Akileshwar was panting heavily as he countered another one of Sakradeva's strikes. They were aided by the Brahmabalaks' boat which Narada had signaled for when they had reach the Narmada. But one boat could not hold 53,000 soldiers. To top that, another 20,000 soldiers had joined their voyage.

'Why so many people?' Akileshwar had asked.

'Your travelling to Naraka, my friend. Even the gods do not know of the horrors present there. You are going to need all the help you can get. I've called for help before we reach Mt. Vindhyachaja'

In the present, Akileshwar jumped back as Sakradeva struck where his abdomen was. Now that he fought with open eyes, he had the upper hand against Sakradeva.

He jabbed to his undefended side and Sakradeva sidestepped. He whirled around and slashed at Akileshwar's head with the wooden sword. Akileshwar ducked under the strike and and kicked him from under his legs. Sakradeva fell to the ground and Akileshwar pointed his sword at his neck, both panting heavily.

Akileshwar grinned. 'I win' He said smugly. But was careful not to remove his sword from Sakradeva's neck. After a count of 10, he grinned and got up. Accepting that he had won.

'So, What's the plan? Where is Naraka?' Asked Sakradeva as the duo walked to the railing of the ship. Once again, Akileshwar caught the beauty of the sun setting and how the yellow horizon touched the water very gently.

'Well, I do not know. Bhringi said that no one has ever been there. Including Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. But he told me that Shiva once told him there is a secret entrance hidden in Mt. Vindhyachaja. We're just going to have to see for ourselves' 

Sakradeva nodded. He rested his elbows on the railing and gazed at the waters. His purple Angavastram fluttering against the wind.

'Did Narada confirm this?' 

Akileshwar nodded. It was silent for the count of ten as the duo just enjoyed the peacefulness. Akileshwar blinked back to the past of how he continuously travelled with the Mathakas. He wondered how they were doing under the leadership of Bheem. Akileshwar trusted he would do the right thing.

'Akil!' Akileshwar and Sakradeva glanced behind them to see Bhringi beaming joyously, A bright smile lit up on his face. He beckoned for Akileshwar and Sakradeva to follow him and they did.

He led them to a miniature hut like area where it was quarters for living. On the center, Tanvi, David Cross, Kali and Narada stood. To Narada' left stood Adhishtavikth, as grumpy as ever. She held a blade in her hand as she sharpened it absent-mindedly.

Narada appeared to be making something. A single vessel was laid on the table present in front of them. Akileshwar and Sakradeva joined the group as they huddled curiously around the table. There were two other smaller vessels on the sides of the bigger cauldron. The bigger vessel was empty whereas the other two were filled. One color was pure white. As though there was nothing. Occasionally Akileshwar would see a glint in the transparent water. 

The other one was purple in color. Akileshwar could feel some sort of radiation from it that made one feel invincible.

'That's the water from Thirtasarita. The holy river. It flows from Dhyavaprithvi itself' Pointed Narada. 'And that Amarapushpam. The immortal flower. I have converted it into a juice. But the Amarapushpam alone does not work. The holy river is a needed ingredient for it to work'

'Wait' Stopped Akileshwar. 'What is it? What is not going to work?'

Narada smiled. 'My friend. I am making the Amritameer'

'What?'

'He means the immortal drink. We are going to need it if we want to survive the journey to Naraka. The Amirtameer is said to make you immortal and enhance you abilities' Explained Kali.

Akileshwar nodded. 

'Now, step back' Instructed Narada. Everyone did as they were told as he grabbed both the vessels and poured them into the bigger one. Akileshwar expected a big BOOM! or a mini explosion but nothing happened.

Narada let out a breath he realized he had been holding all this time. He had never practically done the experiment though he had discussed it with Adhishtavikth.

'Now what?' Asked David Cross. Narada stepped forward to the immortal drink and lifted the vessel. Nothing happened.

Then, without any warning, he brought it to his lips. Adhishtavikth cried out but Akileshwar just stared at Narada who had gulped the drink down. He waited for him to make a comment. But nothing.

Bhringi smiled as he gazed at Narada. He now recognized the bluish glow that surrounded the Brahmabalak. He was made immortal.

One by one Narada instructed each of them to take a sip. They did as they were told as a bluish glow surrounded them.

▪

Brahma was sitting in his ashram, a white Angavastram and white dhoti draped over him. Despite he, Shiva and Vishnu were the three most supreme beings, they did not like fancy items.

Brahma sat in Padmasan in front of a desk where a single book lay. He, Shiva and Vishnu had been discussing to create a book containing the rules of life. The Rigveda. Brahma had been assigned the task of writing the book. But he felt as though he was not the right man for the job. It had been 3 years since he was assigned the task yet he had not written a single word.

