5."Whispers in the Wind: Unveiling Hidden Truths"

Once, a wise person said, "Time is like a river." That means time keeps flowing, like water in a river always moving. It carries memories from before and chances for what's next, making our lives change as it flows. Just like that, five years flow—winters come and go, summers bloom and fade away.

In the royal garden of Vidarbha, there's a special sight: a five-year-old child with a glowing face and wise eyes. His black hair shines like sunlight, and his smile is so pure it lights up everything around him. He moves gracefully, like he's dancing.

He's playing a magical flute that fills the air with beautiful music. It's like nothing anyone has ever heard before, touching hearts and making birds fly happily in the sky. Even animals feel peaceful and sleep soundly.

As the sun rises, the child looks up with wonder, and his music seems to make everything around him come alive. It's a moment that reminds us of the beauty and magic in the world, all thanks to the innocence of a child.

But don't make a mistake—he is not Krishna but the second prince of Vidarbha and the third child of King Bhismaka, named 'Avalok.' He is playing his celestial flute. There are rumors going around that he is an avatar of some kind of god, but no one knows for sure. People also say that he is not a normal child, with many kinds of rumors about him spread across the Vidarbha kingdom.

**Avalok's POV:**

After playing my flute for some time and seeing the sun rise, I sit under the mango tree. When I first started to play the flute, my mother Meera asked me where I got this flute. I couldn't say that this is my soul-bound artifact, so I just innocently said,

"Mother, when we went to the Mahadev temple, some mysterious Sage came and gave me this flute and said it was my destiny to have it, child."

Hearing this, I think she actually believed it, after which she said,

"Avalok, you can't take something from strangers. First, you have to tell me or your father, and don't take something again, okay?"

"Okay mother," I smile and respond innocently. Now, back to the present,

"It's been five years, huh? Time really flows quickly. After I read the God's letter, I started to practice my powers. For the first two years, I just practiced my Psionic Abilities and started harnessing energies around me. When I turned three, I began practicing Karmic Absorption, Ethereal Weaponry, Harmonic Resonance, Dreamwalking, and Divine Sight secretly. But after three years of practice, I can only use a little bit of my power. It's all because of that idiot God who locked my abilities. Huh, at least I can beat a group of dogs."

Just as I am thinking all of this, I hear a young girl's voice shouting my name.

"Avalok, Avalok, where are you?" she said. "Slow down, Princess."

"Yes, please slow down, Princess Rukmini," another girl, or should I say girls, said. "I am here, sister, under the mango tree."

Yes, this is my big sister Rukmini, who is coming here with her friends. If you ask me if those girls are Rukmini's friends, then why are they calling her princess? Because even if they are friends, they are daughters of ministers or advisers, and Rukmini is the princess of the kingdom, so they can't call her name casually. Now, back to the point. When I told her where I was, she and her friends came and sat beside me.

If I have to describe her, I could say she has luminous, almond-shaped eyes that sparkle with intelligence and warmth. Her long, dark hair cascades in gentle waves, framing her delicate face. Her lips are often depicted with a soft, captivating smile, radiating kindness and inner strength. She carries herself with poise and grace, exuding an aura of divine beauty and elegance. Her traditional attire typically consists of richly adorned garments that highlight her regal stature and timeless charm. She is worthy to be my sister.

She asked me, "What are you doing here this early in the morning?"

"I just came to play the flute and see the sunrise. What about all of you? What are you doing here?" I asked.

"We have come to collect flowers for Shiva puja. Anyway, did you eat anything? It is necessary for children of your age to eat from time to time," she replied.

"Yes, Prince Avalok, Princess is right. Here, take these apples and eat," one of Rukmini's friends, Nitya, daughter of Vikram, my father's adviser, said.

'You are also a little girl, sister. And for you, girl Nitya, where the heck did you carry the apple basket?' I thought.

"Thank you," I took the apple and said to her.

Now, you are wondering where is my dear brother, Rukmi. So, he is in gurukul. There is a rule that every kshatriya aged eight to twelve has to go to gurukul for guidance. If someone doesn't understand what gurukul means, let me tell you. Gurukul is a traditional school system to receive education in various subjects including martial arts, statecraft, philosophy, and other skills necessary for their role as warriors and rulers in society. That's why he didn't come with us. I also have to go to gurukul when I turn eight, but I am not going there. I have other plans for my studies.

