Asmi: The Warrior of Fate

The Shadows of the Past

Far away from the vibrant palaces of Hastinapur and Dwarka, deep in the shadows of the world's forgotten places, Rutikasur walked. The world had changed since he last roamed free but his hunger for vengeance had not. His eyes burned with hatred, his memories filled with the faces of those who had made him who he was. Among them, two stood out- a prince and a woman.

But those memories were fragmented, hidden beneath layers of time. He could not yet remember their names, only the emotions tied to them: betrayal, anger, and a desire for destruction. Something about these two mortals, living now in the grand kingdoms, called to him. He sensed they were reborn, as he was, and destiny had once again entwined their fates.

As Rutikasur's power grew with every passing moment, he knew one thing for certain- he would bring evil to their lives, starting with the one who called himself Duryodhan.

In the gardens of Dwarka, Krishna sat cross-legged, his eyes closed in meditation. Though his body appeared still, his mind was anything but at rest. Suddenly, his eyelids opened, and his normally calm expression tensed.

"Rutikasur..." he whispered to himself, the name like a bad omen. He sensed the demon's presence, recently freed from his imprisonment. Krishna's heart grew heavy, knowing that a great danger loomed over both Hastinapur and Dwarka.

"Yeh keval aarambh hai... (This is just the beginning...)," he muttered, his gaze distant. He would need to be vigilant. There were already enough forces at play, and now, with Rutikasur's return, the stakes had risen.

Back in the royal court of Dwarka, Vasudev received the much-anticipated proposal from Hastinapur. A messenger, after handing over the scroll, bowed deeply before leaving the king to ponder the request. The proposal was simple but profound: Duryodhan, the prince of Hastinapur, formally sought Asmi's hand in marriage.

Vasudev's face remained unreadable as he ran his fingers over the royal seal of Hastinapur. Though he respected Duryodhan as a strong warrior and a devoted son, he also knew the complexities of such a union. Political alliances, family loyalties and the shadow of fate all hung on his decision.

That evening in Hastinapur, Duryodhan was busy reading the royal scrolls when a soft cooing caught his attention. He looked out the window to find a messenger pigeon perched there, a small letter tied to its leg.

Curious, he untied the letter and unfolded it. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized Asmi's handwriting. He sat down on his bed, eager to read her words.

As he read through the letter, a smile slowly spread across his face. Her words, though simple and sometimes a bit awkward, were filled with warmth, honesty and humor.

He chuckled as he read her line about missing him and spending beautiful moments together. The way she described her struggles to write the letter made him laugh softly.

"Yeh Asmi bhi na..." he muttered, shaking his head fondly. (This Asmi...)

By the time he finished the letter, his heart was full. He folded it carefully and placed it beneath his pillow, a sense of contentment washing over him.

For the first time in a long while, Duryodhan felt truly at peace. The letter was now safe under his pillow, and he continued his work with a smile on his lips, knowing that she felt the same way as he did.

In the quiet of her chamber, Asmi nervously paced back and forth. Her heart fluttered as she thought about the proposal, but even more so, her feelings for Duryodhan weighed on her mind. She had to talk to someone and there was no one better than her beloved elder brother, Balram as per Krishna's advice.