Suddenly, a man burst into Brahma's office, despite knowing how angry he was when interrupted. But this was urgent.

'What is it, Chitragupta?' Asked Brahma upon realizing who it was. Chitragupta was Brahma's son and one of his first pupils. He wore the same attire as Brahma, his white beard flowing down and his locks tied up in a bun.

'My lord! It is Pulaha. He-.. ' Chitragupta could not finish his sentence. But, of course he had guessed Brahma had read his thoughts.

'No!' Sat up Brahma all of a sudden. The Saptarishi election had only occurred 15 years ago. A murder would not occur so soon.

But Brahma secretly knew who did this. Only one man would end up the answer to all of Brahma's questions. But he did not see how he could commit murder. He must have hired someone.

'Get me Shiva and Vishnu. I need to speak with them' Chitragupta nodded and bowed and left the ashram.

Brahma thought back to the day he had taken Indra in. He regretted it right to the day he had crowned him Indra. As he though about it, his mind wandered to what exactly happened.

Brahma sat in his ashram, deep in mediation. He had just finished his session with the seven sages and thoughts were going throughout his mind about giving them the Saptarishi rank.

As his mind entered the world of peace, Shanthilok, a smile spread across his face. He was not the greatest among Shiva, Vishnu and he when it came to achieving eternal peace. That thought was proved by Shiva's eternal mediation in Dhyavaprithvi. Where the mountains specifically assigned to him lay. For Vishnu, it was his sleep. Once asleep, he was in peace that could even surpass Shiva.

Brahma's peace was disrupted by a presence of a being in front of him. But what surprised him was that the life force of the being was mortal. Which meant he was not a god, or a sage. But no one else could give permission to enter Dhyavaprithvi other than Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.. except-

'Who are you?' Asked Brahma. It was dark and the figure was making a desperate attempt to escape the ashram unnoticed. Upon hearing Brahma's words, the figure froze. Realizing his position was given away, he walked to Brahma, not knowing who he is. But if he was some legendary being, he did not want to show disrespect.

As a result, he bowed to the Brahma. Brahma, knowing that the man did not know him, smiled and blessed him. Upon receiving the blessing he rose up and met Brahma's eyes.

The boy wore a yellow Angavastram that was in tatters. The same principle followed with his white dhoti that was covered in mud. His face though, was beautiful with smooth skin that was fair. His muscles were not too bulky but not too thin either. His dark hair flowed down to his shoulders. Brahma couldn't help but imagine the boy with the Indramukutam. He would look perfect.

'Who are you, my boy?' Asked Brahma in a much more kinder tone.

'Lord Brahma, I am Dhirbata' Said Dhirbata. Brahma was surprised by the name. Dhirbata meant brave warrior. But it sounded wrong coming from a mouth.

'How did you arrive here, Dhirbata?' Asked Brahma.

'Well, my lord, I was running from my town. And then suddenly I was brought here' Explained Dhirbata. Brahma was intrigued by the words "running from my town" But he decided it was Dhirbata's business.

But what was more intriguing was how Dhirbata appeared in Dhyavaprithvi, specifically without climbing the one million steps.

But Brahma saw something that topped over all his questions. The boy had a faint golden glow around his life force. Those only appeared for the nominees for "Indra"

Indra was the term, identity rather, that was used for the man who was chosen to become king of the gods. Those who became Indra would lose their previous identity and memories.

'Well, Dhirbata, would you like to attend my gurukul?' Brahma asked, intending to crown him "Indra"

At first Dhirbata was shocked. But then he covered it with a gleaming smile and accepted. Brahma's face too broke into a smile.

▪

Dhirbata had proven to be a very intelligent student of Brahma. He did not join the seven sages who Brahma taught as he wanted to keep the training for him to earn the title "Indra" a secret. Till now, only Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu knew of this.

'Bata, you can't do that. You know the Udbodhala is not meant as a joke' Scolded Brahma softly as Dhirbata stood in front of him, his head hung. But on the inside he was smirking at what he had just done to Shashvabodh using the Udbodhala force, something Brahma had taught him over the three years. He had come to learn of the Indra legend last year and felt a strong connection towards it. Ever since then, he had made it his main priority to become Indra, even if it meant to forget his past.

'You do know, Guruji, that he begged me to forgive him for what he had done' Laughed Dhirbata. Brahma managed a small smile. Even if this was unacceptable, the boy who had laughed and beat up Dhirbata deserved this. But he digressed.

