Chapter No.20 Misunderstanding

[Aditya's POV]

'Great! Just great!!! Escaped serpent only to face an elephant.'

"Mmm...W-Who?!" Draupadi still shaken from the recent events, clutched my arm tighter, her eyes widening in fear and confusion. Her grip trembled, and her voice wavered as she whispered, "Aditya, who is that?"

I could feel her fear echoing in the pit of my stomach.

"Devraj Indra."

The man flying in front of us was none other than Devraj Indra, the King of the Devas and the ruler of the heavens. His piercing gaze was fixated on me, his eyes crackling with the same stormy energy that seemed to surround him. His mere presence commanded respect and fear; he exuded an aura of unparalleled power.

"I asked you a question," his voice boomed again, filled with both curiosity and authority. "Who are you, mortal, to wield such divine power? And why do you carry the essence of my son?"

My heart raced as I realized the gravity of the situation. Vali's essence... of course. Indra was Vali's father, and now he had come to investigate. But this was no ordinary interrogation—Indra's aura practically crackled with the promise of divine retribution.

Before I could respond, Draupadi stepped forward, her body still trembling, but her eyes filled with determination. "Lord Indra, we mean no disrespect. Aditya only fought to protect me from the serpent. We didn't know that serpent—I mean Ashvasena was your son."

"Ashvasena?! My son?! No! I'm talking about Vali!"

Devraj Indra's words echoed in the air. Vali... Of course, it wasn't the serpent he was talking about. Indra's piercing gaze focused directly on me, narrowing with suspicion and unspoken fury. I could feel the weight of his divine presence pressing down on us, like the sky itself was ready to collapse.

Draupadi's expression faltered for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the revelation. She looked between Indra and me, confusion etched into her face. "Vali...?" she whispered, her grip on my arm tightening. "Aditya, what does he mean?"

I could feel my mind racing, searching for the right words. Indra's aura crackled with energy, an electrifying intensity that seemed to pulse with each beat of his heart. One wrong move, one ill-chosen word, and we might face the wrath of a god.

"Lord Indra," I began, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me, "I am Aditya, a mortal I don't who Vali or anything else. I just wanted to return to my kingdom with my wife but was ambushed by some bandits who happened to be accomplices of Ashvasena here... Please let us go, We didn't do anything."

My Acting Mastery came into play as I delivered my words with sincerity and conviction, hoping to alleviate the storm brewing in Indra's eyes. I had no desire to invoke his wrath or have my fate dictated by a being far beyond my comprehension.

Indra's expression shifted from fury to contemplation as he studied me, his stormy gaze piercing through my facade. "You wield power that resonates with the blood of the gods," he said slowly, each word laced with a weight that sent shivers down my spine. "You! Must be my son's reincarnation!"

Huh?!

Am I senile or this god is smoking some crazy stuff?

"???" Draupadi too looked equally bewildered, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Reincarnation? But how can that be? Aditya is just a mortal!"

"Just a mortal?!" Indra's voice boomed, reverberating through the very air we breathed. The skies darkened further, lightning crackling ominously in response to his rising fury. "You stand before me, empowered by the divine essence of my son. Such power is not merely a coincidence; it is fate!"

No, old man this is gacha!

I got this power from gacha!

But I still have to act so, "F-Fate?"

Indra's gaze bore into me, as if he could see through my facade and grasp the truth I hid beneath layers of bravado and deflection. The weight of the divine atmosphere surrounding him pressed heavily against my chest, each heartbeat reverberating with an ancient force. I took a shaky breath, trying to maintain my composure.

"Yes, fate," he continued, his voice softer but still tinged with authority. "Fate has a way of intertwining the lives of mortals and gods. The essence of Vali flows within you, granting you abilities beyond mere mortals." He paused, his stormy eyes flickering with a myriad of emotions—regret, curiosity, and something that felt dangerously close to sorrow. "I have been searching for my son's reincarnation, the one who could carry on his legacy. Could it be you, Aditya?"

Draupadi's grip on my arm tightened as her brow knitted in concern. "Aditya, what does this mean? Are you really... Vali?"

I shook my head slowly, I know, I am not Vali's reincarnation but I have to escape with Draupadi from this senile god.

"What do you want from me?" I asked the question still maintaining fear on my face.

Indra's gaze intensified, scrutinizing me as if weighing my very soul. The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken tension, before he spoke again, his voice a blend of authority and desperation.

"I seek answers, mortal. The essence of Vali has re-emerged in this world, and I need to understand why. Was it fate that brought you to this point? Or is there a deeper purpose behind your power?" He took a step closer, the air around him vibrating with divine energy. "I can sense the strength within you. You must tell me everything—how you came by this power, and what your intentions are. Only then can I determine your fate."

My heart raced. How could I explain my situation without revealing too much? The truth could very well be my undoing, and I wasn't about to let Indra dictate the terms of my existence. I needed to buy time, to think.

"I... I am simply a prince of the Sindhu Kingdom, I went to the Panchala kingdom to participate in Draupadi's swayamvara, There I won the contest thus I married Draupadi. Now I am going back to my kingdom for my coronation ceremony. As for Vali's essence... I don't know anything about it, When I saw Draupadi in danger this power awakened on its own. I really don't know anything else." I used my Acting Mastery to full-on bullshit mode, hoping to leave unscratched.

