Kaalika-The Rise of Rakthbeej

Kaalika-The Rise of Rakthbeej

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Poonam Desai

Author

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In the previous chapters, we saw Hiranya Kashyap and his aide Swarbhanu discover the resurrection stone at Kalimath. DSP Sharvari is sent to Joshimath to investigate a cold case and interrogate Dhaigham, a man who was missing for 10 years after a mysterious accident and missing precious stones. In the meantime, Hiranya summons Raktbeej’s soul and traces Dilan, Benroy’s son. Swarbhanu kills Manohar, and Dilan escapes. Sharvari and Kasar begin a hunt for Dilan, meanwhile Dilan hears his inner voice at the Kalpavriksha in Joshimath and follows a path to the Nav Durga temple at Nandadevi.(Note- the Nav Durga temple and Mahuli are fictional places). Hiranya and his men are headed to Nanda devi forest reserve. Swarbhanu is sure Dilan is a Mahasimha.  Their paths converge and they are all moving towards Nandadevi. Whilst Dhaigham explains the history of the temple to Sharvari and Kasar Hiranya and his men close in. Despite the best efforts of Sharvari and team Hiranya and his men escape. Dilan bears the weight of the defeat. Hiranya raises the demon and Sharvari has her first encounter with Raktbeej in her dream.

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Chapter 11

Hiranya knelt before the demon and spoke, “Lord Raktbeej, your plans have been set in motion. We have mobilised our assets in the government, the defence systems and within society.”

Raktbeej smiled.

“My humble slave you will be rewarded. When you walk with me you will have immense power and wealth at your feet.”

Hiranya nodded and took leave. Once out he called Swarbhanu.

“Roll out our plans. Let chaos rein. Let people feel helpless and then they will be at our mercy. Let people experience the Bhayanakrasa (ruthlessness) of our Lord Raktbeej.”

Swarbhanu nodded and began placing calls.

Breaking news. Utter chaos reigns all over India. In New Delhi, four bombs shook the popular market areas of Chandni chowk, Khan market, Sarojini Nagar and Lajpat Nagar. Several people were killed and many injured who are now being rushed to the civil hospitals nearby.

In Mumbai and Ahmedabad hundreds of people have been infected by contaminated water and the hospitals are overflowing with people frantically seeking treatment.

In Hyderabad, several men with guns took the entire store hostage and are demanding release of several terrorists in Indian jails.”

Dilan flipped channels, with every news channel covering some calamity or the other. Kasar and Dhaigham walked into the living room overhearing the news.

“What the hell is happening?” Kasar said taking the remote from Dilan and flipping to a local news channel.

“At Joshimath, the workers in a tunnel near the Dhauliganga hydroelectric project heard a loud roar. Within minutes the tunnel walls came down burying all the workers alive. Rescue operations are on-going…..”

“It’s like a switch has been flipped. There is chaos in every state in the country.” Dilan turned to Dhaigham and asked, “Do you think it has anything to do with him?”

Dhaigham sighed. Before he could reply Sharvari spoke, “Hiranya has managed to raise the demon. I dreamt about him last night. He is vicious, soulless. But the worst part is he knew I could see him in my dream.”

Kasar stilled. “Is that why you were sobbing last night?”

Sharvari nodded.

Dilan sank into the sofa, his fists tightly rolled. “What do we do now? How do we stop him? He has power beyond imagination.”

Dhaigham held his shoulders in a firm grip. “Yes, he is powerful. But which demon isn’t? But Prakriti (nature) ensures balance, that is why the prophecy and the powers vested in you. Its time for you to rise to the challenge.”

Dilan looked at all of them with unsure eyes. Sharvari walked to him and knelt before him.

“You are not alone in this. We all are here for you. Let’s start here and see where the path takes us.”

With those words she pulled her phone out and placed a call.

“Sir, Sharvari here. I need to meet you. I have an update you will want to know.”

She spoke for a while and then turned to the rest.

“Kasar you and me are going to Delhi to speak to DIG Pandey. Dhaigham and Dilan you figure out a way to deal with this demon. This isn’t a normal or a mortal enemy that we are up against and we should have our arsenal of knowledge against him before we go up in battle.”

“There are scriptures at the temple, me and Dilan can rummage for information there. There is a prophecy, and it may hold answers to our problems.”

They parted ways that evening. On the flight, Kasar held Sharvari’s hand and asked, “Are you alright?”

Her smile trembled.

“Fear isn’t a choice anymore. If what we saw on the news continues, the world will be on its knees and he will control everything. I can’t let that happen. I am not sure of the journey ahead but I know we need to believe that good will prevail and evil will be vanquished.”

Kasar rested his head on the seat and stared out the plane’s window. A storm was brewing, the clouds gathering. He wasn’t sure they would survive it.

To be continued…