Episode on Saturday, January 10, 2009

Arjun, Pundir and the troops have almost arrived, near the Kannauj border.

Everybody is in the “vaid’s” house. Sanyo is sitting and praying for Prithvi and Nyharika’s life. Both of them lay in cots. Prithvi had fainted earlier, after he proved Nyharika was innocent and was taken for treatment because he and Nyharika drank the polluted water from the well 2 days earlier.
Sanyo does “arthi” in front of the Krishna idol in hopes they both recover quickly. The “vaid” checks Prithvi’s pulse, he has already administered all the medicines. Sanyo finishes her “arthi” and prays. The “vaid” checks Nyharika’s health also. Chand is present and keeps an eye on them. Prithvi suddenly starts to move his head and opens his eyes a little bit. Chand is smiling and is happy by the developments. Nyharika too also opens her eyes. Prithvi has fully revived, he even lifts his left arm. Chand is thrilled.
The “vaid” says, now there is no reason to worry, to Chand. They both will be alright soon, they are out of danger.
Sanyo stops praying and turns to see the “vaid”, she heard what he said and smiles. She looks at both of them and wipes her tears of joy. Prithvi and Nyharika move their heads. Sanyo thanks God and prays to the Krishna idol.
The “vaid” says, till today I was not able to treat and save anyone by my medicines, because I did not know what kind of illness they suffered from. Now, here on I can give them the correct treatment and medicines.
Prithvi has recovered that he sits up in the cot himself, Sanyo rushes to his side and hugs him. They both look at each other.
All is well and back to normal. The ‘vaid’ in Gombligaon has treated Nyharika and Prithvi, both of them rest on the cot in his house. Nyharika is sitting and well now too. The ‘vaid’ was able to diagnose them both after they found out about the poisoned water and he figured a remedy for the mysterious illness.
Chand and Sanyo are happy and relieved.
Sanyo sits next to Prithvi’s side on his cot. Prithvi touches Sanyo’s cheek, see, I told you nothing would happen to me. Sanyo has tears in her eyes she nods her head.
Nyharika is so grateful to Prithvi that she walks over to him all of a sudden and falls at his feet, in respect. The 3 look at her. You have given me a new life. You have freed me from being framed as a witch, you have done a great favor for me.
Prithvi looks at Sanyo they are speechless and don’t know what to say to her. Prithvi puts his hand on her shoulder, he gets up and makes her stand also. Really I have done nothing. I only got rid of the veil of falsehood and proved that human beings cannot be labeled witches for things that are not under anyone’s control.
You said correct Maharaj, Mukhiya enters the ‘vaid’s’ house with some other village folks. We should not have had faith in such silly, ridiculous beliefs. We have all come to you Maharaj to apologize for our mistakes.
If you want to apologize, you should not to me but apologize to Nyharika because you have all committed a crime against her.
Mukhiya prays with his hands and asks sister Nyharika for forgiveness. We tried to kill you, you are authorized to give us any kind of punishment.
Nyharika is still humble even after what has happened, don’t say that Mukhiyaji, whatever you did was out of ignorance. And for mistakes like this what kind of punishment?
Today onwards you all will have to eradicate the concept of witches and other superstitions, says Prithvi. Chand and Sanyo agree.
You are great Maharaj, Mukhiya appreciates the merit of Prithviraj. You have opened all our eyes to truth. Maharaj Prithviraj Chuahan ki Jai! All cheer Maharaj Prithviraj Chuahan ki Jai! Maharaj Prithviraj Chuahan ki Jai!
Prithvi’s attention is diverted to the thunder and lightning, it has started raining outside, he rushes to see out of the window. The wind blows inside the hut, looks like a storm is approaching he warns the others.
Just don’t worry about it, says Chand, it will subside.
Sanyo walks to his side to see, is your health okay?
Prithvi is puzzled, I don’t know why but I feel that something bad is going to happen.
Sanyo is optimistic, no you need to recuperate your health, that’s why you feel like that, you just need to rest for some time and everything will be alright.
Prithvi is uneasy and doesn’t agree, no Sanyo we must leave here now. Prithvi looks out of the window one last time. Chand make all the preparations to leave now! He orders.
No, Prithvi you must continue to rest, we should be leaving tomorrow morning instead, Sanyo insists.
But…
No! I will not allow you to go anywhere at this time.
Prithvi looks reluctantly out of the window, and Sanyo yanks his arm away. Prithvi is really worried for Pundir and Arjun as usual. The storm seems to be worsening the wind blows harder.

