A Ticket to the Past

 I was sweating and panting as I laboured uphill to find the source of the water in Nandi’s mouth at the Keshavraj Mandir near Dapoli in Maharashtra’s Konkan. It had always fascinated me, for the water was always fresh and continued to flow throughout the year. As I followed the stream, I saw something shining in the water. It sparked my curiosity, for the glow seemed different. I quickly ran toward the glow, to realize that it was a Golden Ticket laying in the water. It looked beautiful, but the thing that intrigued me most about it was what was written on it.

It said, “Words outlived swords where silence died, 

Time split in two where fate once lied. 

ONLY FOR ONE USE.”

I stood there, confused and shocked by my discovery. Though I did not understand what it meant, I quickly picked up the ticket to see where I could use it. As soon as I picked up the ticket, something strange happened. I started swirling, it felt like my limbs and legs were being pulled and I felt like the
ticket had absorbed all my energy.

I fainted.

---

The first thing I saw when I woke up was the decapitated human head overlooking a huge ground. I could hear loud noises and it also smelt and looked different to me. I thought it was a dream, so I pinched myself, but it hurt so I realized that everything I was experiencing was real. I looked around to find the ticket but it wasn’t there. I was no longer in Konkan, but some other place altogether. I did
make out that I was on the top of a hill which overlooked a huge field. 

Extremely scared and alarmed at the place I found myself in, I slowly started walking towards the head to understand what, or who, it was exactly. But to my utter shock, the eyes of the head were still open. The head looked at me,
stunned to see me, just as stunned I was to see it alive.

It just said, “Welcome traveller Welcome! 

Witness the war of righteousness, where blood was spilled and kith and kin were killed, 

Where battles were fought and wisdom was taught. 

Witness the war which the gods also feared to witness, for this battle was the mightiest.”

I was shocked at those words, and that was when it struck me... I was not in the world I have grown in; it seemed like I was in a different era. I looked at the ground to confirm my guess and I was right.

The ground the hill overlooked was none other than the famous battlefield of Kurukshetra!! I saw huge elephants, chariots, horses and soldiers fighting. The sun had just set, and a conch had started blowing when it hit me;

I had time travelled to the greatest war of all times, The Mahabharat.

---

I quickly went down the hill which overlooked the field and hid under a tree nearby, which was near the camps of the Kauravas and the Pandavas. I was completely shocked and fascinated by the discovery.

Though thoughts like ‘How did I arrive here’ or ‘Will I be able to go back to my original era?’ still seemed unclear, it hit to me that I could witness an important event.

Just as I was about to celebrate the joy of my discovery, I looked towards the camps, where I saw a tall man, who looked extremely fit with long hair, a kingly outfit walking with utter dismay to his tents.

I was curious to find why this man seemed to be in a lot of stress. I followed him, unaware that the soldiers and guards could see me! It only struck me when the guard of the gate gave me a surprised look. I quickly ran away to the other end, crossing a lot of tents in between. My brain kept pacing at the rate of my heartbeat, wondering if he would raise an alarm. I thanked my stars as I realized that I was in traditional attire as I had gone to the temple, and hence my clothing did not attract too much attention.

As I reached the other end of the camp, I saw the same man going inside one of the tents. I tiptoed to see that he was conversing with an elderly man, with a long white beard, healthy but extremely old. At once I realized that the elderly man was none other than Pitamaha Bhishma and the man I had followed; he was none other than the one who loathed the Pandavas, Duryodhana! 

As I went closer to the tent to hear their conversation, I realized that they were arguing.

“Pitamaha Bhishma! I know you are our grandfather but only you can defeat the Pandavas on this field! You have vowed to protect and abide by the throne no matter what. You need to do it for the throne & do your duty as the commander of Kauravas army, even if it costs you to kill your other grandchildren!”

Pitamaha’s face twitched. He looked calm, but one could feel his anger and helplessness. He said, “Duryodhana, I am trying my best! I have killed many soldiers, caused harm to many cavalries, but your cousins are not like them... They are few of the most skilled warriors I have ever fought with. Yet, if you feel that I am avoiding to kill them and not being faithful to the throne, then I shall kill them tomorrow!”

He closed his eyes, folded his palms and muttered something. Within a blink of an eye, he had five golden arrows in his hands, magically appearing out of thin air.

“With the help of these arrows, I will kill all the Pandavas!”, he said.

I gasped. I could not believe what I had witnessed. This was not possible. The Pandavas were going to be killed by those arrows. Those arrows could change the whole history!

Duryodhana said, “Forgive me for doubting your dedication to the throne Pitamaha. I would just like to make a small request... I would like to keep those arrows with me till tomorrow morning.”

Pitamaha was shocked at Duryodhana’s words. He tried to resist but to no avail. Duryodhana took the arrows and left.

