The Adventure of Rudra and Pratap Narayan (Ch-3A)

After Prince Rudra Narayan Chaudhury had left the Gurukul, his teacher went to his chamber. Something inside him was troubling him; he could not take any more classes. He stayed in his hut for the whole day. At night he called for his daughter Rajni.

Rajni was a young girl of nineteen, who was born with specific magical powers. She could see the future if she wants, she can also take a person back to the past and can help them to revisit a particular scene or an incident. She could learn magic in no time; she was good at horse riding, archery, wrestling, and swordfight. Better than even the best student of this Gurukul, Prince Rudra Narayan Chaudhury.

When Rajni entered the room, the old man said, “Your words have come true today Rajni, today is the last day of our Gurukul. We have to save the teachers, and the students, at any cost! What do we do now?”

Rajni lit a lamp, she attentively looked at the flickering flame of the lamp, until it became still, and then said, “Call Pratap, now!”

Prince Pratap Narayan Chaudhury was the exact opposite of Prince Rudra Narayan Chaudhury. Unlike him, he was neither good at horse riding or wrestling, nor at swordfight and archery. He could not bear the sight of blood, it used to make him sick. Thus, he was never loved by his father. His father, King Shambhu Narayan Chaudhury, believed that if the king could not extend the boundaries of the kingdom through war, if the people don’t fear the king, then the king is useless. So, according to him, Pratap was useless. Pratap Narayan’s mother was long dead, it was just his brother who used to love him, and used to care for him.

Pratap Narayan was happy with that much of love only. He was a bookworm and a nature lover. That’s why he learned the art of communicating with nature. He could communicate with everyone, from rivers, trees, to even insects and animals. He could communicate with them even while sleeping. He could make a non-fertile land fertile; he knew to predict the weather and also to build houses like a construction worker. He had learned some of the rarest magic not because he wanted power but because his teacher loved him for his generous nature, and had helped him to learn those magic. But Pratap Narayan has never used them, at least not for his personal benefit.

Prince Rudra Narayan’s departure was making Pratap Narayan sad. However, the news he got from the wind turned his sorrow into anxiety. It increased when he was called by his teacher, and he got puzzled when he was asked to bring a sword with him.

“You called for me, Acharya,” Pratap Narayan asked after greeting his teacher.

“Yes, I have son, I have something important to tell you. So, listen to me carefully, if you have any question, I will answer, but first, you will listen to me without asking any question, is that okay?” said the old man with full authority, Pratap Narayan nodded.

“Son, you brought a sword, I asked you to bring?” Pratap Narayan forwarded the sword, and this time Rajni laughed out loud, “Oh my god Pratap, you brought your sword only! Father told you to bring any sword, you have three of them, and yet you brought the prince’s sword! Now, I have to use the Chaudhury family’s sword. Look like you’re making me a part of your family, Pratap,” the last lines of naughty Rajni made shy Pratap Narayan blush so much that he felt like hiding somewhere. Even his teacher felt uncomfortable. So, Pratap soon changed the topic.

“Why do you need a sword Acharya?” asked Pratap

“So that Rajni could defend herself and others. Listen to me carefully Pratap; build a tunnel near the boy’s hostel, and Rajni would create one near the girl’s. Only you two have the power to create a tunnel in less than an hour. Take everyone inside the tunnel and leave the Gurukul immediately. I am sorry to say, but this is everyone’s last day in Gurukul. It will open again, but it will take time. Remember everything I taught you, you can guide your brother to restore freedom in the kingdom. Now, hurry up, do not delay, in your hand lies the life of many,” Pratap Narayan was having many questions in his mind, but the last line of his teacher did not allow him to ask any question, by bidding his teacher goodnight he hurriedly left his hut to create the tunnel.

“You didn’t bid me goodbye, Pratap!” Rajni said quite informally and naughtily. Pratap was surprised and ashamed at the same time, “Oh, I am so sorry, actually, I–” Rajni cut Pratap in the middle and said, “I was joking, Pratap, you are so innocent. Always be the same, and if you really like me, then in the coming years, you will have to prove your feelings for me. Goodnight for now.”

Rajni’s words were a riddle, but Pratap Narayan didn’t wait to solve it. Lives of the people are at stake, he would do anything to save them. Both Rajni and Pratap worked really hard to build a tunnel in less than an hour. However, things went little wrong, before everyone could get inside the tunnel; Queen’s soldier attacked the Gurukul. They destroyed the sculpture, the scriptures, burned the huts of the teachers, attacked the elders, and did all sort of vandalism that they were capable of.

Pratap defended them as much as he could with his lightweight sword. The trees and the wind helped him a lot, with their support, Pratap saved half of the residents in Gurukul. On the other hand, Rajni fought valiantly like a brave and courageous soldier. Queen’s men feared her valor, unlike Pratap; she was not that close to nature, neither could communicate with them that easily. But the way she fought hundreds of soldier, was unbelievable. Many thought she excelled, Prince Rudra Narayan too. She saved another half of the people in Gurukul, except for her and her father. Acharya died, and Rajni was taken as booty by the Queen’s soldier.

Soon the Gurukul started burning like a wildfire has broken out in the forest. After the fire subsided, the Gurukul turned into ruins and ashes. Now, the ruins wait with the hope that one day it will again have students, teachers and an environment suitable for learning.