immediately," Abhi's mother is trembling while asking.

"Mistress.. Young Master went out and asked me to take care of you. Do you need anything else? Some water?" Maid asked while passing her a glass of water.

Abhi's mother took the glass and finished it without giving a break.

"Get me some paper and ink," Abhi's mother asked.

"Huh??" Maid surprised by the sudden request.

When Abhi's mother looked at her seriously, the maid gulped in fear and brought what she wanted without making any delay.

"Now leave. If anything is needed I will call you," Abhi's mother said.

Maid hesitantly nodded and left her alone.

Abhi's mother started noting down everything she saw on the paper. She wants to inform her son, every detail she saw in the dream without missing anything.

Abhi who witnessed the most horrifying incident in his life came out of the palace dazed. He wondered whether what he saw was real or not, but he understood that it was absolutely dangerous. Suddenly he remembered someone and left the place.

Abhi went to meet Taika, his master, the one person who can explain to him what he just witnessed. Also he was about to go visit the master and get some medicine to cure his mother. So he hasn't wasted another moment and rushed.

When Abhi reached Taika's place, it was already past midnight. Everyone was sleeping in their huts and it was all calm. Abhi slowed and got down the horse as he approached there. Then he directly walked to Taika's home.

Some students of Taika were sleeping outside Taika's house. He woke one of them up to know whether the master was home or not as he can be out sometimes.

"What is it mister..? What brought you here at this hour?" the student asked firmly.

Abhi cleared his throat and asked, "Apologies for disturbing your sleep. I want to know if the master is at home."

The student replied, "Yes he is inside. Do you want to meet him?"

Abhi nodded his head.

"Ok, but the Master is sleeping. Can you please come in the morning?" Student insisted politely.

"I understand but it is urgent. I know my master. I am also his disciple. You please go and inform that his disciple Abhi came to meet. Will you?" Abhi asked the student.

"You are Abhijit???" the student asked with surprise.

Abhi slowly nodded his head. In the next second the student closed his mouth with shock.

"So you're the one who can perform magic along with my master ?" the student asked with excitement.

Abhi cleared his throat and said, "Well yes. But nobody can match him as you know."

Student nodded his head and said, "Yes I know. But everybody can't learn that skill. Fine, please wait. I will inform the master about your arrival."

Student went inside to inform the master and brought a message that Abhi can go inside. Abhi nodded and thanked him. He went inside without any further delay.

Taika was awake and waiting for Abhi in the meeting room. Abhi went inside, took his master's blessings and sat near him.

"It must be very important. So what's the reason being here?" master Taika asked.

"Yes master. The reason is - everything is messed up. I am totally confused and you are the only person I can go to," Abhi said with despair.

Taika noticed his sadness and asked, "What is it Abhi? Tell me.."

Abhi explained everything his mother told him and how she is not sure of the whole thing. In the light of a lantern placed on a table in front of them, Abhi kept staring down into the darkness and fell into deep silence.

After sometime Taika said, "Do not feel bad son. You will get answers to all the questions in the future and the time is near. Your mother herself will give you them. So until then, be patient and take good care of her"

��It seems Abhi is going to find the truth soon and it is good. Afterall he is strong enough to take it,' Taika thought to himself.

Abhi looked at Taika and nodded his head. He asked Taika for some medicine to cure his mother. Taika went to another room and brought out a small bottle of liquid with him.

"Here, take this and give it to her twice a day. Ask her to take plenty of rest. I will come and check her tomorrow evening," Taika said.

Abhi nodded and took the medicine.

"Is there anything else you want ?" Taika asked, looking at Abhi's hesitation to speak.

"Master, actually.. I also came here to enquire about another thing", Abhi said suddenly.

"What is it?" Taika asked.

"I saw a strange thing at the palace today," Abhi said while remembering the incident and that itself brought him goosebumps.

Abhi explained how he went inside to find the truth and what he saw. After listening to everything Taika's eyes also widened.

"Did.. Did you really see that?" Taika asked hesitatingly.

"Yes Master," Abhi said, "and it's not easy to forget."

"Abhi.. Listen carefully. I am giving you an important mission which you are going to complete at any cost", Taika said.

Abhi sensed the seriousness in the air and nodded his head.

"You are going to a village and a map I give you will help you reach there", Taika said and went inside to get the map.

Taika dusted off an old wooden box, and took out a scroll carefully from it. He went back to Abhi and handed the scroll over to him.

"What is the name of the village master?" Abhi asked while opening the scroll.

"Cottoncrest Village," Taika said.