The night was eerie, the red moon hiding behind murky clouds.
I carefully drew my sword from the scabbard, owls hooted in the pitch-dark jungle.
But where was he and that banyan tree?
“Oh King, what you’re looking for is to the far left of the forest.” I heard a feeble voice.
I looked around, the trees?
“Yes King, I’m a Vriksha guiding you.”
Grateful, I turned left, cutting through the entwined creepers.
“Hehe, he’s completely lost. What fun!”
“Hey King, left, right, then left, then right.”
Laughter rose amongst the trees, mocking my predicament.
“Quiet!” I commanded, “You dare to conspire against me to save that evil creature?”
“Vetaal just hangs over us all day, he does no harm. How’s he evil?” One of them barked, “You, on the other hand, enhanced trade, constructed roads, and connected cities. Over our dead bodies.”
“Vikram, we too are your subjects. Would you understand the pain of an axe slashing through our trunks?”
“You sacrificed our brethren to satiate your interests. The reward for PraanaVaayu. Who’s wicked then, Vikram or Vetaal?”
I froze in my tracks. Balancing nature and progress, or chasing an inconsequential Vetaal? The Vrukshas had indeed opened my eyes.
Note: This story was declared one of the winners of BTB July 2025 contest
