journey to the origin of the sandal river

“sasi, have you ever been to the origin of sandal river in the Ghats?” asked baba.

“no baba, heard it will be like heaven.”

“yes, we are going there today, I would want you to have a look of our land from above”

 The sandal river flowed through the dense woods of the Ghats to the west of attarabad.  Ghats formed a natural barrier to the land of 18 towns. The woods had a rich and diversified fauna and flora. All the herbs of medicinal value, including the mayaloki grew there, the juice of which was believed to make one, immortal. Not anyone can get to become an immortal by having mayaloki, only those yogis who had a control over their body could consume that. On hearing that they are going to go to the Sandal River's origin made Sasimaraa to get so much excited.  He also wanted to collect some mayaloki juice for poochi, so that he would become immortal and be with him all the time. 

The path to the Sandal River's origin was so grueling. It was full of thorns and stones that could make one’s feet, a minced meat. After trekking and trailing along the path of the river for a whole day, starting at the dawn, the guru and the sisya reached the crooked valley, where the river formed the great lake of the Ghats. They are now almost half the way to the origin of the sandal river.

“What is so special about the sandal river? Why can’t we have the lessons right there in the temple. This old wise man… arrgh.. This thing is killing me…” Sasi could not stop cursing Baba for putting him under such a grueling task. But the view from the lake was exceptional and mesmerizing. The whole of attarabad and sandal river flowing through the fertile plains was exhilarating. Sasi thought that never can there be another land so beautiful like his.

They made a camp fire and decided to pass the night at the lake shore and set out next morning. Baba took his bamboo walker and sharpened it like a spear.

“Whoosh” Baba’s walker-turned-spear tore apart the still water of the lake and went deep in like a missile. After awhile the bamboo spear came up floating with a trout fish at the tip. Sasi was amazed at the accuracy of his toothless guru. Maybe his mouth is toothless but his deeds are not.  Having had a nice catch and a fine feast both of them crashed out on the lake shore. Sasi kept staring at the stars. He started wondering how the samurai school will be, if the training to be in such a school itself is so arduous. Nevertheless, he has already made up his mind to go there by any means!

The chilly zephyr kept flowing over his face every once in a while, Interrupting his vista, like a commercial break in a soap! The eerie night passed on like a breeze and sun came up coloring the sky with a crimson red hue, the reflection of which made the entire lake appear like a sea of vermillion trapped between the peaks of the Ghats!

“wake up little samurai, we have to travel a lot”

Sasi was very pleased to hear his guru call him a samurai. “This place is really a heaven Baba and if I have someone like you, to catch and cook a trout feast, I wound not want to go anywhere.” quipped Sasi.

“Look at the samurai who can’t hunt his own trout! What a shame! ” baba laughed out loud and jabbed sasi with his walker, and he started walking down to the lake to refresh himself. “Whoosh” passed the same spear and came out with another trout. This time it was sasi! The hours of practice at night did pay off now! Expecting a rewarding comment from his guru he took out the spear from the lake.

“Not bad, you could pass for a samurai maidservant” Baba quipped with a sly smile at sasi. anyone could've seen that recognising looks in the eyes of the guru, but his words were carefully minted out to mock his disciple to keep him down on earth. After finishing the meal they both set out to walk the other half distance to the origin of Sandal River.