The beginning of rankala

The Acharya suddenly disappeared from his spot. Bajrang looked around, startled, but within moments, the Acharya returned — holding an old sword in his hand.

Bajrang's eyes lit up.

"A sword?" he thought, smiling to himself.

But when he looked at it closely, his smile faded. The sword was rusted, and its upper edge was broken.

The Acharya extended the sword toward him.

"Take it, Bajrang," he said in a serious tone. "This sword is extremely important."

Bajrang took the sword but thought to himself —

*"Maybe age is finally catching up with the Acharya... he's calling this rusty, broken sword 'important.'"*

The Acharya read the expression on his face.

He didn't smile. He simply said —

"Its true value will reveal itself when the time comes. Now come. Arav must be waiting."

The two set off. Soon, they reached the hut.

Bajrang saw Arav sitting outside.

When Acharya and Bajrang were just a short distance from the hut, Arav looked up. His gaze first fell on the Acharya, then on Bajrang — and then it froze.

On Bajrang's forehead, a new, glowing *mark* had appeared.

The peace that always rested in Arav's eyes shattered in an instant. His face filled with surprise, then anger, and finally, deep sorrow. He stood up immediately and walked swiftly toward the Acharya.

Bajrang was stunned by Arav's reaction. He had never seen him so shaken.

As soon as Arav reached the elderly master, his eyes welled with tears. He dropped to his knees and said with a choked voice:

"Acharya... what was I lacking?"

"I've been serving you for so long… I only had one wish — for you to accept me as your disciple. But you never deemed me worthy…"

The Acharya remained silent for a while. Then he spoke in a steady, stern voice:

"Arav, I know that you came to me with just one desire — that I take you as my disciple.

But I don't accept everyone as my disciple."

Arav wiped his tears and asked,

"Then, Acharya, what does Bajrang have that made you choose him?"

A deep look came into the Acharya's eyes. He said:

"In time, you will understand this for yourself.

But come — I am pleased today. So I will give you an opportunity.

If you can become a *Sadhak of Rankala* within one year…

I will accept you as my disciple."

Arav was about to say something, but the Acharya gently patted his shoulder with a faint smile and said:

"Say no more.

From tomorrow, your Rankala training begins.

Sleep now — a long road lies ahead."

---

**The Next Morning**

The chirping of birds, the gurgling of a stream, and the cool breeze from the hills — amidst all this, a solitary hut lay quiet, as if resting in nature's lap.

From its doorway, Bajrang emerged yawning.

He rubbed his eyes and looked around. At some distance, he saw Arav sitting on a rock, staring at the rising sun. His face bore the shadow of deep thought.

Bajrang asked from behind,

"Arav... where is Acharya? I haven't seen him."

Without saying a word, Arav raised his hand in the opposite direction of the stream. There was an open field — and in the middle of that field, a large rock on which someone sat.

Bajrang looked closely.

The person didn't appear too old, nor too young — but his presence, his posture… it was different.

He was deep in meditation, and there was something divine in his aura.

Bajrang gasped,

"How has Acharya become so young?"

Arav paused and said,

"Brother, even if I told you how he appears so young… you wouldn't understand right now.

In time, everything will become clear."

They talked a while longer, then began walking toward the Acharya.

The Acharya's eyes were still closed, but as they got close, he opened them and said:

"From today, your *Rankala* training will begin.

But first, you must complete a task —

Bring back special herbs from the mountain ahead.

As quickly as possible."

Without asking any questions, Arav and Bajrang set off toward the mountain.

Each day, they climbed the steep path, searched for herbs, and returned.

This continued for five days.

On the fifth day, when they returned for the last time, there was exhaustion in their steps — but also a strange calm.

Back at the base, they saw that the Acharya had dug a pit in the ground, filled with water.

He was now adding all the herbs into it.

Bajrang asked,

"Acharya, what are you doing?"

The Acharya smiled.

"Your *true* Rankala training is about to begin."

Bajrang jumped with excitement.

He was about to sit down when the Acharya stopped him.

He handed him a piece of paper and said:

"Here, read this."