Searching For The Cursed (Shattered Souls #1)

Chapter 14

"How is he?"

Nishav asked looking at the unconscious form of his brother.

Days had passed after that bloody gruesome night. Varahadri samuday was in a disarray after the losses. Currently with no Adhiza (alpha), they were panicked. They had lost a large number of their warriors in the fight. Families were mourning. Everyday someone's widowed mate was fading away or turning Vatul (mindless beasts). Children were orphaned. Some had decided to leave the samuday (pack) in fear and some ransacked the storage areas.

Acharya Nabgah with the help of some elders was trying to restore order. But it was going to take time. On the other hand, after finishing off Sreesanvika's mortal body, Arudra had surrendered to nothingness. Just like the previous five times. Every time it had been a struggle to bring him back.

"Better. His body is healing. But his mind is another matter altogether."

Nabgah replied with a tired sigh. The healers were working tirelessly. His body was healing just fine. But there was no psychic ripple. A constant blank remained. It was the same after every ending of Sreesanvika's mortal body. He retreated into a dark corner not to be found again.

Nabgah watched Nishav as he closed his eyes and took a sharp breath into his lungs. He sometimes couldn't decide if Nishav acted to be irresponsible or he really was just that.

"What the ---"

Everyone straightened instantly as a flying fry pan hit the back of Nishav's head. Except for Bhargav. He seemed bored. As Nishav turned and saw who it was that had attacked him, a slow smile crept on his mouth.

"Ah! The Vetalni is back!"

Sreesanvika's floating form tried to hit him again with the pan using telekinesis.

"It's your fault, you idiot!"

She hissed at him. Nishav caught the pan this time and crushed it in his hands as easily as crushing a piece of paper before telling her,

"Meri galati? Behen, chay chay sarir diya tumko! Ek mein bhi nehi tik payi tum! Upor se jaha bhi gayi, apne manusiyat se sabko saaf kar diya! Haste khelte paribar ujar gaye tumhare shraap se!

(My fault? Sister, we gave you six bodies! You couldn't even stay in one! On top of that, wherever you went, you killed all with your sinister presence! Happy families got destroyed because of your cursed presence!)"

Sreesanvika grew more angry hearing his accusations. She floated closer to him and shouted,

"Yeh mera aakhri janam tha! Karmo ka chakra purn karne hetu saat janam milte hai! Or yeh mera saatwa janm tha. Aab main kya karu? Baki ka jeevhan hawa mein latakte huye bitau?

(This was my last life! To complete the cycle of actions, everyone gets seven lives. And this was my seventh life! What will I do now? Should I keep hanging in the air like this for the rest of my existence?)"

"Suits you."

Nishav replied with a casual shrug and Sreesanvika kept glaring at him from above.

Sreesanvika obviously took birth before an untimely death made her a Vetalni. That was her first life. But after meeting Arudra, she wanted to complete the cycle of life. Rebirth was the solution to her bodiless existence. Problem was, rebirth happened to be a complicated process and the negative energies of the Vetalas attracted the six bikritis (sins).

Kama (Desire/Lust),

Krodha (Anger),

Lobha (Greed),

Mada (Ego),

Moha (Attachment),

And Matsarya (Jealousy)