Prologue:
He has always been a person of few words. But each time he speaks there are emotions hidden in every word of his which no one ever understood except one person.. His Pranali. She saw the person hidden under the cloak of evil. She understood his heart as well as soul. Isn't that the only thing that made her compelled to surrender to him? Not the blackness but the sparks of vividness hidden inside him. She loved him when they first met. She loved him when he revealed his true form to her. She loved him even when he poured his poison into her body. Because deep down she trusted him. It may sound silly but deep down she never believed that her Astika can ever harm her. But she needs to wake up from her slumber. She needs some explanation. She needs to see her son Arjun.
Seeing her stirring Astika went to bed where Pranali was lying and muttered something. Her stirring stopped. He smiled lovingly at her and pushed a strand of hair that escaped her braid. Even in sleep she didn't stop to rebel. He remembered the day they first met. Wasn't it her rebellious and fierce nature that attracted him to her? He sighed and looked at around him.
Astika: Main to tumhe apne mehelo ki rani banana chahta tha Pranali. Per kismat ka khel dekho. Pehle mujhe tumhe apne hi kaidkhane mein bandi banake rakhna para. Aura ab dunia ke samne mara hua dikhakar yaha iss halat mein rakhna pad raha hai. Par mera bishwas karo main jo kuch bhi kar raha hoom woh saab tumhare aur Arjun ke valai ke liye kar raha hoom. Mera beta hai woh. Agar teeno lok ko barbad hone se koi bacha sakta hai to woh Arjun hai. Isslye jaruri hai ki woh har uss bhighna se gujre jo usse aur samajhdar aur takatpad banyega. Par jabtak aisa nehi ho jata tumhe aise rehna padega. Kiyu ki agar Nagraj aur Mohini ko iss batka bhanak bhi lag jaye ki jinda ho to woh khud ayenge tumhe khatam karne. Jo main kabhi nehi hone de sakta. Jo vish maine tumhare sharir mein dala woh tumhe kuch ghanto tak behosh rakhne ke liye tha. Uss vish se insan mout ke kareeb chale jate hai. Par marte nehi. Sabse mushkil tha Guru Vasuki ke ankho mein dhul jhok kar tumhari sharir ko yaha lana. Par maine woh kaam bhi safalta se kiya. Main agar chahta to Guru Vasuki ko sab sach bata sakta tha. Par phir mere asliat sabke samne aa jata jo main nehi chahta. Tum aram karo. Jaab waqt ayega tab main tumhe iss neend se jaga dunga.
Placing a light kiss on her forehead Astika came out from the hut and went to the mandir. An old priest was sitting aside. He went to him and joined his palm in greetings..
Priest: Jite raho. Ma Kali tumhara raksha kare.
Astika: Meri patni ko yaha ashray dene ke liye sukria baba.
Priest: Asray denewale haam koun hote hai beta. Yeh Kali ma ki mandir hai. Unhone hi tumhe panha diya hai. Agar kisika shukria ada karna hai to unka karo.
Astika went before the idol and joined his palm for prayer. Goddess Kali is known for her animosity towards the snakes. So, this is the only place where no snake will ever come. That's why he choose this old Kali mandir for Pranali's safe keeping. Even if Mohini or Nagraj ever suspect anything they will have no body for proof and everything will go per plan. With a last prayer he came out and found a girl clad in salwar kamiz waiting for him. She had fair skin with large eyes. Strong feature describing her as a fighter.
Girl: Aapne hame yaha kiyu bulaya?
Astika: Ham thoda ashcharya jarur hai. Jo kuch bhi hua.. hame nehi laga the ki usske baad bhi tum hamse milne avoge.
Girl: Aapka matlab hai ki jo apki pran priya patni Mohoni ne hamare sath kiya. Unhone hamari puri dunia ujaar di. Par yaha sirf iss liye aye hai kiyu ki aapna hame Guru Vasuki ki souagn diya hai.
Astika: Iss shahar mein ek Garuda ka agaman hua hai.
Girl: Garuda? Yaha Amroli mein?
Astika: Haan. Kuch din pehle hi hamper hamla hua. Hame vay hai ki usska laksh sirf haam nehi Guru Vasuki aur mera putra Arjun bhi hai. Haam Guru Vasuki ki koi madad nehi kar sakte. Woh hamari koi madad lenge bhi nehi. Likin tum unki madad kar sakte ho.
Girl: Aapki kaabse unki chinta hone laga? Aur aapke manav putra Arjun ko to aap khud khatam karne aye hai Nagraj ke adesh par.
At her cruel words something happened. For a moment Astika's guard slide and she got a glimpse of the real man behind the mask of indifference.
Astika: Hamesha se. Par aab yeh saab bat pe waqt jaya nehi kar sakte haam. Guru Vasuki aur Arjun ke suraksha ke liye uss Garuda ko dhunna bohot jaruri hai.
Girl: Haame Naglok se koi matlab nehi hai aab. Aap jo chahe kar sakte hai.
She turned to go back but Astika stopped her.
Astika: Uloopi!
She froze at her place and slowly turned to him.
Astika: Pata hai tumhara naam tumhari ma ne rakhi thi. Tum chahe kitna bhi kousis kar lo par apne astitma se kabhi bhag nehi pavogi tum. Apne liye na sahi kaamse kaam apni ma ke bade mein socho. Agar aaj woh jinda hote to kya tab bhi tum yeh keh pati.
Uloopi opened her mouth to say something but at the same moment stormy wind started without any notice and the night sky light up with lightning bolt indicating the incoming of great storm.
Astika: Aisa tufan to tab bhi ata hai jaab koi mahan naag ka mrity prapt karte hai.
Astika and Uloopi looked at each other. Then Uloopi screamed at the top of her lungs. The scream was filled with so much anger and anguish that even the ground beneath them shook.
Uloopi: Babaaa...
And don't forget to comment.. Your comments make me take my story forward..
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