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Gurukul - Afternoon | Neer and Agnivrat cleaning the classroom
Neer (Softly, eyes fixed on the ground): "Now tell me... was my answer wrong? Shouldn't a person consider others' feelings from the heart?"
(Agnivrat says nothing – just stands quietly, his eyes fixed on Neer's face. As if he wants to answer not with words, but with his gaze.)
Neer (With a slight smile, in a tired voice): "Well... the classroom is cleaned. I'll go and rest a bit now."
Neer turns to leave, but just then, Agnivrat also steps forward as if to say something. Just then…
Neer (Suddenly turning, grabbing Agni's hand): "Wait!"
(Agnivrat stops – and slowly turns around. Their gazes meet. In that moment, time seems to freeze. There is steadiness in Agni's eyes, a storm in Neer's.)
Neer (Pain in his eyes, a slight sneer on his lips): "You think you're so great, don't you? Was my answer so wrong that the Acharya punished me? (With a light laugh) Anyway… what would you understand… you're just your teacher's pet, his every word seems like a verse from the Gita to you. Have you ever understood anyone's feelings? Do you even have a heart? Do you ever smile? Do you ever laugh? No, right… because you are made only of rules… not emotions."
(He gently frees his hand. For a few moments, Agni keeps looking into his eyes – as if he wants to say something, but cannot put it into words.)
Neer (Turning his face away): "Alright… get out of here."
(Neer walks away from there with quick steps. Agni just watches him go – a pang of an unspoken relationship in his eyes, which he himself cannot understand. Then, without a word, he heads towards his own room.)
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: The Night Duel
...Nighttime...
Neer slowly steps forward, disregarding the Gurukul rules, quietly avoiding the watchmen's sight, and slips outside the Gurukul boundary in the darkness of the night. A few moments later, when he returns, Agnivrat is standing in front of him.
Agnivrat (In a stern voice): "Where are you coming from at this hour, Neer? Don't you know that leaving the Gurukul at night is forbidden? You have broken the rules."
Neer (Laughing, sarcastically): "So? You must have never broken any rules till now, right? Oh, I forgot, you are the Acharya's most favorite disciple—made of rules, Agnivrat. Rules can't possibly be broken by you. Anyway, I like to go out whenever I feel like it. See, the guards didn't even know when I went out and when I returned. And listen... I will go every night now." (Neer looks into his eyes and smiles)"You're not jealous of me, are you? That I can go wherever I want... and you remain trapped in the chains of your rules?"
(A spark of anger flashes in Agnivrat's eyes for a moment. Suddenly, he draws his sword and strikes at Neer.)
(Neer ducks to avoid the strike) "Oh dear, you've really gotten angry!"
(Agnivrat takes another step forward and strikes again, Neer nimbly dodges and this time counterattacks with his own sword.)
For a few moments, the clashing of swords echoes between them. Then...
(Agnivrat uses his fire element and attacks Neer.)
(Neer ducks to avoid it, but a nearby hut catches fire.)
(Neer instantly uses his water element to extinguish the fire of the burning hut. Then he uses his water element to create ice arrows and throws them at Agnivrat, but Agnivrat melts them in mid-air with his flames.)
Slowly, both become so lost in this fight that they lose self-control. Just then...
Dharaya (In a serious voice): "Enough!"
(She erects a stone wall between them using her earth element.)
Dharaya: "What are you two doing so late at night? If anyone sees you, you will be expelled from the Gurukul!"
Neer (Complaining like a child): "See, Dharaya! He provoked me into this fight."
Agnivrat (In a calm voice, but with a stern gaze at Neer): "Dharaya, you go. I am also returning to my room."
(Agnivrat gives Neer a deep look and leaves in silence.)
(Neer smiles, as if he has gained some kind of satisfaction, and he too heads towards his room.)
(Dharaya merges the wall made of her earth element back into the ground and returns to her room with a worried mind.)
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: The Archery Lesson & A Secret Revealed
...The Next Day.....
...The next day...
The next day, during archery practice, Acharya Shatrunjay enters the assembly.
