Prologue

Prologue

The Rise of Antakasur

          It was a calm and a peaceful day... There was a bright sunshine and a warm weather. Everything was so bright and serene.

          In the middle of the forest ran a stream besides which were lush green grasslands... In all, an ideal place for a family picnic. But, someone was there who was not at all interested in the surroundings, who did not care to see the beautiful scenery around him and who did not want to waste a single moment to stop and admire God's creation... A very old man, who could barely stand erect was hobbling towards a cave with a determined look on his face.

          He entered the cave... It was totally dark inside as if no sunlight was ever allowed to penetrate into its darkness. He hobbled towards what seemed to be a statue of a man standing on one foot with his hands folded above his head in prayer.

Old Man: Jaago Antaka, jaago!!! Jis din ka tumhe itni besabri se intezaar tha, wo din aakhirkaar aa chuka hai... Jaago Antaka!!! Jaago... Jaago...

          He closed his eyes and began chanting the Asur Jagriti Mantra...

          Soon, a tremor ran inside the cave. A crack appeared at the base of the statue which soon started spreading towards its head. After a few moments, the statue broke apart to reveal a robust man who was in a penance so deep that layers of mud had covered his body to make him look like a staute... He was clad in a black dhoti, had several strings of rudraksha around his neck, arms and waist... His hair and beard had grown incredibly long over the centuries... This was Antakasur, the 5000 years old demon king.

          He opened his eyes. They were blood shot. He gave a loud growl and looked at the person who broke his penance...

Antakasur: Kya hua?? Kyon jagaya mujhe???

Old Man: Jis din ka tumhe itni besabri se intezaar tha, wo ghadi ab aa chuki hai... Bas do din aur... Aur phir tumhara sapna zarur poora hoga.

Antakasur (slightly angry): Sapna?? Use sapna nahi  maqsad kehte hain... (Bursting out laughing) Ab mujhe mera maqsad poora karne se koi nahi rok sakta... (Giving vent to a loud roar of laughter once again) Koi bhi nahi.