Chapter 3

The chapter starts with the old man starting his story. He weaves a tale of a mystical valley in the Himalyas called the Silver Valley where Healers with mystical powers gather to help the world. As he describes the powers the Healers have he mentions that every now and then a person would be able to wield the Conch. Anand is immediately enthralled and asks about the Conch. The old man then explains how when Nakula and Sahadev ( two of the pandavas) still walked the earth they were granted the Conch as a gift from their fathers the Ashwini Kumars. But the Gods decided to bury the Conch after in was misused in war. He explains that no one knows what exactly happened but when the Brotherhood ( what the Healers call themselves) was formed the Conch was already out in the open. Then he goes on to explain how some people who are allowed to handle the Conch become corrupt with power, but he then goes on to say in recent times the Brotherhood has grown weak and allowed a man named Surabhanu a evil student of the arts who actually wishes to steal the Conch. He goes on to say how the Conch was stolen but recovered by him and a partner who died to help. The old man finishes his tale and surprises Anand by asking for his help. Anand is at first wary of why the old man would choose him but then excitedly says yes. But then he remembers his mother and sister and he then says with a heavy heart that he cant come. The old man talks like this is an easy choice and says that they will just have to ask his mother when she gets home. in the meanwhile he says why don't we eat dinner?

I really liked this chapter for the old mans story of the Conch because it weaves fantasy and adventure into a simple story of an item being stolen. It also weaved in Nakula and Sahadev characters from the Mahabharata epic of India, one of my favorite stories. ( which might be because I'm Indian)