CHAPTER 7: THE SILENT UNKNOWN PAST

Who is this person?

Why don't I remember him?

What does he want with me?

Ved's thoughts whirled in a storm of confusion, heart thudding in his chest like temple drums. He didn't recognize the boy standing before him.

But before he could even begin to gather his scattered thoughts, a voice — tiny and furious — sliced through the whirlwind in his mind.

{Who is this crazy child? Daring to block the Master's path?}

A soft chime rang inside Ved's consciousness. In the next instant, a shimmering figure materialized in his mindscape — a small girl, floating, radiant, and very, very angry. Arms crossed, her ethereal face was scrunched in outrage, eyes like miniature suns sparking indignantly.

Ved's eyes widened in disbelief, jaw slackened.

Holy crap!

{Where have you been?! I transmigrated into this world almost three years ago — and you decide to show up NOW — after everything that's happened?!}

His voice echoed back at her, laced with frustration and disbelief.

{You never answered! I called and called... but there was nothing! Just silence!}

In the physical world, Ved stood frozen — but inside, he boiled with more questions than ever.

Why now?

Where had she been?

What part of him had she always been?

Outside Ved's inner world, the tension was thick enough to choke on.

The mysterious boy's eyes — deep sapphire, cold and unreadable — stared at Ved like sharpened blades, searching for cracks, secrets, weaknesses. But there was no reaction from Ved — nothing for the boy to grasp. He remained still, quiet. Silent — yet not passive.

The aura around Ved subtly shifted. The space around him grew heavy, like the hush before a lightning storm split the skies.

Just as the stranger took a step forward, a voice sliced through the silence.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Devdutt stepped into view, sliding easily beside Ved with his mischievous grin — half mischief, half funny.

The stranger's gaze flicked toward Devdutt. His lips curved ever so slightly — a smirk, amused but unbothered. He said nothing.

Ved snapped out of his trance, his awareness returning. His instincts flared instantly:

This boy wasn't just an ordinary student.

Something about him felt off — too composed, too strong, too deliberate.

The mysterious boy had a presence about him. The kind that bends the world around it.

Dangerous. Powerful. Dominance.

It felt... off. Danger. Run off. Not someone ordinary.

Suddenly, voices rose from the students nearby, growing louder with excitement and recognition.

"Tejas..."

Another voice followed.

"Panch Tatva...!"

"Is that really him?"

"Tejas! It's him!"

The chants rose in a tidal wave of energy. Curious and awestruck whispers followed in their wake.

'They—they're...?'

'Who is that?'

'Do you know him?'

The whispers rippled across the Gurukul path.

Heads turned. Eyes locked on the scene. Three boys stood out from the crowd — one unmistakably at the front, Tejas — confronting two.

"You don't know him? The brown blond-haired guy?" a student whispered, eyes wide. "That's Devdutt Bijlani. He's titled Devansh, just like Ishaan Malhotra[1]. The third member of the Panch Tatva."

A hush swept through the crowd. Another voice joined in.

'But who's that guy standing next to him?'

'Has anyone ever seen or heard him before?'

All eyes shifted to Ved now — not Devdutt, not Tejas. Him.

On the other side of the path, Ishaan Malhotra — known by his title, Tejas — turned his gaze from Devdutt to Ved.

"You know him?" Ishaan asked, calm but curious.

Devdutt opened his mouth to respond. "Yes. He's—"

But before he could finish, two elder figures approached the crowd.

A ripple of reverence passed through the students as they quickly stepped aside.

"Kulapati[2] Vedananda and Acharya[3] Dhanvantri — our humble respects."

Devdutt and Ishaan bowed low, joined swiftly by the others. Even the air seemed to still as the two elder masters came into view.

Kulapati Vedananda — head of the Gurukul — the highest authority within the Gurukul — governing the entire Gurukul — walked with quiet command, robes flowing like calm waves in a storm. Beside him stood Acharya Dhanvantri, the legendary mentor of Ayurveda[4], a name spoken with respect and awe across the land.

Ved stood silent, stiffened. His mind raced.

He took a deep breath, composed himself, and stepped forward.

"Shishya[5] Ved humbly greets Kulapati Vedananda and Acharya Dhanvantri." He said with a respectful bow.

Acharya Dhanvantri's eyes lit up with a flicker of recognition. His voice held a note of wonder and mischief.

"Is he the boy who...?"

Kulapati Vedananda turned his sharp gaze on Ved, then glanced at Devdutt, and once more returned his gaze to Ved. "Are you the one?" He asked, not unkindly, but with a clear purpose.The question struck like a thunderclap. Every student went still. Even Ved was stunned.

The two elders turned to Devdutt for confirmation. When Devdutt met the elders' gaze and nodded firmly.

