Reunion at the Gurukul
The golden rays of sunset fell upon the stones of the Gurukul, making them gleam like burnished gold. Agni and Neer stood before the massive gate they had crossed countless times in their childhood. The air still carried the same fragrance—earth, tulsi, and the distant scent of sacrificial fires from the yagna halls. But today, that fragrance carried a different emotion to their nostrils.
Every stone was a memory—the corner where Agni had first controlled the fire element, the tree under which Neer used to meditate, the roof where they both counted stars at night. But today, those memories came with a bitterness. They were here again—but they were no longer just students. Agni carried the burden of Tejgarh on his shoulders, and upon his soul, a sin whose weight threatened to crush him. Neer bore the silence of a father lost and a heart encased in ice from betrayal. Between them stretched a chasm filled with unspoken words and a shared, haunting tragedy.
Gurudev Vishwaraya himself came to the gate to welcome them. His face held the same serene, knowing smile, but his ancient eyes saw deeper—they saw the shadows beneath their eyes, the new lines of pain on their young faces, the careful distance they maintained from each other.
Gurudev:
"May you live long, my sons. Your return to this sacred land is a cause for joy."
Agni and Neer:
(Bowing together) "Our respects, Gurudev."
Gurudev:
(Reading the hidden pain in their eyes) "You both have endured much. The childlike playfulness that once graced your faces is gone. But there is still time... Come, come inside. You need rest."
The atmosphere of the Gurukul was still the same—the chanting of Vedas from the prayer hall, the sound of mantras from the yoga shala, the scent of basil and sandalwood in the air. Yet, for Agni and Neer, everything felt different. The familiar sounds were a stark contrast to the turmoil within them. The peace of the place felt like a reproach to their own inner storms.
Gurudev seated them in his simple dwelling.
Gurudev:
"You must have received the invitation to Vayansh's wedding. This occasion is significant for you both as well."
Agni:
(Bowing his head) "Yes, Gurudev. But the chasm between us..."
Neer:
(In a broken voice) "Gurudev, will this... this bond of pain ever break? Will we ever be..."
Gurudev took a deep breath, his gaze holding them both, seeing the tangled threads of their destinies.
Gurudev:
"My sons, a bond—be it of love or pain—clings to those whose karmas are incomplete. You have both lost your fathers. You have lost your mothers. And you have lost each other. Yet your karmas together are not yet fulfilled. Vayansh's wedding is a crucial juncture in your journey. You must go there."
Agni:
"But Gurudev, how can we go together? Every time we are near, something shatters."
Gurudev:
(Looking between them) "Your breaking is the very path to your mending. The fractures let in the light. Go now, rest. Tomorrow morning, you must depart for Pawangadh."
---
Pawangadh — Kundalis and Destiny
In the palace of Pawangadh, Maharaja Anilraj and Maharaja Pratham sat before Gurudev Vishwaraya. On the low table between them lay the intricately drawn kundalis—astrological birth charts—of Dhara and Vayansh.
Maharaja Anilraj:
"Gurudev, please examine their kundalis and guide us for their marriage. We two friends have already agreed to the union, but your approval and blessing are paramount to us."
Maharaja Pratham:
(Politely) "Yes, Acharya. We have consulted the royal priests as well, but your divine insight will give us peace."
Acharya Vishwaraya studied the charts with deep concentration. His eyes closed, as if he were looking into another realm. After several moments, he opened them.
Acharya Vishwaraya:
(In a grave tone) "Maharaj, these two are made for each other across lifetimes. Their kundalis do not merely match; they complete each other. Dhara's Moon and Vayansh's Sun are in such harmony, it is like Prakriti and Purusha incomplete without one another."
A wave of relief washed over the faces of the two Kings.
Acharya Vishrayan:
"But remember one thing... Their union will not only connect two kingdoms, but it will also give birth to a new energy. These two are the bridge that will, in the future, play a key role in resolving the manmutav the karmic debt that binds Agni and Neer."
Maharaja Anilraj:
(Startled) "Agni and Neer? What connection do they have with this wedding?"
Acharya Visharayan:
(Smiling mysteriously) "Everything is connected, Maharaj. This marriage is not just the union of two hearts, but the confluence of two destinies. Now, you may proceed with the wedding preparations. The time is auspicious."
The two Maharajas took the Gurudev's blessings and began finalizing the wedding rituals.
---
Bhoomigadh — The Sisterhood
In Bhoomigadh, Dhara's chamber was filled with the vibrant energy of her four friends. The air buzzed with excitement and laughter.
Vasundhara:
(Teasing) "Friend, your marriage is fixed! Now you're truly going to belong to another house!"
Ira:
(Laughing) "Yes, all your mischief will be left behind here!"
Dhara blushed, but her eyes held a strange anxiety—she was happy, yet somewhere deep, there was fear.
In the evening, Neelima came alone to Dhara's chamber.
Dhara:
"Come, Neelima. What is it?"
Neelima:
(Sitting close to Dhara) "I am so happy for you, friend! Your marriage to Prince Vayansh is settled. I was sure your love from the Gurukul wasn't in vain."
Dhara:
(Taking a deep breath) "Yes, Neelima, but at that time we couldn't control ourselves... but you always guided me."
Neelima:
(Holding her hand) "Yes, Dhara. I am always with you. My happiness lies in your happiness."
Just then, Ira entered.
Ira:
(Smiling) "Well! Now these two friends are talking secretly without us! Has our Neelima fallen for someone?"
Neelima's face turned red.
Neelima:
"Ira... you!"
Ira:
"Come on, 'me nothing'! But if something has happened, why hide it from your friend?"
Dhara:
(Intervening) "No, Ira, it's nothing like that. We were just reminiscing about the Gurukul."
Ira:
(Becoming serious) "Yes, Dhara, that is true. But now we will all be together until the wedding. We'll have so much fun together."
Then Vasundhara came running in.
Vasundhara:
"Come, friends! Let's go to Saumya, or the Maharani will involve her in some work!"
The four friends, laughing and chatting, headed towards the Maharani's chambers.
But in Dhara's mind, a question remained—was she truly ready for Vayansh? And would their union truly help resolve the manmutav, the heavy karmic debt, that shackled Agni and Neer?
Only time would tell.
Night had descended upon Pawangadh,
but sleep refused to touch its walls.
Dhara stood alone on her balcony, staring at the moon
a moon that felt painfully familiar.
Somewhere in the palace, Vayansh woke from yet another dream
hands reaching, fingers missing by a breath.
In the Gurukul guest quarters,
Agni sat awake, fire flickering restlessly in his palms,
while Neer stared into darkness, his chest aching with a grief
that did not feel entirely his own.
Akash's meditation broke suddenly.
His breath staggered as a vision struck him
blood-soaked hands… betrayal…
and a woman's voice screaming a curse into eternity.
And deep within the palace,
Guru Vishwaraya opened his eyes from trance.
"The past has awakened," he whispered.
"They are ready."
Outside, thunder rolled softly across the sky,
though there were no clouds.
Tomorrow was not just a wedding.
It was a reckoning.
Because the dreams they shared…
were not dreams at all.