'How.. ?' Asked Akileshwar, his sword lowered in shock. Kali had died. And she had come to save her species and India. It didn't occur to Akileshwar she was plotting to destroy them.

Kali smiled cruelly at Akileshwar and his group. All of them were equally shocked as Akileshwar. 

'Why.. ?' Words weren't formed from his mouth. He was sputtering random words out. The shock had damaged him. 

'Why not? How would you feel if someone was in control of your life? If there were always superiors to you?'

'Superiors are there for a reason' Said Akileshwar through gritted teeth. His shock was replaced by newfound anger and rage. He had come to accept this. And he was going to destroy it.

'What? To toy with our lives and treat us like slaves?! Because that is what's happening. We don't have freedom. Freedom is when we have control of our own lives. Superiors' existence destroys that. So, I'm changing that. And I'm starting with this world' Argued Kali.

Akileshwar agreed that she did have a point. But he dint show it. Superiors make sure they dint step out of line. If there were no superiors, people would be stepping out of the line a lot.

'Superiors make sure we follow our path given to us. Our Dharma. One can easily diverge from their path and make a wrong move'

'You really don't understand Dharma do you?' Asked Kali.

That got Akileshwar. He hesitated for a moment as Kali let out a laugh.

'Dharma is the path forged by the gods for ourselves. Regardless of what the path is, we must follow it. It is our truth. This is my path. But I intend to destroy that. I intend to create my own path. Embark on my own journey' Said Kali. 

Akileshwar was shocked. All his life he had thought that Dharma was the path that will lead you to a good life. After what Kali had said, he started to rethink what Dharma truly was.

Kali smiled cruelly at him, clearly having won the conversation. Then Akileshwar remembered the Asura.

'You said the Asura wanted to destroy the Mandalayu. Now I'm seeing your not letting him? Won't the destruction of the Mandalayu destroy the mortal world?'

Kali's smile grew. 

'That's where your wrong. You see the Mandalayu created us. Made us see the truth. The three worlds are corrupted. We must be our own masters. If they are destroyed we can make our own paths. Our own Dharmas. The Mandalayu is the truth. Is the Dharma'

At first, Akileshwar was confused. Then, realization dawned on him.

'The Asura is not the evil. The Mandalayu is'

If it was possible, Kali's smiled grew even more wider. 

Akileshwar glared at her, noticing the soldiers.

'Who are these? More demons?'

'No. They are all Asurans'

Akileshwar was shocked. There were more? That means the whole thing was plotted from the start.

'But we are no longer going to be called that. No more superiors' Kali turned to all the Asurans'

'From henceforth, I proclaim us, Rakshasas!'

Akileshwar's eyes widened. Rakshasa? It was the term for an even more powerful demon. If the Asurans truly had Rakshasa magic..

Kali turned to Akileshwar and his group and smiled.

'Take them and put them in the dungeons. I want them to have first row seats' Said Kali as two soldiers surged forward and hit them with the hilt of their swords, knocking them out.

▪

Akileshwar woke up to the sound of water droplets splashing. It was not a loud noise. It was just one droplet after another hitting water. He glanced around to see a tiny well like substance which had an open log tipping over. Through the log, one by one water droplets were hitting the water, creating the splashing noise.

'Mesmerizing. Isn't it?' A voice said startling Akileshwar. He turned and saw a floating yellow.. he didn't even know what it was. It was like a force of energy that was floating around

'Well, I just picked this up from the future, Akil. I liked it. That must be why it's weird' Said the voice again. Akileshwar guessed the voice was the energy. 

'Who are you?' He asked. It was then he realized that he had none of his weapons, armor etc. on. So if this man was a danger, Akileshwar was pretty much dead.

The voice chuckled. It seemed to echo throughout the black void. 'Don't worry. I'm not going to kill you. As to the question, well.. I think you know the answer'

Then, it hit Akileshwar.

'Your Paramatma' Akileshwar could practically see Paramatma smiling, even though he had no form. He imagined him looking a lot like Akileshwar.

Paramatma was the force that held the universe. It was considered the prime force, the superior to the gods. The lord.

'Where am I? Asked Akileshwar finally taking notice to his surroundings. It looked like a river with a solid area to stand on. The water seemed to make ripples after every moment.

'This is not a specific place, Akil. It's what you can imagine it to be. The best place ever to your mind' Said Paramatma in it's deep voice.

Then, it dawned on him and he blushed a crimson red. His and Tanvi's first kiss was in a river. Specifically the one where they were standing in. 

'She's a good one. You two are destined together'

The word destined made Akileshwar think back to Dharma. He finally asked the question that had been bothering his mind ever since Kali's betrayal.

'What is Dharma?' Akileshwar asked Paramatma. The supreme force started rapidly floating around and it's tendrils rose out more, as though the question was the question it had been waiting for all this time.

'Dharma is like a path with several tributaries. One can easily make a wrong move and diverge from the original path. But you, my friend' It chuckled lightly at the word "my friend". 'have taken the proper path'

Akileshwar knew this was the exact explanation he had given Kali. But the reply she had given him made him feel that his opinion was wrong.

'Kali is not wrong. But she is wrong in one way. We do not forge the paths. Dharma does. Dharma creates a path for you to walk on. Regardless of whether it is bad or good' Said the voice, clearly reading Akileshwar's mind.

'But if it is bad then the world will be threatened. Can't the whole world be good?'

'That, is where your wrong. You see, Akil, good cannot live without evil. They are two halves of a circle. Yin and Yang. Without evil, good cannot realize it's mistake. Without good, evil will make a mistake. That is why both is necessary. It might be bad, but the outcome is balanced'

Akileshwar understood it now. They had enforced too much good by creating the Mandalayu. Naturally, that is what had turned evil, making good fix it's mistake. 

Slowly, Akileshwar felt his vision start to blur, as though he was fading from the black void. Paramatma continued bobbing around as it's deep voice pierced the air once again.

'Remember Akil, Dharma is not the good path. It is your path which you choose to take. Follow the true path, and you will follow you Dharma' With those words, the whole river left Akileshwar's vision, making him return to the present.