Ahilya's Point of View

Wherever my gaze would fall, only the green grass could be seen. Even though the night was approaching, I could see it because of the rases of sunset. Tall trees stood there, covering themselves in greenery.

Beautiful!

But this really doesn't look like the place we came from in the morning. It doesn't look like Jodhpur. No, it doesn't even look like Rajasthan. This looks like a completely different place.

"We are lost!" I voiced my concern and all agreed to it.

"Are we really in Rajasthan or somewhere else?" Agraja's question doesn't make sense.

We could now see some local people but I think we are in some village because the dress of people over here is completely different.  It looked traditional. I mean, like real traditional outfits. Like those would have worn in history. But how?

"Guys, I think we have traveled to the past!" Agraja jumped with happiness making us laugh.

Agraja and her craze with time travel!

"Vedi!" (Mad) Smarnika Didi smacked her head lightly with a laugh.

"What? You guys think I am joking?" Agraja sounded sad.

Wait, what if this is true? I mean, from no angle this place looks like the one we were there in the morning.

Morning? Oh yes! We came to the desert early in the morning and now it is evening. We spent almost an hour over there so how come it is evening already? How is that even possible? Swapna bagte ahe is me? Ha asel. Aaso, but khup chan swapna ahe! Maza swapna hota ekda tari puratan kalat jaicha ani aata he swapnachya rupat purna hota ahe! (Am I dreaming? Maybe. But this dream is so nice. It was my dream to go in historical days and this got fulfilled in the form of a dream!).

I smiled. Hoping to have a wonderful long dream.

Suddenly my eyes fall on Ojasi making me frown.

She was touching her face, hair, neck, hands, stomach, and even legs every now and then.

Her eyes felt teary. She was looking at the surroundings.

Her facial expression conveyed many emotions such as shock, denial, happiness, and sadness.

But why?

She was looking a bit different. I was not able to point out the difference but she was really looking a bit different.

But it is my dream, is it not? Then who cares?

Agraja kept saying that we have time traveled to the past and finally getting irritated with her, Smarnika Di snapped at her saying it is already dark, we are lost and you can't stop with your nonsense stories.

"She is not saying nonsense stories, Tai. We are really lost and we are lost in such a way that we can never be found." Finally, Ojasi spoke with a sad smile. But her words brought worry to my mind. What if I am not dreaming and this is happening in real?

"What are you trying to say Ojasi? What we really have time traveled to some historical period?" I ask with curiosity.

By now we were in the middle of the village. People were staring at us as if we were some aliens and again going by to the job they were doing. Weird.

She nodded her head. She conveyed her statement to be true by saying that she knows this place she knows the entire Bharat very nicely as she is an expert in History. She said that she had observed that there were differences in location, people, houses, atmosphere, air, time, language, and dialect from the time we left that huge tree.

Yes! She is right! That tree! I also felt weird over there. It really felt like I went into the tree and came back. Wait, what if this is not a dream?

"We are in the 12th century."

"What!" The three of us exclaimed.

Is it a dream or real? I cannot bear this suspense.  I need to jump. In my dream, if I fall from a height then I wake up from my dream. I do not wish to end this dream but I need to know the truth. I found a tree nearby. I ran there and my friend ran behind me. It was short enough for me to climb. I jumped from there without any fear but ended up getting a bit of pain in my legs and some scratches on my palms.

I looked at the surroundings. My friends were scolding me but all went to deaf ears.

"Deva (God), we are really in the historical time!" I expressed my surprise and excitement.

It was not easy for Smarnika Tai to accept it but she eventually did. Ojasi looked lost. Agraja and I were giggling with excitement. My heart was beating with excitement. We wait there for some time. Processing all the turn of events. It was dark by now.

"Where would we stay?" Agraja asked no one in particular.

And here starts our challenges.

We could find many tents. Wondering what it was about, Smarnika Tai asked a lady who came out of the tent what was happening. But she was not able to understand. But Tai asked in proper Hindi. Still, she didn't understand it.

"Tai, he tambu ka ahet hite (Sister, why are tents built over here)?" it was Ojasi who asked this.

She know Marathi? How?

The three of us were surprised.

"Amhi yatrekaru ahot. He yatra Akashi Ganga la jate ahe. Baresh Bhaktajan ya yatret sahabhagi zale ahe. Ganga Aaie chya darshanesathi vyakul ahe sagle. (We are pilgrims. This journey is going to Akashi Ganga. Many devotees have joined this journey. We are eager to mother Ganga.)" Joining her hands, the lady said with a smile on her face.

"Can we also join this yatra?" I asked her.

"Yes, you can."

"So we will also get to stay in the tent?" I inquired further.

"Yes, you just have to talk with the main Priest. He and his helpers would help you with it"

Great!

Thanking her, we meet the priest. Expressing our devotion to visit Akashi Ganga. After some formalities, we were able to get a tent for us and some food to eat.

Breathing a sign in relief, we were going to keep our bags in a corner and settled in the tent.

I can't believe this is actually happening! Wow!

Ye kahan aa gaye hum, yunhi sath sath chalte

I sang a song making the three of them giggled.

"Stop!" We heard a strong voice of a man making us all turn back.

And damn, what a beautiful sight I have witnessed!

There stood four tall, muscular, and handsome men staring at us in suspicion.

But in all these men, my only focus was on one particular man. I was not able to take my eyes off him. My heart started to beat at an insane speed. I stared at him like a creep and then our eyes locked with each other. A havoc was going on inside me. I don't know what is happening to me but I felt very much attracted to him. His eyes, it felt as if they had pierced through my soul.

I don't know why but my mind and heart spoke, I love him!

°°°°°

Namaskar sarvanna!

This story is a work of fiction. Kindly take it as a story only which has no boundary to the imagination.

Also, kindly note again, that this story is going to contain 21+ content.

Do share your thoughts on this chapter.

And also on this story.

Published on 11-Feb-2024.

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