Episode 2: “The Unseen Path”

Episode 2: "The Unseen Path"

The morning mist was heavier today, hanging low over the fields of Devdungri like a veil. The sun fought through the gray clouds, casting pale light on the small houses of the village. Birds flew in tight formations above, their calls echoing through the valley.

Veer sat at the edge of the riverbank once again, his legs crossed and his back straight, eyes closed in concentration. He had been training with Guruji for years, but lately, something felt different.

The air around him seemed thicker, as if it were waiting for something. The usual sound of flowing water felt muted, as though even the river was holding its breath. He couldn't explain it, but something inside him was stirring—a strange pull, like an invisible thread tugging at the edges of his consciousness.

"Veer," Guruji's voice broke through his thoughts.

He opened his eyes and turned to find his teacher standing behind him, his face calm as always. But there was something in his eyes—a glint of quiet concern.

"You've been distant lately," Guruji said, his gaze steady. "Is something troubling you?"

Veer hesitated, unsure how to answer. "I don't know… It's just—every time I train, it feels like I'm on the edge of something. Like there's more to me than I can reach."

Guruji nodded slowly, as if he had expected this. "It's normal to feel such things. But not all paths are meant to be walked in haste."

Veer glanced down at the water, watching the ripples form as the current pushed against the rocks. "I'm tired of waiting. I want to know what's next. I want to understand why I'm different."

Guruji's gaze softened, and he took a seat beside him. "You are not different, Veer. You are simply... unaware. But that awareness will come in time. The world is patient, and it asks nothing but that you listen when it speaks."

The boy sighed, frustration bubbling up inside him. "But what if it's too late by then? What if I'm not ready when the world finally decides to show me?"

Guruji's voice was low, almost a whisper. "Then you will find the strength to be ready."

Before Veer could respond, the sound of footsteps interrupted them. Kashi appeared, holding a small bundle of herbs in her hands.

"Guruji, Dai maa says you're to come help with the harvest," Kashi said, smiling. But her eyes lingered on Veer for a moment, noticing the tension in his posture.

Guruji rose without a word, but before he left, he turned to Veer. "We will continue this conversation soon. But for now, focus on the work at hand. The path to awakening is not always clear, but it is always present."

With that, Guruji walked off, leaving Veer alone once more.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur of work and routine. Veer helped carry baskets of grain, mended a fence near the village's edge, and assisted the elders in preparing the evening meal. But through it all, his thoughts kept drifting back to what Guruji had said. The path to awakening…

As the sun set and the village quieted down, Veer found himself alone in his small room, staring out of the window at the moon rising high above the hills. The sky was a deep violet, speckled with the light of distant stars.

Suddenly, a soft sound—a whisper—reached his ears. It was faint, as if coming from the very earth beneath him.

Veer…

He froze.

It was gone. But the voice… it had felt real.

He stood up, his heart pounding in his chest. He had heard that voice before—while meditating, while training—but tonight it felt different. Closer.

As he stepped outside, the moonlight cast long shadows on the ground. A chill ran down his spine, though the air was still warm. He felt... watched. As though something unseen was lurking in the darkness, waiting.

"Veer…"

This time, the voice was louder, clearer. It came from the direction of the old forest at the edge of the village.

Veer took a step forward, his curiosity outweighing his fear. He had never been this far into the forest at night. The elders always spoke of it in hushed tones, warning of dangers in the shadows.

But tonight, something called him.

With cautious steps, Veer made his way toward the trees. The air grew colder, and the sounds of the village faded away, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig beneath his feet.

The path grew narrower as he ventured deeper. The trees loomed overhead, their branches reaching out like dark fingers. And then, just as Veer thought he might turn back, he saw something ahead—a faint glow, like the light of a firefly.

The glow pulsed, gently at first, then brighter, until it became blindingly white.

And then it stopped.

A figure stood in the clearing ahead of him—a man—clad in dark robes that blended seamlessly with the shadows.

"Who are you?" Veer demanded, his voice trembling despite his resolve.

The figure didn't answer. Instead, his gaze fixed on Veer, his eyes glowing faintly.

Veer, the voice whispered again—this time not from the forest, but from within him.

---

End of Episode 2