Indra regarded me with an intensity that felt almost suffocating, his stormy eyes narrowing as if searching for any hint of deception. "Your words may hold some truth, but you must understand the gravity of this situation," he warned, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. "The resurgence of Vali's essence is not a trivial matter. There are forces at play that seek to exploit this power for their own nefarious purposes."

I swallowed hard, the weight of his scrutiny pressing heavily on my shoulders. "I assure you, Lord Indra, my only desire is to protect my wife and fulfill my duties as a prince. I am not your enemy."

The god's expression softened for a fraction of a moment, a flicker of something that resembled understanding passing through his stormy demeanour. "Very well, Aditya. If you are indeed Vali's reincarnation, then perhaps you can wield this power for the greater good. However, know this: if you turn to darkness or betrayal, I will not hesitate to strike you down myself."

His warning resonated deep within me, and I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral. "I understand, my lord. I only want peace for my kingdom and my people."

The atmosphere around us shifted as Indra pondered my words, his expression a complex mix of contemplation and authority. "If you wish to stand against those who would misuse this power, then I may have a task for you," he said, his tone shifting back to one of command.

"A task?" I repeated, trying to gauge where this was going.

"Yes," he said, his voice carrying a weight of responsibility. "You have to go to Kishkindha, There...everything is not good for them. You may not know but Vali, my son was King of Kishkindha when he was alive. But after his...death, his half-brother Sugriva took the throne. However, the kingdom is now plagued by chaos and dissent. The balance of power has shifted, and Sugriva's reign has become fraught with discontent. Many believe he is unworthy of the throne, and there are whispers of rebellion in the air."

Draupadi's eyes widened in shock. "But what does that have to do with us?"

Indra's gaze fixed firmly on me. "If you are truly Vali's reincarnation, you may be the key to restoring order in Kishkindha. The people need a leader they can rally behind—someone who embodies the strength and spirit of my son. You must go to Kishkindha, help them, and reclaim the legacy of Vali."

I hesitated, the enormity of Indra's request weighing heavily on my shoulders. "But Lord Indra, what if I'm not the reincarnation you believe me to be? What if I fail?"

Indra's expression hardened, a flicker of impatience crossing his features. "Failure is not an option. The fate of Kishkindha hangs in the balance. You will go there and show them that Vali's essence lives on through you. This is your chance to prove yourself, And if you fail I personally will end your life for dishonouring my son's essence."

Draupadi jumped in front of me, "He will go! He will go! I will send him, Don't worry we just need some time."

Draupadi's sudden outburst took me by surprise, her fierce determination evident as she stood protectively in front of me. I could see the resolve in her eyes, a mixture of fear for what lay ahead and an unwavering belief in my strength. But inside, I felt a whirlwind of conflicting emotions—anxiety, doubt, and a hint of anger at being thrust into a role I never sought.

"Wait, Draupadi!" I started, but she continued, her voice steady and strong.

"Lord Indra, I assure you, Aditya will do everything in his power to help Kishkindha. He has the spirit of a leader, and I will support him." Her gaze remained locked on Indra, unwavering, as if daring him to question her resolve.

Indra's stormy eyes softened slightly at her words, and I could sense a shift in the atmosphere. He seemed to regard her with a new level of respect. "Very well, then," he said, his voice commanding yet somehow gentler. "Oh! right, there is...Vali's wife...She has been in a coma since Vali's death, and her condition has worsened since then. If you truly are his reincarnation, you may hold the key to awakening her. Her name is Tara, and her powers are directly linked to the well-being of Kishkindha. And if you succeed you can...marry her."

But just as he uttered those words, Draupadi's face darkened I simply took a step back as the weight of Indra's declaration settled over us like a shroud. My mind raced, and I could see Draupadi's expression shift from determination to a mixture of shock and betrayal.

"What do you mean, marry her?" Draupadi's voice trembled, her eyes blazing with indignation. "Aditya is already my husband! He cannot—he will not marry anyone else!"

I could feel the tension in the air thickening, a palpable energy crackling between us. Indra's gaze flickered between Draupadi and me, his expression unfazed by her outburst. "If he is indeed Vali's reincarnation, he must embrace the responsibilities that come with such power. The revival of Kishkindha may depend on it," he stated, his voice unwavering.

"But you're asking him to forsake our bond for a past he doesn't even remember!" Draupadi argued, stepping closer to me as if trying to shield me from Indra's demands. "You can't just throw these expectations on him! We didn't ask for this!"

"And who said he can't marry anyone else while being with you, He is going to be a king, right? And kings are often expected to have multiple wives to secure alliances and strengthen their rule," Indra replied, his voice steady and devoid of emotion.

I could see the flames of Draupadi's anger flickering dangerously in her eyes, and I quickly interjected, trying to diffuse the situation before it escalated further. "Lord Indra, I understand the importance of duty, but I—"

Indra raised a hand, cutting me off. "This is not merely a matter of duty, Aditya. It is the continuation of a legacy, a chance to restore balance to Kishkindha. You are bound by fate, whether you wish to accept it or not. Tara's revival may very well be intertwined with your own destiny."

I glanced at Draupadi, her face contorted with anguish and anger. I could sense the storm of emotions raging inside her, and it pained me to see her like this. I wanted to comfort her, to assure her that I would never willingly abandon her, but the enormity of Indra's request loomed large, an unrelenting force threatening to pull us apart.

Draupadi's voice trembled as she spoke, "So, you're saying that my husband must now marry someone else to fulfill some stupid reincarnation? That's unfair! He has already chosen me!"

.

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[To Be Continue]

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