Chapter 27: The First Light of Learning
General POV
After the long, punishing journey up Sundargiri, after the blood and bruises, after enduring the attack of a wild jackal pack and pushing his body beyond its limits, Shon finally stood before the one he had journeyed so far to find—Lord Hanuman.
The divine vanara stood tall under the fading glow of the sunset, the sky painted in shades of gold and orange. His presence was powerful but peaceful. His eyes carried the calm of a thousand years and the fire of a thousand suns.
Shon, still breathing heavily, folded his hands and bowed deeply.
"Putra," Hanuman said, his voice deep and kind, "your heart is pure, and your spirit is strong. But your body is tired. Rest tonight. Your true learning begins with the rising sun."
The words hit like balm. Shon's aching muscles loosened slightly. His breath slowed. The battle was over, for now.
But before Shon could sit down, Hanuman pointed toward a path near the trees.
"There is a pond nearby," he said. "Bathe there. It will refresh you… and more."
Shon bowed again and followed the path into the forest.
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Shon's POV
The pond wasn't large, but it felt magical. Moonlight shimmered on its surface like silver floating on silk. Trees bowed over the water, their branches reflected in the still surface. Everything felt calm. Timeless.
I stepped in slowly. The water was cool, but not biting. More like... welcoming. Like an old friend wrapping me in comfort.
And then it began.
Wherever the water touched my wounds, there was a gentle tingling. Not sharp. Not painful. Like tiny fingers gently brushing the pain away. Cuts vanished. Bruises lightened. Aches melted.
I stood there chest-deep, closed my eyes, and let it all go.
The fear.
The pain.
The exhaustion.
Even the memories of the jackals, the harsh road, the jungle—gone.
For the first time in weeks, I felt light. I felt clean. I felt like myself again.
Even the pond here on Sundargiri felt divine.
After soaking for a while, I climbed out, dried myself, and found a soft patch of grass under a tree. The stars blinked down at me from above. I smiled and let the earth cradle me.
I slept like a child.
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The Next Morning
I woke up before the first light touched the trees.
No alarm.
No sound.
Just a strange, silent nudge. A knowing.
Today is the day.
I sat up, folded my legs, and began chanting the Hanuman Chalisa in my mind. The words flowed like a river I'd always known. Each syllable calmed my nerves and lit up my soul.
By the time the last verse left my lips, I was ready.
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General POV
When Shon returned to the sacred clearing, he found Hanuman seated under a large fig tree. Eyes closed. Breathing slow and deep. Around him, the wind barely dared to blow, and even the birds chirped softly as if in respect.
After a few minutes, Hanuman opened his eyes and smiled.
"You woke early. Good."
Shon bowed low. "I have waited my whole life for this, Hanuman ji."
Hanuman stood, his towering form glowing in the morning light.
"So," he said, "you asked me to teach you devotion, humility, and the path of service. That I will do. But,"—his lips curved into a grin—"as you joked to yourself, I am not so stingy as to skip strength training altogether."
Shon blinked in surprise. Hanuman chuckled.
"I will help you build a body that can withstand the path you must walk. I will guide you in preparing the strongest base you can have. But after that,"—he raised one hand—"your growth will depend on you alone."
Shon's cheeks turned pink. He really had heard that joke.
Hanuman turned serious again.
"Today, we begin not with strength. Not yet. First, you must master your own body. To face the world, you must first face yourself."
He picked up a long wooden staff, smooth and dark, and handed it to Shon.
"This is not just a stick. It is your first companion. Treat it with respect."
Shon accepted it with both hands and bowed once more.
The training had begun.
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Shon's POV
We started simple. Just standing straight with the staff. Then balancing on one leg. Then holding a crouched pose for five minutes. And again. And again.
My legs trembled. My arms screamed. Sweat poured down my back.
But Hanuman ji watched silently.
No scolding. No praise. Just presence.
When I wobbled, he placed a firm hand on my shoulder.
"Breathe."
When I slipped, he caught me and said, "Again."
He taught me how to make my body listen. Not to rush. Not to force. But to trust.
By the time we stopped, the sun was high in the sky.
I collapsed onto the grass, breathing hard.
But inside, I felt amazing.
Like something had cracked open.
Like something new had begun.
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General POV
After the physical exercises, Hanuman led Shon back to the fig tree.
"This," he said, "is where the real strength lies."
They sat cross-legged.
"Close your eyes," Hanuman instructed. "Feel your breath. Don't control it. Don't force it. Just follow."
At first, Shon's thoughts danced like monkeys—jumping from one branch to another. His mind raced: What's for lunch? Am I doing this right? What if I mess up?
But Hanuman's calm presence grounded him.
Soon, his breathing slowed.
Thoughts grew distant.
Silence began to settle inside.
It wasn't perfect. But it was a beginning.
And beginnings matter.
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Shon's POV
I didn't realize how noisy my own head was until I tried to silence it.
But slowly, with Hanuman ji's help, I found peace between my breaths.
When we opened our eyes, I felt lighter. Stronger. Calmer.
He looked at me and nodded once.
That one nod felt better than a hundred praises.
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General POV
As the day ended, Hanuman guided Shon back toward the pond.
"You have done well," he said simply.
Shon nodded, grateful and exhausted.
As the stars appeared above once again, Shon lay under the tree, his staff resting beside him.
His muscles ached.
His mind was quiet.
His heart was full.
He was no longer a traveler.
He was no longer a dreamer.
He was now a disciple of Hanuman.
And tomorrow, the real training would begin.
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