THE DIVINE ASTRAS

Chapter 10

"I cannot believe this."
"My lord? Why are you so stressed? You achieved the power you wanted! How does it matter if the stupid stone is still glowing?"
Smack!
Shukra slapped Jai tighly in the face. Jai fell down on the floor, blood flowed from his mouth.
"Don't you get it? I only have the destructive aspects of this source of energy, I can't use it to bring your sister back, or anyone for that matter! I can't use the 'Mrita Sanjivani mantra' anymore! I need the full power of this astra. You are such an imbecile! You don't understand! I can't awaken your pow..."
Jai grabbed Shukra by the throat.
"How dare you? You dare grab hold of me..." exclaimed a gasping Shukra.
"You listen to me, and listen to me carefully, 'My Lord', I'm just bearing your tantrums because you promised me to bring my sister back! I'll kill you right at this instant! It doesn't matter if you're more powerful than me now..."
"I'd like to see you try."
At that exact moment, Jai freed his hold on Shukra, involuntarily it seemed, and somehow his right leg bent in the opposite direction with a loud crack.
"You could never beat me, and you will never beat me, I am Shukra, teacher of the Asuras! I don't need this newfound strength to kill you! I can vapourize you with a mere thought of mine, so don't you dare disrespect me again, for I might need you in my quest, but you are an option, remember that."
As soon as Shukra let go of his telekinetic hold on Jai, he screamed with pain. Shukra walked away from him.
"I didn't get an answer, Jai..." said he looking back at his student lying on the floor.
An evil aura was emanating from Shukra.
"Y...y...y..yu...yu...."
"WHAT YU YU?"
"Yes.......s-s-s-sirrr.."
Jai was stuttering with pain.
'He is so strong without his powers being awakened, he could cross my powerful defense barrier without a scratch. Imagine, what would happen, if his real power awoke! I need to keep a leash on him, make sure he thinks I'm stronger than him and always will be stronger than him.' thought Shukra.
"Hey fool!"
"Yesssss....sirrr...."
"Oh, right!"
Just then Jai's leg snapped right back into place and his kneecap repaired itself instantly.
"Now, I'm going nearby for an errand. Keep an eye on the boy."
"Yes, sir!"
Shukra vanished into thin air, Jai started shivering with rage.
"Oh, I oughta....what does he think of himself! I know who I was in my past births, I might not remember everything, but I need to beware his newfound powers, they are unbelievable. Maybe even stronger than the Devas, put all together!"

*

"My work is done. Oh, I feel so much better now. But Jai we need to understand why we can't utilise this fully."
"Yes sir."
"I need you to respect me, I don't need the blabbering of a complacent yes man."
"Okay Shukra."
"I wouldn't go that far."
"Sir, if I may say so..."
"Yeah, tell me?"
"What work did you have nearby?"
"Oh, I almost forgot to show you my work! Even Shiva himself would be proud! Turn on the tv!"
"What channel should I put on? Zee TV?"
"I am not starring in a remake of the Mahabharat series. You need a better sense of humour!"
"Then what? MAD TV?"
"Alright, that's enough. Give me the remote."
"Here."
Shukra turned on the television and tuned into a news channel.
"Today is a shocking day in the history of India. It is worse than any terrorist attack in the history of the world. India weeps today. Hundreds dead as an explosion strikes the northern area of Delhi. It would seem the whole area is wiped off this face of the earth. The Defense Minister had nothing to respond to this. Some citizens have formed a union and started a protest, they have attacked the Chief Minister's office and the police is doing nothing in response. Is it the start of a civil war?" said the news reporter.
Shukra turned off the tv.
"Huh! What did I tell you? It is beautiful, isn't it?"
"You killed hundreds of people, innocent people, how is it beautiful?"
"Oh, pish posh, I killed them, their souls would have gone to heaven....don't you understand why I did it?"
"Because you are one, sick, wacky bastard!"
"Thanks for the compliment, but no, first of all, I don't like that condescending tone of yours and second of all, now the Gods will have to respond. They shall have to awaken the powers in this little boy! And when I kill this boy, HAHAHAHAHA! I shall show Vishnu that I have finally beaten him!"
"But sir..."
"What now? You're ruining the mood."
"What if the boy isn't the one? Maybe, that's why the stone is still glowing."
"Then how did I get these powers? How'd you explain that? Cheap Rāvana reincarnate!"
"Don't you remember? He has an elder brother, maybe, he is the one! Oh shit, you stupid...sir! This means this was all their plan, they might already have gotten a hold of the chosen one."

*

"Oh dear! Shukra has killed so many people. Such ego, such crude techniques, Lord can you see this? What can I do? We need time. Seeing the damage done, I think he has gotten a hold of the Brahmānda astra. What to do now?"
"Don't worry, O devoted sage, there is no shortage of time. Do what you have to do."
"As you say so Almighty One,
Your will be done!"