Adventures of Adya - Part 1
A time when roads where brimming with bullock carts and bustling with people who were off to the farmlands, a time when the pace was slow but contentment high,
there in a corner house lived a family of five a simple humble home where the father works in his small land grows crops and feeds the family , the mother makes craft with pine leaves to support the family and three daughters , the elder one already married and living away from the family , the middle one a young women in her early 20's and the younger one a toddler a family peacefully living in their own ways.
The middle young girl her name was Adya and she was the happiness of her family always cheerful and helping others with everyone praising her for her intellect and knowledge at such young age.
Adya was not sent to school because at those times women where denied education but she was nothing short of a scholar she would sneak into libraries and classrooms and always keep learning new things. Her curious nature always kept her in her toes and her eyes saw the world full of wonder.
Her Voice as sweet as the nectar would bring people flocking to her house as she sat singing in the early evenings while tending to their cows in her home.
One fine day as Adya was walking through the fields she heard a strange rustle from the nearby forest curious of the sound she ventured into the forest
As she walked far the folly became thicker and thicker to a point where it became utter dark in broad daylight and there was only darkness surrounding her...for the first time in her life she was completely alone and in that pitch black darkness she did not feel a tinge of darkness instead she could see herself merging with it becoming one... as she started to experience this, suddenly a hand pulled her from behind ....and the darkness no longer prevailed ...the hand was none other than her father who had been working in the fields who had come in search for her.
That Day walking back home Adya was completely silent, the scene hadn't left her mind it was as if she had been woken up from a deep slumber.
At Home , Mother had prepared a good meal for them as the entire family relished in the taste of the food , Adya couldn't taste the food her mind was stuck in the scene at the forest as her mind kept spiralling into the time warp she had experienced, she stayed there present but absent, that night after her entire family had slept she got up and ventured out to seek the forest again
Walking through the dark streets her heart thumped, the night offered a freedom she never knew as the moonlight shined bright showing the way as she walked she saw a faint figure accompanying her she couldn't distinguish what was it ..?
Was it a Dog? A Bear ? A Wild Boar ? She was startled , silently she took small steps in an attempt to not disturb the animal walking besides her slowly as she kept walking the silhouette started taking form first she saw the wild mane fluttering in the cold wind , four legs and a majestic body ...her breath stopped ...she took a step back and there was the form of a Lion calm, composed and just accompanying her with deep devotion.
Adya couldn't believe what her eyes where seeing a Lion!!! in the middle of the village ??and why did she not have a single drop of fear and why was the lion so calm???....she wanted to run away but could see the animal standing firm beside her unmoving....amidst the dark once more as the moonlight glistened brightly finally she saw it ...
The Lion was chained to her hand.…. for the first time she felt a sense of pity towards the animal...oh poor thing she said and released the chains but the lion did not nudge.., it was as if it has sworn to walk with her
Gently she extended her arms on its head and the animal walked into her embrace that's when Adya realised that he wanted to belong to her so she said since you have come to me now you walk with me
Suddenly she was interrupted by a Man's voice, " Adya ? What are you doing here ? Shouldn't you be at your home sleeping? It was the voice of her maternal uncle who usually takes night strolls to keep a watch for thugs and thieves....
But what startled her more was that her uncle couldn't see the Lion , she asked him uncle do you see anything beside me for which her uncle replied No..There is nothing beside you now go home don't wander alone in the dark it's not safe ...
Adya chuckeled and whispered to her ...
Not safe for whom? Me or them ? ...She laughed....
- By Swetha Shisya of Gurudev Shri Praveen Radhakrishnan