by H. K Oby
He had no way to know whether she was saying things to make him feel better, but surprisingly, he did feel a bit less down.
Rishi spoke up next.
“She’s right. I was in the crowd, so I saw how surprised the others were when you dodged that first punch. I couldn’t even see how he moved. I didn’t even see him moving! One second he was in the middle, then he was in front of you like a damn racecar! How can anyone go against that? How did you dodge it?”
He started out sounding reassuring, but agitation overtook him quickly. With a noncommittal shrug, Amin answered, “I don’t know. I’ve just spent years training for that moment, I guess, in a twisted way. In my field of work, you have that instinct, or you go brain-dead early.”
“Your field of work? What’s that?”
Amaira’s question made him pause. The urge to lie appeared again, but it was easy to shove it aside this time.
No use telling a lie now, then being outed soon. That has been happening too often, lately. Besides, the keeper will definitely tell everyone about me, anyway.
“I was a thief, a conman. I stole only from those who deserve it, men and women like rapists, swindlers, or child abusers. It felt good to steal from them. I’ve already explained my reasons once in this place; I don’t really want to again. Short version: I was an orphan in the streets and I was hungry. That’s how it started.”
In his experience, women had fixed ideas of what was good and what was bad. He fully expected Amaira to turn away from him in disgust, and he even found himself wishing that that wouldn’t happen, but the way she acted made his mind go blank.
Clapping her hands and jumping up and down twice as if she couldn’t control herself, she exclaimed, “Wow! That’s amazing! You must have been like Robin Hood! I love to read novels. You’re like the hero of one of them! It explains everything!”
Rishi, on the other hand, was dumbstruck.
“You are one of them? My father hated you all. A conman only stole from him once, but he would never let anyone hear the end of it. I didn’t think you would be so… normal.”
Cocking his head curiously, Amin asked, “Normal? What did you expect? An eye patch, tobacco-stained teeth, and a knife in my belt? I’m more a conman than a thief, and I’m the one who heads the cons, not the one who does the brute work. I make plans and even meet the clients, so of course, I should look presentable. Forget all of that. Show me your powers! I’ve seen those old folks flying around and some other spooky stuff, but that’s it. I want to see more!”
Amaira had laughed when he described a common thief, but she shared another look with Rishi when he made his request. He was getting sick of those looks; they meant that there were so many things that the two of them knew and didn’t, so with exasperation tinging his face, he waited for an explanation.
Looking at an unremarkable hut beside them as if it was the most exciting thing in the world, Rishi said, “We…can’t. I can’t even explain why because we don’t know, yet. We were discussing this when you were sleeping.”
Amaira nodded beside him.“Yes. We’ve tried; we could do nothing. Coincidentally, there is a class at noon –“
Right as she said that, Rishi looked up in horror and squinted at the sky. He met Amaira’s eyes a second later, who had done the same thing; they stared for a moment, then set off running down the road.
Amin stood frozen, but a shout snapped out of it.
“Come on! Don’t be late for this class, too!”
Seriously? Crap!
He was soon beside them. He wished they could run faster, but they were already at their limit. The destination didn’t seem that far away, thankfully. After taking two turns, they came upon another large building just like the one they had left.
Bursting into the door, the two of them panted. Amin was only slightly out of breath. Keeping his arms at his sides, he examined the room.
It was completely empty, except for three straw mats on the floor. Heaving sighs of relief, the two of them walked forward and sat down on two of them. Following suit, Amin took a seat and looked at them expectantly.
“This is the siddhi introduction class, only for new initiates. I was told it would start an hour after noon; thank God I was wrong about the time.”
Amin ordered and waited while the two of them took deep breaths to calm their hearts. Just like that other building, there were two doors at either end of the rectangular room and a single entrance. The door opposite them opened after a few minutes, just when Amaira and Rishi both got their breathing under control, and the first elder he had met before entered, smiling at him warmly, flanked on both sides by two men.
Both wore the baggy breeches and saffron shirt he had been given. They looked a couple of years older than him. The one on the elder's left was at least 6 feet tall, with a lanky build, arms that were too long for his body, and sunken eyes that drooped as if he was sleepy. The one on the right was shorter than Amaira, but his slender build belied the strength that Amin detected from the way he walked. Each step was taken lightly but with complete confidence, as if he could beat even that giant if he needed to.
Both of them looked at Amin with undisguised contempt. They completely ignored Amaira and Rishi.
Between them, they were holding three mats that they placed in front of the three initiates. The first elder took a seat in the middle, carefully arranging his knee-length beard inside the hollow formed by his legs. When he was done, it looked like a coiled silvery snake.
Still smiling, he looked at Amin and said, “It is good to see you. How did your training with Shanker go?”
Before he could answer, the lanky man said, “Master, we should hurry up. We are expected elsewhere.”
The first elder frowned, but then nodded gravely.
“I wish we could have a chat, but we do have to hurry. In this class, you will be taught how to use the siddhis you have been gifted.”
