The ashram of Sage Kashyap was bathed in the warm glow of the morning sun. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming lotus flowers, and the gentle rustle of leaves created a soothing symphony.
Aditi was engaged in the humble task of sweeping the floor of her hut. Her movements were graceful and deliberate, each stroke of the broom sweeping away the dust and debris. Her face, adorned with a serene smile, reflected the inner peace that characterized her existence. Despite her divine status, she embraced the simplicity of her life, as the wife of a sage.
Soon Diti arrived there, her head held high, her gaze sweeping over her sister. A flicker of amusement crossed her face as she couldn't resist taunting her.
"Can the Adityas sweep floors as well as you ?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Aditi's serene expression remained undisturbed as she met Diti's mocking gaze. Her eyes, filled with a quiet strength, held a silent rebuke.
Diti chuckled, "Don't take it to heart, sister. It's just that when Ajashakti has conquered Swarglok, your sons might resort to sweeping floors, and other humble tasks at his court." she sneered, her words dripping with contempt.
"If it is their destiny to sweep floors, then so be it. But if it's not," she replied, her voice filled with a profound sense of peace, "No power in the universe can compel them."
With a graceful movement, Aditi set aside the broom, her eyes closed in a moment of silent meditation.
"I trust in the plan of Narayan and Amarsri," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "The glory of my children will be maintained."
Diti, her heart heavy with doubt, sought to hide her unease. With a forced smile, she said, "Narayan is asleep, dreaming of his divine plans. And Amarsri must be mourning how her beloved husband has married another after forgetting her."
Aditi's gaze met Diti's, her eyes filled with a quiet intensity. "How can you be so certain?" she asked, her voice calm and unwavering. "That the one who has married Ajashakti, wouldn't be Amarsri ?"
Diti's heart skipped a beat. The possibility that Aditi was right sent a shiver down her spine.
"Ridiculous !" Diti's heart pounded in her chest, a mix of fear and denial. She tried to dismiss Aditi's suggestion, "Amarsri is a proud goddess, she will never marry a Daitya."
"Who knows ?" Aditi smiled and went inside.
Diti tried to convince herself that it was impossible, that Amarsri would never stoop so low. But deep down, a nagging doubt persisted, a seed of uncertainty that had been planted by Aditi's words.
Her heart pounded with a mixture of fear and anticipation. The possibility that Amarsri was the woman who had married Ajashakti was a terrifying prospect. It would mean that her plan had backfired. There was only one way to be certain.
Diti hurried back to her hut. She sat down at her desk, her eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. Taking out a parchment and dipping a quill into a pot of ink, she began to write. Her hand moved with a swift precision, each stroke filled with a sense of urgency.
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The opulent chambers of the Daitya palace were bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun.
Ajashakti relaxed against the ornate diwan, as Anugamini brushed his long, dark hair. Her hands, gentle and deft, moved through the tangled strands, smoothing them into a cascade of silken darkness. His locks were still like that of his divine mothers, long, lustrous and dark. It was a clear indication of the divine lineage he carried.
As she worked, she listened intently as he recounted the tale of his conquest of the Rakshasas.
"You see, my dear, it was a battle of wits as much as it was a battle of strength," Ajashakti said, his voice filled with a sense of pride. "I exploited Ketunemi's one weakness, and it made him kneel."
Anugamini listened with rapt attention. She was eager to learn more about the threats that loomed over her plans, the obstacles that stood between her and her ultimate goal.
"If Ketunemi is half as lustful as you say he is," she replied, "then he should know how other fathers feel when he exploited their daughters."
Anugamini finished brushing Ajashakti's hair, her fingers lingering on his strands. "There," she said, her voice filled with a sense of accomplishment.
Ajashakti ran a hand through his hair, the newly brushed strands feeling smooth and silky. He smiled, a warm glow spreading across his face.
"Thank you little bud." He said, "I must go now, I have to meet some daitya ministers."
"Do you have to leave ?" Anugamini asked.
Ajashakti smiled sadly, "I do not wish to leave you for a moment, and to be honest my mind keeps wandering when you're not around. But again, duty demands me to be there."
He turned and walked towards the door, his footsteps echoing through the quiet chamber. As he disappeared from view, Anugamini's gaze lingered on the spot where he had stood, her mind lost in thought.
She mulled over the information she had gleaned from Ajashakti about Ketunemi, her mind racing with possibilities. If Ketunemi was motivated by lust, then perhaps it would be easier to take him down.
Anugamini's thoughts were interrupted by the sudden entrance of a maid. The woman, her face adorned with a respectful expression, bowed before Anugamini, her hands clasped in front of her, holding a scroll.
"My queen, may I know where Asur-raj is ?" she inquired, her voice soft and respectful.
"He's in the training grounds," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of authority. "Why do you ask ?"
"Daitya-Mata has sent a letter for the lord." The maid said.
Anugamini raised a brow. "Give me the letter," she instructed, "I'll give it to him."
The maid, without hesitation, handed the letter to Anugamini. With a curt nod, she dismissed the servant, who bowed and left the room.
Anugamini waited until the maid was out of sight before unrolling the scroll. Her eyes scanned the page with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.
••••••
Dear Ajashakti,
I was overjoyed to hear of your marriage. It fills my heart with immense joy to know that you have found a companion. I regret that I could not be present to bless your bride. My duties to Sage Kashyap keep me bound to the ashram, at least until the monsoon subsides.
I would be honored if you and your beloved wife would visit the ashram. I long to meet your bride and bestow upon her my blessings.
Your mother,
Diti.
•••••••
The letter was filled with a sense of urgency, the words written with a haste that hinted at the importance of the message. Anugamini's eyes narrowed as she read the letter. Diti's invitation, while seemingly innocent, was a carefully crafted trap. She knew that Diti was desperate to uncover the truth about her identity, to determine if she was indeed the divine Amarsri.
It was too early for her to reveal her true identity, to expose the deception she had woven. But the invitation had to be accepted, or else it would raise suspicions.
A sudden smile appeared on her face, she looked down at the letter, and the very moment the parchment burst into flames, its existence consumed by the fiery inferno.
She muttered to herself, her voice barely audible, "It seems I will have to show the world once again that Srinav and I are one."
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A/N
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AJASHAKTI ANUGAMINI : An HHS Spinoff
Fantasy"If destiny prevents you from being born of my womb, then let us forge a different path. Forsake your divinity, your memories. Become a Daitya." Driven to the brink by the ceaseless annihilation of her sons, Daitya-Mata Diti yearns for vengeance. Bu...
