Naagin 2: The Cursed NaagRani, Shivangi

Ch 8- Face the Reality

Shivangi reached the Shesh Nag Temple. As she climbed the stairs, she hoped to see Gurudev praying infront of the Shiv Ling. But instead, she saw a huge group around the Shiv Ling. She was extremely confused and wondered what the commotion was. Suddenly, a small thought crossed her mind. Did the Shesh Nag snakes harm Rocky because he tried to kill her? Not to forget, he is the Thakshak Raj as well.

She hurried over to the temple. But as soon as she took a step inside, all the snakes turned and stared at her. "The traitor! Look what you did!"

Shivangi was extremely confused. She did not understand what everything was about. "What? What is happening?"

"You let a Thakshak snake inside our temple and this is what happens." One of the Nags shouted.  He pointed his fingers over to 2 earthen pots near the Shiv Ling. 

"What? Rocky could have never done that!"

"You are still protecting him?? He betrayed you, tried to kill you and stole the Naagmani. He did not even stop there and went ahead to kill 2 more devotees of this temple!!"

"Two people died? How?"

"Your husband killed them because they were in his way! He did not even bother that they were just humans."

"Wait, the 2 devotees, the Gurujis of this temple?"

"Yes!!!! They...."

Neither did Shivangi hear anything after that nor did she say anything. She was stuck. 'Rocky...... Rocky killed Gurudev?? No.. Why?? Rocky would not...' She kept whispering in her mind. Shivangi had somehow caught hold of herself last time and had gathered the courage to come find Gurudev and find the truth. But now, everything is clear. Rocky removed everyone from his way to get the Naagmani.

Shivangi was not sure what hurt her more. The loss of her only mentor who was there to protect and help her when everyone left her, or the loss of her true love. Every time there was any ray of hope, her life always turns upside down.

"No, no.." Shivangi's eyes which were still red from crying not so long back were filled with tears again. "Gurudev.." Shivangi whispered. She could not understand anything that was happening. Everything was so perfect but in a moment all of that shattered. How? Why?

"You are still protecting that Thakshak snake!"

A huge heaviness overcame her and she fell to the ground. "Rocky could not have done it. This has to be a misunderstanding." Even though it was supposed to sound confident, it felt like she was begging.

"How can you blindly trust him after all this!? A Shesh Nag snake saw Rocky killing the 2 gurus." (Little did they know that this 'Shesh Nag' was just Shesha who wanted to fuel the resentment between the clans.)

She heard the faint murmurs in the group against her and Rocky. It was faint because Shivangi could not hear anything properly. Everything blurred out to her. She felt like her head was spinning. All the moments she shared with Rocky came rushing back to her. Just like the moment he stabbed her.

Shivangi could no longer argue with the snakes. Because there was a stronger argument happening inside her.

She looked down and closed her eyes. Tears were wetting up the ground below. 'My fears have been right? Rocky really killed me out of spite? He wanted the Naagmani?'

'No, but our love.. It was not fake. I know it.'

'So was the sisterly love between mother and Shesha. Shesha almost sacrificed her life for Ma's revenge once. But greed tore them apart. Why can't Rocky succumb to his desires as well?'

She looked upwards towards the 2 urns. Her eyes were red in colour and they were over flowing.

"Crying? That's all you are going to do are you?" The Naag continued. "He stole the Naagmani that our clan had been protecting for eons! Because of your love!!! Lord made you the supreme protector of Naagmani and as the only Suryanvanshi left, we all trusted you as well."

'Gurudev', she whimpered slowly so that no one can hear. 'I am really sorry. I made mistakes one after the other. You told me that day itself that Rocky was my curse. Loving him would make me loose everything. But I told you that no matter what I would not let go of him. But, I never even imagined that you would have to pay the price.'

"I am sorry..." She said to the crowd.

"Sorry? You are a Naagin." another naagin blared. "The last and only Suryavansi left who is the protector of the Naagmani. You are the one who caused everything!! Now, you better get up and fix this!"

'Fix this!? ' Shivangi asked herself. 'But how? I trusted the wrong people and made so many mistakes. But everyone else is paying the price for it.' Different faces started flashing before her eyes. Ma! If I hadn't told Ma about Rocky... In fact, if I had never met Rocky that day, then none of this would've happened. Ma would still be alive. Chacha and Chachi. Gautami. That dreadful night of my wedding would have never happened. Then later Rudra! He sacrificed everything for me! Anshuman! And now, even Gurudev! All of them gave up their lives. For me... For my revenge... For my love... But what was the point of it now? All of this has become meaningless. So many innocent people died! All for what!???

She kept staring at the 2 urns near the Shiv Linga and wondered. 'The only thing I can do now is to make sure they leave this earth in peace. They deserve at least that. But that means I have to...'

'Revenge!' It was not the first time she had to take revenge on Rocky. She did try to kill him many times. But every time she failed. And later on, when the truth came out, she hated herself for trying to harm Rocky. She promised that day that no matter what happens, she would stand by him and protect him.

But still, she could not hide away from her responsibilities. If Rocky wasn't after Naagmani, she would have happily given up. But now, her entire clan is suffering because of her choices.

She got up, her eyes still flowing down.

"There is no need to panic." Shivangi started slowly. "The Naagmani is not with the Thakshak snakes. It has safely started it's next cycle. It was in the Shiv-Shakthi temple last and has disappeared. It will appear back after 50 full moons. Until then everyone is safe." Shivangi told them hoping that the crowd would calm down.

"And then what? Are you not going to avenge the 2 innocent souls who died for you?" The naagin continued.  "Of course! They were just mere humans right! They would still attain peace even if they are not avenged for! It doesn't matter if..." Shivangi glared at the naagin swiftly. A huge fear bit into her and she shut herself down.

Shivangi started walking slowly towards the 2 urns. She was about to take one of them when a naagin held her hand and shoved her away. "You have no right to send them away! You are the reason they are dead. And you don't even bother to avenge them." The naagin scoffed. "I'm disgusted to even be in the same clan as you!"

"And the Naagmani. Who knows if what you are saying is the truth!" Another naagin added.

Many snakes started joining in with the roars against Shivangi and all she could do was just helplessly look around the group. 'It's all true after all! I killed them all. My entire family! They are all gone. And yet I stand here unable to take revenge on the ones who took them from me!' The voices where deafening.

"That's ENOUGH!!!" a voice echoed across the temple.