Chapter 6: The Threads of Karma
Location: Prayagraj – Riverbank of the Triveni Sangam
The smoke curled into the early morning mist as the Rakshas stood tall between Anaya and Aarav.
It was unlike the one from the train — this one had a face made of cracked stone, glowing eyes like molten rubies, and horns etched with Vedic curses. His roar wasn't just sound — it was memory, wrath, and broken vows.
> "Devakanya…" the Rakshas hissed, staring at Anaya.
"Astradhari…" it growled toward Aarav.
"You both should not have awakened."
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The Clash
Anaya nocked a flame-tipped arrow, its shaft humming with ancient mantra.
Aarav raised his hand — the trident of fire blazed to life again, but now, symbols began glowing on his forearm: ॐ, त्रि, यम, and another unfamiliar glyph shaped like a reversed eye.
> "Your soul carries the mark of Rishan," the Rakshas snarled. "I killed you once. I will again."
The demon lunged, its claws slicing the wind.
They moved like instinct — not strangers, but ancient warriors reborn.
Arrow after arrow blazed from Anaya's bow, illuminating the air with flaming petals. Aarav struck in rhythm — flame met darkness, shattering illusions and burning away corrupted karma.
With a final coordinated strike, they impaled the Rakshas from both sides — flame and mantra collided at its heart.
> The beast roared, cracked apart, and disintegrated into a storm of ashes.
Silence fell again.
Pilgrims nearby, as if veiled by some divine fog, remained unaware. The only witnesses were a few sadhus — silent, knowing, watching with glowing eyes.
Anaya turned to Aarav.
> "You're him," she whispered. "The one who broke the wheel."
"I don't know what I am anymore," Aarav said. "But I remember you now… Anaya, the Flame-Walker."
They stared — past time, through layers of lifetimes — and something inside them clicked. A feeling older than birth.
But before words could be shared, a third voice broke the air.
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A New Arrival – The Laughing Sage
> "You two lovebirds always find each other before the end of the world."
A man in a dusty cloak and chappals walked toward them, a half-eaten guava in one hand and a wooden danda on his back. His beard was wild, his eyes ancient.
> "Name's Brihaspati, but you can call me Guruji. The Gods sent me. I'm your spiritual babysitter."
Aarav stared. "Wait, the Brihaspati? The Rishi of Devas?"
> "Depends which calendar you're using," the sage shrugged. "Time's circular. I borrowed this body after a buffalo saint retired."
Anaya knelt instantly. "Guruji, is the Fifth Yuga truly beginning?"
> "Oh yes, and the stakes are worse than last time. The seven seals are weakening. Astradharis are reawakening. And the Rakshas? They've got a queen this time. One even Shiva cursed."
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A Brief Refuge
They followed Brihaspati through winding alleys into a hidden akhada where time seemed to slow. Bells rang, cows wandered, and warriors trained with ancient weapons.
Inside a painted shrine room, Brihaspati drew a diagram — a mandala of seven spokes.
> "Each seal is tied to a Yuga, to an Element, and to a Warrior. You've awakened two: Fire and Sky. There are five more."
He pointed to a sigil of water shaped like a serpent.
> "The next seal lies in Dwaraka, submerged but still alive. Guarded by a Naga-astradhari. She was once your ally… and your executioner."
Aarav paled. "You're saying I—?"
> "You were the first to break the oath of the Astradharis, Rishan. That's why this Yuga was never meant to happen."
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Nightfall – On the Rooftop
Later that evening, Anaya and Aarav stood under the starlit sky.
> "Do you really remember everything?" she asked.
"Flashes. Battlefields. Your voice." He turned to her. "The moment you… disappeared."
She looked down. "You tried to save me. I broke the seal to stop the war. I thought... I was protecting you."
Aarav stepped closer.
> "Maybe this time, we protect each other."
Their hands touched. The symbols on Aarav's arm and the mantra on Anaya's back glowed briefly — as if acknowledging their bond.
But then the stars above flickered.
And a black serpent made of storm clouds slithered across the moon.
> The next seal had awakened.
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End of Chapter 6
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