"Woh!" let out of their mouth looking at the huge tree. The trunk being so wide, branches spread like the roof of a house was adorned with the beautiful bright green color of leaves.

It's not a big deal to find such a big tree. But it is when such a green tree is located in a desert. Yes, a desert.

"Don't make the mistake of thinking it ordinary. For this magnificent tree is anything but ordinary. The purpose of your life is not here my children. Dive in the tree, it will take you all to where you belong to." The elegant yet firm voice of the middle-aged lady went through Ahilya's (अहिल्या) ears.

The lady wearing a simple yet beautiful cotton saree, long hair adorned with mogra flowers garland, had a gold bangle on each of her wrists looked in her mid-40s. She was sitting beneath the branches of that tree while chanting God's name with the help of the Rudraksha mala. The aura with the lady carried felt powerful and divine. Ahilya couldn't help but admire her. The lady looked spiritual.

"Let's go near the tree." Her adoration was broken by Agraja's (अग्रजा) over-excited voice. She ran towards the tree followed by her elder sister Smarnika (स्मरणिका) to stop her. Just as Agraja touched the tree to catch her breath, she vanished. Followed by Smarnika as she held her arm in an attempt to hold her sister.

It happened so quickly that Ahilya didn't have time to process it. For a second she looked at Ojasi (ओजसी) whom Ahilya, Smarnika, and Agraja met an hour before. Worry and fear had married her face as well. Both of them tried to catch the two in their attempt to do anything which could save their friends and in that attempt, she felt someone pull her inside the tree.

Her mind fell blank. A strange sound was heard in her brain. At that moment she felt she was at her end. As a reflex, she started chanting God's name. She wants to be in God's memories as she completes her life here. But at the next moment, she felt herself jerked.

Opening her eyes she saw herself out of the tree. Before she would come of out it, she saw Smarnika and Agraja in front of her. Both of them have a shocked face. Hugging them in worry, she asked if they were okay. They looked back and saw Ojasi who was just touching her face, hair, and hands, inshort her entire body in shock. There were tears gathered in her eyes making them worry for her.

Ahilya, Smarnika, and Agraja were here for a friend's wedding. The wedding was completed and the next day they had an evening flight to catch. They thought to go to the Desert of India before their evening light and therefore had their bags with them as they were directly going to the airport from there.

It was early morning. They were very excited about their first-ever desert visit. On the way, they found a girl who introduced herself as Ojasi. Though by the look she does not look like a resident but by her language, they come to know that she is. She offered to show them around and they did need the help of a resident of here to guide them correctly.

Ojasi at first glance looked very quiet and arrogant but her way of talking showed she is anything but arrogant. Her politeness and great knowledge were evident in her tone. In a very short time, all three girls got attached to her.

So now looking at her having tears this way was making them worried. But soon they realize they have something more important to look at. Smarnika slapped the back of Agraja's head at her stupidity and her act on anything without thinking.

Ahilya ran the circle of the tree to ask the lady what did she do or what just happened but the lady was like just vanished. They looked for the lady but couldn't see a single soul except the four of them.

Ahilya had a look at the sky and saw the setting sun, the sky had shades of purple and orange. A cold Breeze of air passed through her. It looked beautiful.

"Are we in heaven?" She murmured to herself but heard a "Yes" from the two sisters who were also mesmerized by the beauty.

"Our flight!" Panicked Smarnika as it clicked to her that it was already evening. Hurriedly they took hold of their luggage and started to move from there.

Ojasi came back to her senses and led the way to take them to the main road.

Going from there, Ahilya turned back to look at the tree and again hurried to get out of there.

In all this chaos they forgot that it was just around 10:30 in the morning when they were adoring the tree. Their talk with the spiritual lady and the tree incident just took in a few minutes then how come it's evening so soon?

But can they be blamed when they went through a shocking experience that was also scary? It just made their logical and mindful selves vanish in their panicked state.

They forgot to notice something else as well.

Ahilya hugged herself as it was getting cold.

"God, I am sure we lost our flight!" Agraja stomped her foot in irritation and took her mobile out to check the time but the mobile showed 10:42 AM.

Dear sisters, please check the time. Seems like my mobile timing has stopped working.

Ahilya and Smarnika also checked the mobile and it also showed 10:42 AM.

Wondering why the mobile of all three of them stopped, they decided to stay in any hotel if available or would request any villagers to let them stay for the night. They could see the star of the village but something felt different. It was not the place they came from in the morning.

"Ojasi did we walk the correct route? I mean, this place seems different" Smarnika asked as she is a person who tries to memorize all the routes and places as possible so even if they were here for the first time, she could tell the difference. Ojasi was looking around wondering. A shock marrying her face.

"I don't think we are at the wrong place.  What makes you think that we –" Ahilya stopped in her tracks. When not hearing her voice further they looked at her and saw her looking at the back. They looked at the back and what they saw made their heartbeat at a very fast pace.

•••••

Namaskar! 🙏

Published on 24 July 2023