1. The Prince and the Wizard
Far from human habitation, the hills were shrouded in clouds. Despite the rain that had been falling since evening, the clouds remained thick even at midnight. Flashes of lightning were followed by thunder every other minute, echoing in the vast expanse of the hills. The lightning illuminated tall, bushy trees swaying violently in the strong wind. Yet, a man advancing toward a cave with determined steps appeared oblivious to the fury of nature—or perhaps he simply did not care.
A Mysterious Figure
His strong muscles glistened in the lightning, just like his magnificent locks of hair, robust moustaches, and beard. The round red mark on his forehead was disfigured by the rain, adding to the eeriness of his tall figure. But he was not alone. A shorter and younger man followed him, his hair hanging down and covering his face. It was clear that he was practicing some strange discipline, and that peculiar hairstyle was part of it.
A Command to Stop
“Stop here, Mangal,” the bearded man commanded his follower in a grave tone. Mangal looked surprised and murmured, “Well, guruji.”
“I must be alone with the deity, Bairavi, for a while. Do not ask me why,” said the bearded man ominously.
“Who am I, your humble disciple, to question your conduct? Don’t I know that you are the wisest wizard in the world?” replied Mangal with deference.
The Wizard’s Entrance
The wizard focused his gaze on a massive boulder that blocked the entrance to the cave. He mumbled an incantation and waved his hand, causing the boulder to move aside on its own. He stepped into the darkness, his feet finding no difficulty in navigating the tunnel.
At the end of the tunnel, he discovered a hole and jumped into it. The next moment, he stood in a spacious underground chamber illuminated by eerie sparks emanating from the eyes of a dozen tiger heads arranged in two rows. At the center loomed a fearsome stone image with alive-looking, piercing eyes and curled lips that seemed to wear a sarcastic smile.
The Confrontation
The wizard stood in silence, fixated on the image. Minutes passed before he suddenly erupted in wild laughter. “Ha ha ha!!” The laughter echoed fearfully, making the stone image appear stiffer.
“No more!” shouted the wizard wrathfully. “I can no longer tolerate this pursuit. My father and Raghav Singh conspired together and killed King Veersingh. Then Raghav deprived my father of his rightful share of the kingdom and seized the throne. His son, Bhuvansingh, now rules the land. My father died a broken-hearted man. For twelve years, I have practiced tantra and sought your favor. Haven’t I sat on corpses in the cremation ground and uttered your name a million times? It was the hundredth corpse I used tonight to please you. But where is the result? When will I win the throne?”
The Offer of Sacrifice
The wizard waited for a response, his eyes burning with agony, but no words came from the stone lips. “You will not answer, is that so? Well then, I give up. Cursed be these hands of mine that could not avenge my father’s death!” he exclaimed before lunging forward and snatching the sword from the image, cutting off his right hand in a sudden act of desperation.
At that moment, a terrifying laughter echoed, a hundred times louder than his own. He staggered back in shock.
“You fool! Do you think only you have desires that need fulfillment? Did you not realize that I, the spirit of this dark nether realm, also have my own wishes?”
The Condition
The wizard stared in astonishment. “But haven’t I done everything necessary to appease you?” he stammered.
“Everything?” The question was met with another burst of laughter. “Do you think dead bodies are all that’s needed to satisfy me? You must sacrifice a living human being and then sit on that corpse to worship me. Only then shall I be propitiated,” declared Bairavi.
“Why stop at one? I can sacrifice twenty living humans for you!” retorted the wizard eagerly.
“I do not want twenty. Bring me one man, but not just anyone. Find the noblest, the bravest young man. Only then will you achieve your goal,” assured the deity of the dark world.
A Pivotal Decision
The wizard fell silent, sighing as he contemplated his severed hand. “What a pity that I lost my right hand!”
“Reattach your severed hand to your arm and sprinkle the magic water at my feet. You will be whole again,” said Bairavi.
The wizard called for Mangal, who appeared promptly, horrified at the sight of his guru’s condition.
“Do not faint. Remember whose disciple you are!” the wizard commanded sternly.
“Yes, O guruji!” Mangal responded, steeling himself for the task.
The wizard instructed Mangal to rejoin his severed limb and sprinkle the water. Mangal obeyed, and the wizard flexed his arms, prostrating himself before his deity.
The Quest Begins
“Help me, O Spirit of the dark region. I shall venture forth into the world in search of the noblest and bravest young man!” pleaded the wizard as he rose.
Thunder rumbled across the hills. “Hail to Bairavi!” shouted the wizard. As he stepped out, a wild laughter behind him surpassed even the thunder’s roar.