The sheer energy of Varanasi was intoxicating, but also isolating. Kunal spent his first full day after arriving simply walking, absorbing, trying to navigate the ancient city's chaotic rhythms while simultaneously mapping its potential for the gyaan ki khoj (search for knowledge) he now knew he must undertake. The ghats pulsed with life and devotion, scholars debated under umbrellas near ancient temples, the grounds of Banaras Hindu University hummed with modern academic pursuit, yet finding the specific, unconventional minds he needed – those who could bridge millennia-old wisdom with the foundational principles of reality hinted at by the Shunya Codex – felt like searching for a single, specific prayer bead lost somewhere along the vast Ganges. Ananya's remote research was invaluable, Abhishek's security oversight essential, but here, on the ground, he needed a different kind of support. Someone with energy, connections, an adventurous spirit, and crucially, someone he trusted implicitly.
His thoughts turned, inevitably, to Vaibhav Tiwari. (बिल्ला - Billa). His childhood friend, the one who'd always chafed against convention, the घुमक्कड़ (ghumakkad - wanderer) who seemed to know someone in every corner of the country. While Kunal had pursued engineering and analysis, Billa had pursued experiences, collecting stories and contacts like currency. If anyone could help navigate the intricate human landscape of Kashi and beyond to find unique minds, it was him. The idea felt right, resonating with the need for trusted allies in this intensifying war. He pulled out the burner phone.
"क्या बात है भाईसाहब!( "Kya baat hai bhaisahab!") Vaibhav's voice crackled over the line, instantly recognizable, brimming with energy even through the phone. "Calling me out of the blue! Everything okay? Last I heard you were ruling the corporate world."
Kunal smiled, the familiar nickname and respectful address warming him despite the circumstances. "सब ठीक है, (Everything's okay,) just… different now." He took a breath. "I quit the job a while back."
"Quit? Seriously? वाह! (Wah! -Wow!) Finally saw the light, huh? So, what's the plan? Chilling? Travelling?"
"Travelling, yes," Kunal confirmed. "That's why I'm calling. I'm in Kashi right now."
"Kashi! Awesome! What are you doing there?"
Kunal decided to take the plunge, trusting Billa with the core ambition, if not the supernatural danger. "It's… a big project, yaar. Kind of crazy, maybe. I'm planning a startup, something based on… well, on language. I need to travel across India, find very specific people – linguists, mathematicians, philosophers, people deeply familiar with ancient Indian knowledge systems, especially Sanskrit grammar like Panini's, Vedic math, esoteric philosophies…"
"Whoa, hold on," Vaibhav interrupted, intrigued. "You're starting a tech company based on findings by ancient scholars?"
"Sort of," Kunal elaborated carefully. "The core idea is to create a completely new language from scratch, drawing from the deep structural logic found in sources like Panini, potentially Vedic principles… a language perfectly designed for a new generation of technology I have in mind. But to do that, I need the right minds, people who think differently, who bridge ancient wisdom and future possibilities. So, phase one is this journey – finding those people."
There was a moment of silence, then an explosion of enthusiasm from Vaibhav. "भाई! नई भाषा? (Bhai! New language?) From scratch? Based on ancient stuff? For future tech? Yaar, this isn't crazy, this is epic! Forget your boring analysis job, this is huge! Where do I sign up?"
Kunal laughed, relief washing over him. "It's not that simple, Bro…"
"Simple? Who wants simple?" Vaibhav shot back. "Look, I was planning a trip north anyway, but forget that. This sounds way more interesting. You need connections? People who know obscure texts, weird philosophies, hidden gurukuls? That's literally my jam! चल (Chal), मैं आ रहा हु काशी! (main aa raha hoon Kashi! -Come on, I'm coming to Kashi!) We do this together. You handle the genius brain stuff, I'll handle the finding people and navigating India part. Deal?"
Kunal hesitated for only a heartbeat. His initial instinct had been to walk this dangerous path alone, burdened by secrets he couldn't share. But Vaibhav's infectious energy, his practical skills, and the deep, unwavering trust forged since childhood… it felt right. It felt like a piece clicking into place. Maybe किस्मत (किस्मत - destiny) didn't always mean isolation. "अच्छा ठीक है, भाई, (Achha theek hai, bhai)" Kunal agreed, a genuine smile reaching his voice. (Okay fine, brother.) "तू सही कह रहा है।" (Tu sahi keh raha hai. -You're right.) "तेरा साथ रहेगा तो अच्छा रहेगा।" (Tera saath rahega toh achha lagega -It'll be good to have your company.) "आ जा काशी।" (Aa ja Kashi - Come to Kashi.)
They quickly coordinated. Vaibhav, currently in Rajasthan, would pack his bags and catch the next available train or bus, estimating he could reach Varanasi in a day or two.