All five people present in the room turned to Amin when the elder stopped speaking, making him want to get up and scream.
The two initiates turned away quickly, but the two the first elder had brought just stared, unabashed by his discomfort. Clearing his throat, the elder said, “Or, at least, I will explain what siddhis are and how they can be obtained if you have not been bestowed a gift. Disciples, you may sit.”
Smiling again, the elder began.
“Siddhi. Translated, the word simply means accomplishment. An accomplishment in what, you may ask. In my view, a siddhi is an accomplishment in the understanding of the universe. We are all the sons of Lord Brahma, who created everything you see. In theory, anyone can learn to reach his state, but we have to take it step-by-step in practice. In each step, one learns to manipulate a certain aspect of reality to accomplish things that mortals in this age can only dream of. Vikram? A demonstration?”
With a nod, the lanky guy raised one hand and pointed it at Amin. Nothing happened for a second. Then, Amaira gasped, and Rishi yelped as they saw the hand elongate, reaching for Amin until the index finger touched his nose then went back to normal.
He had wanted to duck or swat it aside, but the look from the lanky guy that told him he would be judged as a coward if he did so made him stay put. He did flinch when that finger that felt strangely rubbery touched him, but he didn’t move a muscle other than that.
Nodding approvingly, the elder said, “That was the siddhi known as name-it enables one to change the dimensions of their body at will. One form of the siddhi has been awarded to you, Amaira. I know exactly what you’re thinking; you’re wondering what that Pulse was. The Pulse is an entity created by the Mahasiddhis who established Ayodhya. It roams the world, looking for men and women of singular mental strength to meet its criteria. Such strength is typically only achieved and displayed moments before death. We do not understand exactly how the Pulse singles out people, but we do know that each chosen has the capacity to learn a siddhi and embark on the path of a Deathsworn. They have a wish before death, and by detecting
their single-minded desire to achieve that wish, the Pulse arrives and gives them the knowledge, temporarily, to aid in their time of desperate need. Siddhis can be obtained in various ways: by birth, by ingesting sacred mixtures, by studying intently and gaining understanding oneself, or by being granted knowledge by a master. Traditionally, the way of studying was most common, but the rift to the underworld changed everything. We need warriors who can be trained quickly, so siddhis are imparted to hasten the process. Training is still required to use them properly. The gift given always corresponds to that moment of understanding before death which attracts the Pulse. The Pulse empowers each individual at that moment, letting them display a hint of that siddhi to stave away death until a demigod can reach them. As such, I know that Rishi’s siddhi is related to strength. You are a mystery to me, Amin. Would you care to let everyone know exactly what you experienced?”
Amin answered without thinking too much of it.
“Flight. One second, I was on the ground, then I was up in the air above the clouds, falling.”
The reaction from the first elder and his disciples made him blink.
The elder squinted, as if looking at Amin for the first time.
The lanky guy and the short one shouted at the same time.
“Impossible!”
“You are boasting! Did you think we are fools?”
Turning to the side, Amin saw that Amaira and Rishi were just as confused as he was. He opened his mouth to ask the first elder what was wrong, but the man spoke first, making him snap his jaw shut.
“I hope you’re not lying, Amin. In all the history of Ayodhya, no one has displayed that siddhi before death. It is one of the hardest. Even masters go after it last due to what it represents and the secrets it shares with other, even more powerful siddhis. And even if you’re not lying, it is impossible that you went so high up into the air. The Pulse gives the knowledge and the means, but the strength to drive it comes from one’s mind. How much of a siddhi they display is usually a gauge of how strong they already are. All initiates barely show a hint of their siddhi, but you say you were as powerful as a complete master. If you embellished what happened, speak now.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ecstasy streaked through Amin’s mind as he heard the elder.
Finally! Some good news!
It turned into irritation quickly, though, when he saw everyone looking at him, waiting to hear him admit that it had all been a fabrication.
Putting all of the indignation he felt into his tone, he said, “I’m not lying! Ask the demigod if you want. He found me falling and rescued me just before I hit the ground.”
The first elder who had leaned forward while listening to Amin speak straightened his back and smoothened his dhoti self-consciously. Coughing lightly to cover his lapse in decorum, he said, “I apologize for doubting you. Who is the demigod, may I ask?”
He did not sound at all as if he meant that apology, but Amin answered anyway.
“I don’t really know his name. He was called Bhishu.”
The name made the elder wrinkle his nose.
“Him? He just entered a ten-year nap. It’s strange; he is one of the few demigods who typically does not take a break. There is no way to awaken him, now, unless he is truly needed.”
Bending his head, the elder pondered on the issue. Both the disciples seemed to have made up their minds, though.
“What a show-off. I can’t wait to meet you in the training ground.”
Hearing the short guy mutter under his breath, Amin started to think of nasty plans, but the lanky guy spoke up, interrupting them both.
“This is all well and good, but we really do need to get going, elder.”
