TWO MOUNTAINS (A Story of the Curse)

LOVE CAN DO MIRACLES. LOVE CAN DO ANYTHING...

"Daddy... Daddy... Please wait for me! Don't leave me behind!" I called out, running after my dad. He was taking me to the jungle to collect wood for cooking. I was 15 years old then, and it was the first time my dad had ever taken me to the forest.

I had never been to the woods before, though my grandma had told me countless stories about it. She would always say, "ROOT-WIG isn’t just a jungle—it’s life itself." Her words made me eager to visit this extraordinary place.

After a 20-minute walk, we reached the jungle, and just as Grandma said, it truly was alive. The towering trees, red grass, yellow pathways, and tranquil air created a surreal atmosphere. The moment I stepped in, I felt like I had breathed life itself.

My dad warned me not to wander off, but my curiosity got the better of me. I followed the yellow path, which led me to a river—a breathtakingly beautiful river, unlike anything I’d ever seen. I drank from its crystal-clear waters, which were sweet and refreshing.

Just as I was about to leave, I heard a sound. Looking up, I saw a girl singing by the river. Behind her, I noticed a mountain that mirrored the one on which our village, Virahi, was nestled. I was stunned because everything on that mountain seemed otherworldly, and amidst it all, the girl’s singing captivated me. Her voice was like music to my soul, and I found myself completely entranced.

When she stopped singing and began walking back toward the mountain, I called out to her. She didn’t turn but glanced at me briefly before disappearing. Though I didn’t see her face clearly, I caught a glimpse of a mole on her cheek. That small detail made me happy.

When I returned home, I told Grandma everything. She laughed heartily and said, "You’re just daydreaming! I’ve been to that jungle hundreds of times and never saw anything like what you described." She asked me to forget it, but I couldn’t.

The next day, I went back to ROOT-WIG with my dad. While he collected wood, I returned to the river. The mountain was there, just as I’d seen, and the girl was sitting on a rock. I called out to her again, but she ran toward the mountain, glancing at me like before.

I went back home and told Grandma. She grew curious and a little frightened but still insisted that there was nothing on the other side of the river. "You’re imagining things," she said. I yelled back, "Believe me! There’s a mountain, a beautiful world, and a girl!"

Finally, Grandma agreed to come with me the next day to see for herself. But halfway to the jungle, she started breathing heavily. We turned back and called the "Vaidya" (doctor), who told her to rest for a week.

During that week, I stayed by her side and didn’t visit the jungle. After she recovered, I asked her to come with me again, but she refused and told me to go alone.

So, my dad and I returned to the jungle. Excited, I rushed to the river and climbed up to the mountain. There she was. For the first time, I saw her face clearly, and it felt like I had stepped into heaven. She was beyond beautiful—words couldn’t describe her.

I tried speaking to her, but my voice couldn’t reach her. When I gestured with my hands, she laughed—a laugh so pure it filled my heart with joy. That day, my heart overflowed with feelings I couldn’t understand.

For three months, I visited her daily, though we never spoke. Determined to communicate, I began writing words in the sand with sticks. Slowly, we started "talking." Perhaps I was falling in love with her without realizing it.

Years passed, and one day Grandma asked if I still visited the jungle. I said yes. Alarmed, she insisted on coming with me. I was thrilled because I wanted her to meet the girl.

The next morning, we went to ROOT-WIG. But when we reached the river, my heart sank. The mountain, the world on the other side, the girl—everything was gone. There was nothing but the river.

Grandma said, "See, son? I told you there was nothing." I was devastated. My heart felt like it had been torn apart.

I stopped visiting the jungle after that. I refused to eat, consumed by thoughts of her. Days turned into years, and life felt meaningless.

One day, my father fell ill, and I had no choice but to return to ROOT-WIG to gather wood. Feeling broken, I reluctantly went to the jungle.

Suddenly, I heard my name. It was her voice! I ran to the river, and there she was. This time, everything around her was shrouded in darkness, as if the jungle had turned to ash.

I called out to her, but she was crying. Desperate, I tried building a wooden bridge to reach her, but it vanished the moment I placed it on the river.

Just then, the river began to roar, forming a water tunnel that led to her. Overcoming my fear, I walked through the tunnel and reached her. As I held her hand, the mountain and the world I had seen before returned to life.

She told me, "Thank you for saving me. I was cursed. I tried to bring my love back to life forty years ago after this river claimed him. In anger, I tried to destroy the river, but the River God cursed me, saying I would remain trapped until someone loved me the way he did. You set me free."

The River God appeared and said, "Son, she is part of me now. She cannot stay with you." As she turned into water and vanished, the River God promised I would forget her, remembering only her as a fleeting memory.

I smiled, and Grandma said, "Finally, you’ve found your peace."

Written by: Chotisistories | Chiranjiv