The Secret of the Vilom Forest

Chapter 9 — Inhabitants of the Forest
Sagar, Rajesh, and Biran had been making their way through the forest for several hours. All around them, there were dense trees, tall grass, and the sounds of strange birds.
After traveling some distance, Biran suddenly stopped.
“There is a settlement ahead,” he said in a low voice.
Sagar looked closely. A faint wisp of smoke was rising from amidst the trees.
The three of them headed in that direction. A short while later, they spotted a small local tribal settlement in the heart of the forest. Some people were busy with their daily chores, while children played nearby.
As soon as the villagers saw the three strangers, they became alert.
Biran spoke to them in the local dialect, explaining that Sagar and Rajesh had come to gather information about the forest's ancient paths and historical sites.
After a while, an elder from the settlement approached them.
He studied Sagar closely and asked,
“Where do you wish to go inside the forest?”
Sagar placed his book, *Van Parv*, and the old map before him.
When the elder’s gaze fell upon a specific mark on the map, his expression turned grave.
“This mark...” he said softly, “very few people know about it.”
Rajesh asked eagerly,
“Do you know about this place?”
After remaining silent for a few moments, the elder pointed toward the depths of the forest.
“There is an old path in that direction. Our elders used to say that long ago, some people ventured along that path... but never returned.”
Sagar immediately asked,
“Does that path lead to Vilom Van?”
The elder did not give a direct answer. He simply said,
“If that is the place you are seeking, then proceed with great caution. Our people consider that part of the forest a forbidden zone.”
Sagar looked at Rajesh.
He was now convinced that the accounts in *Van Parv* were not merely a figment of imagination.
The mystery of Vilom Van now seemed more real than ever before.
Send feedback
Chapter 10 — The Chief’s Proposal
Sagar and Rajesh stayed in the tribal settlement for a while. The villagers welcomed them and spoke with them about their journey through the forest.
After some time, the village chief summoned Sagar. The chief’s daughter was also seated there.
The chief said to Sagar,
“You have come here all the way from a distant city. You possess courage and wish to understand the secrets of our forest. In accordance with our customs, we wish to make you a part of our family.”
Sagar was taken aback by this.
The chief clarified that he wished for his daughter to marry Sagar.
Rajesh looked at Sagar in astonishment. Sagar remained silent for a few moments; he had not expected such a proposal at all.
Sagar spoke respectfully,
“Chief, I am grateful for the great honor you have bestowed upon me. However, marriage is a momentous decision in life. I cannot give an answer without knowing your daughter’s wishes.”
The chief looked at his daughter and said,
“Here, too, her wishes are paramount. The final decision will be hers.”
Sagar breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, the quest for the *Vilom Van* (Inverted Forest) remained constantly on his mind.
He realized that since entering this forest, his journey had ceased to be merely a search for a mystery—he was now facing decisions that could alter the entire course of his life.
Chapter 11 — Shanti’s Decision
The Chief looked at his daughter. Silence descended upon the settlement for a few moments.
The Chief asked, “Shanti, this is a decision regarding your life. Do you agree to marry Sagar?”
Shanti looked at Sagar. He, too, stood quietly, waiting for her decision.
After a few moments, Shanti spoke in a soft but clear voice:
“Yes, I am ready for this marriage.”
Hearing this, a look of happiness spread across the Chief’s face. The people of the settlement also expressed their joy.
Rajesh stepped up to Sagar and whispered, “It seems our journey has taken a new turn.”
Sagar could not say a word. He was still processing the sudden proposal and Shanti’s decision.
Shanti said to Sagar:
“I chose you because you came all this way to uncover the secret of the Vilom Forest. But I want you to respect my traditions and those of my people.”
Bowing his head, Sagar replied:
“I will respect your decision and your family.”
The Chief announced that preparations for the wedding would begin the following day.
But a question still lingered in Sagar’s mind—
Would he be able to continue his quest for the Vilom Forest after the marriage?
And an even bigger question remained—
Did Shanti know a secret about the Vilom Forest that she was currently keeping from Sagar?
Send feedback
Chapter 12 — A Private Meeting
Evening had fallen. Darkness was slowly spreading across the settlement. People were returning to their homes.
Just then, Shanti beckoned Sagar to come closer.
“Sagar, I need to discuss something important with you in private.”
Sagar accompanied her to a quiet spot a short distance from the settlement. Trees surrounded the area, and a small stream flowed nearby.
Shanti remained silent for a while. Then, looking at Sagar, she said,
“You have come all this way in search of the Vilom Forest, haven't you?”
Sagar was startled.
“How do you know?”
Shanti spoke in a low voice,
“Because the story of the Vilom Forest has been passed down through generations in my family. My father told you only what he deemed necessary.”
Sagar asked eagerly,
“So, do you know where the Vilom Forest is?”
Shanti nodded.
“Yes... I have some information about the path to it. But going there is considered extremely dangerous.”
Sagar said,
“I have traveled this far solely in search of it. I simply must know the truth.”
Shanti studied him for a moment and then said,
“If you truly wish to go there, I can show you a path that outsiders do not know about.”