Kulapati Vedananda's voice followed — calm, yet his tone bore a weight of command.

"Ved Arya, come with us."

Ved hesitated for only a moment before his feet moved of their own accord. He followed. But after a few steps, the Kulapati Vedananda paused and turned once more.

"Devansh, join us."

Devdutt wordlessly stepped after them. Together, the boys trailed the elders, leaving behind a sea of bewildering faces and murmuring students — whispering theories and speculation.

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Inside the Kulapati's chamber...

The room was austere and dignified, scrolls and herbs adorning the stone walls. Ved and Devdutt stood before the two elders, bathed in the golden light that streamed in through the lattice windows.

Kulapati Vedananda looked straight at Ved, voice deep and grave.

"So... you are the one who did all those things?"

Ved stared blankly, unsure what he meant.

What things?

"...."

He remained silent, his face a mask of confusion.

"Yes, Kulapati Vedananda. It is him." Acharya Dhanvantri turned to Devdutt. "It is him, isn't it, Devansh?"

Devdutt offered a silent, resolute nod of confirmation.

Ved turned to Devdutt, startled, hurt flashing in his eyes.

Why is brother confirming something I don't even understand? What exactly did I do?

Why am I being questioned like this on my first day at the Gurukul?

His thoughts spiraled, but took a shaky breath and tried to speak with as much control as he could muster.

"Kulapati Vedananda, Acharya Dhanvantri — if I may... What offense have I committed to warrant such questioning? This is my first day in the Gurukul after—"

But before he could finish, Kulapati Vedananda's stern expression softened. His lips curled into a rare smile — one filled with something unexpected.

Pride.

"You are not being accused, Ved Arya." He continued. "You are being recognized. You are the one who solved the advanced problems in mathematics, logic, and elemental theory — not only solving them, but offering alternate solutions. Elegant, efficient, inspired."

Acharya Dhanvantri stepped forward, equal admiration shining in his voice.

"Your grasp of Ayurveda is extraordinary. You've devised new formulations for ailments both old and new — remedies some of our own scholars had long deemed impossible. Such insight is rare indeed."

He paused thoughtfully before adding. "Your talent may not yet rival Dev Goenka — but even so, it is remarkable and undeniable."

Ved stood silent. The confusion and tension that had gripped him now morphed into something new — understanding. His brows furrowed. A flicker of frustration passed through him.

He took a slow breath. Collected his thoughts.

"Kulapati. Acharya. Devdutt," he said firmly, meeting their eyes. "Your mysterious behavior earlier — it shocked not only me, but also the shishyas of the Gurukul. Why behave this way if you are proud of me?"

He looked directly into Kulapati's eyes, his voice calm but pointed.There was a beat of silence.

Kulapati tried to clear the point. "We do this because—"

He opened his mouth to explain, but Devdutt raised a hand gently.

"Kulapati, if I may?"

The elder nodded.

Devdutt turned to Ved, his tone more sincere now.

"You always said you didn't want attention. That you didn't want the spotlight. They were trying to honor your wish — but couldn't hide their excitement. So... it came out strange."

He stepped forward, bowed his head slightly, accepted his fault, and requested forgiveness.

"On behalf of the Kulapati and Acharya, I ask your forgiveness. The fault is mine."

Then a sly grin tugged at Devdutt's lips. Watching Ved's face twist in brief panic, he added in a playful, exaggerated tone:

"O revered one, I have erred. In my ignorance, I crossed the bounds of dharma. I fold my hands and seek your forgiveness. May your heart be kind and your mind merciful."

He pressed his palms together in a mock-namaskara, his grin mischievous.

Ved blinked, lips twitching — half in disbelief, half in irritation.

He had heard such words before.

From scrolls. From sages in passing.

But he said it with a mischievous glint in his eyes, and joined his hands in an exaggerated namaskara.

Before he could respond, the chamber doors creaked open.

More Acharyas began to enter the chamber, drawn by the stir of curiosity and whispers of brilliance.

And Ved — for a moment — stood perfectly still. In the eye of it all.

Stunned. Conflicted.

But somewhere deep inside...

Beginning to remember who he once was.

[1] Ishaan Malhotra: titled name as Tejas

[2] Kulapati: referred to as principal / dean of the academy

[3] Acharya: referred to as teacher / mentor of the academy

[4] Ayurveda: an ancient Indian system of holistic healing focused on balancing the body's energies through herbs, diet, and lifestyle.

[5] Shishyas: referred to as student / learner of the academy

'Shishyas' is a plural form of 'Shishya'

[6] Namaskara (hands joined in prayer): A gesture of humility and respect, often used when seeking forgiveness.