Quest and Crusade of Manu, The Final Crusade

Above are the earlier chapters. Do give them a glance! Catch up with the finale!

Chapter four : The Realisation

Manu wore the wolf’s pelt as an achievement.
With a single arm and scars on neck,
no one was to mess with him.
He passed many travellers, saw many tribes.
He rode on a lot of lands and stopped at many tribes.
He saw their fears, listened to their gods.
He ran into people who had different gods,
but he still did not reach even one single God.
He was fed up with the land and wished that there was a place.
A place with no soil but filled with waters.
He rode through instinct and followed the cool breeze.
He somehow believed that there was actually such a place.
It took months, and he finally saw something.
A mass filled with water and it was bigger than any river he saw.
He could not see the land at all.
It felt like land ended there,
and it was all water ever forth.
He got down his donkey and rushed at the waters.
He cleaned himself and yelled with joy.
He remained there for days, and he was finally at peace.
But he still didn’t know where the gods reside.
No soon did he ran into a wooden construction,
that was floating on water and bigger than any raft.
It had humans on it, and it wondered him more.
How many ways will us humans find,
before we found peace?
He held a huge stick and waved at the nearing ship.
His looks were scary, but his charm still was around.
They welcomed him aboard and treated him with drinks.
They spoke in one of the known languages,
and it was of a tribe that was dysfunctional.
Its members migrated and found many ways to live.
He told them he met their root tribe,
they were happy, but they called them fools with no brains.
For they have actually converted and started believing more.
Their gods are visible and do communicate with them.
Manu jumped with thrill and asked them to show.
The captain took Manu to the edge of the boat,
fingered towards the currents.
Water is God, the air is God,
the God is also fire and earth that we walk.
God is not something that is not there.
It is something that makes us live.
It feeds our stomachs and lets us live,
it makes our lives better than we need.
Manu was shocked, and he laughed.
He felt like he was filled
with the knowledge that he needs.
He spent a few months sailing with them,
salvaging the islands and sleeping on the decks.
But he dropped off with his donkey to set foot again.
For he was not a settler, and forward he began.
He passed a few tribes more and more,
he told them nature was the God.
Few hated him and kicked him out,
while a few started to understand.
He kept himself out of connections.
He never returned to any of those tribes.
Still wishing to confirm he kept on going north.
Ran into beasts, and threats of human beings.
No matter how north he went,
he only saw more beasts.
Beasts that hunted and killed,
humans that imitated beats.
Soon he reached the peak of land,
once again to the edge of waters.
He sat down to contemplate.
Cleaned his greying beard.
His skin grew pale, and wrinkles were his friends.
He knew his time has come,
and there was no stairway to heaven.
One more thing left for him to do,
he returned to his original tribe.
It grew big into a village,
and the priest was his younger brother.
The people recognised him so soon
and repelled through his coming back.
Questioned their faith and cursed them bad,
he put his answers right there.
He told them what’s right,
and the gods are fictional.
To pray what is visible and worship one and all.
His brother was so tough and challenged him to fight.
I’m no seeker of thrones,
for I have seen it all.
I have not come to sow my seeds,
it is just my duty.
My duty for you all,
my cousins and brothers.
For I will die, if you want,
be it last sacrifice.
His words were sharp and also was his charm.
The people saw his reason,
and half of them started believing.
He still did not stay and kept going on
for his mission to succeed.
He preached the words of a beautiful life,
and he spread harmony.
He was on his deathbed,
and he told this to me, his disciple,
these last words of life.

All my life, I had wandered,
tried to know it all.
In the quest of finding my God,
I have found several.
I have come to know that God
existed in us all.
In a search to find one,
I have met thousands of Gods.
I set foot to bring you all,
to bring the heavens on earth.
Look no high for the paradise,
as it lies in front of you all.
If it reflects the hell of below,
try to change it now.
Make your place a paradise,
for it actually exists nowhere.
My mission is to bring joy,
my God is the way of peace.

Epilogue

He never told his name,
or the name of his tribes.
I took the mission,
and made it mine.
For it is not wrong to spread the peace,
as hatred is rapid in spreading.
I do not worship him,
as he is not a god.
He was just a man like me,
a man who shared his questions,
for which he never found answers,
and no one ever will.
The questions still exist,
and make us always think.
For the first man of the reason he was,
I named him after the first man,
Manu; he is Manu of the reason.

