The Good Wizard

By Prasun Roy

Badshah Bisht is a famous wizard, and the only person who can perform the dangerous “Dance of the Phoenix” act. Emperor Shah Jahan has honoured him for his acts.
When a deadly disease strikes Badshah and an evil magician attacks and takes over his home, the book containing the knowledge of the celebrated act is destroyed. Now it is only saved in Badshah's mind.
Badshah sets out to find someone who can help him safeguard his knowledge, and meets 11-year-old Titli, who wishes to become the first ever female magician. With little time left, the old wizard must train the vivacious and energetic Titli within the nick of time. She is his only hope.
Will Titli succeed in becoming the perfect disciple? Is there a cure available for the magician’s illness or will Shah Jahan lose his favourite wizard forever? Will The Good Wizard be able to reincarnate himself inside little Titli?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Srishti Publishers
• Release date: Jan 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9789390441075

Book preview

Prasun Roy

An imprint of

Srishti Publishers & Distributors

Srishti Publishers & Distributors

A unit of AJR Publishing LLP

212A, Peacock Lane

Shahpur Jat, New Delhi – 110 049

[e-mail]

First published by

Srishti Publishers & Distributors in 2021

Content copyright © Prasun Roy, 2021

Illustrations copyright © Srishti Publishers & Distributors, 2021

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

This is a work of fiction. The characters, places, organisations and events described in this book are either a work of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to people, living or dead, places, events, communities or organizations is purely coincidental.

The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publishers.

Dedicated to my beautiful children,

Ekalavya and Ekantika.

This book is my tribute to the cherished world where the heart of a teacher and a child becomes united in pure love.

Acknowledgement

Firstly, I must acknowledge the love of all my teachers, who have shaped me into the person I am today and for making me fall in love with literature. This book endeavours to salute every teacher who shapes the lives of their beloved students.

I would take this opportunity to devote this book to my beautiful children in whose hearts I have discovered a storyteller in myself. The spark in their eyes that glitters like diamonds whenever I narrate a fantasy tale to them makes me believe that in the fantastic world of imagination, everything is beautiful. Moreover, every time I interact with a child, my conviction becomes strengthened that this world of imagination is indeed necessary for shaping the beautiful minds of today’s children who would lead the world forward tomorrow.

My heartfelt thanks to my entire family for being a constant support system. I must especially mention Brinda Roy, my beloved wife, who has been a wonderful partner for me – in love, life and work. Without her presence and inspiration, I am always incomplete.

Thanks to the team at The Book Bakers for believing in my work. I thank you for not only working as an agent for this book, but also as a constant source of inspiration for my literary journey. Suhail Mathur, you are one person who has always vested your faith in this manuscript and all my works. I feel fortunate at being associated with you and your team.

I must thank Ishan Trivedi for the wonderful illustrations and the cover design for this book. His work has definitely added a shine to the story.

My sincere thanks to Stuti for her undeterred dedication in refining this manuscript to its best form.

At last, I would like to thank Arup Bose from Srishti Publishers for his personal commitment and expert touch in shaping out this story into a fine book.

The story of The Good Wizard is not just a tale of magic and wizardry, but also a tale of a deep friendship and unconditional love between a teacher and a student. It is a tale of courage of a little girl who dared to challenge the impossible. Destiny defines the future of this world, but there are some brave-hearts who dare to define destiny! This is a tale of two such people.

Badshah Bisht

The year was 1639. It was the last night of the Great Lunar Carnival that happened every five years and was a real grand affair.

The world of wizardry had established its domains across the nooks and corners of the entire world. Thus, the vast realm of wizards – across the mighty Mughal sultanate and beyond its borders in the great Indian subcontinent – remained a gigantic powerhouse that was capable of solidifying the foundations of supreme empires.

In that realm of wizards, there was one person who nobody was able to match. In the hearts of the people of that era, he was the good wizard. He was the master magician. His tale was remarkable and unique, like the gust of cool wind in humid summers. His tale was truly magical.

Yet, histories of wizardry were forbidden from being written down. So the tales were lost in the tides of time.

t

The Great Lunar Carnival was an age-old affair that had its foundation in the depths of timeless antiquity. It was an enormously prestigious event that witnessed a congregation of every wizard across the Mughal sultanate. The Master Magician was no exception! The festival was not just a carnival of entertainment, but also a significant occasion where the unwritten ranks of honour for wizards were established in the hearts of people.

