"Alright, go and eat now. You must be tired after working.
We will meet in the morning and talk further."
"Okay, Pradhan Ji."
"Yes, go now."
"Good night."
I went to sleep, and the Pradhan also went to his room.
I needed my powers, but I had sealed them inside my heart for five years. Until those five years were completed, I could not use them.
I did not understand what was happening. After thinking for some time, I eventually fell asleep.
Zzzzzz… Zzzzzzz…
When I woke up in the morning, I saw that tea had been placed in my room.
I drank the tea and went to the bathroom to freshen up.
After some time, Ramu came and said, "Chhote Babu, Pradhan Ji is calling you for breakfast."
I went there and saw that the Pradhan was sitting at the table, waiting for me. When I arrived, we both ate together.
It felt as if I were sitting with my own family.
After a while, the Pradhan said, "Son, you have been living in this village for many days, yet you never told us your name. Whatever your name may be, you are a very good person."
He continued, "Today is the 10th. On the 15th, it will be Amavasya. I have to go outside the village. You should also be ready. I will need you."
"Alright," I replied.
"But where are you going, Pradhan Ji? May I ask you something?"
"Yes, go ahead."
"Where do you go two days before every Amavasya?"
The Pradhan made an excuse and replied, "Nothing, son. I have a friend who lives in a distant village. He is unwell, so I go there to meet him once every month."
"In that case, I will also come with you to meet your friend," I said.
"Just be ready. When I tell you, you must be prepared," he replied.
"Alright, Pradhan Ji."
The days slowly passed.
One day, the Pradhan said, "Son, pack your belongings. Also take some food for the journey, and carry enough water. There are very few water sources along the way. In some places, there is almost none. So take enough water so that we do not lose our way."
I did not realize it at first, but a day before we were supposed to leave, I discovered that the Pradhan had been giving me slow poison in my food.
I was feeling extremely weak.
I said to him, "Pradhan Ji, I am not feeling well. Can you take someone else with you?"
He replied, "No, son. I have never taken anyone else there. My friend owns a lot of gold and silver. I cannot take anyone else. Even if they return safely with me, they may later become greedy and harm my friend."
"That is why I want you to come with me. I know you well. There is no greed in your heart. You are innocent, strong, and agile. Until now, I have always gone alone. I have never taken anyone else."
"Rest now. We will leave tomorrow. You will feel better by then. Do not worry — you will not fall seriously ill."
"Alright, Pradhan Ji. I will rest. What time shall we leave tomorrow?"
"Shall we leave in the morning or in the afternoon?" I asked.
"We will leave tomorrow afternoon. The food and water will be ready; we just need to carry them and leave."
"Alright, as you say. I will be ready tomorrow afternoon with my belongings."
"My body is aching badly right now. I will go and rest."
I went to my room and started thinking. Ever since I had come to stay with the Pradhan, why had I started feeling so weak?
Thinking about all this, I fell asleep.
When I woke up, it felt as though I had woken up after many days.
I could not remember anything. It felt as if everything was slowly fading from my mind.
Suddenly, I screamed loudly, "Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh!"
The Pradhan and the accountant rushed into my room.
"What happened, son? Why did you scream so loudly? Did you see a bad dream?"
I looked at them in confusion and said, "Who are you? Who am I? What is my name? I want to go home."
The accountant said gently, "Son, this is your home."
Then he pointed to the Pradhan and said, "He is your father."
"My father?"
I looked at him and asked, "Papa, what is my name?"
The Pradhan replied, "Your name is Anuj Yaduvanshi."
"You are the son of an Ahir. Ahirs are very powerful people. They even fought in the Mahabharata."
The Pradhan seemed pleased, as his plan had become easier.
At twelve in the afternoon, he took me along.
On the way, I asked again, "Papa, what is my name?"
"Your name is Anuj Yaduvanshi," he replied patiently.
"Papa, who gave me this name? Why was I named Anuj? There are many other names."
"Because Anuj is a very good name," he said. "A holy man once told me that you are a very powerful child. He also said that you would always obey me."
"Now walk quietly. You are asking so many questions that my head is starting to hurt."
"Stay silent. Only speak if you are hungry."
"But where are we going?" I asked again.
"Can't you stay quiet?" he said sharply.
"Tell me, Father, where are we going?"
"I am taking you to your uncle."
"Where does Uncle live?"
"We are going to his house. In a few hours, we will reach."
"Okay, Father."
"Oh! I am going to Uncle's house! What does he look like? He won't scold me like you, right?"
"Why are you trying to make me angry?" he said. "Your uncle is a good man. He asked me to bring you to him. Why would he hurt you?"
"Now stay quiet, or I might lose the way."
"Alright, I will stay quiet."
We continued walking along the jungle path.
As we walked, evening slowly fell, and we were about to reach a cave.
I pointed and said, "Father, look over there — isn't that a deer?"
"Stay quiet, or it might attack us," he replied. "Look ahead — there is a cave. Let's go inside. I feel there might be a lion or a tiger nearby."
"Come quickly. And remember, do not say anything inside the cave, or a tiger might come."