-: Pancha Vastra :- ( By Shailu )

[shailu4ever]

 
The path disappears into dense jungle.
 
And Meera and Arjun begin walking.
 
 
Into the Forest
 
The jungle quickly swallows the sounds of the village behind them.
 
Tall bamboo groves rise on either side of the path.
 
Teak trees stretch toward the sky.
 
Vines hang like curtains between branches.
 
Bright tropical flowers bloom everywhere—crimson, gold, violet.
 
The air smells of earth, rain, and green life.
 
Birds call overhead.
 
Somewhere deeper in the trees, monkeys chatter softly.
 
The island feels wild here.
 
Untouched.
 
Ancient.
 
 
They walk for almost an hour before Meera speaks.
 
“Can I ask you something?”
 
Her voice is soft.
 
Thoughtful.
 

“Anything.”
 

She glances sideways at him.
 
“Why did you really come here?”
 
“Before the fire. Before the ceremony. Before any of this.”
 
She gestures vaguely behind them.
 
“Why did you cross the causeway?”
 

Arjun exhales slowly.
 
He has been asking himself the same question.
 
“I wish I knew.”
 
He shrugs slightly.
 
“Instinct, maybe.”
 
“Impulse.”
 
“Something pulled me.”
 

Meera smiles faintly.
 
“The island has that effect on people.”
 

He looks at her.
 
“You think the island called me?”
 

She considers the question.
 
Then nods.
 
“Yes.”
 

“Seriously?”
 

She laughs softly.
 
“You say that like it’s impossible.”
 

Arjun gestures toward the jungle around them.
 
“Because it is impossible.”
 

Meera stops walking.
 
She turns toward him.
 
The early sunlight filters through the leaves above her, catching in the silver threads of her Uttariya.
 
For a moment she looks almost otherworldly.
 
“Lightning struck the sky the moment you looked at me.”
 
“A fire broke out during the sacred ceremony.”
 
“You ran into it nine times.”
 
Her eyes hold his.
 
“Nine times, Arjun.”
 
“And you survived.”
 
She tilts her head slightly.
 
“Does that sound like coincidence to you?”
 

He opens his mouth.
 
Then closes it again.
 
Because honestly…
 
No.
 
It doesn’t.
 

They continue walking.
 
The jungle grows thicker as the path climbs gently upward.
 
Arjun glances at her again.
 
At the layered garments.
 
At the soft movement of fabric with every step.
 
At the mystery hidden beneath those five Vastras.