Pratik stopped making his bed and started listening to Gaurav.

“ Fourteen years ago, it was her birthday. On account of that, dad planned a picnic trip. Sara was special to our family. She was born on the Twenty-Ninth of February, one of the rarest birthdates on earth. Though we celebrate her birthday every year on the Twenty-Eighth of February, we celebrate it regally for every four years. That day also we prepared a surprise for Sara, but it will be completed in the evening. To keep her away from home till evening, dad planned for a picnic trip.

Before day night, mom, dad, and I were discussing where to go. At that time mom said about the pond on the hill. Only she knows about that, so we thought it would also be a surprise for Sara as she doesn’t know about that place. So on her birthday, we went to that pond.

While going to the pond, “ Mom what is special about the place we are going. What is special about Anagdhana hill? ” Sara asked mom. Then mom replied to her, “ The name itself is special. Anag which means charming and dhana which means wealth. Anagdhana hill got it’s name because it is full of charming beauty of nature. The place we are going is one of them, which no one else knows. ” Then Sara said, “ I am waiting for it mom. ”

After traveling for a short distance we reached the place. We parked the car aside and went to the pond with small luggage. As we moved inside, the site was becoming more and more beautiful. Sara was full of joy. Finally, we reached the pond. 

Sara and I were hopping with joy. Dad laid a mat, and mom has set everything for lunch. We played for some time and had our lunch enjoying the scenery around, the chirping of different kinds of birds, fresh and pleasant air, the environment around there. I just loved that trip. After having our lunch, Sara and I asked dad permission to play and watch around that place. Dad accepted, but mom refused.

I was four at that time and was very stubborn. I was behind Sara, asking her to take permission from mom. After requesting again and again, mom agreed to let us go. “ Don’t go much far, be around here. ” mom said that and we agreed.

We were playing like that and went farther from the pond without knowing. I don’t know how but I felt the same way back at university. I had a strange feeling. I could not understand what it was, but sure that it was not a good one. I told Sara that I am scared. We thought to go back to the pond.

We were moving here and there. We walked for a long distance, but we did not see any place which we saw while playing. We understood that we lost the way and started yelling, “ Mom!!!! Dad!!! ” They were far away from us, so they were unable to hear us. We don’t know about that, and we continued yelling. 

At that moment, I saw a spike was dashing towards Sara. I noticed that spike that was coming with an incredible speed and pushed her. That spike has hit the tree behind her breaking it into two pieces from the point where it hit the tree.

‘Growls’  We heard growls, then we looked back, it was the same beast again, which is ready to deliver another hit.

We were panicked. Sara held my hand, and we started running. The beast followed us and was attacking us at the same time. I was able to sense from where the spike was coming, I was telling Sara about the direction and she was altering the way she is running according to that. I was four, and Sara was nine years old.

The speed at which she was running was way too different from my speed which started improving just a few days before. Due to the vast difference in our speed, I was unable to catch Sara’s pace. She was holding my hand and I was slower than her, because of that I lost my balance and fell. 

I stood up and tried to run again, but it was of no avail. At that time beast came close to us. Yet, we have not given up and started running because I can understand the danger even though I was small. Beast came pretty close to us, leaving Sara no choice. She pushed me aside, and I slid sideways, lost balance, and was about to fall again. But I took the support of the tree there, and my face was towards the ground. 

“ AAGGRRHH!!! ” I heard the scream of Sara. I looked towards her, but… I could only see the bloodstains.

‘Silence’

Both Sara and Beast disappeared. No one was around. I was the only one present. It was hushed that I was able to hear the sound of my heartbeat and also the sound of the blowing wind.

( What happened just now? Is Sara dead? If so, then I am the one responsible for that, right? ) All those questions were striking my brain in that calm atmosphere.

I collapsed there with a blank mind. Beast appeared again. It was not the one that will use spikes. This beast has shark claws and teeth with a huge body. It started rushing towards me.

I did not try to escape because I was out of energy to run. However, I had no intention to run. I did not have any hope in my life. Someone important to me was dead because of me. I cannot live the remaining life carrying that incident. 

I was ready to die, and the beast was rushing towards me. It was on the verge of lacerating my heart with its claws, and a spear from somewhere among the trees has plunged its neck, splurting the blood out and also on my face.

Four men came out of hiding to me. One of them removed the spear from its neck. Another one has separated the head from its body with his sword.

One among them looked old but was very energetic. He picked me up, cleaned my face with a piece of cloth, and asked my name.

His gentle look gave me a comfortable feel. The way he cleaned my face reminded me of my mom. He was not someone else but The First Guardian.

It was the first time I met him.