Ajashakti and Rachna entered Diti's hut, the warm glow of the lamp casting long shadows on the walls. Ajashakti took his seat, a small pedestal. While Rachna, her eyes downcast, sat on the floor beside him, her legs crossed in a comfortable position.
Diti and Danu entered the hut, their arms laden with trays of food. The aroma of roasted meats and other delicacies filled the air, a tantalizing contrast to the simple vegetarian fare that was typically associated with an ashram.
Ajashakti raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Meat?" he questioned, his gaze fixed on the trays before him. "In a sage's ashram ?"
Diti, her expression unyielding, replied, "I will do anything to nourish my children."
However the way it was prepared, the spices used, the overall presentation - it was all designed to increase Tamasic energy, rather than nourishment. The consequences of consuming such food could be dire, leading to a decline in his moral character and a heightened sense of aggression.
Ajashakti simply smiled and reached for a piece of meat. He took a bite, savoring the rich flavor and the satisfying texture.
"Mother, allow me." Rachna offered, her voice filled with a sense of eagerness.
"Of course," Diti replied, her voice filled with a sense of approval. "You are his beloved wife, it is only fitting that you serve him."
Rachna, her heart filled with a sense of duty, began to serve Ajashakti. She moved with a graceful efficiency, her hands gentle as she placed the food on his plate. Her eyes, filled with a mixture of love and admiration, lingered on his face.
Rachna, her task completed, turned to Ajashakti with a hopeful expression. She awaited his approval, her heart pounding with anticipation.
Ajashakti, his gaze fixed on her, nodded approvingly. "Serve the mothers as well," he instructed, his voice firm yet gentle.
Rachna's face lit up with a smile. "Gladly," she replied, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
She turned to Diti and Danu, her eyes sparkling with a sense of purpose. With a graceful efficiency, she began to serve the celestial beings, her movements a testament to her dedication and care. Diti, her gaze fixed on Rachna, observed her with a keen eye. The young woman seemed naive and gullible, her innocence a stark contrast to the cunning and manipulative nature of Amarsri. Her suspicions were subsiding
"You should eat as well now, Rachna." Ajashakti told her, his voice carrying a note of warmth.
Rachna shook her head, a modest smile playing on her lips. "I'll suffice with your leftovers," she replied, her voice soft and humble.
Danu leaned closer to Diti, her voice barely a whisper. "She seems quite subservient. More like a puppet, rather than a wife."
Diti's eyes narrowed, a knowing glint in her gaze. "Exactly what I wanted," she replied, her voice low. "Someone who would not challenge Ajashakti's authority and beliefs, someone who would be content to serve him."
The meal was consumed in a peaceful silence, the only sound the clinking of utensils against plates. Danu, her gaze fixed on Ajashakti, couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. The Daitya king, once a formidable warrior, seemed different, his demeanor somehow altered.
Was it the influence of marriage, the softening of his edges ? Or was there something else at play, something she couldn't quite comprehend ? The question lingered in her mind, a nagging doubt that refused to be dismissed.
As if sensing Danu's gaze, Ajashakti raised his head. His eyes, once filled with a warm glow, now held a chilling intensity. The change was subtle, almost imperceptible, yet it sent a shiver down Danu's spine. She lowered her gaze, her heart pounding in her chest, afraid to meet his penetrating stare.
Ajashakti lowered his gaze, his expression carefully masked. He continued to eat, his movements deliberate and controlled.
After having finished his meal, he gently pushed his plate towards Rachna. She held it as if it were a sacred relic, her expression a mixture of reverence and gratitude. It was as if she were receiving prasad from a deity, a divine blessing that would bring her good fortune.
Ajashakti stood up, his imposing figure casting a long shadow on the floor. His confident stride, filled with a sense of purpose, exuded an aura of authority. As Ajashakti stepped out of the hut, his gaze swept across the courtyard. He was searching for something to wash his hands.
Just then Aditi approached, a pot of water in her hand.
"Here," she said, her voice filled with a gentle warmth, and a sense of curiosity.
He lowered his hands, allowing the cool water to cascade over his palms and fingers. The droplets fell to the ground, creating small ripples in the dew-kissed grass. As he thus washed his hands, Aditi's eyes, filled with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion, lingered on him.
"You're not him, now, are you ?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Ajashakti's expression remained unreadable as he listened to Aditi's accusation. Then his eyes narrowed, a flicker of amusement playing across his face. He raised a brow, an uncharacteristically playful glint in his gaze.
"Why ? Do I not look like him ?" He asked, gently twisting his mustache.
Aditi's lips parted in a relieved chuckle, her initial suspicion melting away. "You look too much like him," she admitted, her voice filled with a sense of amusement.
Ajashakti smiled warmly, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "Go now, before Diti sees you."
Aditi nodded, a sense of relief washing over her. She turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing in the quiet courtyard. Ajashakti watched her go, a knowing smile playing on his face. Then taking on a rather serious expression, he headed back towards the hut.
□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
A/N
Yeh duniya Maya matra hai, yaha sab kuch mayavi hai 🌝
YOU ARE READING
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...
