leader

"... together, we'd march into the new world. You and I, alike- as equals. There would soon be a dawn- that would last forever. The trees- green forever. Birds- chirping forever. And men- awake, forever..."

The crowd cheered in a mad frenzy. There was a glint of hope and joy in all those eyes, that could easily be mistaken for insanity! People of the Earth.

"..do you think if he could see me now"? said Govardhan, unsure of what the reply would be.

"Are you crazy!? Don't you have eyes? He's addressing almost 5000 people out there!"- came the reply.

Govardhan knew that this could not wait for long. He looked at the crowd gathered there, for a while.

"..What should we do, if we need all of that? Can we make it possible"?

"YES!!! YES!!!"

He heard them shout in unison. He felt, as though the entire nation's cry echoed from that crowd.

"How?"

S.i.l.e.n.c.e...

Everyone wants to change the world. Everyone wants peace and prosperity. Everyone wants their voices to be heard. But the question always remained though- 'How'? And there would be a door opened, only when there would be an answer to that question.

Govardhan could not wait anymore.

"Das bhai! Please try and understand. This is urgent. And I am sure that he would want to hear it right away.."

Das looked at Govardhan. He was, probably, for the first time seeing him closely. There was a sure mark of panic on his face that was usually calm and composed. Das knew what must be done.

"... I shall tell you how. Friends, I shall tell you the secret to change the world! I shall show you the doors that would lead you into a paradise! Into Utopia! I shall...."

There was a pause. The crowd could see that their 'Leader' was temporarily interrupted by some unknown person. They would wait for him. They knew that their 'Leader' would soon come back to them. Tell them the secret to the new world. Lead them into the heaven... They would wait.

Das returned to Govardhan. He whispered something to Govardhan.

"... So my friends! Would you be with me??"

"YES!!! YES!!!" They chorused.

"I need you to give me your word upon that. The world now, is filled with jackals and other scavengers- who wait for the others to fall. And the moment they do- they never, would have another chance to raise up! I need all the help that I can get from you. WE SHOULD UNITE OUR HANDS AND LIGHT UP THE FIRE TO WARD THEM OFF! YOU, my brothers, YOU are the future. YOU are my strength! Your hands on mine- together we would hunt them! Drive them off to their dens and close their gates! DO I HAVE YOUR WORD"?

"YES!! YES!!!"

Govardhan hurried back- making sure that there was no one apart from him and his shadow. He walked fast- past the crowd. Past the people of the Earth.

He soon reached the end of the ground- away from the crowd. There was just one other shadow, behind the tree. The shadow, probably sensed that someone was coming near. So, it let the light fall upon it. There stood a man now, facing Govardhan. He was smirking.

"Well. what does he say"?

"He does not agree. And he's definitely not pleased by the way you are trying to deal with him", replied Govardhan.

"He said that, did he? The 'Leader'? He knows that if this news gets out, let alone being 'Leader'; he very well knows what he'd become! Did he tell you that too? That..."

"Yes, he did. But he says that he has still got one work for you. And he said that you, and only you can do it for him", said Govardhan, his eyes, never leaving the other man's face. He was a master. He knew how to handle men. He knew- that one blink of an eye- and he'd lose the man.

".... I AM GOING TO BRING YOU CHANGE!"

The clap was so loud that the whole ground was vibrating to the rhythm of the clap!

"Brothers! Listen to me carefully. There are forces around that are trying to take away things from you- that are yours. We must identify those forces. We must not let them take away our happiness! We need to be together. We need to control those forces together. We are the brothers. Brothers, who would fight with these forces. We would form an army of power and love- a combination that could never be broken by any force upon this Earth. We would march together into the new world! Would you walk along with me, my brother? I am prepared to shed the last drop of my blood for the new world! Would you shed your blood with me? Would you give your life today, so that there could be a smile upon your child's face, tomorrow? WOULD YOU....."

There was an abrupt pause. Every single eye turned towards the back of the ground... Towards those blazing flames from a moving pyre...