Chapter 3 Calm before Storm
As night fell and the villagers made hay beds to sleep, on the hurried preparations, the tranquility of the cave entrance was shattered by the arrival of two boys, coming from both pens, their hurried footsteps echoing off the cave walls.
"Arjun!" one of them gasped, his voice tinged with panic. "Veer, Bhadra, and Tazri are out of control!" His words hung in the air, heavy with urgency.
The other boy, his breath coming in ragged gasps, added to the sense of alarm. "The other animals are becoming more aggressive too! We don't know what to do!"
Arjun's heart sank at the news. The animals' escalating aggression was troubling, He exchanged a worried glance with the other villagers, their faces etched with concern.
"Kakao* Please help with the other animals. I will handle Veer and Bhadra," Arjun requested, his voice urgent.
A man with weathered skin, a testament to a life spent toiling under the sun, stepped forward. "We will handle them. Go to Veer and Bhadra because Only you can calm them right now in the absence of Bhima bhai*" he affirmed, his tone firm with resolve.
As the villagers rushed to contain the rioting animals, Arjun led the way towards the livestock pen, his steps quick "Let's go," he said,
At the east point where the defense walls meet the mountain, we can see a pen with few animals in it In this particular pen, reserved for the village's most prized animals, such as the village chief's horse Tazri and her children, the strongest bulls Veer and Bhadra and a small baby elephant Gajraj .
At the pen, Arjun found his grandfather Bhima's disciple, Tej, already at work, struggling to calm the agitated animals. Tej, though well-trained by Bhima, seemed overwhelmed by the unprecedented situation.
"Tej, I came to help," Arjun said, his voice calm and steady. listening to the familiar voice Tej said "you go to veer and Bhadra I will handle Tazri. Also make them take the calming herb—they are under the table there."
"Okay" Arjun replied as he approached Veer and Bhadra, speaking softly and moving slowly "now now my friends. It's me, Arjun. Here, have some of this tasty herb," he coaxed.
"MMMOOO-khud" The bulls' eyes were wild, their muscular legs and hooves hitting the ground with enough force to crush bones, but Arjun's presence seemed to have a calming effect. After some efforts He gently stroked their heads, murmuring reassurances "its okay now" until Veer and Bhadra began to settle.
Tazri, however, was still restless. Arjun and Tej worked together, burning a mixture of aromatic herbs known for their calming properties. Slowly, the horse's agitation diminished, and she began to respond to Tej's gentle commands.
After calming the animals, Arjun looked around to look at the foals* of Tazri and nearby pens to see if there was anything else to take care of and of course there was, nothing was going right.
"Hey, where's Gajju, guys? He's missing! find him" Arjun asked the other boys, his concern evident. The other boys scattered in search of the wayward baby elephant, "Gajraj! where are you, COME OUT."
Suddenly, a trumpeting cry pierced the air as Gajraj emerged from behind the water drinking tank, charging towards the entrance in a frenzy. Arjun's heart skipped a beat at the sight, the situation escalating with each passing moment. "Catch him quickly before he falls into a trap!" Arjun shouted, his urgency palpable.
Finally, after a frantic chase, and after all four boys jumped on Gajraj to hold him down, the boys managed to subdue Gajraj, bringing the wayward elephant under control.
" Huu You scared us you naughty boy" Arjun said, still panting from bringing the heavy elephant back to his pen. To which he only got a high-pitched squeal cry of frustration from the baby.
"YYOOUUU" Arjun angrily scolded the elephant but then softened his tone, realizing the baby was just as scared and confused as the rest of them. He gently patted Gajraj, murmuring soothing words to calm him down.
After the animals finally listened, Arjun and Tej prepared a special feed mixed with herbs to induce sleep. They carefully distributed the feed to all the animals, ensuring that each one received a dose. The soothing effects of the herbs began to take hold, and soon, a peaceful calm descended over the pens.
"Huff they sure know how to tire us out right, Tej"
"On that I agree with you, Arjun"
Their chatting went on for some time in the night, after finishing all the work. Finally got some time to rest. As he lay on his hay bed he slowly drifted off to sleep.
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The next morning, the village chief, Dinesh and other important members, standing at the square of the clearing were discussing the situation of the villagers.
"The clearing is filled with the pens for animals, the kitchen, the tool area, the square for the gathering and the storehouse. The living space that is left is only sufficient for approximately 30 people; the rest of 60 people have to cramp in the cave. The living space is not sufficient. We either have to increase the area the walls cover by destroying the old walls and building new ones or dig more space in the cave," reported a villager.
"I already knew overcrowding would happen. In the last eight years, our village has increased in both the population of its people and livestock," said an Elder with a sigh, dressed in only a dhoti, his upper half naked save for the pagadi on his head.
Another elder suggested, "Still, we ought to do something. Our people can manage with each other right now, but" — he stopped to get everyone's attention, and after confirming it was on him, he continued — "what if we have to stay here for long or come again in the near future? Or our children have to come in the far future? By that time, our village would have again increased in the population of both people and livestock."
Another villager asked, "What are we to do then? We can destroy the walls and increase the area, but what if the beasts attack at that time? We would have left a gate open for them to get in our home and eat our people behind our defense line."
"And if we try to dig and increase the cave, it's more labor-consuming and our tools would easily be destroyed in the process as they are not strong enough. After all this, the most important thing is that the chances of cave-in are high."
Chief Dinesh, till now listening to the people discussing, stayed still showing no expression on his face. Suddenly, he cut into their discussion. "We have to do something. It's a problem that has and will continue appearing in the future."
