Tranav - Chapter 5

  TRANAV NOVEL

(Malikat Bloodline) 

CHAPTER 5

The Nightmare

 

2967 BCE,

In the heart of the night, darkness blanketed everything, and not a single beam of light could break through the void. Rudra found himself trapped in this suffocating abyss, his cries for help echoing into the uncaring void. His pleas went unheard, lost in the vast emptiness.

Suddenly, a glimmer of hope appeared—a distant, flickering fire. Fuelled by desperation, he runs toward it, praying for a lifeline. But the fire began to grow rapidly, its flames swaying ominously. Panic gripped his heart, and he abruptly changed course, but the relentless fire pursued him.

Encircled by an unforgiving blaze, he witnessed the horrors of his own personal hell. Houses, people, trees, and even his own brothers were devoured by the merciless flames. Their anguished cries continued, but they were drowned out by the roar of the hellfire.

As the fire reduced everything to ashes, an eerie silence fell. Then, two figures emerged from the remnants, their faces contorted with accusation. "Why did you kill us, brother?" they accused. It was Dhruvya and Abhimanyu.

Rudra jolted awake from his nightmarish ordeal, gasping for air, his heart racing with fear and guilt. He found himself in a small hut with two more beds, a small table holding some fruits, and pots for food and water. Attempting to stand, his legs felt weak, but gradually, he managed to move and leave the hut. Abhimanyu was chopping wood nearby, and when he saw Rudra, tears filled his eyes, and a broad, relieved smile crossed his face. His axe slipped from his hand. "Finally," Abhimanyu whispered as he approached Rudra, and they embraced tightly, as if Rudra had returned from the brink of death.

"How long was I asleep?" Rudra asked.

"One Ayan," Abhimanyu replied.

Rudra was astonished. He had been unconscious for the past six months, ever since the day his powers had unleashed and destroyed the entire village. Since then, Abhimanyu and Dhruvya had been caring for him, trying everything to bring him back, but Rudra had remained in a deep slumber. His eyes welled up with tears, and his heart ached with guilt as he clung to his brothers.

Just then, Dhruvya arrived, seeing his brother in front of him he drop a bag from his hand and rush to Rudra. "Brother," he murmured, "you're back!" They embraced tightly.

"You scared us, brother," Abhimanyu said.

 

Later that night, a bonfire crackled to life, casting a warm glow as the brothers gathered around it for their dinner. Rudra couldn't shake his concern about the events he couldn't remember—the night he had fallen unconscious. He expressed his confusion, "I don't understand how I could have been gone for one Ayan. I don't even remember what happened. The visions are so hazy. One thing I do recall is that we were in the ashram, and then...” Rudra take a deep breath and continue “they all were gone. And next thing i remember waking up today. It felt like I wasn't in control; someone else was guiding my body."

Abhimanyu and Rudra exchanged worried glances. Abhimanyu tried to reassure him, saying, "Don't worry. You're back now, and that's what matters."

Rudra sighed, "Yes, I know, but for me, it feels like I lost them just a moment ago. We lost Nitya, Vasudeva, all our friends from the ashram. Everyone is gone." His voice was heavy with sadness.

As Rudra stared into the fire, lost in thoughts of his friends, his sorrow deepened, and the bonfire's flames seemed to respond, growing more intense. Abhimanyu and Dhruvya tried to console him, but Rudra's sadness was transforming into anger. Suddenly, when he thought of Nitya, the flames surged higher. Startled, they all drew back.

Rudra continued to gaze at the fire, and gradually, his memories began to resurface. The more memories returned, the more he suffered inside. His eyes filled with tears and guilt as his sorrow turned into a searing pain. Abruptly, the fire's flames dwindled, and Rudra began to cry for the deeds he had committed. His nightmare had become a cruel reality. Because of him; all the people, men, women, and even innocent children had perished. His guilt haunted him, and he sank to the ground, tears flowing freely.

The weight of his sins had finally caught up with him, and he could no longer contain his overwhelming remorse. Abhimanyu and Dhruvya approached quietly, taking their places beside him, offering the solace of their presence. They didn't need words to comprehend their brother's pain; a gentle touch on his shoulder conveyed their understanding. In the stillness of that moment, they found strength in each other's company, knowing that the path to forgiveness and redemption was one they would traverse together.