Kunal immediately updated his core team via secure message, explaining his decision.
Kunal: Update: Contacted school friend Vaibhav Tiwari (Billa). Explained the project goal (new language/startup, need scholars). He was incredibly enthusiastic, offered to join me physically on the journey to help find people/navigate. I agreed. He's coming to Varanasi.
Abhishek: Vaibhav? Joining you? *Okayyy...* Look, I trust your judgment on him, *Bhai*, but you told him about the *project*? The language, the startup? How much detail? Is that wise? We don't know who might be listening or what the Council considers sensitive. And now he's travelling with you? He becomes a potential target too. We need secure comms for him, and I need to run checks on anyone he suggests meeting. This adds layers of risk.
Ananya: Vaibhav! He always had boundless energy! Kunal, having him there might be good. His travel experience is genuine, and finding the *right* kind of unconventional scholars needs more than just database searches. It needs networking, intuition... things Vaibhav is good at. But Abhi is right, security is paramount. Be careful how much you reveal, even to him.
Kunal: Understood. Trust Vaibhav completely *with the project goal* as I stated it. He knows nothing about Kunala, the Council, the danger. Better for his safety. Will ensure he uses secure comms. Abhi, vet anyone he suggests. Agreed, proceed with caution.
The next day and a half felt different for Kunal. Knowing Vaibhav was on his way lifted some of the crushing weight of solitude. He used the time productively. Following Ananya's leads, he cautiously visited the sprawling grounds of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), wandering near the Sanskrit and Linguistics departments, observing the flow of students and faculty, trying to get a feel for the academic atmosphere. He spent hours near the ghats again, this time not just absorbing, but listening more intently to the philosophical discussions happening spontaneously between sadhus, scholars, and pilgrims, trying to gauge the depth of knowledge present outside formal institutions. He felt like he was tuning his senses, preparing for the real search to begin with Vaibhav.
Vaibhav arrived like a whirlwind. Kunal met him at the chaotic railway station, spotting Billa's bright backpack and grinning face weaving through the crowds before Vaibhav saw him.
"Billa!"
"Bhai Sahab!" Vaibhav clapped Kunal on the back, his energy infectious despite the long journey. "Finally! Kashi! Right, dump my bag at your place, then chai at the ghats, and you tell me everything about this insane, brilliant language plan!"
Sitting later at a small tea stall overlooking the Ganga, the setting sun turning the river into molten gold, Kunal elaborated on his vision, carefully omitting the supernatural origins and the ever-present danger. He spoke of Panini's genius, the mathematical perfection underlying Sanskrit, the concepts of Shunya and infinity in Vedic math, the potential for a language structured not just on human convention, but on the fundamental patterns of reality – a language perfect for next-generation computation and maybe even AI consciousness. He described the kind of minds he needed – not just academics, but those with deep traditional knowledge and radically open minds.
Vaibhav listened intently, his usual energetic fidgeting stilled, his observant eyes fixed on Kunal. "Bhai," he said finally, awe in his voice. "This is... beyond anything I imagined. Building a new language based on cosmic principles? You're serious."
"Deadly serious, Bro."
Vaibhav grinned, recharged. "Okay. Right. Varanasi. Perfect place to start. Forget stuffy professors first. You need someone who lives this stuff." He snapped his fingers. "Pandit Ram Dayal Sharma. Near Dashashwamedh. Retired न्याय (Nyāya) and मीमांसा (Mīmāṁsā) scholar, total eccentric, barely talks to anyone. But," Vaibhav leaned in conspiratorially, "they say he has private access to manuscript collections no one else even knows exists, stuff passed down through lineages. And he supposedly argues with the river gods daily. If anyone in Kashi understands deep structure and unconventional knowledge..."
Kunal felt a thrill of recognition. This was the name Ananya had also flagged from obscure publications. Abhishek had given a cautious green light based on background checks. Vaibhav's intuitive, on-the-ground confirmation sealed it. "ये सही लग रहा है" ( Yeh sahi lag raha hai - This feels right.)
"Okay," Kunal said, a genuine smile breaking through his usual guarded expression. "Let's start with Pandit Sharma tomorrow."
Vaibhav raised his small clay kulhad of chai. "To the gyaan ki khoj, Bhai! To the Shunya Codex... whatever that ends up meaning!"
Kunal touched his kulhad to Vaibhav's, the simple gesture feeling like the start of something momentous. He had an ally by his side now, sharing the excitement of the quest, even if unaware of the lethal shadows that stretched just beyond the firelight of the chai stall. The path ahead was still fraught with danger, but for the first time in a long while, he didn't feel entirely alone on it.
To be continued…