Vulpecula ✔️

Kashi Vishwanath.

Kayden's POV

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Vishwanath Gali of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh in India. The Temple stands on the western bank of the holy river Ganga, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, or Jyotirlingams, the holiest of Shiva Temples. The main deity is known by the names Shri Vishwanath and Vishweshwara (IAST: Vishveshvara) literally meaning Lord of the Universe. Varanasi city was called Kashi in ancient times, and hence the temple is popularly called Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The etymology of the name Vishveshvara is Vishva: Universe, Ishvara: lord, one who has dominion.

The information was given to us by Ava early in the morning as we all got ready to leave. She wanted to reach the temple in the morning. There was a brightness in her eyes that had almost completely vanished last night. And I'm glad that she is happy. There was bounce to her step as she moved around. There was a laughter in her voice when she made jokes. And there was a child in her that she rarely let out.

I opted to drive this time around and was glad for it because Ava seemed a little nauseous even after the night of resting and walking around to get fresh air. We parked the car and got down to see the sun rising in the sky. None of us had had any breakfast yet, because it was still too early. Clayton had nearly thrown Ava to the wall in his sleep when she went to wake him up. If there would be any scratch on her, I would have killed that little shit.

Ava was the first one to move near the river. Men in orange robes, with long white beard and hair sat at the stairs leading to the river. The revered Ganga river. Ava gently folded her hands in reverence and bent down at her waist. The locals were looking at her crazily, but thankfully she didn't notice because her eyes were closed. Clayton joined her too and I did the same. I didn't want to be standing there doing nothing, so I joined the two.

Once the sun was out and we had given our respect to the holy river, we went inside the temple. It was a grand temple with so much beauty carved into its walls. The whole structure was huge and made out of stone.

The temple complex consists of a series of smaller shrines, located in a small lane called the Vishwanatha Galli, near the river. The linga of the main deity at the shrine is 60 centimetres (24 in) tall and 90 centimetres (35 in) in circumference housed in a silver altar. The main temple is quadrangle and is surrounded by shrines of other gods. There are small temples for Kala Bhairava, Kartikeya, Avimukteshwara, Vishnu, Ganesha, Shani, Shiva and Parvati in the complex. There is a small well in the temple called the Jnana Vapi also spelled as Gyan vapi (the wisdom well). The Jnana Vapi well sites to the north of the main temple and during the invasion by the Mughals the Jyotirlinga was hidden in the well to protect it at the time of invasion. It is said that the main priest of the temple jumped in the well with the lingam in order to protect the Jyotirlinga from invaders.

According to the structure of the temple, there is a Sabha Griha or Congregation Hall leading to the inner Garbha Griha or Sanctum Sanctorum. The venerable Jyotirlinga is a dark brown colored stone which is enshrined in the Sanctum, placed on a silver platform. Structure of the Mandir is composed of three parts. The first compromises a spire on the temple. The second is gold dome and the third is the gold spire atop the sanctum bearing a flag and a trident.

The Kashi Vishwanath temple receives around 3,000 visitors every day. On certain occasions, the numbers reach 1,000,000 and more. Noteworthy about the temple is 15.5-metre-high gold spire and gold dome. There are three domes each made up of pure gold, supplied by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1835.

All of us were spellbound after seeing the place. I am not one to really look at such ancient structures and appreciate them, but this is just amazing. I went my own way to look at the engraved stones. The detailing, the preciseness was marvellous. It was a blessing to be standing here and getting to look at this building. I wonder how many more of such structures are here in India.

"How long until we go to the priest and ask for answers?" Clayton asked impatiently and I realised that they both were walking behind me.

"In a bit. Let's visit the main temple first." Ava mumbled looking at me with furrowed brows and then moved ahead of me.

"What? These are not the main temple?" He questioned. And I could tell Ava was enjoying answering all of them.

"No. In most of the ancient temples, built across India, there are smaller temples dedicated to other gods, which leads to the main temple." She smiled at him in a gentle manner. Elegant. With grace.

Possibly Ava is the most graceful person I've ever come across.

"How many of these buildings would be there across the country?" I asked, selfishly wanting her to smile at me. With tenderness and sweetness in her gaze. Apparently it was too much to ask for. However I was glad that she didn't ignore me.

"Many. Too many. Especially in South India. Northern Indian temples are mostly dedicated to Lord Shiva and the goddess Shakti and her different forms. The temples in South India are mostly dedicated to Lord Vishnu."

I nodded at her and let her lead me. I would let her lead me to my doom and I'd walk there with a smile. That's what Ava means to me. A whole damn lot. In the year she has spent with all of us, she has become a very important part of my life. Her little habits. The way she scrunches up her nose at little things. At the way she walks when she knows no one is looking. At the way she widens her eyes when she is surprised. At the way she squints her eyes at her book when she reads something she doesn't like. Or at the soft smile that is always present on her lips when she is reading one of her novels.

"Last night you were awake till late. What were you doing?" Clayton asked Ava. That guy cannot stay silent for two seconds. I grunted at him, making sure he knows my displeasure at having to go through this early in the morning.

"I was reading. The book is amazing." Her eyes sparkled as if all the stars came and made her eyes their home. "It's so so so good. I couldn't keep it down. You know the guy is so hot. I'd do him. Any day. Everyday. Anywhere, everywhere. He is so respectful, so tall, so hot. Damn. And the girl is fierce. She is smart and cool. I like them both together. Although I'm not supposed to like the side characters more than the main, I do love this side character. He is just wow. I don't think I'd ever get over him. And I think I'm in love. Because he is so good. And strong. And sneaky. I just can't describe him enough."

Ava finished with a smile wider than the horizon. My heart was beating out of my fucking chest at the way she talked. I didn't care if she was talking about another guy. All I cared about was that she had a bright smile on her face and she was excited to share everyone of the dudes she reads.

I'm not sure if I was even breathing by the moment her eyes landed on my face. I wasn't sure if anything would ever make me as happy as seeing her grin with pure joy on her features.

My body moved closer to Ava's, and the next thing I knew was that I was softly, so slowly, tugging her hair behind her ears. Her smile slowly dimmed. But the emotions in her eyes wasn't anger or hate anymore. No. Her eyes just displayed confusion at being treated so gently by me. Like she expected me to be rude and rough with her. It sent a painful jab to my heart, but I accepted it. Because I had been rude to her from the start. Never gentle.

I bent down to her level and gazed into those brown eyes of hers. The underlying sadness, the pain, the struggle, the yearning for some love, the person behind those eyes, I saw everything. So without much thinking, I inched closer to her and kissed her cheek. My eyes closed at the softness of her cheeks on my lips.

My body was burning with passion to hold her just a little closer. To crush her to myself and never let go. To protect her always. To keep kissing her cheeks, eyes, nose, chin, forehead, lips and then every inch of her body down below. But I knew I had to earn it.

"Having fun without me Vulpecula?" We heard the voice and froze. Everything around us was a stand still. None of us moved. I just gripped Ava to my chest and held her closer to my heart, I won't let any harm come to her.

When I turned around, I saw nothing but an ordinary man visiting an ancient temple. But underneath those clothes of a common man was a villain of several centuries now. The person Ava was meant to fight. And kill.

Aldrik.