Quest and Crusade of Manu, III

Chapter three: Confrontation with the demon

Click here for Quest and Crusade of Manu, Chapter One

Click here for Quest and Crusade of Manu, Chapter Two

Manas walked back as Manu saw a shadow.
Gulping his fear, he remained unmoved,
even when the shadow grew bigger and clear.
Never did he closehis eyes, they were so open.
Out came the beast with its sparkling red eyes.
Surprising to Manu, it was just a wolf.
But a wolf like he had never seen,
for it is so big and fierce.
Saliva dropped through its jaws, and its walk was weary.
Clearly, he can see that it has gotten a lot older.
Even being a wolf, it was big and full.
Maybe demons are just images of animals.
He sat on his knees and started looking at it.
O’ demon full of hunger,
have you ever seen God?
Is he cruel and bad for the deeds he had done?
Why the need to kill us all,
his dear creation.
Is it not best not to create us at all?
The beast was irked; close it came and growled so hard.
Neither did he fear nor did he hesitate,
answer me quickly before you eat, he yelled.
It irked it more and made it pounce on him.
Grabbing his neck, it dragged Manu,
as he screamed with the pain and bled through his throat.
Are you just a beast who has fully grown?
Will you do not die if I tried to kill?
He faintly asked before it chewed his arm.
The bite freed his arm, and he was quick on legs.
Picked up a stone and he pierced it in its eye.
Squealed the beast with bleeding eye,
And Manu knew that this was just an overgrown beast.
Numb felt his arm, but his neck was at pain.
Gathering his wits, he stabbed its other eye.
Angry but old, the creature pounced blind,
only to miss the target and become vulnerable.
Manu lifted a rock and smashed its head.
Crying with pain, he peeled its skin.
Cleaned his wounds and tied them with its hide.
Dragged it to the cart and started pushing it down.
He went down the hill, gathering his fainted breath.
He felt he was to faint and wise was his thought.
He kicked the cart hard and jumped on top of it.
Falling on the sliding carriage, he fainted out of mind.
The cart hit the gates of the tribe, and Manas saw it fall.
Opened his eyes in a medic’s hut, Manu saw the tribe,
that gathered him around.
The smile was there, and the love was spilling out.
They lifted him out and jumped with joy.
They called him the gift of God and worshipped him so.
They never listened to his words that said,
it was just a beast.

He was soon flowered with gifts,
offerings of food and pleasures.
He rejected them smoothly and hated their thought.
He knew it was mere luck, the beat grew old and weak.
In search of gods, he had become one.
But glad was he not for the holy treatment.
The prayers seemed blabber and the people so foolish.
You need not a god, but a hunter with a sword.
Taught them his skills, made them wooden swords.
He set foot once again to find his real questions.
True peace is what I look up to,
and not ignorant bliss.
I will remember you forever and ever,
for you have been more than my family.
He parted his ways and waved goodbyes.
He rode on the donkey, they also gifted him some rice.
He set foot once again, to quench his questions,
which just grew in number but not one solved.

The Divine Possession

The priest is walking back to his house. It’s midday, and the sun is burning his shaved head. He put his both palms on his head, trying to cover the heat. “We need more trees here” he thought and started walking quicker as his feet were burning too. He finally reached his home, which is in a spacious land, but a small cottage. It has a big lawn with a Tulsi plant in the middle. “Manga!” the priest called his wife out. There is a water drum placed outside the main door. The priest washed his feet, hands and head. His wife rushed out with a towel. “Where is Ambika?” asked the priest. “She is at Devi’s house, writing homework” Manga replied passing the sheet to him. The priest started rubbing his wet body and walked into the living room. He sat down, and Manga put a half torn banana leaf in front of him. He took some water into his hand dropped a few drops around the plate and chanted some mantras while Ambika walked in. He looked at Ambika leaving her slippers un-organised and coming in. “Wash your legs, fool!” he yelled. Ambika bit her tongue and went back to the veranda. She put her hands inside the tub and started playing with the water.

