The Echo in the Valley🔊

Once upon a time, tucked deep within the mountain range, lay a picturesque village named Venku. Nature enveloped Venku with snow-capped mountain peaks, lush green valleys, and an expansive sapphire lake. This tranquillity concealed within itself a legend—an enigma known as the Echo of the Valley. This echo was no ordinary echo; it had the power to manifest the deepest humankind thoughts into reality.

In Venku lived a young boy named Aarav, who was incredibly curious about the world. He loved the tales of the older villagers and was particularly captivated by the story of the Echo of the Valley. The elders would often whisper, 'Child, the echo would resonate only to the heart that's pure and hold a desire constructive not only for oneself but also for others'. Aarav yearned to uncover this legendary echo and decided to embark on an extraordinary journey.

One crisp morning, he packed a small bundle of supplies, took a persuasive leave from his parents, ensuring their satisfaction, and set off, carving a path through thick wilderness, riddled with unique beasts and exotic flora. Bear, deer, and foxes peeked from the underbrush as Aarav walked past, his heart fluttering with excitement and a teeny-tiny speck of fear.

For days, he wandered through the woods, discovering the nuances of the wild, fascinated by the lands untouched by men. But the echo remained elusive. Aarav was not deterred, remembering the peasant's narration, "Grass takes time to sway with the breeze, son. Patience." Although exhausted, he resolved to continue his quest. One day, just as Aarav was losing hope, he entered a glade, the most peaceful sight he had ever seen. The sun slanting through the trees cast a mesmerizing art on the valley, and there began the soft murmuring of the echo.

Not losing a moment, Aarav called out to the echo, asking it to grant his desire. But to his surprise, there was no response. He recalled the elder's words, something about the purity of the heart. Feeling a swarm of emotions, he reflected upon himself, the tiny tangles of jealousy, the occasional bursts of anger, and the ever-prevailing greed for more. It dawned upon him that he may never experience the magic of the echo unless he purged his heart.

The young lad worked tirelessly day and night, reaching out to people in need, lending a hand here and there, and even mending his relations. Each day he became less of what he was and more of who he should be. He discovered a new sense of fulfilment in this process which was altogether missing in his past endeavors.

After weeks of transformation, Aarav once again ventured into the glade, past that mesmerizing art of sunlight, and called out to the echo. This time, a sweet sound hummed back, resonating with Aarav’s heartbeat. His delight was incomparable, but then he realized: he had no personal desires left to be granted anymore. He laughed, a carefree joyous sound which bounced off the glade walls back to him. His heart filled with happiness, his quest achieved—in a dimension he never once pondered.

Slowing walking back to Venku, Aarav was not the same boy anymore. He carried a new story for his people, a new understanding of an ancient tale, and most importantly, a new version of himself. Spreading the newfound wisdom, Aarav became known as the Echo of the Valley too.

And thus the mystical echo remained, awaiting another pure heart and an echo seeker. It remained, not as an ordinary echo, but as an eternal legend narrating the tale of a young boy, destined to be the real echo in the hearts of his village folk.