It was about noon when they set out to begin their mango plucking adventure. As the Mango Grove was not far from the Purple Bamboo Grove, it did not take long for them to reach their destination.
When they arrived at the Mango Grove, they were surprised to see monkeys already enjoying the ripe mangos.
“Oh no, we need to hurry! The monkeys are eating all the sweet mangos!” Tara exclaimed.
With a basket in hand, Tara waited beneath the tree as Bo plucked the mangoes. Coco was wagging its tail, waiting for its turn to eat some mangos.
“These mangoes seem quite juicy! Here, try some,” Bo said as he split a mango in half and passed it to Tara.
With so many mangos in her palm, Tara wanted to share them with Coco. As she gave some to Coco, she did not notice a monkey that was eyeing the mangos from a nearby branch.
The money tried to distract Tara by throwing a stone at her back. When she turned her head reflexively, the monkey leaped from its perch and snatched the mango from her palm, before climbing up the tree and eating it.
Tara was furious. Standing with arms akimbo, she glared at the monkey relishing her mango.
“Monkeys are just so irritating!” Tara ranted indignantly with a frown.
Bo passed some mangos to Tara. “Ignore the monkeys. There are many more mangos for you here.”
As she was about to receive the cut mangos from Bo, a troop of monkeys swung down from the surrounding trees and grabbed all the mangos in the basket before retreating into the forest.
“Hey! You! Stop right there!” Tara shrieked, boiling with rage. Beside herself with anger, she could no longer resist the urge to chase after the mischievous monkeys.
“Don’t chase!” Bo wanted to go after Tara, but he was blocked by a troop of belligerent monkeys demanding more mangos. He cast a spell to disperse the monkeys. However, these monkeys were no ordinary monkeys; they were magical creatures empowered with the abilities to cast spells.
Baring its teeth and chattering aggressively, the leader of the monkey initiated a retaliation against Bo. Actually, Bo did not want to hurt the monkeys; he merely wanted to go after Tara who might be in danger anytime. Nevertheless, he was forced to engage in a magical battle with the monkeys.
“Stop rascals! Stop!”
As she was in hot pursuit, flashes of memories of the day in Pulau Ubin came back to her. She remembered how she was lost in Pulau Ubin and then met Bo who rescued her.
As Tara was so focused on looking up at the monkeys swinging in the trees, she did not notice the river in front of her. When she reached the edge of the river, she slipped and fell into the rapids.
“Help! Bo, help!” Tara shrilled, struggling to stay afloat as the merciless rapids pulled her to the waterfall.
As she fell from the waterfall, gulping in water and flailing her arms helplessly, all her past memories came back to her. She remembered the tragic event that ensued on her wedding day when all her loved ones and closest relatives were drowned. She also remembered who she was before she lost consciousness, on the fateful sleigh ride.
Meanwhile, Bo, who was engaged in a magical battle with the monkeys, extricated himself by magically harvesting most of the mangos for the monkeys.
He ran toward the rapids and saw Tara falling into the gushing waterfall. Without hesitation, he dove into the waterfall with both his palms pressed together and his arms stretched out straight.
Tara was unconscious and had stopped breathing by the time Bo pulled her from the churning water. Holding Tara with his left arm, Bo placed his right palm on her heart and then breathed out a ball of golden white light which entered her mouth. Soon, Tara coughed out some water and started to breathe again.
“Bo … Bo…” Tara opened her eyes slowly. Bo first looked blurry and slowly became clear to her tired eyes in a few seconds.
“Rest assured, everything will be fine. Let me carry you home,” Bo said, carrying Tara, who was still weak from drowning.
“I remember all of my past…” Tara said, tears streaming down from her despondent eyes. Intense pain stabbed her heart when she thought of her deceased mother and the freak tragedy on her wedding day. “I lost all of my loved ones on my wedding day…and I miss them very much,” Tara said as she started sobbing tearfully, unable to contain the overwhelming grief that engulfed her when thinking about the tragedy.