…

1957 AD

Rudra sat in front of the fireplace in his home, lost in sorrow, his gaze fixed on the flames. He couldn't shake the image he had witnessed. Breaking the silence, Abhimanyu spoke, trying to bring reason to the situation. "Rudra, your emotions are clouding your judgment. Whoever she was, she can't be Nitya."

"I understand how crazy it might sound," replied Rudra, "but I looked into her eyes. They were the same eyes, the same face. Yet, she looked right through me as if she didn't even know me."

"Come on, Rudra. This doesn't add up. You know she's gone. You might have seen someone who resembled her," Dhruvya reasoned.

"Maybe it was just a coincidence, Rudra. Grief can play tricks on our minds," added Abhimanyu.

"I don't know, guys. But what I saw, felt as real as anything," Rudra admitted.

"Okay, even if she is Nitya, the main question is, is she the one who's killing those people?" Dhruvya inquired.

"That I don't know. Somehow, she was incredibly powerful. The way she eluded me... I tried to catch her, but she put something in my eyes, and they started burning. By the time I cleaned them, she was gone. I tried to find her, but there was no trace, as if she had vanished into thin air," Rudra explained.

"I think she might be one of them. I mean, according to Dr. Ashok's theory, the next victim was supposed to be Kark, and so were we," Abhimanyu suggested.

"But how did they know about our Zodiac sign?" Dhruvya pondered. "Is it possible that someone is helping them, maybe a sorcerer or witch?"

Rudra stood up, determination in his voice. "I don't know who they are or what they are, but we need to find out, and soon." With that, he left the room.

Abhimanyu and Dhruvya exchanged worried glances. They were unsure whether to fully believe Rudra's account.

"What do you think, could it be a shape-shifter?" Dhruvya asked.

"I don't know, but Rudra seems so sure of what he saw. I'm perplexed. The main thing is, he's always vulnerable when it comes to Nitya, and if he's right, we have to find out who she really is," Abhimanyu replied thoughtfully.

…

Daksh and Hooded person were in the same dark bunker room. Daksh was furious and shouting at the hooded person who had failed to capture Rudra. Their heated argument escalated when Daksh said, "Don't yell at me, Shravani. You're the one who failed."

Shravani retorted, "I told you, I don't know how, but whoever he was, he wasn't an easy target. He's stronger than I expected. I think he might not even be human. I saw his eyes turn red, and his teeth were as sharp as a wolf's."

"Don't give me excuses!" Daksh snapped. "We had a plan, and you were supposed to execute it flawlessly. If you can't handle the fight, you should've said so. We can't afford to have weaker links here."

"Why don't we settle this with a fight, then? I'll prove to you who's the weaker one among us," challenged Shravani.

In the room, there was one more person present—an old man named Vajraksha. His eyes held wisdom, and his long silver hair and well-kept beard gave him a majestic appearance. He exuded strength and grace, the aura of a natural leader who had lived a disciplined life. Seeing Daksh and Shravani bickering, he stepped between them and intervened. "Enough, both of you. Our plans can't tolerate fights like this. Time is running out, and this failure puts everything at risk. We now have to wait for an entire month for the next Asur muhurat."

"Your failure reflects poorly on our mission. Your skills were supposed to make this a simple task," Daksh taunted Shravani.

"You don't need to remind me," Shravani replied. "If you're so upset, why don't you go meet that guy? You'll understand what I'm talking about." With that, she angrily left the room.

Vajraksha turned to Daksh and said, "Daksh, I don't think she's lying. Why would she? She's as desperate as we are to open the gates."

Daksh pondered and asked, "So, who do you think this guy might be?"

"I'm not certain," Vajraksha replied. "Shravani mentioned his eyes glowing red and sharp teeth. He might be a Pisaach, but I should have sensed it when I picked him up. He's definitely human or half-human, possibly a Yaksh. But whoever he is, he might not cause problem in our mission."

"Should we try to capture him?"

"No, we don't have the time for that. He's not our main concern right now. But we should gather some information about him."

…

"Don't you dare, if you even try to stand up, no one will be more upset than me," Mohan said affectionately but firmly to his wife, Gita, at their home. Mohan was gently scolding Gita, urging her to take a break and avoid any strenuous work due to her condition.

