Naagin 2: The Cursed NaagRani, Shivangi

Ch 9- The Naagrani

Everyone turned back to see the source of that voice. A maiden wearing white shining attire was standing near the entrance of the temple. She had bright golden eyes and was the definition of beauty. But what caught the eyes of everyone was a crown on her head.

"Is that?" There were whispers all around now. "She looks exactly like her!!" "But how could it be?" "It's impossible!"

The atmosphere became darker as the full moon started hiding away. The clouds started getting anxious. Suddenly there was a huge light followed by a rumbling thunder.

Shivangi was frowning at the beautiful lady as she failed to recognize her. She felt oddly familiar but she was definitely not someone she knew in person.

"Have you all forgotten me? Of course! It was long back! How would you still remember me?" The maiden said. There was strength as well as peace in her voice.

One of the Naagins stepped forward. Unable to take her eyes off of her, she slowly whispered. "NaagRani! Is it you?" Her eyes where filled with tears. Many of the snakes in the group were also taken aback when someone finally said it.

She smiled as she held the hands of the naagin. "Yes. I am finally here. I didn't realize such a long time had passed. But still you remembered me! I am so happy you all are still here! I thought that I would never be able to see everyone again!"

"But this is impossible! How are you alive? Didn't all the royal Shesh Naag snakes die in that huge massacre??"

"I was trapped in the Shiv-Shakthi temple in an idle form. But now I am here because of her." She pointed to Shivangi. Everyone looked at her and scoffed but the NaagRani walked towards Shivangi.

Shivangi was still clueless as to who the lady was and tried to move away from her. But she took her hand with such care that Shivangi did not want to pull back from such a warm gesture. "You brought the Naagmani to the Shiv-Shakthi temple after eons. Of course, no one would have thought that the last and only Shesh NaagRani was stuck in a temple far away from their own home temple. Because of you, the Naagmani's rays reached me and I was awaken."

Shivangi pulled her hands back and said, "Shesh NaagRani? We don't have a NaagRani. Who are you? What do you want from me?"

"Shivangi! No need to be afraid. I am just trying to thank you! You saved me and I want to help you as well."

"Be careful about that! That's a journey you wouldn't want to take up!"

"I know everything about you Shivangi! I heard everything! It was not your fault this happened!" Shivangi suddenly lowered her eyes. The NaagRani looked back at the crowd and shouted, "How can you all blame her for this? We Naag-Naagins, more than anyone else, know the value of love. How can you all be so ignorant?"

She again looked back at Shivangi. Shivangi raised her eyes and looked at her confused as to why she was protecting her from everyone. She smiled at her and said, "Now go! Go and do the last rites of your family."

Shivangi was tearing up but she tried to hide it. She moved towards the two urns. She took one of them and started pouring Ganga water into it. As expected, since they were gurujis who devoted their entire life for the Lord, they died without revenge in their hearts. And so their ashes easily dissolved in the water showing that they are at peace.

As the ashes dissolved away, Shivangi could not stop thinking about how Gurudev was always there to protect her. All the time. No matter whoever left her or betrayed her, he never gave up on her. Shivangi's heart was tearing up as it ached for revenge. But...

After all the snakes prayed together for the Gurujis, the entire temple was filled with whispers. All the Naag-Naagins in the group were suddenly busy asking the Naagrani about the past. "Are the stories all true?  We've only heard legends about the royal family of our clan. Did someone of our own really cause the war back then?"