Prologue: The Festival of Dussehra

Thursday, 18th October 2018, Vijayadashami.

Dussehra festival, Kota, India

The streets of Kota were merrier than usual. Processions of gods and demons fill the streets, firecrackers lighting the night sky showing a merry surrounding in the dark night. People were celebrating and chanting. The smell of delicious food and mouth watering desserts filled the environment. Children walking around with festive toys and foods, women gossiping about their lives, men dancing and catching up with each other and boys trying to pick up girls. It was a festival. The Dussehra festival to be exact. It is said to be a festival to represent the victory of Lord Ram and Mother Parvati over the demons. To signify the triumph of good over evil.

A teenager pulled his mother's hand. His brown eyes shined brightly even on a dark night.

"Maa, where is appa?, I can't find him", he asked.

"I'm here kiddo, stay close with your amma and don't get lost", a man answered in his stern voice from behind the boy.

Hes' voice although strict had a gentle tone showing the care for his family. He didn't have a large build but was surprisingly muscular for his lean body.

"I'm not a kid anymore Paa" the boy pouted.

The man simply smiled and held his wife's hand while grabbing his son's shoulder. He glanced at his wife. The woman wore a bright red saree, with a pattern of a gold peacock on it. Her brown hair intertwined with few strands of grey hair flew back gently in the breeze of the night. Her green eyes looked at the procession in interest.

'Still beautiful as the day I met her' the man thought to himself.

He then looked at the procession with indifference to the celebration around him.

'The time is nearing, they'll fire that arrow now', the man thought to himself.

As if sensing her husbands' thoughts the woman asked

" Are you okay?, they're going to burn his statue, we can go back if you want".

The man simply said

" I'm okay, besides Ram is excited to watch it".

Far from the family, at an empty field, stood a huge statue made of dried wood and filled with firecrackers. It was a statue of a demon with 10 heads and 20 arms, which held a weapon each.

A man stood with a bow and arrow on the other side of the field surrounded by people chanting

" Burn Him!!, Shoot Him!!".

The man raised his bow and took aim. His arrow was lit on fire and he smiled as he let his arrow loose. The arrow travelled and struck the chest of the statue, causing an explosion of firecrackers making the crowd go even crazier.

Ram screamed

"YAYYYY! That's what I'm talking about".

His father looked at him and smiled simply, rubbing his head while saying

" Enough shouting boy, the festival is over".

He looked at his father and caught a glimpse of sadness in his eyes despite the smile he showed. The boy simply nodded his head and followed his father's orders.

The crowd began to disperse as the fireworks died out. Everyone went back home including Ram and his family.

The festival was over.