"Mohan, I appreciate your concern, but you're acting like I'm about to give birth any second. I'm only three months pregnant, and my baby bump isn't even showing yet!" Gita replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"I understand, but I just want to ensure you're okay. Pregnancy is a delicate phase, and I don't want you pushing yourself too hard. Besides, if I'm here, you can simply order me, and I'll take care of everything for you."

Gita raised an eyebrow playfully. "And what if you're not around?"

Mohan grinned. "That's what Chaya is here for. I hired her to assist you when I'm not around. So, don't even think about doing anything strenuous. Just rest."

Gita expressed her gratitude. "I appreciate your concern, really. But I'm not that fragile. I can handle some tasks. If I just lie down and rest, I'll feel like a pumpkin. I know you worry about me, but trust me, I've got this. I promise I won't be lifting heavy weights or attempting extreme yoga poses. So, my dear husband, stop worrying about me and head to work. I've got it all under control. And Chaya is here to help me, right, Chaya didi?"

Chaya, their housemaid whom Mohan had appointed to assist Gita during her pregnancy, chimed in. "Yes, indeed. I'm here to take care of her."

Mohan turned to Chaya, a bit embarrassed, and asked, "When did you arrive?"

Chaya replied with a smile, "I arrived when you two lovebirds were having your discussion."

Both Mohan and Gita blushed, and Chaya added, "Oh, sorry to interrupt. Carry on. I just came to inform you that breakfast is ready." With that, she left the room and added, "And, by the way, don't worry, bhaiya. I'm here to look after her."

Gita chuckled and said, "See, even Chaya thinks we were arguing over something silly. Now, go and have your breakfast, or you'll be late for work."

He looked at Gita lovingly and said, "I love you, and if you need me, just telephone me at the station."

She smiled warmly and replied, "I love you too."

…

Abhimanyu was gradually becoming a favourite among both the hospital's patients and staff. His friendly and composed demeanour endeared him to everyone. He engaged in conversations with patients, lifting their spirits and skilfully providing comfort when needed.

One day, while Abhimanyu was comforting a patient and assuring him that he would recover soon, Abha overheard their conversation. Her attraction towards him began to grow. Later, when Abha and Abhimanyu were in her cabin, she couldn't help but constantly gaze at him. He smiled and asked, "Is there something on my face, Miss Abha?"

Startled, she replied, "What made you think I was looking at your face? I was just looking at something behind you."

Abhimanyu smiled and didn't say anything, allowing her to continue the conversation. She tried to extend the discussion by saying, "By the way, I wanted to apologize to you. I was wrong about you."

"Apologize? But why?" Abhimanyu asked.

"I mean, you're really good at this job, and people love you. So, yes, I was wrong. You absolutely deserve this position."

Abhimanyu smiled and replied, "I'm just doing my job. People appreciate hearing what they want to hear, and I say those things to make them more comfortable here."

"True, but you handle it so well. Like last night, when that patient became unstable and started screaming and throwing things at others. You calmed him down so effectively. Everyone was amazed at how you did it, as if you hypnotized the man."

Abhimanyu had indeed used similar techniques but didn't react to her observation, just offering a smile.

"Are you free tonight? My father has invited you and your brother for dinner."

"Oh, so it's just your father who wants to meet with us, and you're not interested in having dinner with us?" Abhimanyu teased.

"Of course, I'm interested. I mean, I'd like to have dinner with you... and your brother, of course," she hesitantly replied.

Abhimanyu smiled and said, "I would love to come."

They shared a moment filled with a touch of affection and awkwardness. As Abha stood up to leave, Abhimanyu asked, "Miss Abha, when you mentioned that people love me, does that include you?"

She didn't have an answer; she became too shy. Pretending that someone was calling her, she left the cabin, her face flushed with a big smile.

…

Abhimanyu had an intention to discuss a patient with Ashok. As he approached Ashok's office and was about to knock on the door, he overheard voices emanating from within. Dr. Ashok seemed to be engaged in a conversation, but Abhimanyu could only hear one side of it. It was a one-sided exchange; Ashok was speaking, but there was no response from the other end. Curious to hear more, Abhimanyu focused on the voice.

Ashok was saying, "No, you can't. This world is not for you, and you cannot stay here forever. The longer you stay, the more your memories will fade, and you will eventually become..." Before he could complete his sentence, Ashok abruptly asked, "Who's there?"