Surprise and curiosity were evident in Sagar’s eyes.
“Will you come with me?”
Shanti did not answer immediately.
She looked toward the forest and said softly,
“Perhaps... but before that, you must learn the greatest truth about the Vilom Forest.”
Sagar asked,
“What truth?”
Shanti turned toward him.
“No one who goes there returns the same way they left.”
Sagar remained silent for a few moments.
The mystery of the Vilom Forest had now deepened more than ever.
Send feedback
Shanti gazed at Sagar for a few moments; her expression was serious.
“I mean,” Shanti said softly, “a person who enters the Vilom Forest might return changed.”
Sagar asked in surprise, “But how?”
Shanti replied, “The forest’s primary rule is that the laws of nature there differ from those of the ordinary world. According to our elders, the moment someone crosses its boundary, the influence of the *Vilom*—the inversion—begins to take effect.”
Sagar suddenly recalled the tales of the ‘Van Parv’.
“Are you talking about that transformation... where a man becomes a woman and a woman becomes a man?”
Shanti nodded slowly.
“Yes. But it isn’t just a story. Our people have heard accounts of those who returned from the Vilom Forest.”
Sagar remained silent for a few moments.
“And were they never able to return to their former selves?”
“No,” Shanti said. “It is said that the change is permanent.”
Sagar looked toward the forest. Now, the woods seemed far more mysterious to him than before.
Shanti continued,
“That is why our people stay away from that place. But if you still wish to go there, I will show you the way.”
Sagar said in a firm voice,
“I have come this far to uncover the truth. I will not turn back now.”
Shanti looked at him and, for the first time, offered a faint smile.
“Then you must be prepared, Sagar. Because reaching the edge of the Vilom Forest will not be the end of our journey... it will be the beginning.”
Send feedback
Chapter 13 — A Pre-marriage Condition
Shanti remained silent for a while after hearing Sagar’s words. Then, in a serious tone, she said,
“Sagar, if you truly wish to enter the Vilom Forest, there is one thing you must understand first.”
Sagar asked, “What is it?”
Shanti replied, “According to our tradition, any outsider who crosses the boundary of the Vilom Forest must first enter into a marriage bond with a family from our community.”
Sagar was taken aback.
“But what does that have to do with entering the Vilom Forest?”
Shanti explained, “Our elders believe that after marriage, a person is never alone. If something changes for them inside the forest, there is someone of their own by their side to stand with them.”
Sagar took a deep breath. He realized this was no ordinary ritual.
Shanti continued,
“But I won’t force you. If you don’t wish to marry, then there is no need for you to go to the Vilom Forest either.”
Sagar pondered for a while. Before him lay a choice between a long-held secret and the most significant decision of his life.
Finally, he said,
“Shanti, I respect your wishes and your decision. But marriage is a monumental decision for me, too. I do not want to enter into it solely as a means to reach the Vilom Forest.”
Shanti listened carefully and spoke in a calm voice,
“That is the very answer I wanted to hear from you.”
Sagar looked at her in surprise.
Shanti smiled.
“If we ever do marry, it will not be because of a condition or out of fear, but because it is what we both truly desire.”
For the first time, Sagar felt a sense of ease.
Now, before his journey to the Vilom Forest, he had to make yet another crucial decision regarding his life.
Send feedback
Chapter 14 — Sagar’s Decision
Upon hearing Shanti’s words, Sagar remained silent for a while. He reflected on the entire situation. He did not want his marriage to serve merely as a means to reach Vilom Van.
Looking at Shanti, Sagar said,
“Shanti, I have made my decision. If we are to marry, it will happen only when both of us agree to it of our own free will. I do not want to force you into marriage because of some tradition or because of Vilom Van.”
Shanti listened to him and smiled.
“And I won’t force you either, Sagar. The marriage will take place only if we accept this relationship based on mutual understanding and our own desire.”
Sagar nodded.
“Then our decision is clear—first, we will understand each other, and then we will marry only with mutual consent.”
Shanti said,
“That is acceptable to me.”
They looked at each other. There was no longer any sense of compulsion between them; instead, there was mutual respect and trust.
In the distance, the wind was rustling through the trees of the forest. Somewhere deep within that very forest, Vilom Van awaited them.
But before reaching there, Sagar and Shanti had to make a final decision regarding their relationship.
Chapter 15 — The Marriage of Sagar and Shanti
The next morning, a distinct air of excitement filled the settlement. Sagar and Shanti had made it clear to everyone that they wished to marry of their own free will and mutual consent.
The village head asked them both one final time,
“Do you both fully consent to this marriage?”
Sagar replied in a calm voice,
“Yes, I consent.”
Shanti, too, said with a smile,
“Yes, I consent as well.”
The village head accepted their decision. Following this, the people of the settlement began wedding preparations in accordance with their traditions.
The settlement was adorned with flowers and foliage. In the evening, everyone gathered. Amidst traditional rituals, Sagar and Shanti pledged to stand by each other for life.