“Use a mug, Ambi” her mother yelled from inside. Ambika giggles and dipped all her hands inside the tub. She took a handful of water and looked at the mosquito larvae swimming around in the palmful of water. Manga peeped through the door and saw Ambika still playing with the drum; dipping her hands in. Manga started running towards Ambika; as soon as she reached Ambi, she spanked her so hard that Ambika fell on the ground. Manga did not intend to hit her that hard, she started trembling as Ambi is not moving. “Ayyo” Manga began to yell in a rather horrific way that made Seshulu jump. Seshulu left his plate and rushed to Manga. “Why is Ambi on the ground? What did you do?” he cried. “I don’t know dear. Please wake her up! Please do something!” Manga started moving back shaking. She did not want to see her daughter wounded or dead. She started regretting beating her. Seshulu bent closer to Ambi and held her both arms. “Ammulu, are you ok?” he asked, but there is no response. He turned her around, facing the sky and took some water from the tub. He sprinkled some drops on her face.

Ammulu opened her mouth and started making weird noises. Seshulu looked at his wife, Manga with a confused expression. “Ammulu” he called her and shook her to wake her up. Ammulu opened her eyes rather dramatically “You fools!” she yelled in a coarse voice. Seshulu got shocked and is just staring at Ammulu standing up. Ammulu sat down in a manly way. She started shaking around, making weird noises. “Arghhh” she shouted, and Seshulu’s jaw dropped. “Mother!” he said. “Manga, it is the mother goddess, she possessed our ammulu, call the neighbours!” he yelled. Manga started running out; slipped and fell near the gate. Neighbour, Basavamma saw Manga fall and rushed to lift her up. “Ayyo Manga! Why are you in a rush?” Basavamma asked while she is holding Manga’s hand and lifting her.

“My daughter, Basu. She has been possessed by the goddess. Please come inside. Help me call the others, will you Basu?” Manga moaned standing up. “You go inside Manga, I will call everyone” Basavamma said and rushed towards the others. Manga walked in and peeped through the door. Seshulu is applying turmeric on the face of their daughter as she is shaking. Manga went in and started rubbing turmeric too. Seshulu started murmuring few chants as Manga put a big blob of kumkum (saffron and turmeric) on the forehead of Ambika. Ambi kept shaking and making a weird noise as the villagers started rushing in one by one. Basavamma brought neem leaves and put them in Ambika’s hands. Ambi caught them tightly and moved more vigorously. “Is everyone here?” Ambi asked randomly. “Yes, Mother” the people yelled. Ambika started calling names of the people suddenly. “Yadagiri” she called and Yadagiri got excited “Yes, Mother” he said. She began calling names of everyone like she is taking some attendance. After calling out many names, she looked at Basavamma. “Basavamma! Call the ones who have not turned up. Tell them Mother is calling them” she said and closed her eyes again, but she remembered something suddenly. “Don’t call Chanakya, he is a disbeliever” she said. “Why don’t you call themselves, Amma? We even have telephones in all our homes” a voice asked from the main door. It is Chanakya! Ambi closed her eyes, “Kick that fool out!” she yelled. “Get lost you atheist scum, this is no place for the likes of you” Basavamma pushed Chanakya. Chanakya bent on his knees and started praying her. “After witnessing this miracle with my own eyes, I have turned into a believer. Please accept me, Mother!” Chanakya requested. Ambi thought for a while and let Chanakya in, and everyone started asking questions to the mother. “When will the crop yield this year, Mother?” Rajappa asked. Ambi thought for a while and said “When the birds fly low to the south, crops will sow. The crops won’t wither depending on the weather” she said, and Rajappa got confused. “But, Mother?” he asked as the villagers were clapping and praising for her little poetic answer. “Why don’t you help un-intelligent people like I and Rajappa by answering in straight lines, Mother?” Chanakya asked, and Ambi ignored the question. The next half an hour passed with more questions and poetic answers followed by praises.

Chanakya lost his chill and started pushing people in his way. He sat in front of Ambi as she gulped. He observed her gulp. “Mother, will you help me with my problem?” He asked. Ambi looked at him and gestured him to ask. “What is the equation of Force?” he asked, and everyone is shocked. “Hey, physics teacher! Get out and let us ask real-life questions” Ramulu yelled. “For me, this is a real-life problem, Ramulu anna (brother)” Chanakya said politely and looked at Ambi. “Mass times the acceleration, my son” Ambi started shaking. “Good mother. So you do know physics!” Chanakya clapped. Seshulu got angry and pulled Chanakya closer. “Fool! You are talking to the mother goddess. Be wise and ask helpful questions!” he shouted.

