Everyone looked at Saag,who was just as confused, even as we moved off her, her eyes tracked the people around her in silent confusion.

But her silence was deafening against my own heartbeat.

Okay, this is definitely someone's trick.. This isn't Saag.

" Who are you and what have you done with Sagarika! " I shouted, as Yudhishthir startled next to me.

" Ajatshatru, what -"

" This isn't my friend, my sister, she's an imposter-"

" Abe gadhe, kabhi to muh band kar liya kar. Mana hum 7 gain.. But sab ek jaisi nahi dikhti! Aur waise bhi.... Aise saare ro rahe ho jaise abhi abhi marte hue dekh liya ho -" ( Oh idiot, for once in your life shut your mouth. I know we're 7,but that doesn't mean we're all alike! Anyways, you all look like you've just seen me die -) She said, smirking.

" Chup! Bilkul chup! Marne ki baat na kar. " I said, pulling her into w hug.

No one got mad at me like this other than Saag. I knew.

"Will someone please tell me, what is going on!" Devi finally screamed, startling Saag.

" I - "

" I'll tell you sakhi. " Krishn walked forward.

It was at that moment I realised.. He always knew... Or did he?

" Speak Krishn. Quickly" Yudhishthir ordered, holding Saag's shoulders, his hands white where they held her, as if afraid to let her go.

" Yes Jyeshth. So. We all know, sakhi was cursed by Devraj, to loose her memories, furthermore, Agnidev granted them back to her. Am I right? " He said, while we all nodded and Saag's eyes lit up all of a sudden.

"However, sakhi would have experienced, to say a lack of some of the most important memories of her life, that is, the true potential of her flames, her birth as a seven flame and some more, " He said, " Well, these memories must have been trying to make their way in, but her body is-was mortal, so, she'd often have suffered blackouts... Or headaches? " He nodded to her.

Her smile confirmed what he said.

" To combat that, she needed to loose that mortal body. To become infallible in the mortal realm. For this, she needed to die." He added, while Yudhishthir's eyes grew dark at the thought and I heard all her sister's take in a sharp breath.

" But the trials -"

" Precisely. Death and end of mortal body doesn't determine the mental ability to house those memories. So she had to pass the trials of Niyati. " He concluded and walked over to Saag.

" Do you really want to waste important time learning about this -"

A resounding sharp yes came from all present and she laughed softly.

" Alright... So, once I... Well died, I felt the effects of bloodloss take over and I felt myself grow drowsy. " She shuddered, " Not a good feeling mind you. " Her sarcastic laughter was met with stern stares..

"Anyways, so when I -died... I was well... I felt like my soul was leaving my body-"

" It was.. " Krishn murmured.

"Right. So when that happened, it might sound cliche, but I could see a light, a light that was shining in the stars... " She said, frowning. A joke was at the tip of my tongue... But now was not the time.

" So, as I was saying, when I felt myself being... Lifted, it felt freeing. Relieving, like someone was opening my head and pulling my hand up, drawing me into a large hall, where the waterfalls were made of milk, the sun never set and the stars glimmered in all the colours of the rainbow-"

" Yes yes Saag. We get it. You got into heaven. Aage bol! " ( Move on!) I sighed finally and she huffed, even as Yudhishthir chuckled softly next to her, kissing her forehead.

" Right, as I was saying, " She said, " When I walked in, it felt as if someone had cast a spell on me. Everything felt light, I felt
healed...... "

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" Where am I? " I thought, as I stood up on a pedastal, made of the most pristine white marble, gold and rubies inlayed in them in vibrant patterns.

" You're in. Swarg Karali, " A disdainful voice called and I looked up towards the sky... Or well... Whatever exists in swarg.

There sat, on a ginormous elephant, which had all in all, thirty three trunks,the god who had a beef with me...

"Devraj? " I asked, confused, dusting my knees and my hands immediately reached out to my stab wound.. Or lack of, as there was no wound or blood.

" Yes, " He sighed and the rest of the devs joined him, agnidev held a proud smile on his face. I was about to bend to take his blessings, when I remembered his words and dutifully joined my hands. He greeted me with a nod, a ghost of a smirk on his face.

"Devi Karali, you have been, called here, " Devraj huffed, " To announce your complete transformation, from human to flame.... As the after effects of my.. Curse. " He choked out, rubbing his forehead with his index finger.

" Yes? " I asked, trying to be patient. My family needs me... I don't need their drama.

" As part of your, mandated death, you shall finally be able to unlock your true potential, your complete immortality, as a flame, as Devi Karali, over any other identity you hold, be it as the Samragyi, as Sagarika, as your husband's wife or the mother of your children. You are now bound to no one -"

" - so I'm dead? " I asked, trying to rip the bandage off, as I held back my tears. My children.... Mini... Yudhishthir, AJ... My sisters?