Abhimanyu knocked on the door, and after a moment, Ashok allowed him to enter. To Abhimanyu's surprise, there was no one else in the room except for Ashok. His eyes darted around the room, but he couldn't sense anyone else.

"Mr. Abhimanyu, hello. What brings you to my office?" Ashok inquired.

"I just wanted to ask about a patient… by the way, I thought you were taking to someone I heard voices from inside," Abhimanyu replied.

"Oh, that..." Ashok hesitated as he explained, "I apologize; sometimes when I'm alone, I tend to talk to myself."

Abhimanyu understood that Ashok was not being entirely truthful but chose not to press further. He simply smiled and said, "Don't apologize, we all do that."

Ashok returned the smile, and Abhimanyu continued, "I wanted to give you this file to read, a report on this patient."

"Of course, I'll take a look at it."

"Alright then, catch you later," Abhimanyu said as he made to leave the room. However, Ashok stopped him and asked, "Mr. Abhimanyu, I wanted to ask you something."

"Sure, go ahead."

"I was surprised but also pleased to see that you and your brother are so knowledgeable about our culture. Despite living abroad for so many years and knowing things that most people haven't even heard of, it's truly impressive."

Abhimanyu smiled and replied, "Yes, it's all thanks to our grandfather. We used to speak about our culture at home, and he would share stories and impart knowledge about our culture. He was deeply rooted in our heritage, and he made us feel like we were right here."

"Your grandfather must have been a remarkable man."

"Yes, indeed, he was," Abhimanyu affirmed. With that, he left the room. As he walked away, he heard Ashok's voice once more, this time saying, "What do you mean you didn't like him? He's such a good guy. You're only saying that because you don't know him personally. He's everyone's favourite person here... I know I haven't know him personally either, but he is undoubtedly a good person."

…

It was evening, and Ashok found himself alone at home as his parents were out of town. Just then, the doorbell rang, and when he opened the door, he was greeted by Aditi. He welcomed her in, offered her water or something to eat. Since his parents were away, he felt it was the right time to share something important with her.

As he led Aditi into his room, she took a look in her surroundings, seeing it for the first time. Ashok was not one to invite friends into his room, and he even kept his parents away from it. So, this was a rare occurrence. Aditi was taken aback by the room's uniqueness. Unlike most rooms, it was filled with books, primarily on supernatural topics like ghosts and spirits. Hand-drawn posters adorned the walls, featuring various shapes and inscriptions that were hard to decipher for the average person. Additionally, an open cupboard held a collection of eerie and unusual objects that Aditi had never seen in her life.

Curious, Aditi couldn't help but ask, "What is all this stuff? I mean, it's understandable for a doctor to study body organs, but why do you have these things at home? And I know you love to read, but what are these horrifying books, and in what language are they written? And why is your room so cold, even in the summer?"

Ashok smiled and replied, "I'll explain everything. That's why I called you here today. I wanted to share something with you, and I can't keep it to myself any longer."

Aditi, concerned, asked, "What's bothering you, Ashok? You can share anything with me."

He responded, "Yes, I know I can share anything with you. But before I do, you have to promise me something. You must promise never to share what I tell you with anyone, not even Abha."

Aditi questioned, "Why?"

"Please, don't ask questions. Just promise me that you won't reveal anything to anyone about what I'm going to tell you or show you."

"All right, I promise. I won't say a word to anyone, not even Abha."

"Okay, I trust you," Ashok said, taking her hand gently. He continued, "Aditi, I don't want to hide this anymore but I love you. You are the most important person in my life."

Aditi was about to respond, but Ashok placed a finger on her lips. "Please, let me finish first. I love you, and I've always wanted you in my life. However, there are some secrets about me that nobody knows. I don't know how you'll react when I tell you, which is why I wanted to confess first. After this, I won't have the courage to speak."

Concerned, Aditi asked, "Ashok, now I'm getting scared. Please don't tell me you're a serial killer."

Ashok laughed and assured her, "No, don't worry. I'm not a killer, and I would never harm you."

Aditi let out a sigh of relief and said, "Then go ahead and share whatever you need to. I'm here to listen."

With a serious tone, Ashok confessed, "The secret about me is that I can see ghosts or spirits, whatever you want to call them. I can see them, talk to them, and sometimes even help or hunt them."