“What’s Bernoulli’s principle?” he asked, and Ambi pretends like she didn’t listen to it. “Move away, imbecile. Are you testing the goddess?” Seshulu shouted angrily and pushed Chanakya. “Don’t hurt Ambi! Treat her carefully! She is my manifestation. As you have wasted my time with silly questions. I’m hurt and leaving. If you treat Ambika good by giving her what she needs, I will be pleased to revisit you sometime” Ambi hissed coarsely and fell on the ground. Everyone began looking at Chanakya angrily, and Ramulu dragged Chanakya and threw him on the ground. “You wasted all our chances, you dumb man!” Ramulu yelled and spat beside Chanakya. Everyone is pushing him out as Seshulu shouted angrily. “Everyone leave immediately!” Seshulu demanded.

“Chanakya, you stay!” he ordered. Everyone touched Ambika’s feet and moved out as Chanakya stayed back. “Why did you ask her specifically about that one question?” Seshulu asked as Manga lifted Ambika and took her inside. “Because Ambika failed to answer that in today’s class. In fact, I came to your home to tell you that she is terrible at physics. I wanted to ask you if you can permit me to tutor her in your home. People like Ambika are creative, and they need to be taught creatively. You saw how she convinced you all that she was possessed by divine” Chanakya laughed “She’s smart and got wits” he added. Seshulu is shaken and couldn’t accept the fact that he got conned by his daughter. “I don’t believe you. You are an atheist” Seshulu said in doubt. ‘If God existed, he would definitely know the Bernoulli’s principle, because he wrote Bernoulli’s fate and guided him right?” Chanakya asked, and Seshulu is blank. “It is ok. Regardless of your belief, it will be useful if you allowed me to teach her in a way she understands or she will get crushed in the system that respects marks than wit” Chanakya asked once again. “It’s late, I better go” he started leaving as Seshulu fell in a dilemma. He went inside and looked at Ambika lying on the couch watching TV. “What happened with me, nanna (father)?” she asked Seshulu. “I don’t know, Ammu” Seshulu said and went back to his room as she continued watching TV.

She is watching a Telugu film about a goddess in her human manifest.

India to Me!

I still remember the speeches I used to give during my school days, college days, and I even gave a speech during my graduation. Back then, I used to say that India is a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic and Republic country where the government is of the people, by the people and for the people. The land where unity is found in diversity, and blah….blah….blah like many of us told. Well, in graduation, I made a small change like I want to see my country as the DEVELOPED country from a DEVELOPING country and also a little bit about corruption, what not! I had told many things, man. Many things! But now all these speeches and ideas about India feel like crap….which had no sense probably!

Because to me, India is the place;
Where for every hour 4 rapes are happening, Oh! Sorry, only 4 cases are being registered.
Where people are afraid of walking alone during nights, sorry not people, it’s WOMEN!!
Where people are not supposed to raise their voice against mistakes, but it states people failed to use Freedom of speech and expression.
Where it tries hard to eradicate poverty; Sorry, only worked to build walls to cover slums.
Where it has a pledge saying, “ALL INDIANS ARE EQUAL.” Sorry, it’s only a pledge; everyone is not equal because they do not have the same caste.
Where it talks about equal opportunities; Sorry equal opportunities include reservation system.
Where it is the most unsafe country for women; Because not every woman is BHARAT MATA.
Where it says, it has the best education system; Sorry, that doesn’t include practical knowledge.
Where there are many graduates; Sorry it can’t employ all graduates.
Where we see police everywhere, but Sorry you can’t find justice because it is lost with time.
Where it will react to all the problems, but only in social media and only for hardly 2-3 days.
And maybe I will not see any change in it, because India is not ready for changes. Sorry even if they are ready, they will be suppressed as before and remain as a developing country.

And one more thing despite all these things, we still say India as a Secular, Democratic, Republic, socialistic country because we are INDIANS and we always follow what is taught to us and don’t give a shit about the reality.