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Don't Fall Asleep Episode Twenty Five - The Invaders
1st Century, 57 BCE: Forest area near Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, IndiaSuddenly, horse hoofs could be heard from within the forest. A man was found: head ensconced in helmet, red metal coat draped around his body, sword dangling from the waist. He was dressed differently from the other soldiers of the regiment. As the man neared them Vikram gestured the other soldiers to move away. The stranger got down from his horse and saluted the chief, then whispered something into his ear. Soon the regiment was following the man back into the forest. They found it hard to believe that they were negotiating the same trails, bends around trees which they had been doing a little ago. Every nook and corner of the forest appeared new. It seemed the forest had got transformed and it appeared to be enchanting now instead of being fearsome. After riding for sometime which appeared like eternity the soldier made a sign to halt before a cave which seemed to have suddenly sprung up. There was a large boulder
Don't Fall Asleep Episode Twenty Six - Shakaditya's Fall
1st Century, 57 BCE: Shakaditya's secret chamber, Ujjain fort, Madhya Pradesh, India The first time Shakaditya set his eyes on Nandini he had been smitten by her beauty. Having heard about the wife of the governor of Malwa - once a territory of Shaka rule, Shakaditya died to catch a glimpse of her. Shakaditya had heard that Shankha despised her over his other wives, but even if it wasn't the case, he knew Shankha wouldn't object - so very ambitious he was of becoming a king and so worthless he was as a governor in his present role. A meeting was arranged through him. But as Indian women were not allowed to come outdoors and meet a male guest, except through a curtain placed between them - which offered restricted visibility, a new scheme was planned. It was decided that the visitor would be allowed to have a peek of the lady through the reflection in mirror, during the time she'd be taking her shower. A special location would be fixed for him in the royal mansion from where he'd have
Don't Fall Asleep Episode Twenty Seven - Vikram Samvat Era Begins
1st Century, 57 BCE: Shankha's hidden chamber, somewhere in Malwa, West-Central IndiaSuddenly the door of Shankha's secret chamber opened and he found himself staring at a figure shrouded in darkness. As the figure tiptoed into the room, the layers of darkness peeled off from it's body one by one and Shankha's eyes went wide recognising him.'You? But how could you?''You didn't expect to see me brother, did you? Hold on there's another shock in store for you. You took so much trouble to find out Nandini's secret lover, isn't it? Lo .. here he is standing right before you. I'm so sorry but your witchcraft failed to even make a scratch on my skin' 'So it is you? Unbelievable! How couldn't I guess! The one I had been searching everywhere except my home was the one who has been engaged in adultery right under my nose. O why didn't I pay heed to the murmurings behind my back? Why couldn't I read it on their faces .. why did I think my men were ashamed of their inability to carry out my
Don't Fall Asleep Episode Twenty Eight - The Train Encounter
Present Day: On a train from Kolkata bound for Goa, somewhere near Balasore, Orissa.There was blood, only blood around him. It seemed he had fallen inside a whirlpool of blood and was being sucked inside. The more he flailed his arms to raise himself, the more he got dragged inside. He remembered last time Shivangi to have gone through the same ordeal at her sister's flat. These hallucinatory experiences had started after he met Shivangi. Was he connected to her in her previous life too? The taste of metal and salt made him feel like retching. He could hear voices in his head .. war cries rising to the sound of clarions and drums .. silenced by the slash of metallic weapons. The sound of horses' hooves, running of feet, clash of swords continued unabated. Elephants roared, horses neighed, vultures swooped down on the dead, jackals and hyenas waited for their turn to claim their share of flesh. The river Shipra turned red with blood in no time. .A horse rider was storming through the
Don't Fall Asleep Episode Twenty Nine - The Devil Strikes
