'That was an interesting fight, don't you think?' Shlok asked Utkarsha as he held out his hand to help his fellow Rakshak up. The other Rakshak replied, 'Yes. Your plan did not work.' He dusted his pants and reached for his talwar.

Keval rolled his eyes. He noticed Guru Gavistha walking toward them with Abhay in tow. Abhay grinned at his sahayudhayavan, and then addressed Keval, 'He tried to distract you, didn't he?'

Before Keval could reply, Shlok answered, 'In case you're wondering, it didn't work.' He didn't sound too happy about it.

'Abhay, I would like to talk to Keval,' the Rakshak Guru commanded. The Rakshak Nayak nodded and ushered everyone away. After his work was done, Abhay made himself scarce too. Keval wondered what the old man wanted to talk to him about. He went over his tale. There was nothing that would expose his intentions.

'Are you well, Keval?'

Keval knew better than to say he was fine. He shook his head and turned away. He had to appear crestfallen. 'I just wish I could've done something to save them,' he whispered. He hoped his voice sounded heavy enough to convince the old man that he was upset. It wasn't the answer to his question but it was good enough.

The Guru didn't say anything for some time. Each moment the passed, Keval found himself second-guessing his answer. 

It did seem convincing when he thought of it.

'Would you like to join us, Keval?' the old man asked. He stared at the glowing orbs in the sky.

It wasn't a question Keval was expecting. 'Am I not one of you?'

He received a snigger before Guru Gavishta explained, 'Your skills have impressed the others. You could be a part of the Eka ranks.'

But that would mean there would be no one to represent the Astha station, Keval told himself. He realized that he was being tested. The guru had his doubts and he was testing his loyalty. Keval was so close to having his cover blown.

The old man stopped and placed his hand on Keval's shoulder, 'You should take some time to think about it.'

Keval didn't take up the advice. He tried to sound agitated, 'I can't do that! Someone has to represent my station.' He reminded the guru that eighteen was a lucky number. He remembered when Ainas had told him about the superstition, he'd rolled his eyes.

'Very well, if that is what you want,' the Rakshak Guru said. He seemed to be satisfied with his answer. His gaze dropped to the ring on Keval's index finger, 'You already have the vartula. You're the Rakshak Nayak of the Astha station from this moment.'

Keval almost smiled. His newly acquired position gave him a lot of advantage.

'I want you to talk to a Yamdhut regarding the incident.'

He almost dropped his guard. Ainas had specifically told him to steer clear of the Yamdhuts. Her instructions were clear. Never look into their eyes. They'll painfully draw out every secret. Keval didn't want that. He shook his head, 'I'm not ready for it. I can't watch them die all over again.' He shut his eyes, praying to the devas. He didn't want to face a Yamdhut.

'Of course,' the old man bobbed his head understandingly.

Keval silently thanked the gods.

A moment silence passed. It was filled by the sweet humming of gushing waters. He guessed it belonged to the Mighty River, the Mother.

'I've summoned everyone for mourning.'

He faced the guru and joined his palms and bowed his head, 'Thank you, Guru Gavishta.' 

This is getting better and better, he told himself. It would be a perfect opportunity for the Daanavraj to wipe out the entire Rakshak population in one blow. He thought of contacting Ainas but he heard a gentle whisper telling him to be patient.

'Keep yourself in the company of others. It helps with the pain.'

Keval was sure that the guru had instructed Shlok not to leave him alone. There could be no soul that could be as jumpy as he was. 

He was about to reply when their surrounding began to ripple. He was alarmed. His hand reached for Sakhi but Guru Gavishta stopped him by pushing her back into his scabbard. Keval looked at him quizzically.

'We have guests.'

***

Anamika was the last to step through. She was greeted by the same layout as of Asthadasha station. It was larger in scale. She lost her footing when she saw the souls who'd already gathered there. She felt her energy draining. Laksh was by her side. He gave her a reassuring smile.