Acharya Shatrunjay (In a serious voice): "Children, today we will practice archery. Everyone take out your bows and aim at the circular target made of wood from the trees placed in front. Each one's arrow must hit the exact center. There is no room for distraction."
All Students (In unison): "As you command, Acharya."
Everyone takes out their bows. Agni takes aim, but the arrow misses.
Acharya Shatrunjay (In a strict voice): "Not like this, Agni. Listen, all students! A hunter and an archer's complete focus should be only and only on their target. Nothing else. See, I'll show you..."
The Acharya himself picks up the bow, nocks an arrow, and in an instant—pierces the circular target right in the center.
Acharya Shatrunjay: "Did you all see?"
All Students: "Yes, Acharya!"
Now Agni, Neer, Dhara, Aakarsh, Vayansh, Akshat, Gopal, Neelima, Vasundhara, Yamika, Bhargav, Nimish, Saumya—all the students take up their bows and focus their concentration.
Acharya Shatrunjay: "Focus your attention on your target. Control your thoughts. Do not let any useless matter enter your mind. Only the target. Only the target."
All Students: "As you command, Acharya."
Everyone takes aim. Dhara's hands are trembling. Meanwhile, Neer pulls the string of his bow a bit too much—causing his arrow to pierce the circular target, but at the same time, the target breaks from the middle and falls.
Acharya Shatrunjay: "Neer! Control your anger! You pierced the target, but you were under the influence of your anger. The power of anger leads to victory only when applied in the right direction. And Dhara—keep your hands steady. Don't let your thoughts dominate you. Just as Vayansh has gained control over his thoughts, you too must conquer your mind. Be calm like Aakarsh, but remain focused. This is what makes a true archer."
All Students: "As you command, Acharya."
Now everyone concentrates again. Dhara also controls her mind—she stops her eyes from wandering towards Vayansh. She does not let her love dominate her target. Her arrow hits the mark accurately.
Neelima (Smiling): "Dhara, you did well. Just maintain control over your mind."
Dhara (Softly): "You know everything, don't you, Neelima... No matter how much we hide, we have no control over our thoughts. We cannot hide our love for Vayansh."
Acharya Shatrunjay: "Alright, children. Now give your full attention to your practice. Your target is your greatest duty."
All Students: "As you command, Acharya."
Acharya Shatrunjay: (Looking at Dhara) "Dhara... you wait. We need to talk to you about something important."
Dhara (Surprised): "Yes, Acharya? Please tell me..."
Acharya Shatrunjay: "We were talking about Vayansh—"
Just then, a grave voice echoes from behind— "Daughter Dhara."
Gurudev Vishrajan enters the assembly and cuts off the Acharya's words mid-sentence.
Gurudev Vishrajan: "Daughter Dhara, you may go. Practice your archery. We need to talk to the Acharya about a very important matter. Go, daughter."
Dhara: "As you command, Gurudev." (She bows)"Pranam, Acharya. Pranam, Gurudev."
Both Gurus (In unison): "May you live long." (Aayushmaan Bhava)
Dhara leaves.
Acharya Shatrunjay: "Gurudev, what is the matter that you have come here yourself? You could have called for me, I would have come. Please guide me."
Gurudev Vishrajan: "Acharya, we wish that you do not discuss Vayansh with Dhara right now. You talking to her about this subject... could create a great crisis in the future."
Acharya Shatrunjay (Startled): "Gurudev, I don't understand. How can a great crisis come because of a mere girl?"
Gurudev Vishrajan: "Do you not know about the powers of Dhara and Vayansh? Both of them have no control over their powers yet. And these two—can change the direction of creation. The path to breaking the curse that destiny has woven... will emerge from the union of these two. But this secret... keep it limited to yourself. You just teach them. The rest... destiny will handle."
Acharya Shatrunjay (Becomes serious and bows his head): "As you command, Gurudev. I do not know which curse you are talking about, but I have full faith that whatever you are saying... must be for the welfare of the world and those two children. From today... we will only teach them, and will not make any attempt to stop what is happening. Now, please give us your leave, Gurudev. Pranam."
Gurudev Vishrajan: "May you be blessed."