Bo knew she would remember everything on her own and discover the truth of who she was one day. Tara tired to soothe herself as she buried her head deeper into the muscular, broad shoulder of Bo.
It began to drizzle as they went back to Zen Hermitage. Each raindrop was like a kaleidoscope to view one’s past and the elixir to heal one’s afflictions.
CHAPTER 11
THE STARRY NIGHT
The drizzling rain was making pitter patter sounds on the window. The orchestra of the crickets and the toads brought back some of Tara’s childhood memories as she sat beside the window, watching the falling rain.
Bo played a poignant and soulful melody that had the power to temporarily washed away her grief and feeling of loss, bringing her back to the balanced state of peaceful equanimity.
Listening to Bo’s ethereal melodies inspired Tara to dance to her heart’s content again. Dancing was a balm to her broken heart.
The rain ceased eventually, and Tara was exhausted after all the dancing. It was already dark outside but she wanted to get some fresh air to lift her heavy heart.
As usual, Bo always made her dreams come true so long as it was within his means. So, he took her to the cliff where they watched the sunrise.
It was a chilly night and the blustering wind was relentless. After conjuring up a mat for Tara to sit on, Bo conjured a cloak and helped her put it on, knowing that the bamboo outfit she wore was not enough to ward off the chill.
It was pitch-black as Bo paused his natural body shimmer from shining for this moment as complete darkness was ideal for stargazing. Bo could see clearly even in complete darkness but for Tara, the only things she could see were the immeasurable tiny, brilliant stars in the sky. Tara wanted support and orientation in the darkness. She reached for his strong arm and wrapped her arm around it, which brought her much comfort and assurance, as she was with someone she trusted.
The area was pitch-dark. But the sequin-silver stars enveloping almost the entire sky were gloriously magnificent, illuminating the atramentous curtain in the sky.
Tara gazed up at the star-studded night sky. A shooting star streaked across the vast firmament. “Wow, the stars are simply magnificent! The Universe humbles me,” smiled Tara, her eyes closed as she stood tall with her arms stretched out, trying to embrace the energy of the vast Universe within her. The heaviness in her heart melted into the ocean of glittering stars.
After a while, Tara was lifted from the veil of her gloomy memories. She sat down beside Bo and said, “Remembering my past and knowing who I was is just so distressing.”
“Tara, you have a lion-heart, strong and fearless. Challenges are merely stepping stones for you to mold your character toward empowerment,” Bo encouraged Tara. “Have faith in your inner light and everything will be alright.”
Bo thought it was the right time to share something about himself with Tara.
“You were in the Parallel Universe when you met me under the Banyan Tree,” said Bo in a calm and dispassionate voice.
“I thought the Parallel Universe only exists in the imagination of people who believe in the Bermuda Triangle,” said Tara, bemused.
“The Parallel Universe is a natural phenomenon on Earth. It doesn’t just occur in the Bermuda Triangle but everywhere around us. When there is an internal and external electromagnetic interference, a natural warp exists between you and the environment, and you find yourself unwittingly entering a different realm,” said Bo.
“People, animals and even objects can accidentally find themselves being sucked into the Parallel Universe when they are in the immediate vicinity of a warp. Sometimes peo
ple can return to where they come from after several hours, days or years. Most often, however, they never return. Time has stopped for these people who are trapped in the Parallel Universe. They do not need to eat or drink as there is no need to do so.”
“Will they die in the Parallel Universe?” Tara asked, casting a quizzical look at Bo.
“In the Parallel Universe, death only occurs by suicide or accident. Death is the greatest release for those stuck in the Parallel Universe because they are finally liberated to continue the cycles of rebirth.”
Tara’s curiosity was piqued. “So, how did you end up in the Parallel Universe under the Banyan Tree?”
“I had been living in Okinawa, Japan before I accidentally stumbled onto a staircase portal that teleported me to Pulau Ubin. When I arrived at Pulau Ubin, I unwittingly destroyed an enormous banana tree, which was the dwelling place of the Banshee Queen. Enraged, she wanted to take revenge. But the moment she saw me, her mind was changed; instead of taking revenge, she insisted me to marry her thrice but I rejected her each time. In a fit of fury, she imprisoned me with a vicious curse at the Banyan Tree: if I were to escape through my own divine powers, the marriage would have been sealed and done. Therefore, I chose to be incarcerated.”