Coming back to the present, again, the elder smiled ruefully and said, “Again, he is right. This matter does need a lot more discussion. I will call on you soon. For now, the two of you should learn how to harness your siddhi. Follow these steps as I speak them. Remember it well, and practice every moment you find. It usually takes a week for you to be able to learn how to use it at least sparingly, so do not worry. Close your eyes, close your mind. Abolish all distracting thoughts and focus completely on the moment when the pulse appeared. Try to capture the feeling you had then and imagine yourself experiencing the sensations again, when you first felt yourself stepping beyond mortal means. The stronger you are in sync with your past self from that moment, the more you will understand how you used the power you have been granted. When you succeed for the first time, call for me. Speak to the supervisor; he will know how to reach me. For now, farewell.”
Getting up, the elder nodded at him and walked to the door. His two disciples glared at Amin and left, too.
There are way too many people here who love to glare at me. I wish I could charge them for it; I would make a fortune.
Turning to the side, he saw that both Amaira and Rishi had their eyes closed, evidently going through the steps the elder had sketched out. He waited patiently, hoping to see something happen even though the old man had said that it would take a week.
Sure enough, nothing happened. Amaira gave up first; making a sound of disgust, she snapped her eyes open.
Despite the disturbance, Rishi stayed in that meditative stance. 10 more minutes passed before he opened his eyes, too.
“It really is going to take some time.”
Amaira smiled at him mockingly. Rishi scratched his head, embarrassed.
“Thanks for stating the obvious. Let’s go back. Amin’s hut is in an empty section where no one will be able to disturb us. We should stop there first and decide what to do next.”
Rishi nodded, and both of them turned to Amin. He had no particular plans, himself, so he went along with it, nodding his acquiescence.
They walked in silence, reflecting on everything they had heard. Secretly, Amin followed the same steps the first elder had laid out. Nothing happened, and even though he had expected nothing to happen, he couldn’t stop the twinge of disappointment that went through him.
They reached his hut in a few minutes. Opening the door, he went inside first and sat on the bed.
Rishi and Amaira both walked in and closed the door behind them. Folding her hands and tapping her foot, Amaira asked, “You really aren’t lying?”
Sighing and leaning back while using his hands for support, Amin said, “Every word I said is true.”
Amaira still looked at him disbelievingly, and Amin had to fight on the urge to explain himself further. He told himself that he had no need to want the two in front of him to believe him. He still felt happy, though, when they both nodded, Rishi doing it hesitantly.
“Do you still want to team up? I know I won’t have a power like you guys, but I still bring a lot of stuff to the table. I can make really elaborate and effective plans, and I should be able to hold my own in a fight if we’re not going up against a damn giant. I can also read people well. I would really appreciate it if we can work together. Like you said, we are the weakest, and the weak should stay together. What do you say?
Come on, accept. I need people I can use. I wish I had better options, but you two will have to make do.
He fully meant his boast about knowing how to read people. He could tell that Amaira must already have decided to join him; she was the type who loved to nurse puppies with broken legs. She was also the type who would feel obligated to help people if she did something wrong, and he had noticed how she looked guilty after they had left without telling him that he needed to come to the sparring ground.
The real enigma was Rishi. He hadn’t been able to place a finger on the guy’s pulse; in his experience, such people were more likely than not to show extremes. He could either be someone who was very trusting, or someone who had been trusting at one point and had had his trust broken way too many times.
He hoped that it was the former.
“I don’t know about Rishi, but I have no problem with it. In fact, I would like it, too. Both of us grew up comparatively privile
ged, so we have no idea the kind of pressure and situations you must have had to face. But be warned; I am much harsher on my friends than I am with people I don’t really know. I can be a handful, but I’ve heard many say that I’m worth any trouble I may cause. Let’s be friends.”
Friends? Really? I wasn’t going for that, at all… but I guess it’s better this way. It’s a stronger bond, and if she is one of those fools who treat friendship as they do in movies, then I can manipulate her all the more.
He shook the hand she held out, remarking inwardly how smooth her skin was and felt surprised when he smiled genuinely, in turn, at the way she smiled so wide.
Both of them looked at as Rishi, waiting while he shifted from foot to foot.
Finally, he looked up as if he had made a decision and said, “My father always told me that I should trust my instincts, whether in the world of business or in the world of personal relations. I still don’t like you; I don’t like the way you treated me, but I might also be partly at fault. Considering your background, I can see how reacting in that way must have been natural to you. This is a risk, but I’ve always believed that when you’re sinking, you should just catch hold of anything that comes your way, even if it is disgusting and smelly. Ah...I’m not saying you’re disgusting. Or that you’re smelly. Uh…I just…”
Amin had cocked one eyebrow, and that, in itself, sent Rishi stammering, as if he was remembering their first interaction.
Getting ahold of himself, though, he continued in a steady voice.
“All I’m saying is that I’ll be watching closely. Let us start anew. And we are not friends, yet; we are just partners. Time will tell whether I’m right or wrong about you, but for now, let us work together.”
He held out his hand, too, and Amin shook it. His skin was even softer than Amaira’s.
