Chapter 29: From Silence to Society
Shon's POV
It has been six months since I came to Sundargiri and began training under Lord Hanuman himself.
I am now nine years and three months old.
It's hard to believe that nine months have passed since I left home. Sometimes I wonder how Radha Maa and Pitashree are doing. I miss them. I miss their warmth, their love, their scoldings... even their laughter echoing in our little home.
But I know why I'm here.
These six months have changed me. I've grown stronger—inside and out. I've mastered the basics of all the training exercises taught by Hanuman ji. From the strength-building routines to the meditative disciplines, I now have control over my thoughts and emotions.
Well... almost all of them.
There's still a little spark of mischief in me—but I like to think even that has matured a bit.
The results of my training were beyond what I ever expected.
It was like being reborn.
My body is not what it used to be. It's sharper, stronger, faster. There's power running through my muscles even when I'm standing still. I can leap higher, run faster, balance longer, and push past pain with a smile. But more than the strength, it's the awareness I've gained that surprises me.
My movements are smooth now. I feel lighter on my feet. I can glide through rocky trails and leap across branches like I was born here. My breath has rhythm. My eyes are sharper. I can hear the rustling of leaves before a breeze arrives.
But the greatest change happened inside.
Something deep within me has awakened.
I've begun to feel silence.
Not just the absence of sound—but the presence of peace. That sacred stillness between breaths, between thoughts. I crave that stillness now. Every morning, when I meditate beside my Guru, under the open sky with the mountain wind brushing against my face—I feel whole.
The discipline here... the simplicity of life... the routine of training, eating, praying, and sleeping—it's stripped away all the noise I never even knew I carried with me from my past life.
I don't miss phones, I don't miss modern life. I don't miss mirrors or fancy clothes. Here, the mountain is my teacher, the sky is my clock, and my Guru is my guide.
There are days I wake up with my body aching, sore from the previous day's training—but as soon as I begin, I feel alive again. My soul and body feel... connected. Balanced.
And Hanuman ji...
What do I even say about him?
He's more than a deity to me now. He's my mentor. My protector. My mountain of strength. He doesn't praise much, but when he does—even a slight nod—it means the world to me.
And when I stumble, he doesn't scold. He just says gently, "Try again."
So I do.
Again. And again. And again.
This journey is no longer about becoming strong.
It's about becoming worthy.
Worthy of the strength I'm given.
Worthy of the love I've received.
Worthy of the dharma I must one day protect.
Worthy of the path that destiny is laying before me.
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General POV
The sun was setting behind Sundargiri, casting long golden rays over the clearing. After another day of intense training, Shon was making his way to his resting place when Hanuman ji called out to him.
"Putra, wait."
Shon turned around, surprised, and quickly walked back to his Guru, folding his hands respectfully.
Hanuman ji stood tall, his expression calm but proud.
"You have shown remarkable progress," he said. "You have learned all the exercises I could teach. Your mind is steady, your body is strong, your spirit is maturing."
Shon nodded, listening silently.
"But now," Hanuman continued, "it is time to begin what you had originally asked of me—learning the path of devotion. Learning how to gain strength not from muscle, but from faith. From surrender. From service."
Shon's eyes lit up.
"But before I teach you that," Hanuman said, raising a hand, "you must prove that your mind and heart are truly ready. Devotion cannot be forced. It grows in the real world—amid people, among distractions."
Shon remained quiet, waiting for his instructions.
"You will go to Ayodhya," Hanuman said. "Live there among people for six months. Make friends. Help others. Be one of them. And then, after six months, return to me."
Shon bowed low. "As you wish, Gurudev."
Hanuman ji smiled. "Your journey begins at dawn tomorrow. Rest well tonight."
Shon touched his Guru's feet, then walked away silently, heart full.
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Shon's POV
That night, after taking a long bath in the sacred pond—the water felt even more healing than before—I lay down under the stars and closed my eyes.
Tomorrow, I return to Ayodhya.
I didn't expect to go back so soon. Part of me felt nervous. Another part… excited.
Not just because I'd see that city again.
But maybe…
Just maybe…
I'd see her again too.
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