After the wedding ceremony concluded, Rajesh approached Sagar and said with a smile,
“Brother, you set out from Delhi in search of Vilom Van, and here you’ve made such a monumental decision about your life!”
Sagar smiled back.
Looking at him, Shanti said,
“Now, that is our next destination—Vilom Van.”
Sagar secured the ‘Van Parv’ book and the map.
“Yes. Now, together, we will unravel that mystery.”
In the distance, the sun was setting behind the dense forest. Darkness was gradually spreading, and somewhere beyond that darkness lay the hidden Vilom Van.
The next morning, their true quest was set to begin.
Chapter 16 — Staying Behind
After the wedding, Sagar called Rajesh and Biran over. There was a serious look on his face.
“Rajesh, Biran—Shanti and I will travel the path ahead together. You two should stay here in the settlement.”
Rajesh asked in surprise, “But why? I could come with you.”
Sagar spoke in a calm voice:
“The path ahead is unknown even to us. Shanti knows this forest and its traditions better than I do. If you stay here, you’ll be able to help us if the need arises.”
Biran, too, looked towards the forest and said:
“Sagar is right. The territory ahead isn't entirely familiar to me either. I’ll stay here and wait for your return.”
Rajesh remained silent for a few moments. Then, he placed his hand on Sagar’s shoulder.
“Alright. But be careful. If you run into any trouble, come back.”
Sagar smiled and said:
“Don’t worry. We’ll be careful.”
Shanti joined them as well.
“We’ll be back soon.”
Sagar picked up his bag. Inside, he had packed the ‘Van Parv’, an old map, and other essential items.
Then, Sagar and Shanti stepped forward into the depths of the forest.
Rajesh and Biran watched them go.
Before long, the two of them disappeared amidst the dense trees.
Their journey towards Vilom Van had now begun.
Shanti asked, “But what if we both change?”
Sagar smiled.
“Even then, one thing won’t change—we chose each other as life partners of our own free will.”
Shanti looked at him.
“So, for you, our relationship doesn’t depend merely on how we look?”
“Not at all,” Sagar said. “We married by mutual consent. The forest might alter our bodies or appearances, but the trust between us is something that belongs solely to us.”
A gentle smile appeared on Shanti’s face.
“So, no matter what happens to us in the Vilom Forest... we won’t let go of each other?”
Sagar said firmly,
“Yes. We are husband and wife, and we will remain so.”
The two continued walking in silence for a while.
Ahead, the forest was becoming even denser. They knew they were now drawing close to the Vilom Forest.
But this time, their hearts held more trust in each other than fear.
Chapter 17 — Together
Sagar and Shanti were moving slowly along the forest path. Dense trees surrounded them, and the sounds of birds accompanied their journey.
After walking some distance, Shanti broke the silence.
“Sagar, what if what is said about the Vilom Forest turns out to be true?”
Sagar looked at her.
“Are you talking about that transformation?”
Shanti nodded.
“Yes. If a person really changes after going there, what will happen?”
Sagar thought for a moment. Then, he spoke in a calm voice,
“Whatever happens, we will face it together.”
Shanti asked, “But what if we both change?”
Sagar smiled.
“Even then, one thing won’t change—we chose each other as life partners of our own free will.”
Shanti looked at him.
“So, for you, our relationship doesn’t depend merely on how we look?”
“Not at all,” Sagar said. “We married by mutual consent. The forest might alter our bodies or appearances, but the trust between us is something that belongs solely to us.”
A gentle smile appeared on Shanti’s face.
“So, no matter what happens to us in the Vilom Forest... we won’t let go of each other?”
Sagar said firmly,
“Yes. We are husband and wife, and we will remain so.”
The two continued walking in silence for a while.
Ahead, the forest was becoming even denser. They knew they were now drawing close to the Vilom Forest.
But this time, their hearts held more trust in each other than fear.
Chapter 18 — The Gateway to the Inverted Forest
Sagar and Shanti had been walking through the forest for quite some time. Suddenly, Shanti stopped.
“Sagar... look ahead.”
Sagar looked forward.
A massive stone gateway stood amidst the dense trees. Vines were entwined around it, and the stone bore the very same mysterious symbol they had seen on the ‘Forest Festival’ map.
Sagar slowly approached the gateway.
“This is it,” he said. “It is exactly the same mark as on the map.”
Something was inscribed above the gateway in ancient characters. Sagar cross-checked it with the book.
Shanti said in a low voice,
“The Inverted Forest begins beyond this point.”
Sagar tried to peer through the gateway. There was thick fog on the other side. The shadows of the trees formed strange shapes within that mist.
Just then, a strong gust of wind blew, and the dry vines hanging from the gateway began to sway.
Shanti grasped Sagar’s hand.
“Do you remember what we said on the way?”
Sagar looked at her.
“Yes. Come what may, we will stay together.”
They looked at each other and then stood before the gateway.
Sagar took a deep breath.
“Shanti... there is no turning back now.”
Shanti said firmly,
“Then let’s go together.”
Together, they took their first step through the gateway into the Inverted Forest.
Little did they know that with that very step, the greatest secret of their lives was about to be revealed to them.