Thousands of villagers from across the lands of the Mughal Empire had gathered to witness the ultimate event. The huge open ground outside the newly-built Lal Quila was glowing with the gleam of torch lights and artificial lamps. Mughal soldiers patrolled the entire boundary of the carnival to ensure tight security.

Emperor Shah Jahan had arrived to see the most coveted act of this carnival of wizards and magicians from across the subcontinent. His personal bodyguards encapsulated the canopy under which the mighty ruler sat. This was the first Great Lunar Carnival ever since the Mughal capital shifted to Delhi and the royal family moved into the Lal Quila.

The Emperor was never verbose and usually soft spoken. However, he was a keen observer and a true admirer of talent. He sat in his usual posture and stared at the podium where the Dance of the Phoenix act was about to be performed. The maddening crowd poured over the bamboo fences that girdled the central podium. At one corner was the canopy of the Emperor, while on the opposite corner was the canopy of esteemed guests and other popular magicians and wizards.

A man walked up to the huge podium and bowed to the Emperor. He wore a long and gaudy Indian sherwani along with a flowing black cape that shone like silver in the moonlight. The man was in his early fifties and had a muscular build. His complexion was fair and his face sparkled in the lunar glint from inside his neat white beard and long grey hair. He wore an ornate turban that added to the grandeur. His eyes were large and glittered with confidence and intelligence. From every aspect of his personality, confidence oozed out like water from a fountain. He was none other than Badshah Bisht – the Master Magician, the good wizard!

Badshah Bisht was a renowned magician, famous across lands. He was the best wizard and the only person alive who could perform the dangerous yet mesmerizing Dance of the Phoenix act. It was the only performance that nobody else in the world knew how to execute.

As Badshah stood and performed a few general magic tricks, three men worked diligently to arrange a pyre of dry wood at the centre of the open stage. All four sides of the podium were open and the wooden pyre was visible from all sides. A few other men arranged firecrackers girdling the pyre.

Meanwhile, two men held a medium-sized wooden box and came a few yards closer to the canopy of the Emperor. They opened the empty box and displayed it to the entire crowd before closing it and placing it on the open ground. The box sat midway between the podium and the royal canopy on the empty stretch of land inside the perimeter of the bamboo fences. It was visible from everywhere. Presently, a group of musicians dressed in fancy clothes, walked up in front of the podium and began to play a vibrant symphony, lending a charged aura to the atmosphere.

A few men amid the crowd screamed in excitement, Badshah Bisht, show us your charisma! You are the best of the best.

Just as the arrangements were complete, Badshah indicated with a nod and three of his men came forward and tied him up with heavy iron chains. Thereafter, they lifted his body and placed it atop the pyre, tying him up with a bamboo pole that emerged from the centre of the pyre. Within moments, the stage was all set for the act to begin. Everything happened in a dramatic representation and enthralled the spectators.

And now the pyre would be lighted, to begin the dangerous Dance of the Phoenix! Let us all watch with bated breath and see whether Badshah Bisht rises as the phoenix or perishes in the engulfing flames, screamed one of the men.

Stating the above line, the man took a torch and lighted the pyre. Within moments, the dry wood caught up the flames and all the men jumped away from the podium. Musicians played their music with full fervour while the maddening crowd cheered with chants of Badshah Bisht… Badshah Bisht!

Emperor Shah Jahan sat up with renewed enthusiasm while the audience was captivated with the vision of the act where the fire slowly engulfed the pyre and nothing was visible from inside the rising glares of the flame. One by one, the fireworks caught fire and started to burst, giving out a wonderful spectacle of colourful lights. However, everybody’s eyes were upon the bamboo pole to which Badshah Bisht was tied.

Soon, the entire podium was blazing and a murmur began to reverberate amid the people about what was going to happen next. The dazzling display of fireworks continued for a few more minutes before everything came to an end. The band suddenly stopped playing their music and a gripping silence shrouded the atmosphere.

Then, a minor blast happened near the empty box placed a few yards away from the royal canopy and the lid of the wooden box flung open from inside. In a gush of smoke, Badshah Bisht jumped out from inside it, free from all chains and untouched by the flames.

He presented a twirling salute to the entire audience and screamed, The Dance of the Phoenix is complete! I, Badshah Bisht, have risen from my own ashes and stand in front of you again.

He bowed to the Emperor. One of the Emperor’s aides came forward, handed over a jewel-studded ring

and shouted, Emperor Shah Jahan is extremely pleased and has sent this reward to the Master Magician Badshah Bisht.

The crowd broke into a fit of