Ch.38 Chapter 37 - A Journey To Mahabha...

It had been a long day. Starting from Draupadi's swayamvar, then Kunti mata's words, Draupadi's wedding and then meeting him. I barely processed the fact that I had lost all my memories of the future. Even the Mahabharat I had saved in my laptop was lost. To be honest knowing the future had given me direction, and now, I felt lost. I just knew that the war was coming and that didn't settle my nerves. If there was any way to stop it, I would try. War destroyed everything, leaving no true victors. Neither the winners nor the losers were spared.

And amidst all of this, a teenage girl inside me was squealing with happiness. I loved Yudhishthir.

A small smile touched my lips. I knew I liked him, a little more, each passing day. I liked the way he loved his family, the way he took responsibility without hesitation. I liked how truthful he was and how he didn't fear commitment, how he accepted me for who I am and I liked how loved me, completely without doubt. And all of a sudden, all those small likes combined and I just knew that I loved him. Maybe that was not sudden. But he loved me back and that felt like an unattainable dream that I had just attained. To love and to be loved by the same person.

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The next morning, I was awakened by Alexa's voice. Still half-asleep, I mumbled, "Let me sleep."

Her now less mechanical, more human-like tone replied, "I can't go any further in this terrain. You'll have to continue on foot." Maybe it was the AI in her which made her more humanlike by adaptation. Whatever it was, it made me feel closer to her.

Barely opening my eyes, I grumbled, "How far is it?"

"About six hours on foot," she answered. "You should start before the day gets hotter."

Groaning, I reached for my phone, one of the few uses I had left for that box. Five in the morning? Ugh. I'd gone to bed so late that it felt early. Why did I never get proper sleep when I needed it most?

Rubbing my eyes, I stepped out of the car to assess the situation. The street ended abruptly, and the path ahead was a narrow trail flanked by trees, leading up the mountain. There was no way a car could make it through. But walking for six hours? Not happening.

Turning to Alexa, I said, "Convert into a scooter."

She responded, "You are too lazy."

I chuckled, knowing she wasn't wrong. But she complied, and soon enough, my ride was ready. Why work harder when there's an easier option?

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In about an hour, I reached the top of the hill. The air was noticeably colder, and I slipped on a jacket over my t-shirt. Ahead of me stood a massive gate, surrounded by high walls. That must be where Lord Parshuram lives. I left Alexa near the edge of the trail, asked her to stay hidden, not knowing what reaction he might have towards her and then walked towards the gate.

I knocked and waited. My nerves shoot up as my thoughts raced. I tried to calm myself down. If I acted recklessly, it could not only affect this life but also my next lives. I had to be super polite and respectful as a student should be.

The door opened.

A man in a white dhoti stepped out. He looked to be in his sixties, with greying almost white hair, but I knew he had lived here for centuries. His physique was impressive, as if lifting massive boulders would be effortless for him. And the aura he emitted, it was divine, otherworldly. Just standing in his presence, you could feel it, every legend about him had to be true.

"Yes?" his strong and decisive voice asked.

I joined my hands in greeting, bowing slightly as I spoke, "Pranipat, Bhagwan Parshuram. I am Aarohi, and I wish to study under you. It would be an honour if you accepted me as your apprentice."

With a curt reply, he said, "I am not taking in students right now." and he slammed the door on my face.

Well, it was not like I hadn't expected rejection, but this seemed too abrupt. I thought he would at least give me a chance to explain myself. And then maybe I would just try to convince him. I should have had a better plan.

I stood outside the gate for a few minutes, hoping it would open again. It didn't. With a sigh, I turned and started walking back toward Alexa. At least he didn't say the fault was in me. But that could have been better. I could at least convince him then. As I walked, I kicked a small stone down the path like a bored child. I really had no idea what to do next.

Alexa was still in her scooter form. "Alexa," I called, "turn into a... house van or something. I don't know the exact name. But you know what I mean right?"

She answered, "Yes, I understand. Will we be staying here for a while?"

I replied, "I think so." There was no way I would give up so soon. I had to at least endure a few more rejections. And I just wanted to sleep. I thought taking in a huge yawn.

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Six days and thirteen attempts later ~

"Lord Parshuram, please, listen to me," I requested him again.

This time he actually replied with something other than 'you may leave,' but what he said wasn't better either.

"You are too old to learn."

"Sir, I can prove to you that I'm not. Please, just give me a chance."

He stopped mid-step, and I came to a halt as well. His expression remained neutral as he turned to me and asked, "And what if you fail to prove it?"

Even though his face betrayed no emotion, I knew my answer would shape my future. Taking a deep breath, I said, "I will leave."

"You may leave," he replied, his tone as neutral as his expression.

What? Disappointment flashed through me. But I didn't stop there and tried to convince him. I couldn't go against his orders. I shouldn't invoke his anger.

He was said to be the sixth incarnation of God Vishnu. It is said that he had killed nearly half of the kings in his righteous fury. Even the Gods feared his anger. Yet his disciples were renowned for their greatness. Karna had been a direct student of his, and both the Pandavas and Kauravas were taught by Guru Dronacharya, who was a disciple of Guru Bharadwajâhimself a student of Lord Parshuram.

I kicked a stone as I made my way back. "Lord Parshuram said no again?" Alexa asked, even her voice seemed sympathetic now.

"Yes," I replied, letting out a heavy sigh as I plopped down on the ground near her wheels.

I had initially decided to wait for five days, but it was already the sixth. I was supposed to leave yesterday, yet I couldn't bring myself to go. I wanted to try again, rejection fuelling my determination. And now, after today's refusal, I didn't want to leave. But I had to. My food rations were almost over. No matter what, I'd have to leave tomorrow.

What should I do now? Well I have nothing to do.

"Alexa, I am bored." I complained, trying to distract myself from yet another rejection. Lord this number was way more than the boys I had rejected. They were definitely getting their revenge now.

"This is the ninety-third time you have repeated this sentence in the last six days and it is still early morning."

"You don't have to remind me that," I replied. I already knew. But the truth was, I genuinely had nothing to do. When I was a child, I used to go out everyday to play. I had plenty of friends which were mostly children of my parent's friends. The teenage me obviously an extrovert was always surrounded by people and then came my great depression where I wasn't even aware of myself so it didn't matter.

What I mean is, in my entire life, I was always surrounded by friends and family. Most of whom definitely loved me back. And now, here I was, all alone, with no idea what to do. I should have had more hobbies where I just spent time with myself. I'd even written letters to Yudhisthir and Subhadra. Were they really not going to write me back? Oh, fuck these rules. Why can't a student contact the outside world from a gurukul. And the worst part? I wasn't even accepted there.

While I was wallowing in self-pity, I noticed Lord Parshuram returning. But this time, instead of heading to his ashram as he usually did, giving me my cue to retreat to my small bed and go back to sleep, he walked straight toward me.

My heart sank. Was I about to be kicked off his property? Still, I stood up, brushing the dust off my clothes.

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