---

Things didn’t seem right to me. I panicked. ‘What if the Pandavas are killed?’, ‘What if I have accidently travelled to a parallel universe with a different end to the war altogether?’. 

I could only think of one person who could have the answers to all my questions; Lord Krishna. And suddenly I realized that I could have an opportunity to actually see Lord Krishna with my own eyes!!!

I ran around, trying to hide from guards, searching for him. It was like being trapped in a maze of tents, but I finally found and recognised the tent as it was the brightest of them all. I sneaked inside, despite the guards trying to stop me. The tent was not grand but the reason for its grandness was the Lord Himself. He was sitting on his bed calmly, as if he was expecting someone to come. He had an
aura of his own, an aura so bright that I couldn’t look at him and could only muster a look at His feet. The golden arrows seemed and meant nothing in front of him.

I spoke to him, “Oh Lord Krishna. I... I... I don’t think I need to introduce myself. You already must be knowing. I need your guidance. Have I travelled to another universe? Pitamaha Bhishma had five golden arrows to kill the Pandavas, which are now in Duryodhana’s possession. Is this their destiny? Or is there something else?”

Though I could not look at him I could clearly make out his expressions. It was difficult to explain the feeling; it was surreal.

“No child, you are in the same universe. The good defeats the evil, no matter what. You were meant to be here for a purpose which you have achieved, but you are here for a grater motive. Go with Arjuna to take those arrows from Duryodhana. Once he hands over the arrows to you, go east till you arrive at a forest. Go inside and walk till you reach a river. You will know what you need to do once you arrive there. You have my blessings.”

I touched His feet and felt a different kind of energy surge through me. Just as I was about to take His leave, I heard a voice from behind me, “What is the matter, Krishna? Why did you call me here in such a hurry? What’s the emergency?”

I could sense Lord Krishna looking at me. “I shall wait outside Lord.”, I said.

I bowed and went outside the tent. Just as I was waiting for Arjuna to come, I saw four men coming towards the tent with a panicked expression. They looked exactly like Arjuna; Tall, Strong and well – built body and calm face. It was obvious that they were the other four Pandavas. They also went inside the tent and after a few minutes, Arjuna came over and we went to Duryodhana’s tent. Though we did not speak a word, I realized that he was grateful to know that they could get out of trouble. He went inside the tent and returned after a few minutes, holding the golden arrows carefully in his hands. I heard him saying that he took a great decision by not taking a boon when he rescued Duryodhana during their exile, as it has come for a better cause. He handed me the arrows thanked
me and went away.

---

I quickly navigated my way through the tents and reached the battlefield. A cold chilling sensation crept upon me, not knowing how many great warriors died or were to die on this field. I journeyed my way to the east of Kurukshetra, eventually reaching the forest. My only thoughts in the whole process were to follows Krishna’s advice and go home. It had already become night till I reached
there.

I walked through the forest, hearing the howls of wolves and jackals, the caws of crows and saw vultures and eagles circling the forest, searching for a prey. After about a quarter hour of walking, I heard the rustling of water, only to see a river in front of me. It was a beautiful sight, a good one to relax by. But I knew I had to complete my duty. Lord Krishan had not told me what exactly to do with the arrows, so I assumed throwing them in the river was what was needed.

Just as I was about to submerge the arrows, I saw something glimmering in the water. It shined brighter than the full moon. As I went near it, I realized that it was another golden ticket. It had the same pattern and design as the one from Keshavaraj Mandir, but this one said something different.

“Five flames once bound by oath and fate, now sleep in time’s unopened gate. When horse hooves sound through dust and sky, 

shall they return — not bent, but high? 

ONLY FOR ONE USE!”

This made me wonder again, what did this riddle mean? With the arrows in my hand, I grabbed the ticket. I again started swirling, it felt like my limbs and legs were being pulled and I felt like the ticket had absorbed all my energy.

I fainted, again.

---

This time, I woke up at a bus stop. It was a dark night. I still had the arrows with me, but just like last time, the ticket had disappeared. I again tried pinching myself, but I already knew... I was definitely not dreaming. At first, I was overjoyed, to come back to my time. 

But where was I? I looked around... The surroundings seemed more advanced than the times I used to live in. The surroundings weren’t familiar either, so I concluded that this was a different place. I looked at the digital watch on the bus stand. It was hardly a minute before the clock struck midnight. I read the
name of the bus stand to know where I was. It said ‘Shambhala Bust Stand’. 

The name “SHAMBHALA” sounded very familiar to me. That’s when it struck me; it is the birthplace of Lord Kalki!

The clock struck midnight. I looked back again at the arrows in my hand, and suddenly a chill went down my spine as I realized my “GREATER MOTIVE”.

THE END