He paused, gathering attention. "We need a plan that ensures safety and maximizes our resources. Here's what we will do:"
Dinesh outlined his strategy, "First, we have to survey the cave to understand its structure and avoid any collapse. We will use the simplest tools we have—charcoal for marking, and our eyes and hands for measuring. Then, we will divide our people into shifts. Each shift will work for a few hours, ensuring that no one gets too tired and our progress is continuous."
He continued, "For the walls outside, we can wait until the beasts are least active. But inside the cave, we can start immediately."
"We will focus on soft rock and soil first, using wedges and wooden tools to split and remove them. For the harder rock, we will use fire to heat it and then water to cool it, making it easier to crack. Also, we are to use wooden beams to support newly excavated sections of the cave to prevent any collapse."
A murmur of agreement spread through the crowd. The chief's plan was practical and within their means.
"the cave had to be well-ventilated and lit, or we would die from the smoke and dust build ups " he added. "We will create small air shafts as we dig and use torches and oil lamps to light our way."
"And for debris, we'll use simple pulley systems and buckets to carry it out. The debris can be used to layer on the wall, and larger pieces can be used in the barricades to form a second barrier outside the walls."
"If we get suitable pieces for shields send them to the stone Smith, it can increase our combat power"
He looked at the gathered villagers. "This will be hard work, but it is necessary for our survival. We will do it together, for our and our children's future."
"For our and our children's future,"
"For our and our children's future," the villagers echoed, their morale boosted.
The villagers gathered inside the cave, their torches casting flickering shadows on the rough, uneven walls. The air was thick with the smell of earth and sweat. The cave, stretching 30 meters from the entrance to the end, 20 meters in width, and 14 meters in height, was both a sanctuary and a challenge.
Despite its size, the cave was crowded. Mats and hay beds with a cloth on it to not irritate the skin were spread out on the floor for sleeping, and makeshift partitions had been erected to provide some semblance of privacy for both women and men. The sound of murmured conversations and the occasional cry of a child filled the air, blending with the rhythmic clinking of tools against stone.
At the far end of the cave, a group of villagers was hard at work. They had divided into shifts, as the chief had instructed, and now labored with a sense of urgency. The tools they used were simple but effective: wooden wedges, stone hammers, and chisels made from bone and flint.
Arjun worked in a pair with an older villager, holding a chisel while the man struck it with a hammer, chipping away at the softer rock. Nearby, a small fire crackled, its heat causing the harder rock to expand and crack.
Once the rock had cooled, another team would pour water over it, the sudden temperature change causing it to fracture further. The resulting debris was scooped into buckets and carried outside by the younger villagers, who sang work songs to keep their spirits high.
A group of women and older children were focused on creating air shafts. Using wooden beams and rope, they slowly and carefully removed sections of the ceiling, ensuring that the cave remained well-ventilated. The air inside the cave was already beginning to feel fresher, the new shafts allowing a gentle breeze to circulate.
In another section, men were setting up wooden supports, driving thick beams into the ground and securing them against the walls to prevent any cave-ins. They worked methodically, checking each beam for stability before moving on to the next.
Torches and oil lamps were strategically placed around the cave, their warm light illuminating the work areas. The flickering flames created a sense of movement, making the cavern feel alive with activity. Shadows danced on the walls, mimicking the tireless efforts of the villagers.
Arjun paused for a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow, glancing around the cave. He spotted Denesh walking through the cave, offering words of encouragement and advice. The chief's presence was a steadying force, reminding everyone of the importance of their work "one day I will surely surpass him".
A young boy approached the chief, holding out a simple drawing he had made with charcoal on a rock slab "Look, Chief, I drew the cave and where we're digging."
The chief knelt down, examining the drawing with a smile. "This is very good. It shows our progress. Keep it safe and redraw one at the end of the day so we know how much we've progressed. Then give it to the elders, and we will use it to plan our next steps."
The boy beamed with pride, and the chief ruffled his hair before standing and addressing the villagers. "You are all doing excellent work. Keep it up."
"Hahaha," the villagers laughed, their spirits lifted by the chief's encouragement.
The whole day, Arjun and the other villagers dug at the cave, Slowly but surely, the cave expanded. By the end of the day, they had managed to add nearly 4 meters to the length of the cave, offering more room for the growing community.
As night fell, The chief's plan had worked well, and the villagers had made significant progress. Tomorrow, they would continue their efforts, but for now, they could rest, knowing they had accomplished much.
The days went by peacefully and tiredly as every villager tried to support the work.
These days many animals have been found in the traps laid in the village and near the cave. A testimonial to the increased animal activity that endangers them in the end they all ended up helping them with their meat as nutrition, tendons and bones as weapons and tools .
Five days later, The cave had been extended by 15 meters in length, its full width providing much-needed space for the growing community.
"CHIEF, CHIEF!" a young boy screamed urgently as he ran from the cave to the clearing, alerting everyone outside.
The chief, who was listening to the nearby situation of their cave from the scouts, heard the boy's frantic call and saw his fearful urgency. He shouted, "What happened?"
The boy, breathless and just out of the cave, yelled at the top of his lungs, "The cave has collapsed near the east corner!"
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Bhai Means big brother. it can either be your real brother or just a friend
Foals are the children of a horse
Kakao
As already said kaka is a respectful way to address someone in villages and adding the 'oo' sound means we are addressing a group of them like, Arjun was addressing the people sitting near the campfire.
You could use it with Dada ji like Dadao meaning a group of grandfather aged people as we say Dada ji to any in that age group.
Of course you don't have that many grandfathers right.