Aditi didn't immediately respond, but then she started to laugh, thinking that Ashok was playing a prank on her. She assumed he had decorated his room in this peculiar manner just to make his story more convincing. However, Ashok remained silent, allowing her to laugh. He then performed an astonishing feat, making an object float in the air. Aditi was initially surprised but ultimately dismissed it as a trick.

"Are you seriously suggesting that I'm doing some kind of fake magic trick, like a street magician?" Ashok asked. "Okay, I didn't want to do this, but after what I show you, you might believe me. But a word of warning, you can never unseen it, and you'll be burdened with this eternal truth for the rest of your life."

Ashok took out a bottle containing black smoke, which he had created from a Rakshasamaniik flower. He explained that he had initially asked Aditi to bring the flower to create a spell or magical potion that could help spirits find salvation and leave this world. He recounted the day when Aditi had overheard him speaking, thinking he was talking to himself, but in reality, he had been conversing with a spirit. Ashok had been urging the spirit to leave this world before losing its memories and becoming a ghost forever. The spirit was finally ready, and Ashok was prepared to prove his abilities.

Before he proceeded, Ashok asked Aditi one final time if she was sure she wanted to witness this. He emphasized that once she saw it, she could never unseen it, and the truth would stay with her for life. Aditi, still doubting Ashok's claims, agreed without hesitation.

Ashok began setting up the ritual, instructing Aditi to stand inside a circle of salt he had prepared. He urged her to remain quiet and not to be afraid, assuring her that he would be with her. As he chanted the ritual incantations, Aditi watched in awe. Suddenly, black smoke filled the room, taking on the shape of a cloud. Ashok drew a six-sided star within the circle using blood and placed various items at its corners. He then entered the salt circle with Aditi and continued chanting. The black smoke gathered above the drawn star, and Aditi felt a growing sense of fear. However, she remained silent, clasping Ashok's hand as he continued to chant.

Finally, she saw a child's spirit within the black smoke. Tears welled up in her eyes as the child grinned and waved a cheerful goodbye. Unconsciously, Aditi waved back. The black smoke transformed into white and dissipated into the air, leaving a shining trace behind. Ashok stopped chanting, and Aditi could see the sorrow in his eyes, as if he had lost someone dear to him. His eyes were filled with tears. Aditi hugged him tightly and apologized for not trusting him.

…

That night at Krishna Rao's house, the brothers were enjoying dinner with Abha's family.

"Aditi, dear, can you please pass me the bowl?" Aditi seemed lost in thought, still shocked by what she had witnessed earlier.

"Aditi! Aditi!" Radha Bai called out to her.

"What? Oh, sorry," she replied as she passed the bowl.

"What's been bothering you today? Since you came back from work, you haven't been yourself," Krishna Rao inquired.

"Oh, sorry, I was just thinking about something else," Aditi responded.

Krishna Rao smiled at Abhimanyu and said, "So, Abhimanyu, I've heard so much praise for your work at the hospital. You're everyone's favourite; they all love you there."

Abhimanyu glanced at Abha, who blushed and averted her gaze. He replied, "I hope they do."

"Speaking of work, Rudra, your contractor was asking about you. You haven't shown up for work for a couple of days. Is everything okay?" Krishna Rao asked.

Abhimanyu and Dhruvya exchanged knowing looks. They were aware of Rudra's search for Shravani since that day. Rudra replied, "Yeah, everything's fine. I just felt sick, so I couldn't go to work."

"Why didn't you come to the hospital? We could have treated you," Abha inquired.

"No, it wasn't that serious—a normal viral infection. Abhimanyu was there, and I'm completely fine now," Rudra responded.

"By the way, the food is delicious, Radha aunty," Abhimanyu interjected, changing the subject.

"Oh, thank you, dear, but don't give me all the credit. Abha made most of the dishes. You should complement her," Radha Bai replied.

"Maa," Abha responded with shyness.

"No, Miss Abha, aunty is right; this food deserves some appreciation," Abhimanyu said.

"Thank you," Abha replied, blushing.

Rudra and Dhruv exchanged smiles, while a similar knowing look passed between Aditi and Radha. Radha understood that Abha had developed feelings for Abhimanyu. So, she decided to tease Abhimanyu a bit, saying, "By the way, Abhimanyu, I wanted to ask you something."

"Sure," Abhimanyu replied.

