Kaalika-The Rise of Rakthbeej
- Poonam Desai
- May 9
- 4 min read
Kaalika-The Rise of Raktbeej
Poonam Desai
Author
In the previous chapters, we saw Hiranya Kashyap and his aide Swarbhanu discover the resurrection stone at Kalimath and manage resurrect demon Raktbeej while Sharvari, Dhaigham, Kasar and Dilan fail to stop them. As Raktbeej comes to power, chaos reigns 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. Sharvari and Kasar brief Mr. Sinha and DIG Pandey about their discoveries and the duo is shocked to learn about Raktbeej. They are now banking on Dilan and Dhaigham to find a solution. Meanwhile Hiranya and the demon Raktbeej have raised the bar. Dilan finds Durga’s lost weapons.
Chapter 16
Days passed. Chaos reigned in the country. Sharvari and Kasar had received an urgent call from Dhaigham, asking them to visit Mahuli. They were now driving in silence on the last leg of their journey.
“You think the grandfather- grandson duo could have chanced upon a solution?”
Kasar shrugged as he turned left onto a mud road leading into the Nandadevi forest. They parked the jeep after a while and trekked to the Mahuli village. They both stood at the door of Dhaigham’s house.
“Let’s hope for the best,” Kasar said, let out a breath and knocked on the door.
Dilan opened the door and greeted them. Handing them glasses of water he asked, “Hope you had no difficulty finding the place.”
Kasar half smiled. “Surprisingly not.”
Dhaigham who had been silent till now, rolled out a clothe which had a trisul, a parasu and a scroll.
“This is what Dilan found a week ago. We weren’t sure what to make of it till we interpreted the scroll.
These are Devi Durga’s weapons which she had once used to slay Raktbeej. Their divine appearance indicates we are closer to a war sooner than expected.
At this point Raktbeej will reach his full power. Devi Durga will again descend to defeat him and return the balance of prakriti.”
Sharvari got up and paced. “Who may we know is the avatar of Durga in this century?”
Dhaigham stared at her and asked, “Have you had any dreams about Raktbeej.”
Sharvari stilled and sat back on the couch.
“Yes, vague dreams. I had dreamt of Hiranya raising him from the dead; also when he devoured the animals.”
She rubbed her hand to keep down the goosebumps. Kasar moved closer and placed his palm on hers. She looked at him pained.
“Sharvari, this is going to difficult to fathom, but from our deliberations we have reached a conclusion that you are the Avatar of Durga.”
“What?!” She sprang to her feet. “Don’t be ridiculous. I neither possess divine powers nor can I swallow blood or devour demons.”
Dhaigham scratched his beard. “While I don’t have answers to the scheme of things, your connection to him and your premonitions are the closest links.”
“No, no, no; don’t you dare bank the fate of the world on me. I am a simple police officer. I was to investigate a theft and a murder.
I am not fated to become a Devi who saves the world.”
Dilan walked to her and held her hands. “Sharvari, I know firsthand what carrying the weight of the world means. I did not ask to be a Mahasimha, but that is my destiny.
If I resist it, it isn’t going to change. It will simply delay the circumstances.
No one can force you. But you need to think about it and come to terms with it.
Rest leave it to the Navdurga, they will guide you.”
His presence, his touch, his words grounded her. The anxious knot in her gut unfurled.
“You choose your path. The destiny you were born into?
Not much of choice there. I, the heir of Mahasimha, guardians of Mahuli am your humble servant. You won’t be alone in this fight.
I will stand by you till the last breath and the last ounce of energy in me.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks. This young man was braver than her.
He was embracing what he didn’t fully understand because that was the duty he was called to.
If he dillydallied, the world would succumb to Raktbeej and Hiranya’s wrath.
“Okay,” she took in a shaky breath, “what do we do next?”
Dhaigham smiled. “We have the weapons, we have the wielder,” he looked at her with pride, “now we need to figure out what and where the war is.”
Kasar scrolled the news on his phone.
“On 25th March 7th Ratri of the Navratri, the Prime Minister is doing a Havan on the banks of the Saraswati River at Kalimath to ward off evil and negativity from the nation.
It will be displayed on all major tv channels in India and abroad. This sounds like the moment as per the scroll.”
Sharvari glanced at her calendar, “Today is the 13rd of March. Chaitri Navratri begins on the 19th. Are you saying things will get worse than they already are?”
Dhaigham gave her a solemn nod.
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