'Anamika, hurry,' Dhurya said, 'they've asked all the Rakshak Nayaks to assemble in the portal room. Rohini is waiting for you.'

She felt her chest heave. She was anxious. She was already keeping them waiting! The layout of the kila was the same so she guessed where the portal room was. She counted seventeen Rakshak Nayaks and Rakshak Gurus. The only familiar face was Rohini's. She noticed that she was the only one who was wearing the armour.

She feared she'd made the worst first impression. All eyes were on her. They scrutinized her. It did not help her confidence.

Rohini was there, eyeing her scornfully.

Anamika straightened her back and lifted her chin as she took her place beside the older woman. She was done being a pushover. She made it a point to look at every one.

One by one, they introduced themselves in order.

'I am Keval, the Rakshak Nayak of the Astha station.'

Silence followed his declaration. Anamika studied the lone survivor of the Astha station. He was taller than her. His straight hair reached his shoulders. His face was roughly elliptical. His jaw was prominent. His eyes were dark and they portrayed the sharpness of a hawk. His high cheekbones added to his magnificent aura. His nose was slightly curved at the tip. His lips were plush. He was lean but it was hard to miss the how tough he was. The only weapon he carried was his talwar. It was beyond beautiful.

She introduced herself in the end.

'Now that we are done with the introductions, it is time we discussed the things that actually matter. We've gathered here to discuss the patrols schedule during the period of mourning,' the Rakshak Nayak of the Eka station, Abhay spoke, 'It will be changed later on.

For a moment, she thought she saw Keval's soul glimmer. She shook her head, telling herself to concentrate.

'The mourning will go on for fifty-two pehers.' A yagna would go on for the entire duration, led by the Yamdhuts.

'There will be three scouts on each tower. Two Rakshak Nayaks presiding over them,' The Rakshak Guru of the Eka station explained, 'This will change every peher. The first nine Rakshak Nayaks will choose a scroll containing the names of the Rakshaks they will be presiding over along with the pehers they will oversee.'

'At the moment, my Rakshaks are watching over the kila,' Abhay informed.

'The Rakshak Nayaks will report to all the of the Rakshak Gurus.'

A cloth bag containing the scrolls was passed to each of them. Anamika didn't get the opportunity to choose. The first nine Nayaks had chosen for the remaining. She wished for Laksh to be on her team. She needed moral support. She was completely new to this Nayak thing and it made her anxious. To lead a group of strangers was a challenge. Back at the Asthadasha station, she knew their strengths and weaknesses, formulating a plan was easy... she believed that was how she'd managed to defeat Dhurya. She'd seen him fight too many times.

The room was put into chaos.

Anamika stood next to Rohini, losing her nerves. She wanted to have a peek at the list. She noticed the Rakshak Nayak of the Astha station walking toward her. His face seemed to be set in stone. 

She found him intimidating.

'You're the Rakshak Nayak of the Asthadasha station?' He asked.

She nodded mutely.

He looked down at the scroll, 'We have to cover the second, eleventh, twentieth, twenty-ninth, thirty-eighth and forty-seventh pehers.'

'Can I see the list?' She reached out for the scroll.

'Yes,' He handed it to her. She scanned the list. None of them was from her station. She looked at Rohini who was busy observing the boy.

'I don't know anyone on that list,' he shrugged. She pursed her lips, 'Neither do I.'

After that, they left the room. They read out their scrolls to the Rakshak gathering. Keval told Anamika to read the names out loud. She couldn't protest. She glanced at Laksh who smiled at her. She wished she could smile back too but Keval was acting inert. He wasn't doing anything. He barely spoke to the Rakshaks who were under them. She knew the death of his comrades had taken a heavy toll on him so she gave him a little leeway.