“Trapped in the Banyan Tree for a thousand years, I was liberated when you came along, uttering the holy name of Guan Yin that dissolved the curse. Thank you Tara. Had it not been for your faith, I would not have been able to escape from Banshee Queen’s imprisonment,” said Bo with a voice filled with deep gratitude.
Tara was speechless, listening to the incredible story of Bo.
“I was not born on Earth; I came from the star right up there,” said Bo, pointing to the brilliant star in the sky. “I don’t have parents. I was created from scratch by the spiritually advanced giant humans on the Planet of Toba. They have the knowledge and advanced biotechnology to create any beings dwelling on any planets.”
“You are an alien?” Tara blurted out, her jaw dropped, and her eyes opened wide.
“Alien is not a respectful term to describe us. We are humans, just like you, but slightly different from you in biological and genetic makeup. I was sent on a mission to save the degenerate humanity on Earth. However, my spaceship collided with an asteroid and crashed in Japan. All my companions died in the crash or succumbed to viral-bacterial incompatibility. I was on the brink of death when a mysterious person draped in golden white light saved me by giving me a drop of elixir from the Snow Lotus. From then on, I was immune to all types of poisons, viral and bacterial infections.”
“Last night, I received a divine instruction during my samadhi meditation: I need to harvest the Snow Lotus from Mount Sumeru for you. As the Snow Lotus is visible only to those who have previously consumed it, I am empowered to harvest the Snow Lotus.”
Initially, Tara was touched by Bo’s decision to help make life easy for her in this strange world. However, she then realized that Bo was going to be leaving her soon. Tara became panic-stricken. She had lost all her loved ones and now that she was in an unknown world, Bo was her only trusted companion. Not wanting Bo to leave her alone, she quickly threw her arms around Bo’s muscular torso.
“No! I don’t want any Snow Lotus! I only want you,” she pleaded with Bo. “Please don’t leave me alone. I have lost all my loved ones and I don’t want to lose you too.”
“If you have the Snow Lotus, you will be impervious to all kinds of poisons and protected from all viral and bacterial diseases,” said Bo calmly as he placed his right palm upon Tara’s hand. “I will be leaving tomorrow to harvest one Snow Lotus for you. Your health and longevity are my constant prayers.”
“Please…please don’t leave me alone in this merciless world of wilderness. I love you, Bo, I really do. All I want is for you to be by my side forever. Your presence is my constant prayer,” Tara cracked, tears gushing down from her eyes.
“Tara, I am a special human from outer space and my genetic make-up is not compatible with yours. I have blue blood in me, and I do not wish to put your life at risk due to our biological incompatibility. I promise to be your big brother and you will always be my beloved sister, that’s the best for both of us,” said Bo with a gentle voice. “The most beautiful love is never the romantic love between a husband and wife; it is always the unconditional love that is universal, egalitarian, and transcendent.”
Tara’s infatuation toward Bo knew no bounds, and it was difficult for her to accept the fact that she would never become Bo’s wife. A part of her was treating Bo as a replacement for Prakash because they shared similar personality traits. Refusing to accept this, she continued to embrace him tightly, not caring whether he liked it or not.
“Rest assured. You will be fine, and Coco is around to accompany you. I will cast a protective shield around the Zen Hermitage so that no one can perceive your presence when I am not around. Promise me not to cross the protective line, no matter what happens,” said Bo. “It’s getting late. Let’s go back home.”
Tara was too distracted by her own ponderings to pay attention to Bo’s caution.
Morning came and Bo was ready to embark on his journey to harvest the Celestial Mountain Snow Lotus on Mount Sumeru.
“Tara, listen carefully. I will draw a circle to demarcate the territory of protection for you. Remember not to cross over the line, no matter what happens. Once you cross the line, your presence may be detected and your life might be in peril,” cautioned Bo.
