These matted locks.

Black and dense.

In which Ganga resides.

With ashes smeared on the forehead.

Worshipper of Shakti.

Creator of the entire universe.

Salutations to you.

Dum Dum Dum Dum, the damru sounds

Nataraja, beloved of Shakti, Shiva dances.

Binding all the worlds in his matted locks

I worship Shiva, the consort of Shakti.

ᳪᳪᳪ

Heaven wept upon the soil of the Matasay kingdom, each raindrop falling like the rhythmic beats of Shiva's damru.

**Dum Dum Dum Dum**

The sound resonated deeply, as if one's soul had merged with the essence of the creator. This symphony of raindrops brought a wave of joy to the kingdom.

Amidst this serene backdrop, the grand challenge to become the best Time Charmer unfolded. The arena, now cloaked under a magnificent dome, shielded the participants from the world's disturbances.

Though I long to take you to this enchanting arena, our tale centers on Antra—the Princess of the Matasaya Kingdom, the unrivaled Time Charmer, and the revered Goddess of the tribe that worshipes Time on Earth.

Antra sat by the eastern window, her gaze sweeping across the cityscape until it met the majestic mountains of Aranyaka. Beyond these towering peaks lay the mysterious boundary of the Naga Kingdom.

The Naga Kingdom, a realm of serpentine beings, was renowned for its inhabitants' ability to transform and disguise, making them perfect for espionage.

Their sovereign, King Vasuki, the cosmic serpent, held a sacred bond with Shakti and Shiva. Blessed with immortality, he bore witness to their divine union, their creation of the lokas through cosmic dance, and the treachery of Shukaracharya. Vasuki stood steadfast beside them through first battles, a paragon of devotion.

The enigmatic Serpent King Vasuki was present when Shakti and Shiva chose to leave the lokas. The events of that fateful day remain shrouded in mystery.

Just like his beloved Shakti and Shiva, Vasuki had also departed from Kaalaloka. To this day, no one knows where they went. Now, the Naga Kingdom is ruled by his brother, Takshak.

Despite her status as princess, Antra had never ventured into the Naga Kingdom. She sat by the window, listening to the rhythmic drumming of raindrops, feeling the harmonious blend of the weather's warmth and coolness.

"My beautiful daughter, isn't the weather lovely today?" Maharani Kaalnayani entered her room. Although older, her glowing skin belied her age. Maharani Kaalnayani still looked no older than 25, with a fair complexion that radiated youth. She was the head priestess of the Kaal Temples, sworn to protect the flow of time in all the lokas.

Antra turned around, a soft smile playing on her lips as a light breeze teased her hair. "Maa, indeed. You know how much I love the rain. Come sit with me. I'll ask Nandani to bring tea for you." Her nose ring complemented her slender nose, and her entire aura radiated divinity.

Maharani Kaalnayani walked towards Antra, her white saree with gold-threaded borders flowing gracefully. Like Antra, her long black hair cascaded down to her hips, creating a serene silhouette.

"Beta, what are you thinking about?"

"There's not much to ponder right now. Just enjoying the rain." Antra looked outside the window, trying hard to ignore the interrogation that was about to begin. She knew why her mother was there. Her parents must have discussed her last meeting with the king.

Her father, being the king of the grandest kingdom, known as the King of Kings, still preferred to discuss all royal matters with his wife.

Maharani Kaalnayani gently cupped Antra's chin, lifting her face so their eyes could meet. The softness in her touch contrasted with the firmness of her gesture, ensuring Antra felt both the affection and the concern behind it.

With a smile, Maharani asked, "I heard about your discussion with Maharaja. Is everything alright?"

Antra looked out the window and replied, "Maa, there's a lot going on right now. I don't want to discuss anything right now."

"Antra, look at your mother." When Antra turned towards her, her eyes were rimmed with tears. Contrasting with the weather outside, a storm was raging within her, bringing chaos, clouding her thoughts, and making her feel weak. Her eyes reflected all her emotions

"Maa, I don't know, but there's this feeling deep inside me that something is going to go wrong with Ryhan and Aadiya." She continued gazing into the distance.

Maharani Kaalnayani held Antra's hand, looking deeply into her eyes. She could clearly see the remnants of tears in her daughter's eyes. The pain Antra had been enduring for the past three years was unimaginable. The entire royal family had made a grievous mistake by keeping a mother away from her breastfeeding daughter during a time when the child needed her most.

Maharani hugged Antra, resting her chin on her daughter's head. "Maa, I'm trying. I will become a strong queen one day."

"I know, my dear."

ᳪᳪᳪ

"Maharani! Where are you?" A man in his 50s, towering at 10 feet, wore a white dhoti supported by a golden belt. His upper body was adorned with pearl and gold chains. His face, marked by scars and wrinkles, showed the wear of time, evidence of his countless experiences. His eyes burned with rage. All he wanted at that moment was to meet Maharani Kaalnayani.

"Maharani!" he called again, determination clear in his voice.

"Pranam, Maharaja! What has caused you to act like a raging lion?" Maharani Kaalnayani asked calmly. Her voice was as serene as the sea before a storm.

"Maharani! I think we should talk to Antra." Fuming with rage, he paced back and forth in Maharani's Antaḥpuram.

"Maharaja, first you must sit down. Jaya, bring a glass of water for Maharaja." Maharani's calm voice was not enough to soothe Maharaja's agitation. There was a pressing matter currently unfolding in the court. But what was it that caused such upheaval?

As Maharaja drank the water to calm himself, he looked at Maharani and said, "Maharani, although I gave our daughter permission to investigate the matter, that doesn't allow her to send a request to Maharaja Takshak asking for help in spying on every loka."

