Chapter-2 The End

"I guess I was at peace now. That was all I wanted. Even in my death there was nobody their for holding my arms. I guess the fault was mine to begin with....."

At the moment the clock strikes to 12 am

Dhruv mind flown through these thoughts..

Dhruv felt lighter than ever before, as though the weight of the world had finally released its grip on him. But instead of falling into the darkness of death, he found himself rising, as if carried by an unseen current. The world around him blurred, fading into a soft haze of light, and the pain, once so sharp, began to melt away.

He wasn't sure what was happening. Was this death? It didn't feel like the end he had imagined. There was no darkness, no silence—only this strange, warm light that seemed to surround him, lifting him higher and higher. He looked around, but there was nothing familiar. The ground beneath him had vanished, replaced by an endless expanse of glowing mist, and above him, the light grew brighter, more radiant.

"Where am I?" Dhruv whispered, his voice barely audible. The question echoed in his mind, but there was no answer. Only the light, guiding him upward, pulling him toward something unknown. He wanted to resist, to understand, but the pull was too strong, too gentle, and he found himself surrendering to it, letting it carry him away.

As he ascended, the light began to shift, taking form around him. In the distance, he could see something shimmering on the horizon, something vast and golden. It wasn't like anything he had ever seen—more like a vision from a dream than anything real. The light gathered around it, swirling in soft patterns, and as Dhruv drew closer, he realized it was a place, a realm that seemed to float in the sky, far beyond anything he had known.

The air here was different—crisp, pure, filled with an energy that vibrated with life. The golden light bathed everything in a warm glow, and as Dhruv neared the gates of this mysterious realm, he felt a strange mix of awe and confusion. He didn't understand what he was seeing. Was this… heaven? Was this where souls went when they left the world behind? It didn't feel like the heaven he had imagined—there were no angels, no choirs of voices welcoming him. Only this silent, golden realm, stretching out into infinity.

The gates loomed before him, massive and ornate, carved with symbols that seemed both familiar and foreign. He hovered there, suspended in the light, unsure of what to do, unsure of what was happening to him. Was he supposed to go through? Was this his final destination, or just another step on a journey he didn't yet understand?

"What is this place?" Dhruv wondered, his thoughts swirling in the light. There were no answers, only the quiet, endless expanse of the realm before him. It felt peaceful here, almost too peaceful, as if the very air was infused with a kind of stillness he had never known.

He hesitated, trying to grasp what was happening, but the answers eluded him. The golden light seemed to beckon him forward, drawing him toward the gates, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something—some crucial piece of understanding that was just out of reach.

He felt both lost and found, suspended between two worlds, unable to fully comprehend where he was or what was waiting for him beyond the gates. But despite the confusion, there was no fear, no pain—only the soft pull of the light, urging him forward into this strange, ethereal realm.

And so, with a deep breath, Dhruv let himself drift closer to the gates of Vaikuntha, still uncertain, still searching for answers, but no longer resisting. Whatever awaited him there, he knew it was beyond anything he had ever known. And though he didn't understand, he couldn't help but feel that he was exactly where he was meant to be.

Dhruv stood before the gates of Vaikuntha, bathed in golden light, feeling lighter than ever before. The serene calm of this place enveloped him, but alongside it, confusion stirred. This wasn't what he had expected—death, it seemed, was not an end, but a new beginning. Yet something felt incomplete. 

Dhruv found himself standing in a realm so beautiful that it felt almost unreal. The soft golden glow of the skies above stretched infinitely, with hues of pink and purple merging in a seamless dance of light. Fluffy clouds floated gently, as if they were cushions placed by celestial hands, drifting lazily across the horizon. In the distance, towering mountains sparkled with crystalline peaks that shimmered like diamonds. Rivers of pure, glowing water flowed through the lush, emerald-green meadows, creating soothing melodies as they cascaded over rocks and danced beneath bridges of shimmering gold.

He slowly sank to the ground, feeling the soft, velvety grass beneath his hands. It was as if the earth itself welcomed him, cradling him with warmth. Dhruv gazed around, taking in every detail—the flowers that seemed to bloom in perfect harmony, their petals glowing with a soft luminescence, and the trees that bore fruits of every imaginable color, their branches swaying gently in an unseen breeze.

Everything here was serene, peaceful, perfect. Too perfect.

"Is this really the end?" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible against the gentle hum of the realm. The beauty of Vaikuntha overwhelmed him, but it also confused him. Could this truly be his final resting place? He had imagined death as an ending, a void—but this? This felt like a dream, a paradise beyond comprehension.

Yet, despite the beauty that surrounded him, a lingering unease settled in his heart. Was this where his journey was meant to end? Or was there something more?

But something was missing.

