Ride Home With The Tantric – Part 2 [Abhiram]

Uncle Abhiram was miffed at the pompous old guru, sitting easily in the carriage, undermining the lord commander at every opportunity. He, too, was getting old, but he still had his marbles where they belonged. At present, though, he did not want the old bastard to spoil his mood. So, Uncle Abhiram decided to engage in some friendly banter with the northern youth, who joined them for the rest of the journey.

"So lads, tell me about yourselves. Are you all training to be Tantrics?" He asked the tantric apprentices riding after him. They all nodded, unsure if they dared speak to the Rakhtaprastha commander.

"Cat got your tongue, lads?" He bellowed.

A high-pitched voice immediately sputtered, "Yes, sir! I mean, no, sir! I mean, yes, we are all training to be Tantrics. With the North Guild, sir!"

The commander sent a furtive glance to the clutch of chickens following him. "Good. Do not let the young prude work you too much, understand?" He spoke of their tantric mentor, who was out of the earshot, riding at the very back of the convoy alongside Surya. There were a few sniggers at the Commander's remark. Abhiram had seen the dark, young man sparring with his nephew the day before. Little martial talent, he had concluded of the tantric, with decent tantric skills.

"This is our first expedition." The same high-pitched voice chirped, emboldened. His candor was met with some side-eyes from his peers.

"What is your name, boy?"

"Alok, Sir!"

"What about your friends?" One by one, the remaining four tantric apprentices introduced themselves. There was Raag; there was Rig; and there was little Tilak, a mere child of ten. Raag and Rig were brothers. All four hailed from different provinces, seeking to train under the same guild. The practice of accepting trainees from all kingdoms was common for the Tantric Guild of the North, which housed the greatest Tantric guild of the entire land of Asaya. Despite the public rejection of Tantra, the people privately held it in great admiration. It was not an honorable trade, but it was a lucrative one.

"So, tell me, lads, what did you like the most about this journey?"

"The food, Sir!" Alok's voice rang again with excitement. He was turning out to be the most talkative of this lot. "There was fish, lots of it, and rabbits, and ducks, even. And so many types of fruits. And sweets, Sir. We even packed some for the road!"

"Alok!" Rig cut in, gently warning the tattler.

"Now, now. Not to worry. Your master will not hear of this." Uncle Abhi reconciled, sneaking a look at their master. "Say lads, how is the north now? I have not been there in some time. Are you lot doing all right, at the guild?"

The question was somewhat tricky, and the lads did not know what the right answer was. At last, it was Rig, who responded, "Yes, Commander, Sir. The guild is doing quite well by virtue of Prince Drishtiman's generosity."

"Ah, yes. I heard he took up the practice of Tantra." The commander remarked with a hint of jeer. "Say lads, when we get to the next town, Kurnool, I will treat you all to a feast, all right? It will have the same fares of the south. Sound good?"

"That is so generous, Commander, Sir. We are all very thankful!" Alok's face was beaming with a huge smile.

After a brief quiet moment, the commander asked, "What about you, Rana? You grew up in Rakhtaprastha, right?"

"Yes, Knight Commander, Sir. But, I was born in Shivalikaksha, a village near Yamani,….I meant Jivani! Parents then traveled to Kundali for work when I was little." His little slip-up flustered him. But the commander took no notice.

"Ah, from the East! How I miss the East! The snowy mountains, the blue skies, soft green grass, the sparkling rivers…..Ah the East! Do you still visit your land, boy?"

"Not very much. Last time I went was two years ago." Officer Rana smiled at the thought of his grandma there and his eastern sweetheart.

"Ah, good. Tell me, Officer, does it still rain a lot? I remember I was there, what, fifteen years ago? And there were enormous amounts of rain, and it flooded the valley! We got on boats and rowed around the valley anyway! HAHAHA!" came a boisterous laugh from the commander, at his own jest. The Rakhtaprastha forces had to abandon the campaign eventually because the battlefield was flooded.

Rana smiled uncertainly and then responded to his question, "It does not rain as much now, Sir. But you can still row a boat around the lakes, see the beautiful hills and the gardens in the valley."

"Next time you go, I come with you. What do you say?"

"It will be a great honor, Commander, Sir!" His grandmother would be thrilled if he told her the great Warrior Prince of Rakhtaprastha was to be her guest!

"Do you know that song of the East, lad?"

"Which song, Sir?"

"The flower and the sun."

"I do, Sir. But I would rather that you sing since I do not have a voice for singing, and I have heard you do."

"Ah lad, you trick the old man, huh? Okay. I will, then, if it helps pass the time. Ahem.

"By the river of Bramha, in the valley of roses,

A little Lily grows, quiet and slow.

She opens her eyes and looks at the sky,

An azure blanket with a sunny glow.

She looks around to find the roses,

And the little birds chirping on the trees,

She looks around to find the river,

And the green fields, swaying in the breeze.

"Where are my friends?" she says to herself,

"Why does no one look like me?"

The sun comes up, with its golden rays,

"Hello, little friend," he says to Lily.

The lily asks the sun "Where are my friends?"

"Why am I the lonely one?"

The Sun tells her, "I will be your friend,

As I am also the only one" ...

The commander suddenly raised his right hand to halt the rest of the party. "Something is not right. Lads, be ready to race your horses."

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