Although in this matriarchal world, where all major powers were passed down to the daughters of the family, he, being in charge of running the Matasaya kingdom, held the authority to send official letters to other kingdoms seeking help. Without his permission, no letter could be sent out, as every letter required his seal.

Antra had sent a letter without the royal seal to a kingdom known for their backstabbing. The serpent species were indeed excellent shapeshifters, but trust was always a gamble with them.

There was a time when this kingdom was known for its loyalty to Shakti and Shiva. But after Vasuki left the kingdom in Takshak's hands, that loyalty had vanished. Like all other species, they had both good and evil among them, but the majority leaned towards evil. Until Shakti and Shiva return, which was a distant dream for anyone.

Maharaja Arjun, father of Antra and king of the Matasaya Kingdom, had to intervene before Antra made the matter worse than ever. Sending the serpent species on a mission was like gambling, which most gamblers lose, often ending up with nothing or worse, losing everything dear to them.

"Maharaja, do not worry. I will talk to her. I will provide her with whatever she needs without putting the entire kingdom in danger," Maharani assured him. Sitting next to her husband, she offered her support in his hour of need. She understood the battle her husband was going through—a battle between his role as a father and his duty as the king who rules an entire loka. The constant fear of losing his family while trying to save the lives of his people, whom he placed above his own family. Duty over love.

"Maharani! Don't!" A plea was evident in his eyes.

"Maharaja, we have to." The determination in Maharani Kaalnayani was evident. The actions would have consequences, but this action was going to cost more than what the serpent species could cause.

"Maharani," he cupped her face in his hands, a gesture of love. "No, I order you not to do this. I will find another way." After a pause, he continued, "I have decided I will not tell her, and neither will you. She will think her letter went unnoticed by Maharaja Takshak. And once her time is up, I will tell her myself." His voice, filled with determination, love, and care for his people, wife, and daughter, replied.

ᳪᳪᳪ

After discussing Antra's suspicions with Maharaja Arjuna, Kalika went straight to the temple, where she and the other Time priests work tirelessly to maintain the flow of time across all the lokas, especially on Earth.

Her kingdom, Ratinagara, located to the far north of the Matasaya Kingdom, is known for its harsh weather conditions. It is renowned for its snow-capped mountains, fierce blizzards, freezing temperatures, and lack of vegetation—essentially a cold desert, longing for sunlight, which only graces it for six months in one Parikrama (year).

On Kaalaloka, where time is monitored, the flow of time operates similarly to other lokas. It adjusts according to the loka that the Time priests are managing. In Brahmaloka, time flows much slower compared to other lokas; one year there equals just three hours. Therefore, it is crucial for all the Time priests to meticulously maintain the flow of time across all the lokas.

Surrounded by towering mountains, Ratinagara is home to around 20,000 small temples and 10 main temples, each dedicated to a specific loka, from Brahmaloka to Pataloka. There is also one grand temple where Kalika oversees the activities of all the Time priests, Time Charmers, Black Charmers, and others who know how to manipulate the flow of time and travel without permission.

In the entire circle of the lokas, only Kalika has the authority to grant access to everyone, even to the gods and goddesses. All the temples share a similar structure, resembling a labyrinth. Only Kalika's disciples know their way through this intricate network.

At the very center of the village lies the Main Temple for Kalika.

As Kalika entered through the giant entrance of her Main temple, she sensed a minor upheaval in her town. She thought to herself that one of the priestesses would take care of it and chose to ignore it.

"Tara, show me the energy chart. Let's see if there is any unusual activity happened previous day," Kalika ordered her chief priestess.

Tara, a young woman with a staggering height of 6 feet, dark complexion, and golden eyes, brought her a black tablet. As Kalika clicked on the black stubble on the tablet, a screen displayed in the thin air.

It showed readings in graphs. To an outsider, it might seem like a fine day with no disturbances in the energies—no unauthorized openings or closings of portals. But something was off with one of the charts.

As Kalika zoomed in on the red graph – records energy variation on Earth Loka, she saw a small blip in the energy. She zoomed in further. The blip indicated a disturbance of energies on Earth, a loka that is both strong and yet weak in protecting itself from outer forces.

Kalika clicked on the blip, which zoomed in on Earth, clearly showing the disturbance originating from the forests of Indonesia (a small island on Earth).

Kalika stood tall beside Tara, her gaze sharp and unwavering as she addressed her, "Tara," she began, her voice firm and leaving no room for negotiation, "prepare your team. Check this specific region on Earth."

Kalika looked into Tara's eyes, folding her hands, "I was not expecting this from you. Missing even a small blip in the energy can cost us the lives of millions. I need a thorough report on this matter by the evening."

Tara, who was excellent in her work, felt ashamed and guilty for missing the blip. She clearly knew the consequences. She stood straight, showing her acceptance of the mistake.

Zooming out to a different screen, Kalika said, "Do you want a badge for your error?"

Tara, sensing the gravity of the situation, quickly walked out of the door. She clearly knew the rules of her kingdom: "THERE IS NO PLACE FOR A MISTAKE."

Ratinagra, the only kingdom ruled by women, where all its inhabitants are women. One mistake could cost thousands of years in the darkness of the Kaalchakra. And Kalika, the Queen of Ratinagra, is a woman known for her principles, which she never bends, not even for her best friend Antra.

Left all alone in the Garbhgraha of the Main Temple, Kalika continued to sense the disturbance. Why had nobody checked and reported to her yet? She clicked on the stubble again to check the current status. What she saw on the screen shocked her.

This was not normal. The green graph, which showed the activity of Kaalaloka, was displaying numerous crests and troughs.

Kalika's heart pounded as she realized the gravity of the situation. Someone had broken into the Devi Yantra Graha.

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Word Count : 2118