Chapter 1 – The Last Sunrise!
The village named VANAIKA was small, hidden deep within an ancient forest. Sunlight filtered through the tall trees, casting a golden glow over the huts made of wood and straw. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of damp soil and wildflowers. A river flowed nearby, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the bright blue sky.
Children ran around, laughing and playing, while the elders sat in groups, sharing stories of the past. Women carried pots of water from the river, their bangles jingling as they walked. Some were busy preparing meals, the warm aroma of fresh bread and roasted vegetables filling the air.
It was a peaceful village—home to no more than 150 people. At its heart lived Yama, the village chief, a man respected by all. He had two sons: Tama, the eldest, a strong warrior at 28, and Adhira, the younger, who had just turned 18 at midnight.
The Celebration at Midnight
It was the middle of the night when Adhira felt a presence in his room. He was in deep sleep when suddenly, he sensed movement. The dim lantern on the wooden table flickered, casting shadows on the walls. There were two figures standing beside his bed.
Before he could react, a hand covered his mouth, and another lifted his blanket. But instead of danger, he saw familiar faces—it was his father, Yama, and his brother, Tama. Both were grinning.
"Happy birthday, Adhira!" Yama whispered warmly.
Tama, without warning, stuffed an entire laddu into Adhira’s mouth. "Come on, eat! You're a grown man now!"
Before Adhira could even chew, his father did the same, making it impossible for him to speak. They laughed as he struggled to swallow the sweets. His face turned red, and he coughed dramatically.
"Alright, alright, don’t choke!" Tama patted his back.
Adhira finally gulped it down and smiled. "You two are terrible!"
Yama chuckled. "We had to celebrate properly. You are 18 now, Adhira. Tomorrow is an important day."
Adhira nodded. He knew the village tradition—those who turned 18 had to visit Lord Garuda’s Temple at the river’s edge to meditate and seek blessings. It was a sacred ritual.
The next morning, the village gathered to celebrate the three birthdays of the day—Adhira, Savi, and Mayank. But there was something strange about these three.
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Since birth, each of them had a small, white eagle-shaped mark on their backs—a symbol that had puzzled the village elders for years. No one knew its meaning, but it was treated as a sign of destiny.
Village elders blessed them, placing their hands on their heads as a sign of protection.
At sunrise, the three of them set out for Lord Garuda’s Temple. The temple was an hour’s walk from the village, but they had a faster way. The river that passed through the village connected directly to the temple.
They took a wooden boat, paddling against the strong current. The journey, which usually took an hour by foot, was reduced to thirty minutes due to the river’s speed.
As they neared the temple, its grand structure emerged from the mist. The temple was old yet magnificent, standing on the riverbank like a guardian of time. Lord Garuda’s statue towered at 30 feet, his giant red wings spread wide, his human-like body sculpted in divine perfection, and his eagle head carved with fierce detail.
They climbed out of the boat, stepping onto the temple’s stone floor. With deep respect, they placed their hands on the feet of Lord Garuda’s statue before heading inside.
The temple had ten meditation chambers, each completely soundproof. The three of them entered separate rooms, preparing for meditation.
The Awakening
Adhira sat cross-legged on the floor, closing his eyes. At first, he focused on his breathing, letting the silence of the room consume him.
But something was different today.
As he meditated, his body felt heavy. A strange warmth spread across his back, starting from the small white eagle mark he was born with. Suddenly, a wave of pain shot through him.
His heartbeat raced.
His breathing became erratic.
Sweat dripped from his forehead.
The mark on his back started glowing. The room darkened as if the walls were closing in. His chest tightened, and his vision blurred.
Then came the worst part—his eyes burned as if molten iron had been poured into them. A sharp pain shot through his skull.
His body convulsed. His rhythm broke.
He gasped for air, trying to reach the door, but his legs failed him. His hands trembled as he crawled forward, his nails scratching against the cold stone floor.
And then—everything went black.
Hours Later...
A sharp pain in his head pulled Adhira back to consciousness. His mouth was dry, and his body ached as if he had been crushed under a mountain.
His vision was hazy as he forced himself up, leaning against the wall for support. His breath was heavy, his heart still pounding.
"What… what happened to me?" he muttered.
He touched his eyes, expecting something to be wrong, but they felt normal.
The room was silent, except for his uneven breathing. Four hours had passed.
Adhira stumbled towards the door. It creaked open easily.
"Why is it opening now?" he wondered. He stepped out, looking around. The other meditation rooms were empty.
"Savi? Mayank?" he called, but there was no response.
Had they already left?
Feeling uneasy, he turned back to the temple’s statue. "Lord Garuda… please guide me," he whispered, bowing once before stepping outside.
The Red River
The moment he stepped out, his blood ran cold.
The sun was setting, casting an eerie red glow over the land. But it wasn’t just the sky that was red.
The river…
The river that had been crystal clear just hours ago was now deep crimson.
Red.
Dark.
Thick.
It wasn’t water anymore—it was blood.
His stomach twisted. His breath came in short gasps. A hand floated near the shore. The severed limb bobbed up and down with the waves.
His hands shook as he stepped closer. The river reeked of iron. He stared at the water, his mind unable to process what he was seeing.
"Whose… whose hand is this?" his voice trembled.
Then, something else caught his eye—thick black smoke rising in the distance.
His heart dropped.
The smoke was coming from his village.
"No… no, no, no!" His voice cracked as he turned and ran.
His legs carried him as fast as they could, but his mind raced even faster.
Something terrible had happened.
And he was too late.
"Lord Garuda… please protect us!"
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End of Chapter 1
TBC......