There was no one else here—no people, no animals, no movement beyond the gentle swaying of the trees. The silence was almost overwhelming, as if the entire realm had been hushed just for him. No voices called out in greeting, no birds chirped, no footsteps echoed. Only the distant, rhythmic sound of the ocean waves filled the air, rolling in and out like a soft heartbeat, far off yet ever-present.

Dhruv listened to the waves, their gentle song the only companion in this vast, empty paradise. Despite the elegance and serenity of Vaikuntha, he felt an odd sense of loneliness creep in. Where was everyone? Shouldn't this divine place be teeming with life, with the souls of those who had transcended?

He sat there, staring into the endless expanse, the ocean's melody washing over him as he questioned once more, "Is this really the end?"

As Dhruv sat there lost in his thoughts, the soft sound of the ocean was suddenly interrupted by an unfamiliar voice from behind him. It was calm, yet carried a certain playful warmth.

"Do you eat bananas?"

Startled, Dhruv quickly turned around, his eyes widening as they settled on the figure standing just a few feet away. The man before him was unlike anyone he expected to meet in this divine realm. He wasn't adorned with the ornaments of gods, nor did he exude the aura of celestial beings. Instead, he looked strikingly ordinary, yet mysterious. He wore a long coat over a suit, the sharp lines of his attire contrasting with the serene backdrop of Vaikuntha. His face was calm, with a faint smile playing on his lips, and his eyes sparkled with a light that seemed far too knowing.

Dhruv blinked, taken aback by the odd question. He had been expecting something profound, perhaps a revelation, but this… this was strange. "Bananas?" Dhruv repeated, his confusion evident.

The man nodded, his smile growing slightly. "Yes, bananas. Do you like them?".

The man standing before Dhruv exuded an air of quiet confidence, blending effortlessly with the tranquility of Vaikuntha. His appearance was peculiar for this ethereal place—a stark contrast to the divine surroundings. He had a tall, slender frame, draped in a perfectly tailored, charcoal-black suit that accentuated his sharp shoulders and long limbs. Over the suit, he wore a flowing, knee-length coat that flared slightly as the gentle breeze played with its edges. The coat was a deep shade of midnight blue, almost blending with the sky above.

His hair was neatly combed back, revealing a high forehead, and his skin had a soft, golden hue, not quite human, but not fully divine either. His eyes were the most captivating feature—dark, almost black, yet gleaming with a hidden depth of wisdom and mischief. They held a gaze that seemed to pierce through time itself, ancient yet full of curiosity.

His face was clean-shaven, with strong, angular features softened by a subtle smile that hinted at a knowledge far beyond the mundane. A simple watch adorned his wrist, glinting subtly in the golden light, and he carried himself with an ease that seemed out of place in such a divine realm, yet fitting in a way Dhruv couldn't quite grasp.

Despite his ordinary attire, there was something undeniably otherworldly about him—a presence that commanded attention, not through force but through the sheer weight of his being. As Dhruv stared at him, he couldn't help but feel that this man, though disguised in simplicity, was anything but ordinary.

The man's smile widened, a playful glint flashing in his mysterious eyes as he tilted his head slightly. "Don't you like bananas?" he asked, his voice calm yet carrying a subtle, teasing tone. "What type of human are you, huh?" His question hung in the air, absurdly casual for such a divine setting.

Dhruv blinked, utterly confused by the man's words. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. In a place so serene, where he was expecting answers to the great mysteries of life, this strange figure was asking him about bananas.

Dhruv hesitated, glancing around to see if anyone else was witnessing this bizarre exchange, but there was no one—no people, no animals, only the soft, rhythmic sound of the ocean waves in the distance. His mind, already overwhelmed by the beauty and surreal nature of Vaikuntha, now struggled to comprehend this strange encounter.

The man in the long coat leaned in closer, his smile widening as he held out a perfectly ripe banana. "One banana won't hurt your stomach, right? Just take it." His voice was light, almost coaxing, as if he were trying to convince Dhruv of something far more significant than just eating fruit.

Dhruv stared at the banana, feeling a growing sense of unease mixed with confusion. In the midst of this ethereal, serene landscape, where nothing made sense anymore, this small gesture seemed even more surreal. He glanced up at the man, trying to read his expression, but the man's face remained kind and unreadable, as though he were enjoying some private joke.

Dhruv took a hesitant bite of the banana, his mind still swirling with confusion. The man watched him with a faint smile, his eyes betraying an ancient wisdom that felt out of place with his modern attire. As Dhruv chewed, the taste of the banana was surprisingly sweet, almost comforting in the strange stillness of Vaikuntha.

The man, still standing behind Dhruv, tilted his head curiously. "How did you end up here, boy?" His voice was soft but carried a strange weight, as though he already knew the answer but wanted Dhruv to say it aloud.