" If I had my way you would be -" He muttered, when Dharmraj, Yamraj finally cut in.

" Devi Karali, " He said gently, his voice deep as the thundering clouds on  monsoon nights.

It was then I realised, he was legally my father in law... I should go and take his blessings.

As if reading my mind, he laughed heartily, " The one who has held my son above her own goodwill shall not touch my feet. You are a blessing in his life Devi Karali. As for your death, it isn't true death. As of now, you are neither living, nor dead. " He said warmly.

" How is that possible? Does that mean I'm brain dead? In coma? " I asked, my Kaliyugi mind betraying me once more.

His smile shortened, " No, you, a flame only dies, when she self immolates her material bindings and flies free as a new, young flame. However, since your body, your true body on earth is completely mortal, we are short on time. You must attain your true self, before your body cremates itself... You must be quick. " He said, his hand moving to his staff.

" But what should I do? How am I to attain my true potential? " I asked and this time, all of them stood in front of me.

" You, Devi Karali, must pass our test. You must prove that you are worthy of your powers now, or earn them, many millenia later when the kal chakra rewrites itself. " Vayu dev said, eyes sharp and twinkling.

I took a deep breath. For my family.. Anything.

" I am ready, we may begin. " I said, folding my hands in reverence.

My father in law began, " Devi, what would you say is a sunrise? " He asked.

Sunrise?

Philosophy?

No!!!!

Anything. Ask me anything and I won't say a word.. But philosophy?

I looked ahead, I could see Devraj's smirk grow continuously, as he saw me fail pathetically... What is Sunrise... What makes the sun rise.

All of the answers I had ever had to the question run through my mind.

The Earth's orbit on its axis makes the sun rise.

Amun Ra's travel around the Earth makes the sun rise.

I -

That was when it hit me..

' What are you upto love?' I asked my husband as he sat on our bed, with a book in hand.

' Trying to answer questions about life.... Like..How the sun rises'. He said warmly, welcoming me into his arms.

' And what's your answer? The Earth's orbit on its axis'? I laughed softly and he shook his head in amusement.

'Yes, but also, who makes the Sun orbit on its axis? Brahama. Brahma is the one who causes-

"- Brahama is the one who causes the sunrise. " I said, Yamraj smiled, nodding.

As if his feathers had been ruffled, Devraj urgently said, " If you're so wise, tell me, what is faster than even the wind? "

My answer was about to be Nakul, when I stopped short... Manojava... Mann.

" Mind . The mind is faster than the wind as well. " I answered.

Devraj looked more and more despondent.

" What is greed? " Varun Dev asked.

Greed? Greed? I don't know! Money! Stealing money ? Being a glutton?

' Never forget Maharaj Ajatshatru, the one who forsakes friends is the one most greedy'. Krishn said as he welcomed AJ as the king of Pragjyotishpur.

" Greed is the blindness one faces in the search of gold when they have a diamond. Greed is forsaking family and friends. Greed is having the power to help others but not acting on it because of your own selfish motives. " I answered and he smiled.

" Lastly, " Agnidev asked, walking upto me.

" What is the greatest curiosity in the world? " He asked, eyes blazing with fire, though it was like home..

This is one answer I knew. I knew because I wrote a  3 page essay on it in 10th class... And ironically...

This was the question Yudhishthir was asked by his father... As a Yaksha.

Come to think of it.... Anyways.

So I confidently looked at him and said, " The greatest wonder in this world is, despite the amount of people who die daily, many still believe they are immortal, devs, rakshas, humans alike. No one can cheat death. "

" Wonderful Devi. You have passed. " He said , eyes warm with pride and love as he raised his hand, light shining through.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•

" Right, so when I woke up and saw you all crying like crazy, this is what was happening all the while. My body self immolating was just the final step. " I said as AJ looked at me like he'd kill me.

My sisters ambushed me into a hug, pulling me in as we laughed joyfully.

" Just one question... Why go through all this drama.... Just ask her those questions on Earth. Why give us heart attacks? " AJ asked and his wife facepalmed.

" Didi? " A small voice asked and I looked around to see Mini next to me.

" Yeah? " I asked and she shook her head, pulling me into a death grip.

"Mini... You'll send me back up at this rate -" I choked out when the others collectively yelled No!

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So... 2 weeks.. And I came up with this...

But yeah. Thank you for being patient.. I am sure that I'll have the next one up sooner than this, as I am a bit more organised and adjusted now.

Huge thank you to fandomarcade
who inspired this chapter.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