by Vikram BS
Chapter 5 – The Bow at Brouhaha
Idaha and Chakra reached the monastery and at the entrance were stopped by a few monks who asked for their reason of visit. Before Chakra could explain who they were, a very old monk with great spiritual effulgence welcomed Chakra. Chakra immediately recognized the person to be Uvaca.
Chakra said “Uvaca, it is a pleasure to be meeting you after so many years.”
Uvaca said “Same here, but may I please know the purpose of your visit?”
Chakra then narrated the entire story. Uvaca was now shell-shocked; he could not believe that such a peaceful island had been taken over by a ruthless, cannibalistic tribe like the Asuras. He knew that there was very little time left before they would capture everybody on the island as their slaves.
Uvaca asked “Please tell me how I can be of help, and who is this man here?”
Chakra then introduced Idaha and said that Idaha was the chosen one to save the island along with his sons who were going to be born anytime now. Chakra also asked Uvaca for a way of getting hold of the Bow at the monastery which had earlier been used by the lord Gabhiro when he had descended onto our planet long back.
Uvaca started sweating on hearing this.
He said “I am sorry, but that is a very difficult proposition. Though the monastery is filled with monks of great repute, still there is a terrifying force which is still locked up inside this monastery which is guarding the Bow. So getting hold of this Bow is like giving yourself to the God of death.”
Chakra was a very confident person now. Though in human form, he was not an ordinary person. Uvaca knew this but still was for some reason very apprehensive. Chakra then took Uvaca to a corner of the monastery entrance and asked him for the exact reason why he was not willing to let them inside as it was a very difficult situation now, what with the entire island almost on the verge of losing out on their identity with an invasion.
Chakra asked Uvaca “Haven’t you looked into the cupboard on the right hand side near the place where the Bow has been kept?”
Uvaca said “Searched? Are you out of your mind, we have not been let into the room since antiquity. But how do you know all this?”
Chakra said “I was the one who had last seen the bow and I know that there is a huge demon guarding the bow there. But, I am sure Idaha will be able to win over this demon and acquire the bow as we need it urgently for saving the island.”
Uvaca said “Okay, I have confidence in you, but please make sure that we do not lose an innocent life trying to save the island.”
Chakra and Uvaca walked towards the place where Idaha was standing rather tired and confused as he was unable to make out the exact thing that was going on after he had reached the monastery. But, he at least was confident now that his mystic powers were of some use as he had verified the strength of his energy balls against the three Asuras.
Chakra asked Idaha “Son, do you have the strength now to help me capture the Bow in the room inside the monastery. There is a very dark secret regarding the Bow and the monastery which I do not want to reveal now as it might scare even the bravest of heroes. So if you are ready then please come with me otherwise nothing can stop me from getting the Bow at least today, as I can do all of this alone.”
Idaha was very grateful for the help he had received from all of them. So he nodded his head and gave a broad smile.
The smile was reassuring and Chakra said “Come on then let’s kick some flesh.”
Idaha and Chakra were shown the way to the room where the Bow had been hidden. The monastery had one of the most beautiful interiors. Though they were all leading a normal life without much money on the island, this monastery looked like as if it belonged to a King’s. There were beautiful wall hangings of the many monks who had attained spiritual bliss and had gone out of the clutches of birth and death and had become friends of another dimension altogether. On their way they were able to find clues and hints painted on the walls. It was in their native language though, but was still difficult to interpret for Idaha.
Idaha pointed towards one of the paintings on the walls and asked “What does this signify?”
Chakra looked at the painting and gave a broad smile.
He said “This is the demon which you and I are going to encounter and the painting has the date engraved on it, which signifies that all these things were destined and only you and I can do this.”
Idaha did not somehow like the idea of becoming a hero for a lost cause after hearing the word demon. As both of them were moving towards the last part of their search for the room, all the lamps started switching off on their own as if to say, ‘please fight in the dark.’ Just when they were about to reach the place where they were supposed to unlock the room to face the demon, Idaha’s eyes fell on a pair of huge sharp swords.
He asked “Can I use one of them?”
Chakra said “Yes, with pleasure.”
Idaha pulled out both the swords, took one for him and gave the other one to Chakra. Both of them went to room where they were supposed to find the Bow. Brouhaha monastery was the oldest building probably on the island since the human civilization had begun on the planet Earth but still they had somehow managed to remain isolated from the normal development of the outside world. The room was locked and there was a set of keys kept outside which was hung to the wall, when Chakra took the key and was about to enter the room they were able to hear footsteps, they turned around to see that there were many people running towards the room, Chakra was confused, Uvaca was leading the group towards the room.
Uvaca said “Please enter the arena along with Idaha, we all have come to watch the duel between you and ‘Zotreiver’.”
Chakra asked “Zotreiver, what? I did not know that the creature had a name.”