"Since you know so much about this town, do you know someone who would be a good match for Abha?" Abhimanyu and Abha were both surprised by the question. "I mean, Abha has reached the age for marriage, right honey?" Krishna Rao added.

Abhimanyu wasn't sure how to respond to that question and hesitated as he spoke. Abha wondered why her marriage was suddenly a topic of discussion. Aditi chimed in, saying that I couldn't get married if she didn't plan on getting married soon. Abha responded sarcastically, asking why Aditi was in such a hurry for her to tie the knot. Dhruvya added that Miss Aditi was absolutely right, and he and Rudra were stuck in a similar situation. Abhimanyu began coughing, and Dhruvya jokingly said it was a sign from God, making everyone laugh.

"So, how is your family? We never talk about your parents; aren't they going to join us here?" Krishna Rao asked.

"Actually, we lost our parents when we were very young. After our parents passed away, our grandfather took care of us. He made us who we are today, and he was our only family. When he passed away, we only had each other," Abhimanyu explained.

"I'm so sorry to hear that; I didn't know," Krishna Rao expressed his condolences.

"Oh no, please, we are the ones who never told you about them," Dhruvya replied.

"You have a similar story as your grandfather's. My father used to say that he, your grandfather, and his brother were best friends. My grandmother used to take care of them all, and they were like family. They even called her …'" Krishna Rao shared.

"Amma, Sarasvati amma, yes, I know. My grandfather told us that story," Abhimanyu said.

All the brothers felt a surge of emotions as their old joyful memories came flooding back, and the conversation continued.

…

Later that night, Rudra was engrossed in a book in his room when a small hand-drawn portrait of Nitya fell from its pages. He picked it up, gazing at the image, and whispered, "I know it was you. I'll find you soon, and we'll meet again, just like we did last time. I promise."

…

2965 BCE

It was a dark night, and some soldiers in the king's service were sitting around a fire, drinking wine and eating meat. They were taking a break in the middle of their journey. Along with them, there were young women who were being kept captive in a cage carried by a bullock cart. These women appeared to be deeply traumatized and despondent, as if they had lost all hope. Their bodies were drained from crying so much.

One of the soldiers looked at the cage with a lustful gaze and said, "I think our king is going to have a lot of fun this time, right, Captain?"

The leader responded sternly, "We shouldn't speak like that about our king. Such talk could lead to a death penalty."

The soldier replied, "Yes, Captain, we understand, but sometimes we also deserve some reward. After all, you do everything for the king, so you should get something too. And if someone were to disappear, who would know?"

The leader, looking at the cage, said, "You're not entirely wrong. No one has to find out anything."

Meanwhile, from a certain distance, Dhruvya, Abhimanyu, and Rudra, were silently listening to their conversation.

 

Dhruvya commented sarcastically, "And they call us Rakshash"

Abhimanyu agreed, "Some humans, or at least these soldiers, don't deserve to live. They do deserve to die."

Rudra, filled with anger, added, "They definitely deserve to die."

As they continued their journey, they suddenly noticed a hooded figure with a concealed face near the cage where the women were held.

In the darkness of the night, the soldiers, who were now drunk, heard the sound of the cage gate opening. One of them asked, "Who are you?"

The hooded figure replied, "Your death."

Laughter erupted among the soldiers. The leader warned, "Go away, kid. I'm sure you don't want to die today."

The hooded figure offered a deal, "Release the girls, and I promise to spare your life."

One soldier protested, "That's enough!" and attempted to attack the hooded figure. However, the hooded person swiftly immobilized the soldier, breaking his hand, and then stabbed him in the chest with his own knife.

As chaos ensued and the soldiers attacked the hooded figure, he displayed impressive combat skills, eliminating four of them one by one. Their leader grew increasingly frustrated and confronted the hooded figure. They engaged in a fierce battle, with the hooded figure proving to be a formidable opponent despite his slim physique compared to the towering leader.

Eventually, the leader began to falter, covered in scars and blood. He pleaded for his life, "Who are you? Please don't kill me."

The hooded figure replied coldly, "I warned you, but you didn't listen. I am your death." With those words, he decapitated the leader.

One surviving soldier managed to escape, running in fear for his life. He collided with someone in the darkness and fell to the ground. When he looked up, he found Dhruvya standing before him. He begged for help, but terror overcame him as he saw Dhruvya's eyes turn red and his teeth grow sharp.

