OKOZBO:The Fights

Okozbo:

The Fights

Aayushi Pandey

Notion Press

5 Muthu Kalathy Street, Triplicane,

Chennai - 600 005

First Published by Notion Press 2015

Copyright © Aayushi Pandey 2015

All Rights Reserved.

ISBN: 978-93-84878-51-1

This book has been published in good faith that the work of the author is original. All efforts have been taken to make the material error-free. However, the author and the publisher disclaim the responsibility.

No part of this book may be used, reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Dedication

Dedicated to Science; my first love, and Stephen Hawking; my role model.

Both of you motivate me

when I need it the most.

Preface

I am Aayushi. I’m a 13 years old home-schooler. Being a home-schooler, I always got a lot of time on my own to explore myself and the universe. I discovered my love for science and my appetite for new things because I was free to explore. I believe that anything and everything we do, teaches us a lot, we just need to open our eyes and see.

This book floated in my mind because I wanted to write something. We had bought a new desktop and I wanted to write something just to explore it. When I finished exploring, the first chapter of this book was there. And then, there was no looking back. I have always loved writing. I used to write short stories and poems when I was even younger. I completed the first draft of this book when I was 11. But then Science came in my life. And I fell in love with it, especially Physics. So I made a few changes, few major changes in my book. As a result, this finished book hardly resembles the first version.

Ideas and stories keep floating around us; we just need to catch them. I wanted to write because I wanted my ideas to be more than just thoughts. I wanted to give them a shape and I wanted them to reach others.

It actually didn’t start when I was 10, exploring a new computer. There have always been hints that I would write. When I was 5, in my kindergarten, our teacher had asked all of us what we wanted to become when we grew up. Most of the boys said superman or cricket player. Most of the girls replied with fairies, princesses or teachers. I didn’t know the term ‘author’ back then, but I had said ‘writer’.

I just love all the authors I have read so far. This wasn’t possible without them. I draw inspiration and motivation from the books I read on varied subjects. Those works have been a constant source of encouragement for me. Imagination knows no boundaries. I imagined a world where there aren’t any limitations to what you can imagine, think, and do. This is my world, my little ‘Okozbo’. This book is my attempt to put that world down on paper.

Acknowledgements

First of all, I want to thank my Dad, Sanjiv Pandey for encouraging and guiding me whenever I made mistakes and of course, for editing this book. Thanks to my Mom Ritu, for being the most patient and loveable person and putting up with me all those late nights when I worked on my book. You are the greatest friend, teacher and support. I want to thank my grandfathers, H. C. Pandey and S. K. Sharma for all those lovely discussions and advices. Time spent with both of you is always amazing and I extract many things out of your experience. I love my grandmothers, Sheela Pandey & Ashu Sharma and I would like to thank them for supporting me, listening to me for hours and of course, for all those delicious things you made for me.

Thanks, Vaibhav Pande, my Chachu who is more like a friend. You believed in me when I didn’t. I love you for encouraging me always and for being such a wonderful friend. Thank you, Kanad Bhaiya, for pushing me beyond my limits and helping me when I needed it the most. I want to thank all my friends, especially Subhashree and Shalom, for being overexcited about my book. Your keenness got me writing! Thank you, Anant Uncle, for listening to my stories and for your awesome ideas. You truly are a unique friend!

I would also like to thank all those who did not believe in me and laughed at me. In a way, you encouraged me more than those who had faith in me. Lastly, I wish to thank all those authors because of whom I was inspired to write.

Prologue

The hooded figure viewed the scene through a thin slit in a window. A crying baby. A happy mother. A proud father. An excited two year old sister. The baby was fair. The figure sighed. Beneath that dark hood, strands of copper hair and a long elegant nose was visible. The baby’s hairs were white. He would have a difficult life, The figure thought. The device in the hand of the figure vibrated.

Are you still there? A voice asked.

Yes, The figure replied. This boy, he will be in danger.

It is written. No one can stop it. The voice said through the device. Veronica?

Yes? The hooded lady asked.

It has to be a secret. Nobody should know that the boy is fated to die. If he gets to know… The voice was interrupted by Veronica.

He would break down if he knows. He needs to be strong and brave. She said, analyzing.

Keep a watch on him, till the time is right. The voice instructed.

I worry about his sister. She is too capable. Too aware. What if she sees something forbidden? Veronica said.

Control them. Both of them. You know it is all under your control. But, don’t protect him too much. Underexposure is harmful for him. The voice said.

I won’t. It is harmful for all of us. For you. For me. For Okozbo. Veronica replied.

Stop worrying about Okozbo. It’s not your child. The voice instructed.

