Kaalika-The Rise of Rakthbeej

Kaalika-The Rise of Raktbeej

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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 and manage to find the blood stones. They resurrect demon Raktbeej while Sharvari, Dhaigham, Kasar and Dilan fail to stop them. As Raktbeej comes to power, chaos reins in the entire country. Mr. Raghav Sinha from the disaster management office is contacted by Hiranya under guise of Bija financials. The PM asks Mr. Sinha to contact DIG Pandey. They have a meeting with Sharvari and Kasar. Mr Sinha and DIG Pandey are shocked to learn about who was behind Raktbeej.

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Chapter 14

The room was silent for a while after Sharvari and Kasar hadrelated all the details to everyone present. Raghav Sinha rubbed his forehead and leaned back in his chair.

“In my entire career I had never experienced nor expected this sort of a crisis. DIG Pandey, Sharvari what do you suggest, how should we proceed?”

Sharvari sighed. “Sir we don’t have a clear answer either. But talking to Dhaigham and Dilan would be a beginning. They are looking at the history of their tribe to figure out a way to stop Hiranya.”

It was almost midnight. DIG Pandey walked to a cabinet next to his desk and pulled out a bottle of whiskey and raised it to the room. “I need a drink after this. Anyone else care to join?”

Raghav Sinha walked to the cabinet and picked a glass. Sharvari and Kasar excused themselves.

Far from there, Raktbeej sat in meditation. He opened his eyes as soon as Hiranya entered the house. Hiranya asked Swarbhanu, “How has master been? Has his food been arranged? Is he comfortable?”

“Master is satisfied Saaheb. However, he hasn’t been out of the room or eaten today.”

Hiranya hurried to the room. Beyond the door the room was a black vortex and floating at its center. As soon as he felt Hiranya at the door, the vortex disappeared and the light returned. He motioned Hiranya to sit before him.

“Hiranya, the days to come, you have to raise the chaos. The Simhas and the Devi have begun gathering reinforcements. Its time we unleash our full power.”

Hiranya bowed his head and said, “Your wish is my command master.”

He walked to his office leaving master in his meditation and began placing phone calls.

Next morning, Kasar poured tea and bit into his toast whilst flicking through channels on TV.

‘…..Reporting from Ahmedabad live. The hospitals are overflowing with patients with skin rashes and blisters. Authorities are still investigating the source of the reaction; however, our TV channel has the inside story. The chemical industries which belong to the family of a known politician have been dumping questionable waste into the water resources……’

He flicked to the next channel.

‘…..a man has taken 22 children hostage at a audition in Mumbai. He has posted a video message asking the government for compensation for loosing his land and family to a road widening project…”

The more channels he flicked, more such news showed up. He picked up the phone to call Sharvari and it rang. It was Sharvari.

“Did you see the news?” they both said in chorus. Sharvari sighed and continued.

“DIG sir had called. The random disasters have turned to being targeted ones and he is suspecting this is arm twisting.”

“By whom?”

“We know who.”

“Damn. How does a thug get around the whole country creating so much chaos?”

Sharvari nibbled on her thumbnail. “I think he influences people and their circumstances. He plays on their fear, anxiety and greed and it bolsters the negative sentiment. He is trying to corner the government.”

Kasar scratched his chin. “But why? What will he achieve?”

Sharvari straightened. “Isn’t he demanding to meet the Prime minister. If he controls the head of the country, he controls everything.”

“Shit. I think we better call Dhaigham and Dilan. We need a solution faster than we thought.”

“Lets meet at my office tomorrow and call them.”

Next day Sharvari and Kasar met at her office in the morning. They dialed Dilan’s number.

“Dilan? How are you?”

“I am fine.”

“Any progress?”

“The scriptures describe the war between Devi Durga and Raktbeej.

He was the most powerful foe; every drop of his blood that fell to the ground gave rise to his clones making him indestructible.

That is when Devi summoned Maa Kaali. She swallowed his blood and licked every drop of his blood and ate his clones. Finally, he was defeated and banished to Paataal Lok.”

Sharvari’s eyes widened and she grunted, “Ugh! That was the mythology. We aren’t dealing with Raktbeej’s physical clones and neither do we have a Kaali to swallow his blood and devour his clones. How do we deal with him now?”

Dhaigham spoke. “Though the physical battle may not happen, the fear, the anxiety, the greed and jealousy that we are seeing are representative of his clones.

The discord he is sowing are his blood drops. Hiranya is the vessel he is using to spread this chaos. If we want to defeat him we need to curb the chaos and find a way to get rid of Hiranya.

With him gone, the demon will have to step out himself.”

Sharvari and Kasar stared at each other. Even with Hiranya out of the way, how did one stop a demon?