Brahma took a deep breath and focused on why he had called Dhirbata. Turning to him with a serious face, he prepared the Ashram through his mind. It would be placed in Dhyavaprithvi's center, Shanthilok itself. He had asked Shiva and he had accepted, thankfully.

Upon seeing his serious face, Dhirbata stopped smiling in confusion. Brahma, not wanting to upset his pupil, smiled kindly.

'Come, Dhirbata. I have something to show you' He said as he touched his shoulder. Dhirbata knew what he was doing as blue energy swirled around them. The power of Udbodhala. Dhirbata and Brahma alike closed their eyes and they felt themselves disappearing from the gurukul.

When Dhirbata opened his eyes the first thing he noticed was a thick fog. Outlines of mountains were visible along with a hole in front of him and Brahma. Inside the whole was firewood used for burning. Surprisingly, the fog only was on the outer part of a space. It was as though an ashram was set.

'That's because it is' Smiled Brahma as he looked at his pupil's awed expression as Dhirbata found out what the place was.

He turned to Brahma with a questioning look. 'Guruji, how do you read my thoughts?' Dhirbata had been meaning to ask this question for a while, but never had the time or else forgot to ask.

'Well, Shiva and Vishnu won't be here for a while, so I can explain' Before Dhirbata could question why Shiva and Vishnu would be making an appearance, Brahma launched into an explanation.

'You see, thoughts happen outside the brain, but within the skull. The thinking happens inside of the brain. The air around us passes through our ears without us knowing and transports the thought somewhere else. But the reason for why no one can know what one is thinking is because the thoughts are covered by sound waves. We can never have silence. So, sound overcomes the thoughts, because thoughts can neither be heard nor be seen. Thoughts are abstract. But if we uncover the sound waves by using the Udbodhala, the sound waves are removed from the thoughts. So, we can listen to thoughts'

Dhirbata was awed by the explanation. So if he used the Udbodhala force he could uncover one's thoughts?

'Not always, Dhirbata. One who knows the force of Udbodhala knows how to cover their thoughts from being uncovered. Overtaking sound waves, are physical waves that we see. Physical waves display movement and show what I am doing right now. Like how my mouth is moving. Each physical wave is different from the last, changing one's position. If we cover thoughts with physical waves, we cloud the thoughts as physical waves cannot be removed. Now, you would ask if physical waves display movement, then what movement is done to cover the thoughts?'

Dhirbata nodded as Brahma smiled.

'The physical action that happens is that the thought it dissipated. While it is abstract, it is still a form. Just of a another world. And physical waves penetrate all the worlds, including the ones beyond our reach. So, the physical waves stop the thoughts from reaching another. Thus, it is unreachable' 

Dhirbata nodded. He was anxious to learn his training for the next fifteen years and earn the highest title other than Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu.

What he did not know, was that his sessions would end after today. 

'Brahma!' Said Vishnu as he appeared along with Shiva. Vishnu had blue skin that was smooth with no marks or anything present on it except for the single V on his forehead with a red line in the center. His skin was changed to blue by him. He is believed to be the all-pervading, omniscient, omnipresent god. So, Lord Vishnu is shown in blue color as he is infinite and immeasurable like the sky and surrounded by the infinite cosmic ocean. Sky, which seems to have no beginning or end, is in blue color.

Shiva on the other hand, was normal. But grey ash was there on his body. Like a lot. His throat was different, though. It emitted blue light that radiated some sort of sickness. Dhirbata knew of the great legend of the Kurma and the poison that had appeared. Though he dint know much, he knew that Shiva had sucked up the poison and Parvati had to hold his neck for a year to prevent the poison from spreading throughout the body.

'Dhirbata' Said Shiva as Dhirbata's hand formed a namaste to the protector and the destroyer.

'My lord, why am I here?' He questioned trying to sound as polite as ever. He had met Shiva and Vishnu on only one other occasion where Brahma had sought their confirmation of tutoring Dhirbata.

'Well, Dhirbata, we are aware of your dream to become Indra. So, we have decided to make it come true' Smiled Vishnu.

To say Dhirbata was shocked was an understatement.

Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu smiled as the firewood suddenly lit up by itself. They all said three words that seemed to echo through Dhirbata's mind.

इन्द्र ,राजा यातनम्!

Dhirbata was not that great in Sanskrit, as a result, he did not know what the three words meant.

Suddenly, he felt blue light illuminate him. The Udbodhala energy surged through him, bearing the power of Indra. He felt all his memories of being Dhirbata shatter.

He was now Indra. With only one memory of a name- Dhirabata

Brahma had remembered that Indra had remembered of him being Dhirbata, which was not supposed to happen. But he had kept quiet about it.

He sighed. He only hoped that Paramatma had kept his promise and that the plan was going well.