"Oh, you don’t talk to me about who my child is. Veronica spat, rather bitter. The line disconnected. She watched the boy for a little more time. The boy’s hair radiated an aura, a presence and power. Take care of yourself. Remember, in this universe, we all stand alone. She closed her eyes. Beneath the long hood, silent tears rolled down her cheeks. Well, she always had a soft corner for children. Die at the right moment, Tavish Aryabhatt. You are born to do great things."

The figure took a few steps back, till the scene and the sounds of celebration stopped reaching her. She removed her hood, closed her eyes and vanished.

Contents

Title

Copyright

Dedication

Preface

Acknowledgements

Prologue

1. My Sister Predicts My Death

2. We Battle An Overweight Bulldog

3. Another Weirdo Joins the Hunt

4. A Stone Hits Louis

5. Aurai: Missing

6. An Effort In Vain

7. A Visit From The Dead

8. The Ugliest Truth

9. Magalie Gets Free Jewelry

10. The Last Weirdo Joins Us

11. I Get A Riddle From Myself

12. Best Friends Battling

13. The Land of Flamenco

14. Twists in Madrid

15. Normal Arms vs. Military Arms

16. Flying Without Wings

17. The Sorceress

18. Two From The Serpent Family

19. The Innocent Died

20. Sword is NOT Mightier Than The Pen

21. The Lethal Surprise

22. A Warm Welcome…

23. A Question Answer Round

24. Exploring Okozbo

25. Farewell

Chapter1

My Sister Predicts My Death

I was playing hide-n-seek with Sneha, Sumeet and my sister. Sneha was my sister’s friend, and Sumeet was Sneha’s brother. It was seven thirty in the evening. We had dinner quite early and were making the best use of our time in the forest of Jim Corbett. It is a huge National Park in Uttarakhand. We all were staying in the forest guest-house situated at Dhikala. It was 2nd November and the evening was a little cold.

By ‘we’, I mean my family and Sis’s friend’s family. My bizarre family consists of my sister – Maya who tries to ‘predict’ weirdo stuff all the time (I call her Sis because it really irritates her). Sis has shoulder length hair which is usually tied in a loose ponytail. My Dad calls himself a singer and he sings horribly, my Mom is gentle, sweet, caring and loving, but she is an absolute tomboy. For an instance, she is a biker. And I’m the most different boy of thirteen years, my hair are white and they are always untidy. Actually they should be black as I am an Indian. I am too fair so I look like a foreigner though I don’t have any melanin deficiency or albinism. Oh yes, and I can talk to dogs if you would be able to believe it.

Sneha’s family looks pretty normal compared to mine. Her brother Sumeet is definitely a nuisance because he teases me all the time about almost everything. Their Dad couldn’t make it here because of some work in his office. Their mother is pretty fine lady. She was the one who came up with the idea that we should go to Corbett. It was fine by me, until I realized that Sumeet’s Dad wasn’t coming. Usually, I have good talks with him. Further, Sis told me that Sumeet was coming, I was really devastated. I mean, why couldn’t he just stay back with his father.

Usually, I would have said a flat No to an offer for such a trip. But when Mom told me that the other option was to stay back home with Grandma and go to school for the whole week, I feebly agreed. You see, I don’t have many friends in school. Rather, I don’t have friends. I like to interact with dogs more. They are better than humans, anyway. But unfortunately, there were no dogs in the forests of Corbett.

There isn’t much common in Sis and me. While Sis prefers to wear formals, my preference is to dress informally, somewhat like a homeless drug addict. My sense of humor is usually good and I am pretty much loyal (I think that comes because of the doggishness). On the other hand, Sis’s jokes don’t make anyone other than herself laugh, and she is not as loyal as me. She loves school; I hate school. She hates animals; I love animals. She is arrogant sometimes but doesn’t have a temper; I can be short-tempered but I’m humble. She has black hair; I have white. She is dark; I am very fair. She likes attention; I hate it. She has a long face; I have a round one. Other than the face, she is a little plump. I am so skinny that people can make out my ribs easily. She has brown eyes; I have grey. The common thing we have is that we both share the same parents and the same surname.

Tavish, Maya, Sneha and Sumeet! Dad said it so loudly that I was alarmed for a second. We are going out for an evening stroll. Everyone would go inside NOW. He finished with a deep breath.

Mom was carrying a water bottle which made me feel that the walk wouldn’t be that small. We had to obey Dad and go inside. Sis marched towards the room singing some famous song which I couldn’t recollect.

First thing she did was to switch the TV on as she had won the fight for television remote. So I decided to go out in the forest and wander a bit. It was fun disobeying parents a little. But Sis never let me do anything on my own.

She quickly said Even I am coming with you. This could be a voyage of twenty minutes at the most!

A voyage of twenty minutes? Sis, a voyage is a long quest. I corrected.

Tavish, have you no sense of humor? She said, sulking. It was a joke. You are supposed to laugh on it.

