Chapter 64 - Searching for Information (2/2)

I smiled at his answer and said, ”Thank you Mr. Patil. What is your relation to the Patil twins studying at Hogwarts? This question is to confirm my suspicion and to make sure that I can ask more questions.”

Sanjay looked at me, smiled and replied, ”We are distantly related but I did see them during family meetings. I understood. So you are a wizard and I am guessing you want to know about the magical side of India?”

I replied ”Yes. I came here to find more about the magical world that is not part of the ICW. All the ICW countries are similar so I don't find them interesting but countries like India and China intrigue me a lot and more fun to explore.”

Sanjay ”Well I don't know much despite me living here but I can tell you what all I know.”

Then he started talking about the magical counterpart of India. The information provided by him matched what I already had. He said that magical India was made up of numerous tribes but he did not know the correct number of how many. They like to stay away from the rest of the civilisation. The Patil family ancestors took advantage of this by trading things between the various tribes. The tribes provide exotic herbs and other things in return for items like daily necessities.

When I asked him if there was any way I could be allowed inside a tribe's settlement he answered

”What you are asking is very difficult to achieve. The only way to enter a tribe is if one of the elders of the tribe gives you permission. I have lived here all my life but I still have not been allowed inside a tribe's settlement. The closest I have been to is the hidden entrance of a tribe and that's all. Why do you want to visit a tribe so badly?”

I replied ”To gain knowledge. I want to know if magic used by European countries and the other countries is same and if they are different then how. I also want to learn healing from the tribes as I have heard many good things about Indian healers.”

He thought for a while and then said ”I am sorry to disappoint you but from what I know about the tribes, they will not allow a foreigner to learn their secrets. Still all hope is not lost. There is a place where you can go and try your luck. I am sure you have wondered how despite there being so many tribes in India, they are not fighting amongst each other for territory and other things. Well that is because there exists a governing body of sorts that monitors them and solves the disputes. It's really a place of learning but since the strongest wizards in the region reside there, people ask their help in resolving conflicts. It's a place where many talented people from the tribes go to advance themselves. They are also the ones who make sure that the statue of secrecy is not broken and have taken measures to ensure that. I don't know the name of the place or the exact location. All I know is that it is located in the Himalayas in modern day Nepal and I heard that the people who want to enter have to pass a test otherwise they are kicked out. I don't know if Foreigners are allowed in too but it your best bet in helping you gain the knowledge that you want.”

I thanked him for the information and then we moved on to talk about our lives and other things. Sanjay did not go to Hogwarts. He was an alumnus of Beauxbatons in France. Due to the war that was happening in Europe during his student days he decided to leave Europe and take care of the family business in his home country.

He told me that this shop was opened just for conducting business with foreigners like me and the city of Delhi did not matter much in the magical world. The major Patil family stores were in cities near the location of major tribes and tribes asked the Patil family to not conduct business with foreigners in those shops to make sure that they were not disturbed by the foreigners trying to earn their favour.

We then moved the conversation to the sights that I had to see in the country and the dishes that I had to try before leaving India. This conversation continued for a long time until a customer entered the shop and we had to stop. I promised him that I will come again in the future and left the store. I had already taken too much of his time and he had work to do.

Now I had to plan my trip to the Himalayas and hope that I will be allowed to enter inside and learn.