Kiran’s eyes fluttered open slowly. At first, everything was a blur, a hazy mix of shadows and light. Then, gradually, Arjuna’s worried face came into focus.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJ41LEX2Am
"Kiran! Are you awake?" Arjuna’s voice was thick with relief.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgIrbFU9em
Kiran slowly sat up. His head was spinning slightly, but that terrible, crushing pain from earlier had vanished completely.
"What happened? I... I feel fine now," he said, his voice tinged with surprise.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5niIiCKT0K
Arjuna studied his friend’s face closely. "You passed out. I... I gave you some water. I crushed some leaves into it."
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3n53jUKTt
"Leaves?" Kiran looked confused. "What leaves?"
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIi3sTpeKRT
"I don't know," Arjuna’s voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't know how I knew. But... I just felt like I had to do it."
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLE3WbEXHa
Kiran let out a breath, his practical mind already trying to rationalize the event. "Must have been dehydration. You did some quick thinking, Arjun." He tried to stand up. "Let's go home now. Thanks a lot, buddy."
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IatKDVqwk
Arjuna remained silent. Kiran was satisfied with his logical explanation. But Arjuna knew better. It wasn't just dehydration. It was something else. Something extraordinary. Something that had pulled him to that plant. That golden aura.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RU9H0geV6
He looked at his hands. They looked ordinary. But hidden within them was a power he couldn't comprehend.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vVppDDGkQ
They walked slowly towards home. Kiran had fully recovered, chatting away as usual. But Arjuna’s mind was stuck on the incident.
That soundless call. That pulsating, multi-colored light. What was it all about? Would it happen again?
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSCH9XTJ1c
---
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihDhRsn40x
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdC8UxWzgn
The next morning, when the school bell rang, Arjuna took his usual seat. It was by the window—the perfect spot to gaze at the trees and plants behind the school. His sketchbook lay on the desk as always.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4afFmDzce
But today, his mind was elsewhere. Yesterday’s event refused to leave him.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTO32E3cS3
"Arjun, are you listening?" Kiran’s voice broke his train of thought.
"Huh? What did you say?"
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpQOa4Oh9A
"There is a presentation by the seniors today. I heard Vikram Anna is going to talk about medicinal plants," Kiran said.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveO3JY33bX
"Vikram?" Arjun asked.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK1zamE1V6
"Yes, that senior from the 10th grade. The quiet one, always buried in books. He’s obsessed with plants," Kiran nodded. "But he doesn't have many friends. Always keeps to himself."
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHA9nXUmKG
Arjuna looked out the window. In the distance, in a corner of the schoolyard, a thin boy was sitting under the shade of a tree, reading intently. Behind his thick glasses, his eyes were glued to the book. Beside him, several papers were scattered—they looked like sketches of plants.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlH34EBhfn
And then, he saw it.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPXGLHKaxF
From the plants surrounding the boy... a dim aura. A subtle glow of green, blue, and violet. It was faint—too faint for others to see. But to Arjuna, it was unmistakable.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBHi1RhvpA
"I heard he has an inhaler problem," Kiran continued. "He always carries that inhaler with him."
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59TQgKwxwj
Arjuna looked closer. Vikram looked up from his book and examined a nearby plant closely. His fingers touched a leaf, studying its shape. Then he wrote something in his notebook.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNzAQIBNWX
A blue inhaler peeked out of Vikram’s pocket. It was his symbol of safety. A confidence he carried everywhere.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwDWcQYDo6
"Arjun, what are you thinking?" Kiran asked.
"Nothing," Arjun replied quickly. But his eyes remained on Vikram. The aura around those plants continued to shimmer.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97DxlP8Lt0
---
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9crtNsN13
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvWVNJcY1x
During the last period, the classroom was packed. Vikram stood near the teacher's desk, arranging his notes and plant specimens. His blue inhaler sat securely on the corner of the table.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9D0U3uBvA
"Students, settle down," Mallappa Sir announced. "Today, Vikram will talk about the medicinal plants of our Malnad region. This is vital knowledge from our heritage."
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH6fvURUFk
Vikram adjusted his glasses and stepped forward. His hands were trembling slightly—public speaking wasn't his forte. But when it came to plants, he transformed.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxg08ABKhua
"Namaste," Vikram began, his voice soft but clear. "Today, let's talk about the treasure that surrounds us. Our medicinal plants."