Ha, ha, ha. Happy? I said. Well, I didn’t like to shut people up, but I could be very sarcastic and mocking when I wanted to. It might be little cold. The temperature is down to fifteen degrees Celsius. I warned her.

Do you think I care, Tavish? She said irritably. I shrugged while putting on my fleece, and I picked up my trekking backpack which Mom had given me just before this trip. Taking one last look at the room, I followed her.

When we left the guest-house, there was a road going to our right. But, thinking that Mom and Dad would be walking on the road, we decided to turn left on an earthy patch which resembled like a path. Tall trees and owls and bats seemed to peer down at us. Dead leaves on the path welcomed us, but it wasn’t welcoming at all. Sis moved the torch purposelessly and wildly. I saw some movement on a tree just on my left. I shot my torch’s beam at the tree. Nothing! All I could see were big red ants crawling on it. On my right, Sis’s grip on her torch tightened till her knuckles were white. Something flew barely above us. It perhaps parked itself on one of those tall eucalyptus trees. But I shouldn’t be scared. A voice told me that Sis is the one who should be scared… not me.

Let’s go little far from the guesthouse. I said to divert my attention. I don’t want your irritating friend or her brother following us.

Sis said I’m not so sure that it is a good idea to go alone, Tavish.

I replied You are never so sure. Come on, Sis. I took her hand and dragged her with me for a distance.

The sky was almost black now and when I looked at it, I was aware that there was a lot beyond that sky full of stars. We are moving towards North. I could make out from few bright stars. The moon had almost set but the starlight was sufficient. There were fireflies which looked beautiful. Their shiny golden light acted like a mild, pretty mild streetlight, though without a street. Most of the trees had white trunks and long leaves. I recognized them as eucalyptus. A few more trees had a darker stems and had shed their leaves. We were still walking on dead leaves and a few stones lying here and there. I looked behind me. That’s when things started to go wrong. I expected to see the guesthouse behind but instead I saw the silhouette of few elephants. With no idea what to do, and how to go back, we had no option but to go forward. I can never put in sequence what happened next, but there was an elephant that somehow started chasing us and we ran for our lives.

After a few minutes of running and groping in the dark, which seemed like several dark days, I sensed that the elephant had stopped coming after us. Trying to catch our breath, we had reached a patch which had lesser trees than the rest. We realized that we had come very far from the guesthouse. And, because we were running like madmen, we had lost the sense of direction also. Sis gulped. I didn’t need her to tell me the truth. But she asked anyway Tavish, do you think that we have lost our way?

Yeah, I said.

She asked And are there still tigers in Corbett?

Yeah, I said again.

So do you think that it is wise to go to the guesthouse now? She asked, now getting tensed up. Can we find our way back?

I don’t think so, I told her.

She asked So should we spend the night here and go back tomorrow morning?

I guess. I told her.

Wouldn’t everyone be worried? She asked. We didn’t even leave a note.

They would, but we don’t have much of a choice now, do we? I replied. Pausing for a second, I continued Evaluate the situation, Sis. We can’t go back, and there are wild cats in the forest. Now, how do we rest? The best way is to put a fire and collect some broken branches which could serve as bed.

I just didn’t know that this was the biggest mistake of my life and everything was going to change. My gut was telling me to go back, maybe take another route and try to find the guesthouse. I should’ve heard it. This was my last chance to lead a normal life. I ignored it.

I gathered few thick branches and some twigs and arranged them in layers: horizontal and vertical alternately. Sis sat by the bonfire, rude enough to let me do all the work alone. A good person would have acknowledged that I bought the trekking bag along, which had torches, ropes, lighter, water bottle, notebooks, sleeping bag etc. But of course, Sis overlooked it. I looked at her from a little distance and I could see her eyes glistering against the fire. Sis had opened her curly hair and they came till her shoulders. She looked a little scary and yellow because of the reflection of the fire. Before her looks could scare me again, I turned away.

Tavish, help needed. Come here right now. By the urgency of her voice, I rushed. She started to say something; her voice was multiplied as if nine Mayas were saying it…

You shall go towards the West,

collect the 5 FIGHTS for a quest.

One shall count his last breath,

Welcoming the arms of death.

Take care, he has broken free,

Do not be afraid of your enemy.

Ten monsters shall come in a row,

But awaits you a bigger foe.

No place to run, no time to hide,

Try to fight with all your might.

I didn’t know what to do. The only time I’d seen Sis like this, she said our grandfather would die; within twenty-four hours he had passed away. A part of me said it’s true. The other part felt scared and wanted to go home. Sis looked as if she had no idea what she just said. She looked at me with completely blank eyes, as if she was looking through me. Then suddenly she collapsed; unconscious.

I sprinkled a little water from my water bottle but she didn’t move. I was at a loss to understand what was going on. It was that strange feeling like when you are stuck with a mathematics sum and you think you know how to do