কাদম্বৰী || Kadambari

kó-dom-boreé

In a beautiful town, in a time unlike our own, there lived Kadambari, a healer of remarkable skills. She was no ordinary woman: she had the power to brew the most potent potions to heal the ailing, mend broken hearts and restore memories. She was deeply revered and loved by the town, she was the one everyone turned to for guidance and support.

One winter was remarkably harsh. The townspeople started to notice a strange phenomenon: people started to forget. Initially it was assumed that it was the biting cold that led them to forget where they had left their keys, but then they started to forget the names of their neighbours, and soon they began to forget their loved ones and the wonderful memories they had once shared.

The ailment spread fast. People started to be afraid of forgetting their songs, stories, heritage and who they are. Understanding the urgency of the situation, Kadambari knew she needed to act fast. She decided to venture out into the sacred forest that was a night’s journey away from her town. She, however, was not afraid. She knew the forest would keep her safe, for as long as she respected it and all those who live in it.

She arrived at the forest as dawn broke. Guided by the creatures of the forest, she found the ingredients she was looking for. She collected leaves of an old and tall tea tree guarded by elephants, she found fragrant cardamom pods that whispered secrets of the earth. She sought the fennel seeds in the garden of eternal moonlight, and from the garden of eternal dawn she collected saffron threads guarded by golden stags. She needed one final ingredient to complete her concoction: delicate rose petals. To reach the hidden valley of roses, she had to cross a river of molten amber. As she approached the riverbank, she noticed a fragrant piece of broken bark floating on the shimmering surface. Stepping carefully onto the bark, she used it as a raft to glide across the river.

As she crossed, the warm, spicy aroma of the bark filled the air. Inspired by its unique scent, Kadambari realised it could elevate the magic of her brew. She carefully added the bark to her collection of ingredients. From that day forward, the fragrant bark came to be known as cinnamon. As she reached the valley of roses, she collected as many petals as she needed. 

Returning home, she brewed the most powerful concoction that could help her people remember. She served this concoction mixed with milk to people over days, helping them warm up and remember who they are. People laughed and cried as they remembered old and new stories alike. Kadambari’s concoction began to be known as the golden liquid that conjured up the warmth of traditions and shared heritage even in the harshest of winters.