The Legend from
Runisia
Vishal Kadiri
Copyright © 2021 Vishal Kadiri
All rights reserved.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Legends resemble folktales in content; they may include supernatural beings, elements of mythology, or explanations of natural phenomena, but they are associated with a particular locality or person and are told as a matter of history.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Cover design by: Vishal Kadiri
DEDICATION
To my family and friends
Today's science fiction is
tomorrow's science fact.
- Isaac Asimov
CONTENTS
DEDICATION
CONTENTS
Meghana Saxena
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Rahim Razak
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Aditi Sharma
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Meghana Saxena
Afterword
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meghana Saxena
Chapter I
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai.
12th August, 2011.
We all make mistakes and eventually learn to correct them. But, at what cost? Some mistakes are irrevocable, you cannot undo the pain you imposed on a person even though you realise it later. Ten days, since the horrific tragedy that traumatized Mumbai, many people lost their loved ones because of a single mistake committed by a faceless individual. Three blasts ripped through the country's financial capital within a minute’s time, precisely planned and executed at three different crowded places. I lost my closest friend in one of the blasts. It was her marriage next day; she was happily shopping jewellery for the special occasion of her life at Zaveri Bazaar on the day of bombing. The place is blown into pieces within seconds. Her new life ended, before it even started. Who will fill that void for her?
If I have learnt anything in this long life of mine, it is this; In love we find out who we want to be; in grief we find out who we are. Fluctuations in our lives are often contributions of decisions taken by people either the closest to us or complete strangers. You cannot control your life always. Mistakes are mere accidents that destroy lives, fairly because you were at the wrong place, probably at the wrong time.
A young boy from cabin crew, probably younger than me; shouts my name,
‘Miss Meghana Saxena?’ I turn around, ‘Yes.’
‘You need to wait for two more hours; your passport is with verification department.’ He informs in an apologetic tone and goes back to his position.
He signals his peer staff, a lady standing next to him; to guide me the way to waiting room. She looks like an intern. Young and gorgeous. I entered a tiny room stuffed with bunch of people reading newspapers and kids running from one end to another for no reason. Kids look much cute when they do things for no reason. After a tiring travel, back to hometown; it feels relieved. Can’t wait to go back to my bed and fall into an endless sleep.
‘Mam, you can order some breakfast from the Eating Corner, until your passport verification is complete.’ She left the room walking delicately, smiling at everyone.
Every passenger entering or exiting the Airport premises are thoroughly scanned. The amount of security measures being taken. Scares me. Mumbai as a city is still boiling and not out of its trauma yet. Adding to the pressure, there are flying rumours in the air, headlined by one the local news channels, possibility of another major bombing. People are petrified to step out of their houses. I guess, police department is hiding some sensitive information with regards to series of the blasts. I can sense an unwelcomed threat.
It echoes a negative vibe. People are often scared with secrets hidden from them rather facts. Nonetheless, we cannot just sit back and drag the past. When past is messed up, you need to start preparing for your future like the city Mumbai, that never fails to stand back on its feet. If you want food in your plate the next day, you need to work your ass out today. Mumbai, is not the place to sit, think, rest and then a take a decision. It whips at your back to run and achieve or you will be left behind.
It is taking longer than usual. Now, I understood, why they offer bunch of magazines at airports. I am brushing through numerous articles it has to offer from fashion world to wildlife photography and also useless Bollywood news like Paparazzi, Celebrity hook-ups and other nonsense. Reading is a good past time; you’ll get lost in time as you get deeper into the lucid articles. One will lose the track of the time as they start reading them and stare at infinite pictures it has to offer. Interestingly, I came across this big news article describing the horrible after effects of the Opera House blast. I was few metres away with my friends when it took place.
We heard a big blast. The building shook, the windows shattered. It was deafening. We came outside, and the sky was instantly filled with black smoke. There were bodies lying all over the street, blood flowing on tar roads, literally painting the road red in colour. We saw bodies with missing arms and limbs and their non-recognizable burnt faces. All the bloodshed and raw images have bought the horror back to my attention. I see young people protesting against the government for their carelessness. One of the slogans from an image caught by attention, where youngsters rallying on the roads with a piece of cloth extending from left to right.
NOT NUCLEAR BOMBS, HUMAN MINDSET IS THE WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION
I strongly believe that, desire to hurt other beings isn’t a natural feeling. There has to be a history of trauma behind such sensitive sin. I have interviews lined up with some terrorist and bombers who spent years in Jail but still have a burning desire to destroy the
