GUHAS MYTHIC ADVENTURES

P.S. Raakhee Chapter 1 (Sample Chapter) GUHAS SOLAR SOJOURN Guha Shivkumar was the only 10-year-old who wasnt celebrating that Holy Day the start of the two-month long summer vacation. What did he have to look forward to? No trip to the rabbitwarren like ancestral home in Tirunelveli that was a pilgrimage centre for the whole nation because Shakti pati who was a powerful miracle worker (although he had heard his parents berate her as a witch and charlatan) was no more. No MENSA summer camp because Rajani aunty had told his parents he needed time to grieve and most irritating no time with his parents because they were extra busy in their private medical practice in the summer months and only the Tamil-soap loving Ganga ayah for company. What had he done to offend his Shakti patis favourite Gods for this hat trick of woes that had befallen him! What kind of a miracle worker was she if she couldnt prevent her own death? While his van mates shouted Happy Holidays at random strangers from the windows to celebrate the start of the summer vacations Guha moped in the corner till it was his turn to get off. He barely responded to the cries of Happy Holidays from the others as he trudged out, for a change unburdened by the ubiquitous heavy backpack. No books to carry on the last day of school! *** The busy medical practitioners Drs. Gauri and Shiv Kumar were out of the house at seven-thirty the first day of the summer holidays despite it being a Sunday. There was a CME programme they just couldnt miss. But they had woken up their son and broke fast with him. Not that it was a favour Guha appreciated. Whoever would be up, bathed, dressed and breakfasted early on a Sunday morning that too on the first official day of the summer vacation. His woes seemed endless. Ganga ayah was already glued to the TV set. There was a Rajnikanth movie that she wanted to see for what seemed to be the 100th time. Glumly Guha climbed up to the terrace. With his cheeks in his hands he sat on the terrace parapet going over the many misfortunes that has befallen him since Shakti patis death after a lingering cold that turned out to be pneumonia had snatched her away six months ago on Halloween. Suddenly he heard a voice calling his name. He had thought he was alone. Turning around he saw that indeed he was alonewho had called? Just then he felt it get extra hot. Thinking that a cloud had moved off the Sun, Guha looked up and lo behold! What did he see? It looked to be a comet heading straight for him. But it wasnt, within seconds he realized the unbelievable had

happened. He could see a large golden chariot drawn by seven fiery and swift horses appear beside his terrace parapet. Hello Guha, recognise me? Suryadev at your service at your patis request. Hop on abroad boy what you waiting for. I havent got all day, joked the radiant Sun god from the chariot. Guha remained stupefied in his perch. Getting impatient Lord Surya clicked his fingers and the next second Guha found himself on the chariot which was heading at super-sonic speed to its usual orbit. Well boy, your pati told me you could chew the ear off people. Why the dumb act? It seemed to be a rhetorical query when he answered himself, Of course its not every day that you hitch a ride with the Sun As Guha continued to watch the Sun god and his skyride dumbstruck Lord Surya continued. Did you know the last time someone accompanied me on my daily ride was Hanuman when he was a boy. I was his first teacher. Those were the days. Of course he fought off Rahu when it was time for a Solar eclipse. Rahu went and complained to Indira and Indira knocked the poor baby Hanuman down with his thunderbolt. After this monologue, it seemed Guha had finally found his tongue, Do you mean Lord Indira the King of the Gods. Ah, found your voice have you boy. Looks like your pati has told you about us. And yes Indira is the king of the Gods, or more rightly the king of heaven, smiled Surya as he twitched one unruly horse back in line. I thought Hanuman couldnt be hurt or defeated how could he be knocked off? Thats true but Hanuman got that boon only after this incident. As you can guess all hell broke loose when Hanuman was knocked senseless to the earth. His divine dad Lord Vayu was enraged. So was I. Hanuman was such an intelligent and entertaining little boy. And you know what Guha, youve been blessed with a great intellect as well. Youd better use it well. Your pati wants you to stop feeling sad and study well and most importantly have fun and be happy. Of course a bunch of us have been asked to come cheer you up and tell you more stories like the ones your Shakti pati used to tell from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and the Puranams. Guha smiled for the first time in months, Pati sent you, is she OK? I miss her. Shes fine Guha. Her time on earth was up. And Im sure she wouldnt have wanted to suffer. Shes one with the Supreme One my child. There is no better place my child. Guha blinked back tears even as he held onto the smile. So what did the wind god do when his son was knocked off?

Surya continued his tale, I may have a dysfunctional relationship with my sons Yama the god of death and Shani the god of reaction to action but I would have reacted the same way. Vayu sucked in all the air. He insisted that Hanuman be healed and as restitution that he be blessed with unique boons from the gods before Vayud allow another grass to be swayed by a breeze not to mention oxygen for creation. Thats how Lord Hanuman became Chiranjeevi the immortal and undefeated. Its high noon son, come have some food of the gods. My wife the beautiful Sanjana prepared it herself. You wont get this chance again. This is another favour to your devout pati. She was a great lady and youll achieve all that you were destined for if you but remember he sayings and advice. After an ambrosial lunch, Lord Surya dropped Guha back on the terrace at sunset. The moon god will drop by early tomorrow morning to continue your celestial journey. Good bye Guha, so saying the Sun god vanished. Ganga glued to an improbable shootout scene was clueless about Guhas sojourn across the skies. And what an adventure it was!