It is night, Pundir and Arjun travel along with the Dhilli army to the Kannauj border. A storm seems to be approaching, lightening strikes in the sky. It feels like the border is moving away from us, says Arjun, how long we have been travelling but not able to reach our destination.
You have not slept the whole night, that’s why you feel like that, you are tired, answers Pundir.
Yes? And you have slept yourself?
Come on we will travel, then stop some time to rest, then travel further after.
No, I was just joking, Arjun laughs again. I am absolutely fine. We have to reach Dhilli before Prithvi does and arrange sister-in-law’s grand welcome ceremony. We must travel nonstop ahead instead. Come on! Arjun races on his horse faster.

Jaichand and the army wait at the Kannauj border. The storm seems to be approaching and the wind blows hard, leaves fly about, trees tilt over, dirt is lifted in the air. Jaichand has positioned some of his men behind the trees in the forest, painted in green as camouflage. They all lurk behind every alternate tree waiting for Prithvi’s friends as per Jaichand’s plan.
A guard approaches Jaichand, all the arrangements to attack the enemy are ready and in position.
As soon as they reach the border, we must crush them and even before they realize what is happening to them you must kill them all! Finish them all! Jaichand raises his arms and waits by the lake at the border with his army.

Pundir says hurry up, they all approach the border, before the storm increases we must reach the Kannauj border. The wind is blowing fiercely, come on hurry up Pundir orders the Dhilli army.
Jaichand waits for them to get to the border.

