THE FALSE GOD WHO SMILES
They hid Arjun beneath the city leaving that old hospital.
It was Not a bunker nor a temple.
A forgotten metro station, sealed decades ago after a "gas leak" that killed hundreds. There was the last train rusted like the rail. Smell of it was spreaded in air for miles, weeds algae grown on it, making it greenish reddish brown all over compartment, door open and few closed.
The ash-robed man lit a lantern etched with warding scars. The light did not push the darkness away—it kept it obedient.
"My name is Rudra Sen," he said finally. "I hunt things that pretend to be divine."
Arjun sat against a cracked pillar, his hand wrapped, the eye beneath the cloth still awake.
"You said there's someone like me," Arjun said.
"On the Throne."
Rudra's jaw tightened.
"Yes."
He raised the lantern.
The wall behind him rippled.
A projection appeared—not illusion, not memory. A live vision.
A city.
Clean. Bright. Peaceful.
A massive temple stood at its center, untouched by decay. People smiled as they prayed. Children laughed. Bells rang.
And above the temple—
A figure descended.
Human in shape. Golden-eyed. Barefoot. Wearing simple white robes.
He smiled.
The crowd wept.
"HE IS MERCIFUL," they chanted.
"HE WALKS AMONG US."
Arjun's chest tightened.
"That's… a god?"
Rudra spat on the ground.
"That is Adhrit."
"The First Escapee."
"The False God."
"The Man Who Sat on the Throne and Was Not Rejected."
The image shifted.
Adhrit stood alone now, no crowd, no smiles.
Behind him—
a mountain of corpses stacked like offerings.
His smile never faded.
"Godhood is a service," Adhrit said softly.
"Someone must bear it."
The vision cut.
Arjun felt sick.
"He looks human."
"He was," Rudra replied. "Just like you."
Silence stretched.
Then Arjun whispered, "Why hasn't he killed me?"
Rudra met his gaze.
"Because the Throne didn't choose him."
Arjun's mark burned.
"He stole it," Rudra continued. "Forced himself onto it. And now the Throne is… unstable."
The lantern flickered.
"All God-Bearers feel it," Rudra said. "When a new Key awakens."
Arjun stiffened.
"So he knows about me."
Rudra didn't answer.
The station shook.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
Every lantern flame bowed in one direction.
Arjun's wrapped palm opened on its own.
A voice echoed through the underground—not loud, not threatening.
Kind.
Warm.
Familiar.
"Arjun Vairag."
Rudra drew his blade instantly. "Don't listen."
"I am so glad you survived," the voice continued.
"You shouldn't trust men who live in graves."
The darkness peeled back.
A figure stepped into the station.
Barefoot.
White robes.
Golden eyes.
Smiling.
Adhrit looked at Arjun—not like a god.
Like an older brother.
"Come," he said gently.
"Let me teach you how to sit on a throne without breaking the world."
Rudra shouted, "DON'T—"
Adhrit snapped his fingers.
Reality folded.
Rudra vanished.
Arjun stood alone.
The false god extended his hand.
Still smiling.
Everything is temporary but his smile is permanent in this world, but many mysteries of his past is concealed..it can be tragic or something like his weakness or secret that how he get that throne. At last Arjun gave him a smile and Adhrit disappear inside fog he created.
Arjun saw an locket with a ring where Adhrit was standing and a voice heard take it just call me with that remembering me. Arjun move forward to get locket but when he lean and extended his arm to take it, by the moment he touched locket, it become ashes..
Adhrit said" looks like my pendent too rejected you like throne."
Ha Ha Ha.. Hey where are you going? We haven't got our answer?
Adhrit voice echoes again" so curious to know then,come!"
To be continued..