"What do you think, Prince?" Just as I was pondering all of this, Nitya asked me something.

"About what?" I asked her, confusedly.

"You don't know the rumored story, so let me tell you. I heard from my mother that in Vrindavan, villagers were preparing grand offerings for Lord Indra. Then, a mischievous child came and started to question the necessity of these rituals. He said that it was Govardhan Parvat, the mighty mountain, that provided them with fertile soil, lush pastures, and abundant resources, which truly deserved their worship and gratitude. And the most surprising thing is, after hearing what that boy said, the villagers started to honor Govardhan Parvat instead of Lord Indra. My mother said that this decision angered Indra, who felt insulted and disrespected. In his fury, Indra unleashed his wrath upon Vrindavan, sending thunderstorms, lightning, and torrential rains to flood the village. Then, to save the villagers, that boy lifted Govardhan Parvat with the little finger of his left hand. The villagers and their livestock sought shelter under the massive mountain as that boy held it aloft. But you wouldn't believe what I heard next. Mother said, for seven days and seven nights, that boy stood beneath the towering Govardhan Parvat, shielding the villagers from the fury of Indra's storms, and atop that, Lord Indra came and asked for forgiveness," Nitya said.

"And you believe in that?" another girl asked Nitya, to which Nitya replied, "No, but that's what rumors people are talking about."

"I think it might be true," Rukmini said. I could see something in her eyes. When we first started to hear rumors about Krishna, I felt something happening in her heart. I think it is the first sparkle of love.

"Why do you think it is true, sister?" I asked her curiously.

"I just feel it is true," she said. Huh, I see, I thought.

"Speaking of which, I also heard about Kuru and Pandu princes. They are popular and powerful," Nitya said. Hearing this, another girl said, "But I heard Kuru princes are arrogant and they don't like normal people."

Hearing all of this, I subconsciously and suddenly commented:

"In this world, there exist hidden gems of unparalleled power and brilliance, obscured from the spotlight by the shadows of anonymity. These unsung heroes, with minds sharper than a Damascus blade and hearts brimming with untapped potential, often dwell in the realms of obscurity, their greatness concealed from the gaze of the world.

Yet, amidst the countless narratives lost in the whispers of time, there are those rare souls who dare to step into the limelight, only to find themselves entangled in the cobwebs of indifference and overlooked by the gaze of recognition. Despite their extraordinary talents and unwavering dedication, they remain relegated to the sidelines, their brilliance overshadowed by the cacophony of mediocrity.

It is a lamentable truth that many of these remarkable individuals never receive the recognition and acclaim they rightfully deserve. Their voices, like echoes in the wilderness, go unheard, their contributions lost in the annals of anonymity. But hidden beneath the surface of society lies a reservoir of untapped potential, waiting to be unearthed and celebrated.

For in the depths of obscurity, amidst the whispers of the overlooked, lie the unsung champions of our world—forgotten but not forsaken, unnoticed but not unappreciated. It is in their stories that the true essence of human resilience and ingenuity is found, a testament to the indomitable spirit that resides within each and every one of us."

After I said those words, everyone looked at me as if I was something out of the world. "Avalok," that time, I heard a heavy and strong voice. Shit, did he just hear what I said? I thought. Then, I looked in the direction where that voice came from and saw a man standing there, looking at me lovingly. He was wearing royal attire. Seeing him, I stood and started to run in his direction, saying, "Father." He opened his arms and caught me. Then he asked, "Avalok, where did you learn to talk like this? Who taught you?" Shit, I thought. Then, making an innocent face, I said, "I don't know, Father, it just came to my head." Hearing what I said, he started to think. After some time, he looked at all of us and said, "Okay, let's go to the Mahadev temple, Avalok. Mother is waiting for us." Then, he looked at me and said, "Avalok, we are going to Hastinapur tomorrow."

"Why?" I asked him, and he replied, "There is a meeting between neighboring kingdoms in Hastinapur about territory and trades."

"But why am I coming with you?" I asked him, confusingly, to which he said, "Because you've never gone out of the kingdom since you were born, so this is a good experience for you."

"Okay," I replied. Then we made our way to the Mahadev temple, where my mother taught me some mantras and prayers. All that time, I was thinking about what new adventures awaited me.

(Words count:1752)