As he found himself lifted into the air with his head banging on the compartment ceiling Arunava closed his eyes and waited. He waited for he knew he stood little chance of fighting back. But the last confrontation with the masked man at Shivangi's flat and now these dreams had made him consider the myth about incarnations he had read in fictional novels. According to the rebirth theory if he was really an avataar of Vikramaditya he knew there must be a greater purpose in his life and he wasn't going to die without having attained it. He waited for the creature of the other world to discover the birth mark on his chest. It seemed to read his feelings and suddenly driving him up the wall broke down into peals of laughter - the maniacal laughter Arunava was accustomed of hearing.'So you thought I'd get pissed off seeing just a tattoo? You forget my friend that I'm not dead like other soldiers of the great Vetaal's army. No, no don't give me that all-knowing look. Neither am I alive. I
Don't Fall Asleep Episode Thirty - Vishnu's Sword
Suddenly he felt a hand pull him away and close a door behind. There was a flicker of light and it appeared someone had lit a candle. Then everything went black around him again. When he regained consciousness he found himself lying on a cot with a pillow tucked under his head. It was day and the sunlight was streaming through the openings in the white coloured walls around him. The fragrance of agarbattis filled the room. A fair, benign, saintly man in his mind sixties was caressing his forehead. The man had long, curly hairs, a tilak drawn on his forehead and a soothing smile. In his other hand he held a rudraksha garland. 'Where am I?' Arunava asked and tried to get up. But the man gently laid him down saying 'Not now, now, you are still weak, my son' Then looking at the inquisitive expression on his face took him into confidence. 'You are in safe hands now. Don't worry. Take some more rest. Come, have this glass of milk first. Then some breakfast. I'm sure you haven't had anythin
Don't Fall Asleep Episode Thirty One - The Chase
A man was walking leisurely down the road. When Arunava asked where the nearest bus stop was he measured him with a mixed expression of surprise and irritation. 'No buses ply in this road. You seem to be a newcomer to this area. What happened? Your car broke down? Hmmm .. there's a mechanic who lives three kilometres down here. I can give you his number. But I need ..'Arunava knew what he needed. At other times he would've slapped him twice. Once for seeking bribe from a police officer and twice for talking too much without listening; but now in a remote place several kilometres away from Kolkata, in a devastated condition; he needed help desperately. He had tried to reach railway enquiry on mobile but could not. The internet had also stopped working. The man seemed to be a local from his accent. His torn clothes, sewed at places and a large jute bag on his shoulders told him that he was a vagabond, probably a ragpicker.. 'I want to reach the nearest railway station quickly. How far i
Don't Fall Asleep Episode Thirty Two - Dad's Not The Same
It was a December night at Kolkata before Christmas. The cold had just started to show it's teeth and nails. A time when people hid themselves inside the trusting sheathe of blankets and quilts.However, barely a month more would the residents of the city be lucky enough to get a taste of winter. For the rest of the year the tiresome humidity and untimely rainfall awaited them. Perhaps I should've said a number of people and not all when I said people slept peacefully inside the cosy comforts of blankets and quilts. For many weren't lucky enough to procure them or to even have a roof above their heads for that matter. These hapless people who were generally beggars or ragpickers lighted little fires with twigs and dry leaves of trees. Often stray dogs joined them in their struggle to somehow pass away the night and long for the mercy of sun god when his seven horses would spread radiance and heat into the earth and rescue them from their state of helplessness. And this hope and wait c
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- Don't Fall Asleep Episode Thirty Four - Lost
- Don't Fall Asleep Episode Thirty Three - Wait for me in your dreams
- Don't Fall Asleep Episode Thirty Two - Dad's Not The Same
- Don't Fall Asleep Episode Thirty One - The Chase
- Don't Fall Asleep Episode Thirty - Vishnu's Sword
- Don't Fall Asleep Episode Twenty Nine - The Devil Strikes
- Don't Fall Asleep Episode Twenty Eight - The Train Encounter
- Don't Fall Asleep Episode Twenty Seven - Vikram Samvat Era Begins
- Don't Fall Asleep Episode Twenty Six - Shakaditya's Fall