Ekalavya: Beyond Immortality

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Kingdom of Hastinapur,

Deep within the Kingdom of Hastinapur stood the vast Vindhya Mountains, and within its forests thrived a remarkable tribe – the Nishada tribe. 

Renowned for their mastery in hunting, archery, and their intimate bond with nature, they were a group of people deeply intertwined with the natural world. 

They usually ventured into the forest to hunt for their daily sustenance, but today held a special significance. 

The tribe chief was eagerly anticipating the arrival of a new life outside his hut. 

"Chief, the time has come. The Sammati Sahiba (Lady) is in labor, and Granny is by her side," a young woman panted as she shared the news with an excited grin after arriving in front of the chief. 

He had been engrossed in a discussion about the day's hunt with his fellow tribesmen. 

The chief's face froze in surprise upon hearing the news. "What...?" 

As if fearing that their chief might become unnecessarily worried, a man seated beside him offered reassurance, "Chief, fear not. Granny Vanita is present with Sammati Sahiba, and everyone knows how great Granny Vanita is. As long as she is there, nothing bad will happen to Sammati Sahiba." 

Hiranyadhanus, the respected and beloved chief, found solace in hearing these words. 

Granny Vanita seemed to hold great significance not only in the hearts of the tribesmen but also in Chief Hiranyadhanus's heart. 

"Kumari, you can return and let us know once Sammati Sahiba has brought the child into the world. Then we shall commence our joyous celebration!" Reassured by the news that Granny Vanita was attending to his Bharya (wife), Chief Hiranyadhanus dispelled his concerns and asked the young girl to relay the news again once the unborn child was born. 

"My Mitro (dear friends), prepare yourselves for the celebration," announced Chief Hiranyadhanus, his face radiant with joy, as he addressed his tribesmen sitting with him. 

Their enthusiastic response resonated, "Ohhh!"

Within the chief's hut,

"Calm yourself, Balika, and push gently. Take slow, deep breaths," advised Granny Vanita, the wise elder of the Nishada tribe, renowned as the most skilled Baal Jananika (midwife) among them. 

The chief's wife, named Nisha, was affectionately addressed as Balika (child) by Granny Vanita, as was everyone in the village. 

After diligently following Granny Vanita's counsel, the momentous occasion arrived as Nisha gave birth to her precious child. 

"Kunwar (Prince) or Kumari (Princess), Granny?" the other Baal Jananikas, also present in the hut, eagerly inquired of Granny Vanita, who held the child in her arms. 

"Kunwar," she beamed with a warm smile, sharing the news that made everyone's faces light up. 

"Waaaaaa!" When the child initially remained silent, Granny Vanita tenderly gave his little bottom a soft pat. The ensuing cry filled the air, resonating within and beyond the hut. 

"Waaaaaa!" Yet, the child himself was momentarily bewildered, thinking, *'What is this situation? What's happening around me?'* 

This child was none other than Amar Khanna, who had reincarnated as a baby and was now shedding tears due to the stinging pain in his small butt.

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"Granny Vanita, could you bring my sweet child here? I just want to see his little face," Nisha said with effort, turning her face toward Granny Vanita. 

"Sure, dear. Our Kunwar looks so healthy!" Granny Vanita gently showed the child's face to Nisha, who smiled at her baby. 

"Yes, his eyes are so clear! It feels like he's looking at me, watching my face," Nisha said, feeling as if her baby was observing her. 

"Absolutely, our little Kunwar is going to achieve great things in the future!" Granny Vanita pinched the baby's cheeks softly as she spoke. 

"Granny, maybe we should leave now and let Sammati Sahiba rest. She needs time to recover," another midwife suggested, concerned about Sammati Sahiba's condition. 

"Alright, let's step outside and show off our Kunwar to everyone who has been eagerly waiting to meet him!" Granny Vanita smiled and nodded. They wrapped the baby in soft clothes before leaving the main hut. 

Outside the hut,

"Granny Vanita, come on, show us our Kunwar quickly!" The tribesmen were eagerly waiting for Granny Vanita. 

"Alright, alright," Granny Vanita smiled, noticing the eager looks in their eyes. 

"Lord Rudradev has blessed our tribe with another little one, granting us a bright future to rely upon," Granny Vanita stood a little higher and addressed everyone while showing the child to the crowd. 

In the Nishada tribe, they worship Lord Rudradev, also known as Lord Shiva. 

Their deity, associated with forests, nature, trees, wildlife, hunting, and survival, is Lord Shiva. Shiva is often depicted as the master of the wild and untamed aspects of nature. 

"Look, the chief has come," the tribesmen exclaimed as they admired their Kunwar and spotted Chief Hiranyadhanus approaching with their most skilled tribesmen. 

"Ohh, they're bringing back the big hunt," another tribesman shouted as they saw the chief and others carrying something on their shoulders. 

"Ohhh!" The tribesmen cheered, realizing that it meant a celebration. 

After admiring their Kunwar, the tribesmen began preparing for the celebration. 

Prior to the festivities, they held a naming ceremony in front of the temple where a statue of Lord Rudradev stood. 

This ceremony held deep significance for them, as the Nishada community firmly believed that Lord Rudradev watched over them and bestowed blessings upon their newborns.

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(Amar Khanna Pov)

'What's Granny doing? Can't I rest a bit before being taken out into this chilly air?' I thought to myself, still not fully realizing that I had been reincarnated as a baby. 

I watched the tribesmen closely and found their smiles oddly comforting, all directed at me. 

'I don't understand a word they're saying,' I thought, unable to grasp their language. 

So I just observed quietly as Granny Vanita carried me. She seemed to really like me, for some reason. 

I noticed how skilled they were in handling their hunts. There were big animals like boars and even wolves—or perhaps the king of wolves—with its massive body. 

Two people swiftly dealt with the boar, separating the skin, meat, and bones. I was amazed by their expertise. 

'Their cuts are so precise, and the way they move,' I thought, noticing their muscles flex as they worked. 

All the men were mostly bare-chested, wearing cloth made from animal skin that covered them from the waist down to their knees. 

'I can't believe I can't understand their happy chatter,' I groaned internally, frustration building up. 

I felt a bit like a tourist in a foreign land, watching locals enjoy themselves while I remained on the sidelines. 

'Uh-oh, seems like this little body's running out of steam. I'm getting so sleepy,' I thought as my eyelids felt like they weighed a ton, and my thoughts grew sluggish. 

Before I knew it, my eyes closed, and I drifted into sleep.

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