00 | Prologue



The snowy mountains were an ethereal sight to behold, hiding behind the misty wisps of clouds. The gentle gusts of wind were like the chiming of bells, ivory blooms entwining the hills. The golden sphere directly overhead was blanketed with livid messengers of rain, no hint of heat found in the ambience that shuddered with the cruelty of the cold reigning the locus.

Her doe eyes ceased shut in veneration and didn't flinch for a second as the hymns springing from her nectarine lips that had now dessicated resounded faintly. Amidst the sparse, almost nil life breathing in the snows, settled a maiden so firm and determined she could make Shakra's throne tremble.

"Om Vishnave namaha!"

"Om Vishnave namaha!"

Slightly hoarse eutony chanted on and on, sans a halt, oozing out devotion and love that emerged from the depth of her heart for the blue lord who ruled the three worlds. Adrika was lanky, possessed skin like honey and a character like the lotuses which bloomed amongst adversities but wasn't besmirched.

Rooted in the divine fuchsia petals of a lotus was Devi Saraswati, her curious gaze peering at the young female deep in rumination. The icy zephyrs that howled and stung her bare skin did not shatter her cynosure, her long ebony tresses whipping around her petite frame.

"The intense fervour she invocates to your consort with is laudable, Sakhi." Gauri Devi's soft words brought a gentle smile upon the lips of Devi Lakshmi.

"Indeed my sister, Adrika's desire shall soon be fulfilled." Chanchala whispered, a nurturing glance in her amber hued irises. "He is obliged to emerge before you Adrike, keep hope." The last murmurs were reverberated around the ice capped mountains that glimmered like diamonds, the gusts of wind carrying the promise to Adrika.

Periods of time elapsed as mighty empires were created and lost, some ravaged and shattered. Yet the chanting of Hari's name that fell from the honey sweet lips of Adrika never once faltered.

The foamy cool waters of the Ksheera Saagara splashed and bounced playfully, waves creating a tranquil melody that interposed the hush regnanting the seraphic abode of the lord. His dark hued skin glowed faintly as he closed his orbs that held the twinkling stars, shimmering galaxies and vast universes in them. Languidly leaning against the thousand headed Shesha serpent, was Vaikuntha Samrat with his notorious eyes finding serenity in a certain pair of austere human orbs that held the most seraphic gleam in them.

Vishnu beamed, and it seemed as if the entire cosmos lit up with the flutter in his heart. Interrupting his vibrant soliloquies and delirious thoughts, came a pleasant call from his beloved who usually settled by his lotus feet, massaging them, "Swami...", Her voice held all the love of her motherly heart, a teasing tone sousing her words as she craned her head to the side as she couldn't stifle the pleasant chuckle that passed her lips.

The creator of the world was not resting on his loyal comrade, for he had emanated before his young devotee that called on him with an ardent piety.

In the soft palms of his muscled arms was an alluring blush tainted water lily, whose fragrance was delicate and signified immaculacy. LakshmiKanta's second hand was in the form of the revered Abhaya Mudra, blessing all those who had sought for him and liberating them from their agitation. The golden hued Sudarshana Chakra gyrated on his finger of the third arm - a galactic sparkle enveloping it as an argent conch that symbolised triumph in his fourth.

Dark curly tresses fluttered in the mischievous gusts of the quieting wind, an amber dhoti being the attire of the brother of Parvati. The Kaustabha stone was embedded in jewellery that hung from his neck and wore Vaijayanti, the garland birthed from the weaving of forest flowers.

Coruscating like a gem among men that he was, Purushottam smiled adoringly. "Adrike, open your eyes." His baritone held a pleased and affectionate edge, with his hazel eyes traversing nowhere from the maiden garbed in quotidian saffron and browns.

Adrika loured, her arched eyebrows verily like the Saaranga he wielded, as she told herself it was nothing but her mind fabricating lies to budge her stance. She didn't heed to the call of Hari who dearly awaited the attention of his devout worshipper. "'Tis no fallacy but the truth Adrike, free your vision and witness for yourself." The low delightful chortle bubbling from his nectarine lips settled a gleeful restless in the pit of her stomach.

The young female stilled, her irises fluttering open as she gasped slightly at the sight before her charcoal eyes dusted with amber specks that were fortunate enough to grasp the divine form of the Leeladhar.

"Shri MahaVishnu." The title fell from her sanguine lips, her form quivering in reverence. Adrika attempted to lift herself but her weak stature crumpled to the snow shrouded earth.

Vaikuntha Natha grasped Adrika firmly by her shoulders, as she leaned against his muscled torso and brought her shaking palms together, seeking his sanctification.

"Sudhapradhaya." She pleaded, drops of pearls trailing down her fair cheeks.

