Entanglement With Fate (Part 2)

16. The Twice Lived

Music for the Chapter: The First Departure Assasin's Creed Valhala

Narration

Shukracharya just stood outside Gurukul. He just sat at the entrance hoping at least after feeling a little pity he could go to him. Garuda, as he passed Shukracharya, gave a violent look to him. All of Vishnu's attendants would say something or the other to him. Bitter words.

"Look carefully, Sunanda. This is exactly how a traitor looks. The man who betrayed the sister that gave him everything. This is how he looks. Might want to remember so it goes down in history." One of the attendants.

"This man is the reason for our lord being free of any alankara today. May karma torture him far worse than that of scoundrels."

"The one who has stolen our prabhu's enchanting smile and caused him pain."

"I cannot believe that a man who himself has a daughter would wish something like over someone else."

"And this is the one who receives patronage from Shiva. Only Vishnu knows what Shiva sees in him."

The jeering would constantly feel like stabbing to Shukra who would still sit there. Perhaps he deserved it for trusting Virat. He deserves it. Even Bali, his dearest student, refused to speak to him. He had sent out an order that for a while he wants to be alone and not wish to see Shukra.

"Why do you want to suffer all this jeering, Shukra? Go home. People here aren't going to be kind to you while coping with their loss." The voice of his father made Shukra look up at him.

"Pitashree, I never meant any evil on her. I swear on Sri. I swear on the love I hold for my own daughter. I never want any harm to Alaknanda. My Shiva knows that I have only seen her as Sri. Please believe me." Shukra tried to convince his father. No where to go now. His own pain and suffering making him feel homeless.

"Shukra, if you really are saying the truth then do one thing. Go. Go tell Sri that her daughter is lying dead. That you had promised my Anna that you'll keep her safe. You took responsibility for her safety and now she is dead. My Anna asks you to let him meet his own wife and you couldn't give that to him. My Anna asks you to be able to spend at least a few moments with his daughter and you couldn't give that to him. What makes you think we will believe you? We did and now my niece is dead. What has my Anna ever done to you Shukra that you cause him such unbearable pain? My Anna has only ever given you respect and you made him cremate his own child. He never said a word against you even when you kept his beloved wife away from him for 17 years but you had him take off all his jewellery and sit like a man who has lost everything. My Anna who is the source of hope for this entire creation sits there bereft of anything that could make him happy. Satchidananda Swaroop of my Anna gone and he feels the pain of the loss of his daughter." Uma taunted him. "But you want us to believe you. Alright. You go tell her exactly how and why her daughter died and I'll believe that you never meant any harm to Alaknanda."

Shukra just looked at Uma. Bhrigu just looked at Shukra.

"Haven't you had enough, Shukra? You won. You really did win against Vishnu. At least now let him breathe." Bhrigu told him. "Get a hold of yourself before Vishnu loses all his cool and ends up killing you."

Shukra couldn't explain to anyone. There was no one willing to understand him. He really cared for Shukra. Tears fell from his eyes. Only he knew how much it pained him when he saw the blood of Srisuta pool in the ground.

He fell to the ground. A hand came over his shoulder. He looked up to see Jayanti.

"At least you believe, don't you?" He asked, his voice shaky, eyes looking away in shame. Desperate that someone believes him that he truly cared for the girl he had begun to see as his beloved sister's daughter. Jayanti let him cry on her lap and rubbed his back.