In Gombligaon everyone is fast asleep. Sanyo and Prithvi sleep in the hut on the cots. Prithvi seems to be having some kind of dream.
In his dream he visualizes himself in a white colour environment with white curtains, Prithvi is fully dressed in his warrior uniform and armor. He doesn’t know where he is and the curtains move in the wind. Prithvi runs ahead trying to find something. One aged swami with a long beard and moustache dressed in white is approaching from behind and puts his hand on Prithvi’s shoulder. Prithvi is startled, he turns and looks at the old man.
The swami asks, who are you looking for? There is no use of looking for anything. Nothing will come in your hands other than soil, in this area. The old man goes on to explain that the world is like a carnival. Every person will have to fuse into the soil one day.
Prithvi is listening to the senior person carefully, he doesn’t say anything.
He continues, you, your own loved ones, everyone.
Prithvi breaks his silence, who are you Baba actually, and what are you trying to tell me, I don’t understand anything.
Baba laughs, how can I make you understand? Life is like a puzzle. The more you try to understand it, the more it becomes difficult to decipher, difficult to interpret.
Prithvi tries to grasp what he says, means?
Means, you don’t have the competence to understand, you need the power of tolerance,….. Tolerance, and a large extent of all energies.
What am I supposed to tolerate?
Time will give you the answer of that question. You will prepare yourself for that time on your own, Baba explains, he takes a step away.
Prithvi walks closer to the Baba, he asks him, which time, what kind of time?
Time, that no King has lasted ahead of it, the only thing that persists is the power of the mind. Now your test of time has come, son. You must make yourself fully prepared.
But, I want you……Prithvi doesn’t continue the sentence he hears some noises instead, a group of people shouting, he turns to see who they are. Prithvi is alone again he looks beyond the curtains, he can hear noises and confusion like people fighting. Prithvi looks around himself slowly he is exposed to some battlefield, shields and spears are strewn everywhere. Prithvi looks at the abandoned weapons, there are many, everywhere on the ground. Nobody is there with him he is all alone in an abandoned desert. Prithvi takes some more steps and he can see two funeral pyres ready for someone, he walks closer to them. Two dead people are on the funeral pyre ready to be cremated, white cloth is covering them up. Prithvi slowly walks over to one body and is about to peek under the white cloth to see who it is.
The same Baba comes from nowhere again, he puts his hand on Prithvi’s shoulder. Prithvi lets go of the white cloth. Prithvi is shocked to see him again, he is sad and confused.
Baba tells him, who has the capacity to avoid the prospects that is already written. Those who have entered into this world, one day or another he will have to depart also. Baba looks at the pyres and says, their time has been completed, their body of soil, has combined in the soil itself. So why do you shed tears for this fragment of soil, he points at both bodies. Don’t shed tears for soil, only weak minded people shed tears, you will have to make yourself strong.
Baba? This…Prithvi is nervous to ask Baba the question, he points at the pyre, who’s pyres are these Baba?
Baba raises his arms, what is the hurry to know? Because anyways the prospects are going to be unveiled soon, and nobody can avoid the prospects. Baba still has his arms in the air, he turns around to leave.
Prithvi watches him in awe. Baba stop! Stop Baba! Baba tell me whom these two pyres belong to? Who’s are they? Baba doesn’t answer. Prithvi gets flashes of the cremation pyre in his dream, then suddenly the pyre is fully lit with fire and burning. Prithvi notices some garments that lay next to the burning pyre, they look familiar. Are they of his buddies?
Prithvi suddenly wakes up in the hut. He is absolutely terrified, he saw garments resembling that of Pundir’s and Arjun’s near the cremation pyre in his dream. Prithvi also remembers dreaming about human skeletons lying around on the ground. He is extremely shocked about it, he sits in his cot and wipes his face. Sanyo is fast asleep in another cot. He looks at her and gets up to go next to her and wake her up. Sanyo? Sanyo?
Sanyo opens her eyes and looks at Prithvi.
Wake up Sanyo.
She has gotten up, are you okay?
Nothing has happened to me, we must leave here now.
Why suddenly, this late at night? What has happened to you suddenly? What is the reason you want to leave in this stormy night? What has happened to you Prithvi can’t you tell me?
Prithvi’s eyes are watery, I just don’t know Sanyo, my heart is pounding, he places his palm on his chest. I feel like something big and bad is going to happen which cannot be avoided. You get ready fast, I will go and meet Chand and tell him something bad is going to happen. Prithvi leaves the hut, to wake Chand up. Sanyo is not able to understand him.

Dhilli team race ahead, the horses gallop in the blowing night. This storm isn’t halting at all, says Pundir.
Yes but that is not a worry because we are almost going to reach the Kannauj border, replies Arjun.
Oh yes we are close to the border, Pundir points at the torch lighted ahead, that landmark is our destination point. Pundir and Arjun ride side by side taking hand in hand.

At the Kannauj border all of the troops are alerted they wait, the wind blows fiercely. Jaichand says, see the prey! They are themselves going into the mouth of the tiger!

Pundir and Arjun now walk ahead with the army. They halt, Pundir asks what happened now.
Arjun says, Pundir why not we run? Who knows will we get another opportunity for this? Let’s see who will reach across the border, why not?
Okay then, of course.

Jaichand is ready, his forces assemble, they have the arrows ready to shoot them, the archers pull their bows, arrows in place.

Arjun runs ahead in the forest first, Pundir is few feet behind running too.

Jaichand is paying attention to his enemy and will soon give orders to the archers to release the bow.

Both Pundir and Arjun run as fast as they can at the same time together in the forest.

Jaichand sees them coming from the other side of the lake.

Pundir is ahead now, Arjun is behind him.

The archers are all aligned in a row by the lake ready to strike. Jaichand pulls out his sword.