Dhruv, swallowing the last bit of banana, turned slightly to glance at the mysterious man. His mind flashed back to the village, to the moments that led him here. The memories were scattered, like pieces of a puzzle he couldn't quite put together. Dhruv finally said, his voice uncertain. "I was in a village. But... now I'm here."

Dhruv finished the banana, the sweetness lingering on his tongue as he stood in the vast emptiness of Vaikuntha. The silence, the sound of the distant ocean, the beauty of the world around him—it all felt surreal, as if he had stepped into a dream. Yet, the presence of the strange man behind him brought a grounding sense of reality.

He turned fully to face the man, his brows furrowed in confusion. The man's calm demeanor, the elegance of his long coat and suit, and the warmth in his eyes made Dhruv feel both at ease and unnerved. Finally, unable to hold back the questions any longer, Dhruv asked, his voice tentative but curious:

"What is this place? And who... who are you?"

The man smiled, a serene expression crossing his face as he looked at Dhruv. His eyes gleamed with an ancient wisdom, as though they had seen countless lifetimes. He clasped his hands behind his back, taking a few steps forward to stand beside Dhruv. They both gazed out at the peaceful expanse of Vaikuntha, the sound of the ocean still gently filling the air.

"This place," the man began, his voice soothing yet mysterious, "is a realm of beauty and peace, far beyond the worries of the world you've known. It is a sanctuary for those who have walked difficult paths, a place where the burdens of life can be set aside."

Dhruv listened carefully, his confusion growing. "But why am I here? How did I get to this... place?"

The man smiled again, though this time with a hint of mischief. "You're here because you were meant to be, though your journey is far from over. As for me, I'm just someone who watches over those who wander into such places."

Dhruv studied the man's face, trying to decipher the hidden meaning behind his words, but no clear answers emerged. The man's presence was comforting, yet Dhruv couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than he let on.

"Is this really the end for me?" Dhruv asked, his voice almost a whisper.

The man chuckled softly, his laughter like a gentle breeze. "Endings and beginnings—they're often intertwined, wouldn't you say? Perhaps this is not the end, but just another part of your journey."

The man in the long coat and suit looked at Dhruv with a curious expression. "So," he began casually, "why do you have so many arrows piercing through your back?"

Dhruv was taken aback, his eyes widening in confusion. He instinctively reached behind him, feeling nothing but the smooth skin of his back. "Arrows? I don't have any arrows in my back," he said, puzzled.

The man's eyebrows arched in surprise, as if he was expecting a different response. "Are you sure? I could have sworn I saw them. Perhaps it was a trick of the light or an illusion."

Dhruv shook his head, trying to make sense of the man's words. "No, I don't have any arrows. I'm not even sure what you mean."

The man nodded slowly, as if considering Dhruv's response. "Interesting," he said thoughtfully. "Sometimes, the wounds we carry are not always visible, but they can still affect us deeply. Maybe the arrows are a metaphor for something you're struggling with internally."

With a fluid, graceful motion, the man raised his hand and traced an intricate pattern in the air. Slowly, as if drawn by an unseen force, images began to materialize before Dhruv. In the shimmering air, arrows appeared, their shafts and tips clearly defined. They seemed to hover just above Dhruv's back, each one piercing through his form as if capturing a frozen moment in time. The arrows glowed with an ethereal light, casting a soft radiance on the surrounding scenery.

Dhruv stared in awe and confusion, his hand instinctively reaching out toward the illusions. "How... how is this possible? I don't see any arrows in reality."

The man maintained his calm demeanor, a subtle smile playing on his lips. "Sometimes, what you see is not always a reflection of reality, but rather a manifestation of your inner struggles or perceptions. These arrows, though invisible to you, symbolize the burdens and challenges you might be carrying within."

Dhruv's eyes widened as he watched the arrows float and shift, the magical display creating an eerie, yet mesmerizing effect. "But why show me this? What does it mean for me?"

The man's expression grew more thoughtful. "It's a reminder that even if you don't perceive your wounds or struggles directly, they can still impact you profoundly. Recognizing and addressing them is a part of the journey you must undertake."

Dhruv reached out to touch the glowing arrows, but his fingers passed through them as if they were mere illusions. "But why can't they be removed? Why are they stuck like this?"

The man's gaze softened. "These arrows are not meant to be removed. They are a part of your journey, a testament to the struggles and experiences that have shaped you. Understanding and accepting them is more important than trying to erase them."

Dhruv's mind raced with questions as he absorbed the magical display and the man's cryptic answers. The arrows, floating before him in their surreal elegance, seemed to be a bridge between his past struggles and the enigmatic journey ahead. The realization that these symbols of pain could not be removed, only acknowledged, added a layer of depth to his understanding of the place he had found himself in.

 - To be continued