CHAPTER 6: The Forest Fire

“I can only say that it is by God’s grace! I am Aryaman! I just want to meet the King with the best of intentions! Please let me meet him.”

“He is not in the palace. He has gone hunting.” The guard replied looking at him still mystified.

“I see! Thanks a lot!” Smiling, Aryaman at once reached the sky and flew away in great speed.

“What by the stars!” The other guard exclaimed in disbelief. “How can any mortal fly like that?”

His companion did not respond and just looked at the sky with his jaws dropped.

Meanwhile, King Ravichandran was moving along in the forest in search of his hunt. He was of a short stature, bulky and had a medium complexion. He had large eyes, well-marked eyebrows, deep-set eyes, thick moustache, short-pointed nose, round chin and firm lips. He had a glittering crown and wore yellow robes. With a bow firmly held in his hand and his quiver of arrows strapped to his back he moved along cautiously. It was a frustrating day for him. Despite venturing deep into the forest his hunt eluded him. It was as if all the animals had moved away from the forest that day! A pleasant wind blew along as if to soothe his agitated mind. As he pushed aside some overgrown bushes and shrubs that blocked his view, he was taken aback to see a raging fire ahead of him! The rising flames of the blaze had already burnt a few trees ahead and the soothing wind was only aiding it to spread very rapidly towards him! Alarmed Ravichandran instantly began to retreat.   As he hurried, one of his legs was stuck in the weeds below and he lost his balance. The fall did not hurt him much and he quickly set about freeing his leg from the weeds. At that moment, a portion of a branch that had caught fire a few meters away began to fall on the ground! The branch was so huge that it appeared certain to fall on him! Ravichandran closed his eyes and partially raised both his hands. It was then that he heard a voice, “I will take care of this branch! Please do not worry!” He quickly opened his eyes and glared wonder-struck as he saw a young man standing mid-air and stood holding the branch in his hand!  He then threw it on the other side. Smiling at the King, he intoned, “Let me now take care of this fire!”

He closed his eyes and murmured some prayer. He then opened his right hand and lo! A silver bow made its appearance in the hand! Yet again, he closed his eyes and whispered a prayer. This time an arrow appeared! He fixed the arrow to the bow and aimed at the portion of the sky where the trees were burning below. He shot off the arrow, which quickly raised towards the sky. Soon there gathered dark clouds and lightning struck the sky. There was a brief spell of heavy rain, which abated the intensity of the fire to a large extent. He yet again shot off the same divine astra, which brought more rain that was now enough to douse the flames completely!

Aryaman yet again opened his right hand, which was carrying the bow. In moments, it disappeared from his hand!

King Ravichandran watched all this with wide eyes and partly opened jaws! All this was too much for him to believe!

“W…Who are you?” The King asked as the capped figure came near him.

“I am Aryaman! It is the blessings of the Almighty that I could do this!” He gave a restrained reply.

“O King! We have to move out of this forest. If you can sit on my shoulders, I shall fly and leave you where your horse is waiting for you!”