Tara nodded her head mindlessly. Seeing Bo leave saddened her heart. She was not in the mood to listen attentively.
“Bo, you taught me how to create a paixiao[5] using bamboo. I know you love music and I would like to give you this paixiao that we created together as a parting gift,” said Tara, her heart aching with reluctance. “I hope you like it and will always remember me.”
Bo accepted the paixiao from her, and he was moved for the first time. “Thank you, Tara,” he said, looking into her green eyes with tenderness, gratitude, and a little reluctance to leave her.
Having said that, Bo took a stick and drew a circle to demarcate the territory that was wide enough to include the well, a small gardening plot, and a narrow area of the bamboo grove. After that, he rode on a cloud that served as his heavenly vehicle to transport him to the celestial realm.
One whole week had passed in peace. The late spring was lovely with flowers blossoming gracefully, birds singing delightfully and the gentle wind whispering to Tara.
One late morning, Tara was busy pulling water from the well and bringing it to the kitchen to prepare her lunch. It was by no means an easy task to accomplish because Bo had been doing the work all the time. Exhausted, she decided to take a break and sit on the bamboo stool outside the hut.
It didn’t take long for her mind to drift back to the time when Bo identified the land with the water source and started digging into the soil to create a well.
“The parched soil becomes muddy. It’s a sign that the source of water is near,” said Bo, continuing to dig the soil deeper and deeper. “Remember, never giving up is the secret to ultimate victory.”
Soon, water gushed out from the depth of the well. When the first bucket of water was pulled out from the well, Tara was over the moon. Her inner child was aroused, and she started splashing water all over Bo, who just let her play but did not retaliate in kind. It was a sweet memory.
Her reverie was interrupted by Coco’s hysterical barking. Standing just before the imaginary line, Coco was barking uncontrollably but it dared not step beyond the line.
Tara went over to check on Coco. “Coco, what is happening? Are you alright?”
When she followed Coco’s line of sight, she gasped seeing a huge falcon, which was shot down by an arrow. Bleeding profusely from the wound, the falcon was on the brink of death.
Tara’s instinctive love and compassion for animals was immeasurable; the only thought that preoccupied her mind was to save the falcon. Though Bo had warned her to not
cross the protective line, her concern for the animal overpowered her fear.
Without any hesitation, she stepped out of the line and sprinted toward the falcon.
“Oh dear, it must be painful for you. Just bear with me for a moment. You will be fine. Don’t worry,” said Tara, her heart filled with empathy for the creature.
As she was about to pull the arrow from the falcon’s body, an army of soldiers came charging across the plain. “The garuda is there! We found the garuda!”
“Garuda?” Tara was startled when she heard the voices. How could it be a garuda when it is obviously a falcon? When she turned her head, she was horrified to see so many hawkish-looking soldiers marching towards her.
“Send her back to the palace!” commanded the Chief who had the body of a human but the head of a great white shark.
“Yes sir!” The soldiers also had the bodies of a human but their heads were those of various sea creatures such as a fish, crab, and octopus. Two of these soldiers marched swiftly over and grabbed Tara by the arm.
“Let go of me!” shrieked Tara. “Who are you? You have no right to seize me!”
Coco darted over in an attempt to stop the soldiers from seizing Tara by biting their legs. Alarmed, the bulky, octopus-headed soldier did not hesitate to thrust his bayonet into Coco’s heart.
“Coco! No!” Gripped by terror and grief, Tara flailed her arms wildly and tears gushed down her cheeks uncontrollably. She struggled in an attempt to break free from the soldiers’ grip.
The octopus-looking soldier used the bayonet to knock her off unconscious.
Meanwhile, Bo, who was still flying in the sky searching for the Snow Lotus, felt a pang of sharp piercing pain in his heart. The moment he placed his right hand on his heart, he instinctively knew that Tara was in trouble.
CHAPTER 12
Tara Zenyora : and the Seven-Jeweled Lighthouse Page 8