Entanglement With Fate (Part 2)

12. The Challenge

Music for the Chapter: The Witch by Harry Gregson-Williams from Mulan 

In a person's life, one thing that they hold most dear is their reputation. A poor man doesn't care for a reputation because he doesn't have one but ones even moderately doing well have a reputation to keep. The thing that makes most humans crazy is their reputation.

This reputation does so much to a person. It makes one do crazy things. People do not express their love out of worry for their reputation. Families do not accept anyone differently out of fear of losing their reputation. People do not speak up about things they feel deeply out of fear of reputation.

I had been the same in a major fashion. I cared a lot for my reputation. It came with my extroverted personality.

"It is alright, Adya. Things will be fine." Raj tried to assure me.

"Fine??" I laughed dryly.

"I've lost that hope, Raj. All I had constantly hoped for was that Devansh will come here and save me. Now, with the allegations against me, no one will come to my rescue. My father doesn't even know me to believe me. He had always feared this happening. That to know his own child is down the path of adharma supporting evil. His fear is now out. However false it is, how should I prove it to him? The evidence for this allegation is strong enough that if I was in Indra's place and Indra was in my place, I would also have believed it. Photographs of me and Shukracharya. Photographs of me and Virat. My feelings for Nandini are known to almost everyone in Gurukul."

I stared at the bright moon.

"Adya, everyone may think that this is true but will Sonakshi and Harsh ever believe it? Will Prajapati Daksh and Prasuti believe it? Will Parshuram believe?"

I chuckled. "What will four people manage to achieve, Raj? The Swargaloka is ruled by Indra. In and by large, all Devansh are citizens of Swarga. All matters of Devansh are handled by Swarga which means by Indra. Indra believes the allegations. To prove them wrong means that one has to come down here and bring proof of my kidnapping. The pictures don't seem like I am at all kidnapped. The pictures of me smiling with Mayura, Videsha, Kanika, and Yashasvi don't seem like that. The pictures of me with Shukracharya, Guru Chanda, and Amarka."

"You losing hope is dangerous, Adya. You are Harisuta. Hari is known for extending hope to everyone in this creation. They say that Hari is like hope. Don't lose hope. Believe in those who love you so much. I know what it is like not to have anyone to support you but as much as I have heard about Sonakshi and Harsh from you, I have understood that they truly care for you."

I smiled.

"I know they do." I looked at the idol of my dad.

"You know what makes Asuras great opponents?" Mayura asked.

"Power?"

"No. Their refusal to bow down. They refuse to sit down and give up. However evil their ideologies are, they are persistent till they achieve their desirous state. That is exactly what suras lack. They give up when they see that the battle is lost and go up to either Mahadev or Vishnu. Here, asuras are faced up against those who are more persistent than them. Vishnu is willing to go through and damn pain and suffering to establish dharma. That is what makes him a victory. Bal and buddhi have to come together with persistent nature. That is why Vishnu is a formidable enemy. His calculated nature. Yet, chaotic nature. You have never even once seen him battle. That is why he seems order to you. What battle you experienced is not even 0.001 percent out of his actual prowess. Ask Yashavi."