Chapter 82 82. Start Of New Journey
Ashwatthama made a mistake and decided to bring the puppy to the village of his, Where he knows the puppy can be safe from the wild animals unaware of the fact that humans are the ones who he should be most afraid of.
It's easy to predict what wild animals are going to do as they are true to their nature but humans are the only species that show things on the surface and do another when they are alone.
Not knowing what he was doing, He allow the puppy to follow him as he bring it to the village, He felt it would be a safe area for the puppy as there are people who will feed the little guy and there is also safety in the village area.
So after paying for a while, Ashwatthana decided to leave but the puppy also followed him and wanted to come with him. Ashwatthama though wanted to bring this puppy home but he knew no one would agree at home to allow this puppy to stay with them.
That's why he shooed that puppy away, Thinking he will see it tomorrow as it will stay here. Anyone can take care of a small cute animal like that, Puppy but still not want to leave him fearing of being left alone.
Not knowing why the puppy was afraid, Ashwatthama tried his best and was finally able to shoo that puppy away. He felt bad but thought it was good for the puppy. At least he will get to eat and have a place to stay at anyone's house.
After that, He wanted to go straight home but for some reason decided to stay for a while as there was still little time for dusk. He decided to find his peers who were taunting him before about not drinking the milk and tell them that now they are equal as he too drank the milk.
So he searched for them and soon he found them but what he saw whitened his face. The group of kids were surrounding that same little puppy beating it with sticks, Yelling at it why it came back.
It took a second for Ashwatthama to understand what was happening and when he did, He lunged towards the puppy covered in his arms, Tears were running down from his eyes but his eyes were red as blazing fire, He for the first time felt angry and hand urge to eradicate each and everyone here but his heart still not tainted and pure filled with compassion.
That's why he just asked why they were beating the innocent dog, To which kids at first ignored and wanted to beat the puppy but seeing the rage in Ashwathama's eyes as they lifted their sticks, They felt cold all over and buried everything.
Turns out this puppy wandered into their village area today and "stole" the piece of bread to eat from them. It angered his kids and wanted to beat it but the puppy was smart and ran away with that piece of bread.
They wanted to follow him but seeing this puppy run to the forest area they dropped the idea but to their surprise now they saw this puppy back here and this time before it got time to run away once again they surrounded it and then started beating it.
Hearing that the hot blood running in the veins of Ashwatthama becomes cold as he understood why the puppy was that close to the forest, It was hiding from them and he just brought it here to be beaten.
He for a second had a thought of best the same way to this kids as they were beating the puppy, He knows even if they are the same age and the number of others are lot more, He can easily beat them but decided not to as he blamed himself for the injuries of the puppy.
He just carried the puppy in his arms away from these people, He after doing that checked the injuries and found out it was impossible to save the puppy with normal Ayurvedic medicine, He either need the legendary medicinal herb like Sanjeevani (Life Giver) or need Karmic power to heal this puppy.
He knows it is nearly impossible to find the Sanjeevani herb as it is a legendary herb for the reason, Which only found in the mountains of the Himalayas, There are also others like that which are easy to be found but he knows no one in right mind gives that life-saving medicine away to save the puppy.
So his only hope was his father, His father is a sage who has the power to give curses and boons. He surely has enough Karma to heal the little puppy from fatal but normal injuries.
After which the previous events unfolded and right now he was looking at his revered father who even gods pay their respect to with the hope that he will save this puppy to help him correct his crime.
"You asked me something for the first time, Putra but I can't fulfil this request of yours. There is a very fragile balance between life and death. If I interfere now it would break that equilibrium between two forces.
So I can't save him but I can delay its time of death till tomorrow morning, Now we will go to the Hastinapur kingdom. If this little guy is destined to love then you will surely find a way to save it's life there.
And if not then don't feel bad, Life and Death are just two sides of one coin, Sometimes death is a blessing for some and living is a punishment."
Drona though every hard-hearted man but in front of his son that same heart turned soft as cotton, He knelt in front of Ashwtthama with Kripi who could not understand why her son was not answering her.
After that he slowly rubs his son's head. He knows how soft-hearted his son is especially when it comes to the animal but Drona worries that this innocence and compassion of his can be used against Ashwatthama or worse, It can shatter destroying the soft heart son of his.
So it is very essential to taught him this lesson, But he himself not have realise how ironic his words were, He talking about death to a person who born not to die till cosmic destruction.
Thankfully for him, Ashwatthama did not known about this boon yet, So for him the words of his father still hold deep meaning as it meant to be.
"....Okay Pitashri, Then let's hurry, We can't waste any time."
Ashwatthama felt sad bearing his father but he also understand somethings is destined to happen, No matter how strong mortals can become in front of the Niyati they have to kneel eventually.
But he did not lose hope. There is still time, A big kingdom like Hastinapur definitely is going to have someone who can help him. Hence with that hope he gets out of the house and claims the chariot of his uncle.
Trio in the house share the glance all knowing that it is not possible to save that puppy but no one has a heart to say that to Ashwatthama, So all they were able to was to follow him.
They claimed the chariot and started their journey towards Hastinapur.
(A/N : Now Ashwatthama is introduced, We can focus on the story and those 4 monsters Karna is talking about.
Like always thank you for reading and have a good day ??.)