The yagna started. A shallow hole was dug in the courtyard. It was lined with bricks in two concentric squares. The Yamdhuts surrounded it and then the Rakshak Guru followed by the Rakshaks. The Yamdhuts chanted a mantra to invoke Agni to start the ritual.

Anamika was in awe when the fire burst from the centre. It was mesmerizing. As the Yamdhuts chanted along with the Rakshak Gurus, the Rakshaks listened carefully. No one disrespected the lost ones by breaking the chant.

The mantras seemed to grow louder and louder. The words bounced off the walls and reached every corner of the kila. She did not doubt that the daanavas could hear them too. She couldn't understand most of it but kept quiet. She would ask Laksh about it later when they'd meet after fifty-two pehers.

The first peher passed like a breeze.

Abhay gestured her to go to the tower. She signalled her team. Quietly, they scaled the walls of the towers. When they reached the top, the others were relieved of their duty. They took their place at the yagna.

Anamika had already discussed the strategy with them. There were four girls and six boys in her team, excluding her and Keval. She wanted the tower to that was closest to the Mother. She stood there with two other boys. They were very secretive. She tried to talk to them but they didn't respond.

She shifted her gaze to the barren land that surrounded the kila. It surprised her, how much it place resembled the Asthadasha station.

***

Keval wasn't very happy with the apportionment. He didn't like the fact that he was stuck up with the Rakshak Nayak of the Asthadasha station. The lowest ranking station!

And they said they wanted me to join the Eka ranks, he thought bitterly.

The Rakshak Nayak of the Asthadasha station was... strange, for the lack of a better word. 

He had let her do all the work. She'd talked to all the Rakshaks explaining their duties as scouts. He found it incredulous that she was explaining that to them.

She barely spoke to him. He wouldn't have it any other way.

She was quaint. She had long curly hair that was left loose. She had big eyes. Her face was round, in contrast to her slender body. If there was anything he liked about her, it was the fact that she'd appeared in full armour.

He hadn't missed her queer name. 

Anamika, the mysterious one.

It was almost like his.

He was on duty on the other side of the tower with a boy and a girl. He didn't bother to ask them their names. Thankfully, they left him alone.

He observed his surroundings. As far as he could see, the realm was desolated. At least the Daanavlok had some foliage. It didn't look as hopeless as the Yamlok.

He understood why she insisted to take the tower overlooking the River.

He decided to walk toward her tower. He would ask her to exchange positions. She wouldn't protest. He was sure. He informed those under him that he was going to see her and instructed them to be attentive.

He was nearing her when he stopped short.

He was sure he'd seen her flicker like a flame. Frowning, he waited for it to happen again. He wasn't let down. She shimmered again but it was shortlived. It wasn't because of her armour. It was something else. Maybe that was what made her seem outlandish. The other two scouts noticed him standing. They looked away when they thought that he was staring at her.

He turned away at the implication.

Thankfully, none of the boys told her anything. He didn't stay any longer.

Her gaze was fixated at the horizon. As far as he was concerned, she was doing a very clumsy job. He would tell that to her later.

He walked back to his tower. There was nothing to observe. The land was clear.

He watched the yagna instead. The Yamdhuts kept the fire alive by their chants. They hadn't taken a break and he figured that they'd go on till the period of mourning ended.

It bored him. He knew he had to appear upset and bothered but no matter how much he tried, his mind wandered past the horizon. He didn't want to think about the other five shifts. It would be so difficult. He wished they didn't make much of deal of whatever that had happened in the Astha station. He wasn't a big fan of what went down there but these souls were clearly overreacting.

They should be brainstorming for a way to defeat the daanavas, he told himself. Every moment wasted that way, would surely bring about their doom. His report to Ainas would contain nothing for a significant amount of time. He knew she would be cross but she couldn't do anything. He simpered, pleased to have caused her some inconvenience.

He looked over his shoulder.

The other Nayak shimmered again, like the jewels on the Daanavraj's crown.

He shook his head. Whatever her deal was, he was going to find out.