Arjuna sat in the back row, listening intently.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf8UXhLj5i
"Our ancestors knew the power of these plants," Vikram continued, gaining confidence. "Neem, Tulasi, Honne... every plant is a clinic in itself. But we are forgetting this wisdom..."
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZazPgQDrZE
"This Tulasi leaf," he held up a leaf. "It’s not just for worship. It is an excellent cure for lung problems and coughs. Our ancestors..."
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYWCd8Y4m7
That's when Arjuna saw it. A faint green aura radiated from the Tulasi leaf in Vikram’s hand. But no one else saw it.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJkbbIg9Cz
"...and this Adusoge leaf," Vikram picked up another specimen, "is miraculous for respiratory issues. For those with asthma..." He paused.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7f15ed47Hg
His breathing was getting a bit faster. In his excitement to speak, he was running out of breath.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlIzXa30R2
"Vikram, are you okay?" Sir asked.
"Yes, Sir," Vikram adjusted his glasses. "I... I am fine."
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNc48XbrAD
But Arjuna could tell. Vikram’s breathing was becoming labored. His hand instinctively went to his pocket—checking for the inhaler.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLRZHT7WXw
The Empty Inhaler
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc35mPJ8bZ
Vikram stopped suddenly. He grabbed the inhaler, brought it to his mouth, and pressed.
Hiss...
Just air. No medicine.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEkLLjTfWx
Vikram’s eyes widened in terror.
"I... I..." he whispered. He pressed it again. Empty.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNO5sbdG6r
His breathing became ragged. His chest heaved. Hands clutched at his throat.
"I... can't... breathe..."
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37xQbD3SeR
Vikram tried to grab the table but lost his balance. He collapsed behind the desk, gasping for air.
"Vikram!" Sir rushed to him.
The class erupted in panic.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1rmnS5oyF
"Someone run to the medical room!" Sir shouted. "Fast!"
"Sir, that room is 500 meters away!" a student yelled.
"And it's usually locked!" another added.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYChvxxOVw
Vikram was struggling on the floor. His face was turning pale, lips turning blue. Every breath was a war.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZ43Fp84VR
Arjuna watched from his seat, his heart pounding.
And then, it started again.
The Call.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisJYZo4z2i
---
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOfOAcbtoI
Part 4: The Cure
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF08Bkld6Rt
The soundless call echoed in Arjuna’s ears. It was more intense than yesterday. More urgent.
He looked out the window. The bushes behind the school were shimmering with multi-colored light.
But one specific bush... it was blazing with an intense green-blue light. Brighter than anything else.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB53OKoKh92
"Sir!" Arjuna stood up suddenly. "I... I will get water!"
Before anyone could stop him, he ran out. The Call was guiding him.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbvvxCrlcG
He ran behind the school building. He stood before that specific bush.
His hands moved automatically. He plucked three specific leaves. He crushed them between his palms, turning them into a green paste. He mixed it into his water bottle. The water turned pale green, glowing softly from within.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHf3peTSo9
He ran back to the class. Vikram was on the verge of passing out.
"Sir! I brought water!"
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjm1rkKdFo
Arjuna knelt beside Vikram. "Please, drink this," he whispered.
He poured the glowing green water into Vikram’s mouth.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKBTbDCWzr
Vikram swallowed involuntarily.
A few seconds passed...
Then... Vikram’s chest heaved a massive sigh of relief. A deep, full breath.
His eyes opened. The color returned to his face.
"What happened?" Vikram mumbled, sitting up.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsv1UMqBE6m
"It's a miracle," the nurse, who had just arrived, said after checking him. "His breathing is perfectly normal. No wheezing at all."
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVAxjTpdAr
---
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHXjEHd0R1
Part 5: The Suspicion
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHom3B1n4CD
As the class dispersed, Vikram sat alone, gathering his notes.
"Arjun," Vikram’s voice stopped him as he tried to leave.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZs9cG1DO8
"You saved my life. I know it. Thank you."
"It... it was nothing," Arjuna said shyly.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJSME7Dp6o
Vikram stepped closer. "That water... there was something special in it, wasn't there?" he asked quietly. "I tasted it. Herbs."
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvFNCXk13v
Arjuna stepped back. "I... I have to go."
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxjRPPB0eP
Vikram watched him leave. He touched his chest. Breathing perfectly normal.
"Interesting," Vikram murmured.
He looked at the plants outside. A mystery. And Vikram loved mysteries.
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaLKYonvpg
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBpoboJxcb
and then Add to home screen.