"Ask me your boon Adrike and I shall bestow it upon you." Padmanabha let his hands caress the cheeks of his devotee, a tender and loving smile curving his lips.

"Oh Hrishikesha, you are all knowing. The three worlds only breathe because you have granted the elixir to them. We are all nothing but a dust particle beneath your lotus feet, my lord." Adrika fell to her knees, conceding to her deity. Her hands were joined in a beseeching gesture. "You know what my mind, heart and soul desire."

Gadhadhara's features contorted in agony, melancholy crawling into him like the waves of ocean tardily grasping the share of land, inundating it, "It would not be a journey laid with the velvety petals of roses Adrike." His words were coated in anguish.

"Even the sharpest of thorns could not waver the desire I pine for." Adrika gazed up at Shridhara, eyes brimming with pious love for the best among men. "Not even your nectarous words."

"Tathastu." Bhargava raised his alta stained hand, blessing his devotee that had surrendered all she thought of her own to him.

The words had merely slipped past the lips of Shyama Sundara when raging gusts of powerful and raving winds howled around them. Adrika's irises widened, the elated smile that had curled her features morphing into angst that cloaked her euphoria.

"Asambhava! This is a clear injustice to my adherence!" A thundering voice interposed the colloquy, syllables lodging like honed shafts into the heart of Avyukta who let out a shaky breath - the finesse of clairvoyance turning out to be a bane for him.

The sage whose eyes rimmed red and fury gaped at the duo. Adrika's blood ran cold in her veins, heart skipping beats as the next poison coated words were hurled towards her deity.

"By granting the wish to your devotee who didn't pray as much as I did and doesn't deserve your darshana as much as I do, you have exhibited partiality, lord of Vaikuntha!" Harshavardhana thundered, angling his fingers accusingly at the lord who stood upright with grim clouds shrouding his gleaming features, his aureole ostensibly fading with each passing moment.

"Mirroring your act of disregarding my devotion and abandoning me, this woman shall abolish your reminisces! Even after aeons, her penance shall not be fruitful for the union shall never take place. My curse shall sustain!"

"Harshavardhana!" It was time for the ever serene lord to lose his patience for the pearls of melancholy tracing the length of the unearthly visage of Adrika acted like salt on his burns. The said woman staggered in her steps, her heart spasming cruelly and it felt like someone was squeezing the breath out of her.

"The sick excuse in the name of meditation upon me was nothing but a charade, and you are very well cognizant," Hari began, gritting in his teeth as the ether grumbled like harbinger of doom, "You didn't surrender, didn't love and neither devote yourself to me. For the sole purpose of begetting a boon to satiate your unquenchable inclinations, did you attempt to please me. And now that your materialistic self has crossed every boundary, I curse you that no boon shall work for you! You have committed the grave crime of afflicting a sacred soul with an untenable curse and you shall pay for it!"

Epiphany wasn't soft on him for the slap on his face jostled him out of his venomous demeanour. The emerald hued envy that had shrouded his tainted soul faded away into oblivion, the words of Shrikara sanctifying his hazy mind.
Harshavardhana floundered to the surface of Vasundhara with his folded hands seeking mercy. "Forgive me, lord, for my narcissism had prohibited me from differentiating between the right and wrong.

I cannot cancel the mallacht wholly but it can be assuaged. You both shall have each other in your stars and shall unite, but hindrances shall bestrew your path. It would be tough, but not unfeasible."

Shrinatha's ire had subdued by then as he sighed defeatedly, caressing Adrika as one would tend to a wound. Tucking a brave smile to her lips, she folded hands once again, "I shall wait then, Swami."

And before anyone could contemplate much, Adrika closed her alluring orbs as she called upon all the gods. Oh Gauri Maa, if I have been faithful in my devotion towards Adhokshaja, then heed my words! Immolate this vessel that shields my soul and bring me closer to the one I have wished for!

Titian flames roared around her, engulfing her petite frame as Adi Deva grasped her in his arms. The swirling inferno charred his velvety palms while his rose petal-like eyelids veiling his lachrymose peepers shed a single tear, mourning the demise of his devotee.

Harshavardhana gazed at the searing corpse in the hands of Damodara, surrendering his head to the Lord of the Lords. "Forgive me Jagatkaranaya, find it in your benevolent heart to reprieve these sins of mine."

But his words were lost in the soft cries of black-headed jays who grieved at the death of their young companion who had been through the lives of their ancestors, and now them.

The sage was damned until his last breath, every beat of his heart reminding him of his immorality. And so he lived, for a long time, attempting to atone for his wickedness and as he inhaled his final gulp of the Himalayan air, he aspired for a wait to serve Adrika in her next life.

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So yeah, that's just some extra information so it's gathered in the prologue. Do let us know what you think of this update and don't forget to leave your precious votes.

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