***

Nothing happened during those fifty-two pehers. The scouts hadn't reported anything unusual. The agni was still burning when the Yamdhuts chanted the last verse and by the time they were done, they looked like they were all out of urja. The mourning was followed by mingling. Anamika got to her feet, peering over the crowd searching for Laksh.

She couldn't find him anywhere.

She steered her way through the gathering looking for him.

She found Rohini but the older woman was talking to someone who Anamika recognized as a Rakshak Guru.

She felt a hand on her arm. She turned to see a familiar face.

Yoshanhara.

'It's nice to see you, Anamika,' the Yamdhut smiled. Anamika mirrored her expression and she reached for a hug which Yoshanhara gladly complied. To the Rakshak, her friend looked as radiant as ever, 'It's nice to see you too, my dear friend.'

Yoshanhara's eyes fell on Anamika's hand. She had caught the glimpse of the vartula she wore. She looked at her quizzically as she brought her hand closer to examine it, 'Dhurya gave it to you?' She asked, incredulously.

Anamika nodded, 'Yes.'

'Willingly?'

'Yes.'

The Yamdhut was astonished. 'I think I might start respecting him now,' she joked when she noticed that Anamika was feeling nervous under her unwavering gaze.

The Rakshak laughed, forcefully. She looked down at the ring on her hand, 'I didn't want it.'

Yoshanhara patted her back, 'You deserve it.' Before Anamika could say anything, she diverted her attention, 'Are you looking for someone?'

Anamika was well aware of what her friend was trying to do. She didn't protest. She pursed her lips, 'Yes, I am looking for Laksh. I haven't seen him since we came here.'

'Let's find him.'

Together they wove through their way through the crowd searching for him. Yoshanhara spotted the Rakshak Nayak of the Astha station sitting all by himself sharpening his talwar. He took no notice all those who went to him attempting to indulge him in a conversation. She looked over her shoulder at Anamika, 'You had scouting duty with him. How is he?'

Anamika shrugged and tried to appear nonchalant, 'He wouldn't talk.'

'Poor soul. He has lost so much.'

She scrunched her nose in confusion, 'Did any Yamdhut talk to him? It might make him feel better.'

It was true that Yamdhuts could know a soul's deepest darkest secret but only if they had the intention to. They possessed the power of healing too. They made souls forget their cause of pain. Anamika had asked Yoshanhara about it. She had asked if it could be the reason she had no memories of her life in Prithvilok. Yoshanhara turned out to be as clueless as the other Yamdhuts she had talked to before.

Yoshanhara's face brightened, 'That's a good idea.'

Anamika gripped her arm, 'You were supposed to help me find Laksh.'

The Yamdhut pursed her lips and looked at the lonely soul. Anamika felt bad. Yoshanhara wanted to help the Rakshak Nayak who had lost everything. 

It was a wordless request. She wanted her to accompany her. Anamika felt selfish. She let go of the arm she was holding as she conceded, 'Alright.'

'Come with me. A familiar face would help him,' Yoshanhara suggested.

Anamika frowned. 'My face is not familiar. We only exchanged a few words,' she argued.

The truth was that he made her anxious.

'Come.'

She looked over at the crowd one last time to see if she could find Laksh. She could still find a reason to escape if she was able to do that.

She couldn't.

She found herself giving into Yoshanhara's demands.

As they approached him, she noticed his talwar coruscating as he sharpened it. His rugged features were drawn into a scowl. She wasn't sure if it was his talwar, but she saw him flicker like a flame. She stopped all of a sudden. Yoshanhara seemed to have sensed that and raised a brow at her inquisitively. Anamika was sure she had imagined that so she shrugged, 'Nothing.'

He'd noticed them walk toward him but he hadn't moved. Anamika knew he was hoping that they'd leave him alone but it wasn't worth it.

Yoshanhara was a Yamdhut and she was on a mission to help him.

***