Chapter 2 - THE FAMILY HISTORY UNVIELS THE MYSTERY

RUDRA POV

Wow, that talk with Grandma was intense and I was left reeling in awe.

Oh, and I discovered that my name is quite awesome I mean - storms, might and fearsomeness altogether kind of give an amazing combination.

The talk with her did alleviate my soppy emotional state. Unfortunately, I couldn't revel in my discovery for long as the next day, we embarked on a journey.

I spent the following week traveling with Grandma and found out that she had more stamina than me – a lot more.

I wondered to myself if she was some mutant or super soldier at her untiring form.

We traveled on buses for the first two days, then traversed mountains and forests on foot. I was exhausted, but Grandma didn't seem to break a sweat.

On the seventh day, unable to contain my curiosity, I finally asked her.

"Umm, Grandma don't you get tired?"(Rudra)

She looked at me confused and replied

"No, it's just taking a walk. Why?"(Grandma)

"Are you a mutant, a secret super soldier perhaps?"

I couldn't resist and jokingly aske.

"No(?) why?"(Grandma)

"Then what is with that stamina of yours!!"

I pressed on.

She smiled mischeviously like a child that succeeded in its pranks and spoke

"Ha ha ha ha you child, fine come and sit here, I will tell you a story."

"So, have you read the history of India?" Grandma asked as I sat down near her

"Yes"(Rudra)

"Then you do know that our country has been invaded multiple times, yes?"(Grandma)

"Yeah." I replied.

A little too many times I would say.

"Then do you know how long non-Indians have ruled some areas, including the Mughals?" she questioned.

"Five-six hundred years?" I guessed.

"Close enough, then answer this - why is it that the greatest temples of India are still standing to this day?"(Grandma)

"They didn't attack places of worship?" I speculated.

She looked at me as if I was stupid and spoke

"If any ruler has some common sense, then after conquering a place the first places they destroy are those where local people gather, to prevent rebellion."

"Uh, I don't know then, there is no record about it."(Rudra)

"Of course there won't be, who writes about themselves being beaten up."

"You see, my boy, most of the priests in these temples come from a long family line like mine.

Our families have sworn and guarded these temples for thousands of years and all these priests are accomplished in both literary and martial arts they have been taught the Vedas since young and were trained in 'kalari payat(kalaripayattu)'.

My parents were also warriors she and your grandfather fought against 100 armed men, he died fighting, they took out 79 of them and twenty escaped with their leader ."(Grandma)

"Their aim must be amazing."(Rudra)

She laughed as if she found what I said amusing.

"Ha ha ha, no child they did now use guns, never knew how to."(Grandma)

"Then how did they fight?" Now I was genuinely curious.

"They used Dhaal(round one-handed shield) and Talwar(sword)."(Grandma)

"Kalaripayattu, the world's first martial art, is it that strong?"(Rudra)

She didn't give me a proper answer to that along the way, but I did find out soon.

 "Well, you are not wrong, but not right either, now get going; we have a few more kilometres to cover."(Grandma)

So I discovered my grandma was a trained fighter, I don't know how strong she is but my great-grandparents were strong, I wish I had seen them.

I then later realized the meaning of 'be careful what you wish for'.

As I was thinking we arrived at a clearing when I heard sounds of fighting and was shocked by what I saw.

In front of me were seven well-built teenagers about seventeen were fighting a sixty-year-old-looking woman and they were being pummeled to the ground.

Believe me, I don't think they were bad at fighting.

In fact, I think any of them could beat two or three of me, but that old lady was the amazing one.

I winced in pain when I saw her uppercut one of them in the jaw with her Dhaal(shield) and then slap kick him in the cheeks all the while deflecting two talwars attacking her with her own.

That old lady was like a goddess of war if someone like her comes at me I don't think I will even try to put up a fight, not like I could do it if I tried, their drill ended when all seven guys were down for good.

The old lady turned toward us looked at my mother and spoke,

"Shanti, what wind brought you here today?"(Old Lady)

"What? Can't I just come to see you 'maa(mother)'?"(Grandma)

'Huh!'

"Let it be, who's the boy?"(Old Lady)

"Your great-grandson."(Grandma)

'Great–grandson, her's?'

"Rakesh's son? How is he?"(Old Lady)

"He passed away four years ago."(Grandma)

"I see."(Old Lady)

"Wait, hold on she's my great-grandmother? How?"(Rudra)

"What do you mean?"(Grandma)

My Grandmother asked In return for the question which I blurted out when my mind finally processed my great-grandmother standing in front of me.

"You said she died in the battle."(Rudra)

"No child I said your great-grandfather passed away I never said she died."(Grandma)

"Ughh."(Rudra)

When I think back to the conversation it's true I just assumed that they both died, I mean I didn't think her survival was possible before I saw her fight.

"Enough Shanti, stop teasing him."(Old Lady)

"Aww, Mother you don't have to call me out and don't you think his reactions and the faces he makes are funny?"(Grandma)

It is only funny to you!!!

"Well, it is amusing, but you should have some dignity as an elder."(Old Lady)

Oh! and her too.

"Oh come on Mother! I inherited these habits from you, you should be the last one to give the dignity lecture."(Grandma)

"Hmph. So what are you here for?"(Old Lady)

"I am here to leave him to you for training him 'Kalari payat'."(Grandma)

"Why?"(Old Lady)

"His name is 'Rudra' and he is looking for his purpose in life."(Grandma)

"I see."(Old Lady)

"Huh, you understood with just that?"(Rudra)

'That was hardly an explanation,'

"Then I will be leaving him in your care just send him back when he's ready, and Rudra come back home the first thing after you are done it is important."(Grandma)

"So boy you will call me 'maa' just like others when you are here and if you have anything say it now and go to sleep we will start tomorrow."(Old Lady)

'They are ignoring my question!! sigh~'

After I was left alone with my Great-Grandmother I couldn't help but ask her

"So what is the difference between kalarippayattu and other fighting styles like boxing etc....."(Rudra)

"Kalaripayattu is different because we don't train to fight, we train our body, mind, and senses, learn how nature moves and we learn to move with it, fighting is secondary."

"Kalaripayattu does not make you a great warrior it just ingrains in you all that is needed to become one."

"The stamina, the control over body and mind awareness of your environment and how to utilize it is what it teaches, it does not teach you to fight it teaches you how to survive and thrive."(Old Lady)

"So how will I learn to fight?"(Rudra)

"I won't teach you how to fight here as our battle arts are for the warrior priests go learn elsewhere, I will make you into a mould of a great warrior and you will fill the mould yourself."(Old Lady)

"Ugh, whatever you are the master."(Rudra)

And so my time in the forest began.

-----------3.5 years later----------

It's been three years since I began learning I was taught to hold my breath, run on mountains as plain roads, rock climbing, hiding myself from wild animals.

I was even left near a lion's pride to test my hiding. I learned the behaviours of animals and observing and utilizing terrain to my advantage.

All the muscles and joints of my body were put through hard training to move better and in more coordination.

I was taught to climb surfaces with minimal effort and sprint in the most perilous terrains. hell, I can even run three steps on water now sometimes.

But now my time for my departure has come and I am finally free, still grateful for the transformative journey during which I was almost certain I was going to die here someday.