When Aastha met Veer, she knew they had a connection.
However, the connection would be from two centuries ago, she never could have imagined.
A love story that remained unfulfilled, broken by evil, and destroyed to ashes - whose reference hide...
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Last evening, Rudragarh
"What brings you here? How long have you been wandering?" Aghori's voice cut through the air. It was inching closer to 6 pm and the security guards were making announcements asking the tourists to vacate the premises. With each passing second, his patience thinned. Thankfully, the Kali Mata temple was tucked away from the usual tourist routes, keeping him out of the guards' vicinity.
"I called you here," Paakhi admitted softly. Aghori scrutinized her with narrowed eyes. "I summoned them...the crows...but they were more than just birds...you know, spirits were trapped inside them."
"You should hide. Guards will come for inspection. Rudragarh closes after 6 pm," she warned him. He took a sharp breath, glancing back at the temple.
"I'm not hiding. No guards can touch me," he declared stubbornly. Something about the place unsettled him, perhaps because of the concealed Rudra temple. His deity was kept locked away, hidden. The urge to explore tugged at him, but it would be futile; he had already searched. What he wanted were answers! He had hoped for guidance from Kali Mata, instead, this meek spirit had shown up.
Just like that, she vanished. Aghori looked around briefly and drew a deep breath. Shaking his head, the Aghori returned to the temple, slipping into the inner sanctum. Opting to meditate until the spirit reappeared, he settled in a secluded spot, out of sight.
How long had it been since Rudragarh had heard positive chants? The birds scattered in a frenzy, the leaves ruffled and the wind began to dance. Even as the negativity lingered, for a few brief moments, the air carried a thin layer of positivity. Paakhi, standing atop the fort, observed the stagnant darkness. Though his chants were inaudible to human ears, they resonated loudly against the wicked forces.
She felt the burn, her ears ringing, her soul whimpering. Yet, she endured, knowing he was here to make things right. Patience was her virtue, despite the agony. Hope began to blossom in the once-dreary air, casting aside the shadows of evil that haunted the city.
A crow flew towards her. Despite the night's darkness, guided by the spirit within, it found its way. "Word is spreading," it spoke to Paakhi, who frowned in concern. "What's wrong?"
"Some spirits are betraying us. The witches are occupied with their rituals, but once they're free, the spirits will betray you. His presence is already stirring trouble. You've remained hidden from the witches for so long... but I don't know how much longer it'll last. Those witches are ruthless! They know how to torment spirits, and that's worse. They'll torture you endlessly," the crow warned anxiously.
Paakhi sighed. "I don't care. Fear of them ended my life once. If I still fear them, what's the point? There's a reason I'm still here... and I'll do whatever it takes to end them for good. I can't forget that they killed my Rajkumari! I couldn't save her..I.."
The crow sighed in resignation. "You and your past life tales. Fine, do as you wish." With that, it flew away to hide in its nest buried against an ancient tree.