Dhruvya assured him, "Don't worry; I'll help you find salvation." The soldier screamed in fear, but before he could react, Dhruvya grabbed his neck, drank his blood, and discarded his lifeless body.

With the fire extinguished and darkness prevailing, the hooded figure couldn't see Dhruvya's face. He inquired, "What are you?"

Dhruvya responded, "Kid, I'm the one whose dinner you just stole."

"Kid? Who told you I'm a kid?" the hooded figure retorted angrily.

"Your voice. It's not your real voice; you're mimicking it," Dhruvya discerned.

The hooded figure realized that another battle was inevitable, but this time it would be tougher. He assumed a defensive stance, but to it surprise, a voice interjected, "Don't worry; you can go. We don't want any trouble, and you can take those girls with you." It was Abhimanyu, who had arrived with Rudra, standing behind Dhruvya. In the darkness, the hooded figure couldn't see them clearly.

"Why are you letting me go?" the hooded figure questioned.

"Because we're not the villains here. We don't want to harm you or those girls. You can go safely," Abhimanyu replied.

The hooded figure laughed, "Harm me? In your dreams. And I can see how good you are," pointing at the aftermath of Dhruvya's actions.

Dhruvya, infuriated, prepared to attack, but Abhimanyu held him back, whispering, "Let it go; he's just a kid."

The hooded figure opened the cage and released the girls before making his way towards the village. The three brothers stood there, and Abhimanyu noticed that Rudra appeared lost in thought.

"What's bothering you?" Abhimanyu asked Rudra.

Rudra whispered, "I think I've heard his voice before. It sounds so familiar, or maybe it's just my imagination."

Abhimanyu glanced at the departing hooded figure and revealed, "He was a Yaksh."

Rudra was surprised, "How do you know that?"

Abhimanyu explained that the hooded figure had almost used his powers when Dhruvya was drinking his blood. Smoke had emanated from the figure's hand, but Abhimanyu had interrupted to avoid any confrontation. They all looked suspiciously at the hooded figure, who continued on his way to the village.

 

Several nights passed, and Rudra found himself unable to sleep. He got out of bed and decided to take a walk in the forest. While he was wandering through the woods, he heard some noises coming from a particular direction. Curious, he ventured closer to investigate. There, he discovered a group of soldiers who had captured the same hooded person they had encountered a couple of nights ago. The soldiers had tied the person to a tree and were enjoying their dinner.

Silently, Rudra approached the tree, making sure not to create any disturbance. He stood behind the very tree to which the person was bound. He leaned in and whispered to the person's ear, "I thought you were a Yaksh. Why aren't you using your powers?"

The person, unable to see Rudra's face due to his hiding, asked, "Who are you?"

"Hush! Don't make any noise. We met last week when you saved those girls. We were three men, and I'm one of them."

"Oh, you're that same blood-sucking Danav," the person whispered.

"Hey, that's offensive. I'm not a Danav."

"I saw with my own eyes how you broke that man's neck and drank his blood."

"That was my brother, not me. And yes, we do drink blood, but we're not Danav. We only kill bad people. It's our motto. And yes, we need blood to survive. But leave it; it's complicated. The main question is, why aren't you using your powers?"

"They knew I was a Yaksh, so they used some power against me. I guess that's why my powers aren't working."

"Alright then, see you later. I hope we meet again if you survive," Rudra said and started to walk away.

The hooded person pleaded, "What? Please, untie me."

Rudra questioned, "And why should I do that?"

"You drink human blood, and they are your food. Don't you want to drink their blood?"

"I already told you, I'm not some kind of bloodthirsty Danav. And even if I were, what makes you think I wouldn't drink your blood?"

"I know you won't. You said it yourself that you're a nice guy. But i also know, Danav bloodlust doesn't work like that. It doesn't matter how much blood you drink; your hunger never stops."

"For the last time, I am not a Danav."

"Then what are you?"

"A Rakshash," Rudra said as he untied the rope and jumped into the circle of soldiers.

"Rakshash?" the person whispered in shock. In the dark night, the person couldn't clearly see Rudra's face. But suddenly, moonlight illuminated Rudra's face, and the person recognized him, as if they had been waiting for this moment.

