chapter 6

Vidhan was looking at the dead body of his Guru. He felt that his strength was waning. He repeatedly imagined that Guru Kan would get up and sit at any moment. He knew the truth that this was impossible, yet he was imagining.

While imagining, he reached near Guru with weak legs and sat beside him. He closed his petrified eyes by running his hand over his face. Grief was taking over him. Vidhan had never seen Sudas till today. He had only heard the name, but his imagination had sketched Sudas in his mind.

At this moment, the same sketch was emerging in front of his eyes. The sketch was blurred and was gradually becoming bigger, suddenly a strong wind blew and that sketch dissolved in the air. He screamed in a hoarse voice from his stifled throat and fell on his Guru's heart.

The sun was burning his skin with its intense heat, but he did not feel anything. He remained lying unconscious, clinging to the Guru's heart. He regained consciousness only when the sun was getting tired and was preparing to return. His lips had dried and the wounds on his body were aching. He got up slowly and looked around with sleepy eyes - the blood of the dead soldiers had dried on the ground. Guru Kan's black horse, which he lovingly called 'Mayur', tied in a corner of the Monastery, was trying to free itself from its bonds.

Vidhan gathered his strength by taking deep breaths and went and freed the horse from its bonds. As soon as the bonds were freed, the horse ran towards Guru Kaan and started moving around and sniffing him.

Vidhan entered Guru Kan's hut. He looked around. In one corner, a sword, spear and some weapons were kept. In the other corner, some clothes were hanging on stand and below that, some grains were kept in pots made by his mother.

He came out of the hut with the sword, spear, shield and horse saddle. He walked with heavy steps to Guru Kan, lifted him brought him inside the hut and made him lie down. He took off the white dhoti hanging on the peg and spread it on his body. He touched Guru's feet to his forehead and then got up and came out.

He broke the bamboo supporting the hut. As soon as he broke the last bamboo, the roof of the hut collapsed. He took out the flint tied in his dhoti and rubbed it on the sword of a dead soldier lying nearby. Sparks burst out from the flint and the pyre was lit.

Guru s hut was burnt. Vidhan and Mayur stood near the sacrificial altar and kept looking at the burning pyre of Guru Kaan.