One of the monks said “It is engraved on the wall that is how we were able to know the creature’s name.”
Uvaca said “The demon as you know is a very ferocious beast, we all would also like to make sure that if in case very heavy calamity strikes and both of you face the worst then we would make sure that you at least stay alive after the encounter with the beast.”
Chakra gave a smile and asked Idaha to move into the room. As both of them were entering, the entire room got lit, but instead of a room there was a big circular theatre which looked like a place where warriors had been forced to fight the so called ‘Beast. ‘Both of them took centre stage and the other monks took their seats, were they lured into fighting the demon? Well can’t say. Idaha was a bit anxious, he was doing this for the first time in his life; forget fighting a demon he had not fought with any human being till date, well as they say everything happens in life for the first time. He got ready with his palms facing the part of the arena where there was a loud roar. Idaha in the heat of the moment was filled with humor, he whispered in Chakra’s ear, “what is his name Retriever?”
Chakra gave a loud laugh and said “No, Zotreiver.”
After a few minutes, the gates opened up and Idaha was expecting the worst. A huge beast came running on into the ground, It looked like as if it had the head of a bull and the body of a bear, along with all this it had a shining jewel in its head. Idaha could not control his fear and just like how people who panic, either use the reptilian fight or flight mechanism, he too ran towards the beast and within seconds he was held by the throat by the beast.
The beast started speaking “So, you are the fools who have come in search of the ‘Bow’?”
Idaha was surprised that such a fierce beast was talking, though it was becoming difficult for him to concentrate properly as the oxygen supply was decreasing because of the fierce grasp of the beast. Idaha now had nothing to lose as he had already struggled enough, this thought gave him a renewed sense of confidence and he used his full force and kicked the beast in the groin. Zotreiver gave a huge shout and released Idaha from his grasp. All the monks present in the arena gave a huge round of applause.
Chakra was enjoying everything fr
om a distance. He knew that Idaha had it in him; otherwise he would not have persuaded him to fight this terrible beast. But, after getting away from the grasp of the Zotreiver, Chakra was able to observe from the distance that Idaha had become very tired for some reason, and before Chakra could react Zotreiver seized the chance and ran towards him and gave a resounding kick which threw Idaha to a distance and he fell down on the floor almost unconscious. Idaha still had some amount of energy but Chakra knew that this was not sufficient to kill the beast and retrieve the Bow. Chakra sat down in one corner all the monks started observing Chakra instead of Idaha. In the meantime Zotreiver’s eyes fell on the already half-dead Idaha. Before Zotreiver could do another round of damage to Idaha, Chakra summoned someone using his mystical powers and all of them were able to observe a hazy sort of light enter Idaha’s body. Zotreiver again charged towards Idaha but now Idaha had an extra supply of energy and when Zotreiver was about to seize him by the throat, Idaha got up like a champion and gave a hard kick on Zotreiver’s chest, he could not bear the pain and fell down on the ground unconscious. Idaha still had the extraordinary energy present in his body, so he again tried to attack Zotreiver but before he could do it Chakra removed the energy which had entered the body of Idaha and Idaha immediately stopped and turned around, though he was conscious of his attack of Zotreiver he was still in a dilemma whether he was the one who had brought the big beast down to the ground.
Chakra said “Please do not waste time Idaha, we need to retrieve the ‘Mace’ as well from Machun, so please get to the door on the right and get the Bow. Idaha ran to the door but it was locked. He came outside and searched for the keys in the cloth that Zotreiver had tied around his waist. To Idaha’s luck he found a pair of keys. He immediately rushed to the room and opened it and was so happy to see a giant sized bow decorating the walls of the room.
Idaha with all his force and might carry the ‘Bow of Brouhaha’ on his shoulders and stormed outside the room like a champion. All the monks gave a round of applause and Chakra gave his usual sweet smile. Idaha felt like a hero.
Uvaca came down to congratulate Chakra and Idaha, by then all the noise had woken up Zotreiver.
He got up from his long nap and before Idaha could again react he stopped him and said “You are one of a kind, I actually did know that I would be defeated in a one-on-one battle long back but did not know that I would be defeated by you. The island has to be saved by you now, so please call for my help whenever you need and I will protect you.”
Zotreiver then vanished into thin air. Such a heavy beast vanishing into thin air was something new for Idaha.
Chakra looked at Uvaca and said “Thank you so much for your cooperation, we will be meeting again, but now I will be on my way to Machun along with Idaha.”
Uvaca said “Let the grace of Gabhiro be on you Idaha. The fate of our great island lies on your shoulders now.”
Idaha and Chakra bade all of them goodbye and were now on their way to Machun. As usual Chakra used his mystic powers and filled the stomach of Idaha. Idaha always used to be in awe of Chakra’s mystic powers but the call of duty and the tasks being assigned to him by Chakra would make sure that he would forget all about it.