The soldiers began attacking Rudra, and initially, he easily overpowered them. However, one of them threw the same power on his face that had made him vulnerable before, and he began to weaken. They all swarmed him at once, and although he put up a good fight, the sheer number of them was taking its toll. One soldier was about to stab him with a sword when the person in the mask stepped in to help.

"Hey, you saved me," Rudra exclaimed.

"Yes, because I promised you that I would always save you," the person said in her true voice.

Rudra was stunned to hear that voice. He knew who the person behind the mask was—the person he had always loved, cared for, and longed to see. Tears of happiness welled up in his eyes, and he whispered, "Nitya," still standing there without fighting.

"Don't just stand there, you idiot," Nitya scolded while continuing to fight.

The commander of the soldiers was a burly man, covered in scars on his face and body. He had a big beard, dark brown hair, and an anger on his face that could kill with just a glance. At first, he observed the scene without intervening, but then he stood up and delivered a powerful punch to Rudra, causing him to fall and roll towards Nitya. She extended her hand, helping him up, pulling him close, and embracing him.

"I missed you," Rudra said with excitement.

"I missed you too, Rudh." Nitya said while hugging him tightly. They held hands and turned to find themselves trapped within a circle formed by the soldiers, who were armed and ready.

The commander stepped forward and announced, "I thought we wiped out your kind, but it seems vermin like you are still alive. However, not for long. The king ordered us to bring that one alive. He didn't mention anything about your lives. So, I'll let you free." With those words, he prepared to strike them down.

Suddenly, someone tossed sand into the commander's eyes. He cleaned his eyes and looked around. Standing at a distance in front of them were two men. Watching them, Rudra declared, "Now you're dead."

Abhimanyu and Dhruvya stood before them, their faces transformed into Rakshash features—red eyes, sharp teeth, and visible veins. The commander ordered his soldiers to throw powder at them, but Rudra warned them not to inhale it. When the soldiers attempted to throw the powder, Dhruvya used his wind manipulation to redirect it. In no time, they had defeated all the soldiers. Abhimanyu approached Rudra and asked, "Are you okay?" Rudra replied, "Yes, I'm fine."

Abhimanyu inquired, "What were you doing here at this time? And who is he?" He gestured toward the masked person.

"Not 'he'; 'she,'" Rudra corrected.

"What?" Abhimanyu was surprised.

Dhruvya was about to finish off the commander, but Rudra intervened, saying, "Wait, Dhruv. He's our messenger to the king." Hearing this, Dhruvya refrained from killing the commander and instead knocked him unconscious. Dhruvya then approached Rudra and asked, "Are you stupid? What were you doing here?"

"If I hadn't been here, we wouldn't have found her," Rudra replied.

"Her? Who is she?" Abhimanyu inquired.

The Nitya began to lift their mask, revealing her face. Abhimanyu exclaimed, "Nitya."

Dhruvya's face returned to normal, and he wore a smile as he approached Nitya and hugged her. "Nitya, how are you? I missed you."

"I missed you too Dhruvya," Nitya replied.

Abhimanyu said, "How is this even possible? We thought everyone was gone. We believed the fire had burned everything and everyone."

Nitya hesitated as she spoke, "Yes, I escaped. As far I remember there was fire and chaos everywhere. The sounds of screams... I didn't know what to do, so I ran." Tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered the terrible events of two years ago.

Seeing her distress, Rudra said, "Okay, that's enough. We don't need to talk about this right now."

"Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry; I didn't mean to bring up those terrible memories," Nitya replied, hugging Rudra.

"What should we do with him?" Dhruvya asked, pointing at the unconscious Leader.

Rudra replied, "Let's send a message to the king that there are three more person protecting this village and that let him know who killed his men."

"Are you sure about this? It could expose us, and the king might send his entire army to hunt us down," Abhimanyu cautioned.

“Rudh. I think we've thought this through," Nitya added.

"Let him come. We've heard about the king's cruelty and monstrous nature. The pot of his sins is already overflowing; now it's time to send him to salvation."

"That's my brother," Dhruvya chimed in. "And even if he brings his entire army, we can handle it."

"Don't be foolish, Dhruvya. He knows who he's up against, and he'll be prepared," Abhimanyu warned.

"Let him prepare. I know we'll defeat him," Rudra affirmed.

Nitya and Abhimanyu were concerned, but Dhruvya and Rudra was ready for the challenge ahead.

 

…… ॐ ……