At Gombligaon, all the Dhilli troops have woken up and become ready to set forth in the night. They wait outside with the burning torches and flags, the storm blows. Chand is the head of the army.
Prithvi walks over to Chand, has the arrangements to move made ready?
Yes all the preparations to leave are in place, as soon as sister-in-law comes we will leave immediately.
I will go and check why she is taking so long to come. Prithvi goes to the hut, Sanyo emerges out of the door he sees her and says nothing. Prithvi goes back to Chand’s side. Come Chand, we have to leave fast. From the Kannauj border on the way, we have to proceed towards Dhilli. Just exactly the same path that Pundir and Arjun have followed.
Prithvi is about to turn and give orders to leave, but he stands still and shocked to see the same Baba from his dream standing right in front of him in Gombligaon. Sanyo also sees him, everybody looks at him. Prithvi stares at Baba then he glances at Sanyo for a second. Prithvi walks over to his side.
You have seen death in your dream, the corpses, the funeral pyres, they were the warnings of the power of the prospects, that were saying that death awaits someone of your own. Who can avoid the prospects of the future? Those who have entered this world, likewise will have to depart someday. Son, you will have to boost your own power to tolerate this truth, you must acquire that strength. Baba gives Prithvi advice, he used the same words from his dream which he had earlier. Baba walks away.
Baba? Baba! Stop Baba! He pays no attention to his calls. Who is it you call my own? The dust blows in the wind, Prithvi covers his eyes with his arm to prevent the dust from going into his eyes. Prithvi wipes his face and calls out again, Baba! Answer my question please, Baba!
He doesn’t answer at all and has disappeared, nowhere to be seen.
Sanyo walks over to Prithvi. Who was that Prithvi and what was he telling?
Sanyo we must leave fast now, we have very less time, let’s go.
Chand orders, come! Chand, Sanyo and Prithvi with the troops proceed to the Kannauj border in spite of the bad weather conditions.

Pundir has reached ahead and halts, he jumps up in the air, he won the race. Arjun is steady behind him.

Jaichand and forces get ready.

See! I told you, he smiles, I would reach the destination first. See the Kannauj border right there, he points at it confidently and looks at Arjun. Pundir runs ahead some more.

Jaichand can see his first prey coming, he raises his sword up as gesture to shoot. The Archers check the direction and release the bows. One by one many arrows fly into the air. One arrow lands near Pundir’s feet while he runs. Pundir trips and falls on the ground.
The archers attack more rapidly. The arrows just barely miss Pundir, he also avoids himself from getting hit he jerks his body away while lying on the ground.
Arjun is aware of the situation and watches him in shock. Pundirrrrrrrr! He shouts loudly. Puunnddirrrr! Arjun reaches out for him, his arms outstretched. He runs forward to save Pundir and dodges all the million arrows flying in the air. Arjun and the army run towards Pundir to save him. Arjun waves his arms all around his body to push away the flying arrows and to avoid getting hit. He reaches him, Pundir!
One by one the Dhilli army gets hit by some arrows.
Arjun looks at Pundir are you okay Pundir. They both try to avoid the arrows that rain on them.
By whom can this sudden attack be?

Jaichand’s army attack fiercely with arrows, no mercy from them.

We have been attacked, we have been attacked! The Dhilli troops shout. Run! They run back away to a safe zone where the arrows cannot reach them. Trails of arrows follow them as they run.

Jaichand’s archers release more showers of arrows. Pundir tries to avoid getting hit, while Arjun makes an attempt to rescue Pundir. Pundir tries to see ahead of the lake, he can see an apparition, its Jaichand. Maharaj Jaichand?
Arjun also can see his faint image far away, on top of the hill at the borderline, across the lake. Arjun looks in shock, its Jaichand attacking them again. They have been caught in surprise, they thought he would no longer try to get them. He dodges the arrows, he has played his move Pundir!

Jaichand watches as his troops attack.