A LONG CHAPTER. ENJOY!

Yagya snapped into reality when the beast inside him purred feeling the supple curves and heavy bosoms heaving against his naked flesh. Saliva pooled at the back of his mouth and his body started to heat with erupting arousal. Disgust filled him and he slowly pushes her away.

The animal only knew the lust and the way of claiming his territory. He did not care for the feeling of an innocent girl.

As he stepped back, he shattered the warm cocoon filled with armistice and affection surrounding them. Cold evaded Gauri's bones and she shuddered, suppressing the desire to whimper at supposed rejection. As she schools her expression into neutral as opposed to the raising insecurities inside her mind, she sees him entering the closet and started dressing for the day, throwing the hint that they have reached the end of this conversation. Nodding at his cold demeanor and wearing a bitter smile, she turns to leave.

"I'll prepare breakfast."

"Don't, we have an important meeting today with some foreign investors. I must leave right now and will probably return by tomorrow."

That single sentence crushed little hope and bubbling excitement in her heart. If he didn't return before evening, how will she open her fast? The festival was about them as a couple and of all the days he chose today to stay away!

"You must return before evening. It is Karwa Chauth." She urged in a strong voice and he stilled in the middle of buttoning his shirt. His shoulder-length hair still wet from the shower dripped damp trails down his broad back. Yagya clenched his jaw and faced her with stormy eyes, one which screamed at her to back off. He has given her a part of him, a hand, she shouldn't expect him to bloody roll in her lap.

"This meeting is more important than your stupid rituals. I have already postponed it twice because of odd circumstances. One more delay and they'll present this contract to the rival company. Don't wait up for me and figure something out."

Every word coming from his mouth felt like a silent slap. Fury rode her head and rolled down her regal frame in tons, she cuts the distance between them in two long strides and held his collar. The fingers of her other hand curled inside the thick beard on his chin.

"I don't care what you do or how you manage to reach home before the moon sets. I'll be waiting on the terrace and if you didn't arrive on time, I will jump from the roof." She gritted in a no-nonsense tone and he stared back speechless with a hanging jaw and wide-open eyes.

Oh, he could try! She sassed in her mind. He could try and build a wall between them and remind her of the space and boundaries which thrive in this relationship. She will let him have his peace but at the end of the day, Gauri wouldn't back away from reminding him how she is lawfully wedded and holds more power than any other person in his life. He was hers, no pun intended. Not after that beastly show and forced marriage.

With newfound confidence, she turns and reaches for the silver platter. Picking a small piece of sweet, she thrusts it into his shocked face.

"I have prayed to Lord Shiv and Mata Parvati. Your deal will be successful." She recited next and left his den without looking behind. The rhythmic sway of her hips did funny things to his stomach.

Yagya chews the sweet and gulps it down with difficulty, still looking at the place where she was standing a few seconds ago. His mind went empty to comprehend what the hell just happened.

"Kartik Krishna Chaturthi is celebrated by fasting on Chandrodayi Vyapini. On this day, married women conduct fast for the long life and health of their husbands. They stay without water for the whole day and break their fast only after the moon rises.

But before that, we must hear this tale-

A long time ago, in some village, a moneylender had seven sons and one daughter. Once, on the Chaturthi of Krishna Paksha of Kartik month, along with the moneylender's wife, her seven daughters-in-law and daughter kept Karwa Chauth fast. At night, when all the boys sat down to eat, they asked their sister to have food as well. On this, the sister refused and insisted that the moon hasn't risen yet. She will eat only after offering Arghya to the moon.

The brothers loved their sister very much and felt bad on seeing her hungry face. Together they came up with an idea, according to which a few of them went outside and climbed a hill. Ascending a tall tree over the hill, they lit a fire. The brothers at home urged their sister to look out and see that the moon has come out. The happy sister when informed her sisters-in-law about this, they said- the moon has not risen yet. Your brothers are fraudulently lighting a fire and showing its light in the form of the moon to you.

The sister ignored the words of those wise women and after offering Arghya, opens her fast and took food. This angered Lord Ganesh and his mother Goddess Parvati. The remover of obstacles became displeased with the moneylender's daughter for breaking the holy fast and as per consequences, the girl's husband fell ill and the entire wealth was spent on his treatment. When the girl came to know about the truth, she readily accepted her fault committed in naivety and started repenting. She apologized to the gods and again started the Chaturthi fast, following all rules and regulations strictly.

Seeing her determination and devotion, Lord Ganesh and Mata Parvati were pleased and blessed her husband with a long and healthy life. Freed him from all kinds of diseases and endowed him with wealth and glory.

As we hear this tale, we all pray to goddess to bless us, our families, and our household with good fortune, and forgive the mistakes committed by us unknowingly."

Vasundhara didn't miss the enthusiasm and spark in Gauri's eyes as she beautifully punctuates the traditional story. All the females surrounding them had serene expressions as they listen attentively to every word escaping the lotus-like lips of the young princess.

They were all collected in the temple of Mahadeva near Chitrakoot Palace to worship the Gods.

A now recovered Ambika was also part of the group and smiled lovingly at the young girl for taking the initiative. It was clear that the girl had no problems in taking upon such public events she enjoyed telling mythological stories.

After the completion of prayers, Gauri touches Vasundhara's feet in respect and receives heartfelt blessings. As she stands straight, the old queen pulls her into a brief hug. Her eyes were moist with happy tears, which swam in adoration. She would never regret that quick decision of choosing Gauri for Yagya.

Pulling back from Vasundhara, Gauri greets other elders before reaching Ambika. A goofy smile erupted on her face and she quickly pulls the darkly dressed, tiny woman into a strong embrace.

"It is good to see you are back to reprimand each step taken by me with those judging little eyes, Ambika ji. The palace hadn't been the same without you, and everybody was strolling around like open bulls. My ears couldn't wait to hear you scolding and throwing orders back and forth." A few ladies nearby erupted into peals of laughter and Ambika rolled her eyes.

"You better behave, little princess or there's no food for you today." Gauri quickly caught up with the mirth dancing in Ambika's eyes and giggled.

"I am ready to take your punishment as long as it lasts till midnight."

She announced and Ambika blesses her with a long-living husband.

"Ambika," Vasundhara approaches the joking duo and smiles lightly. "Since you have fully recovered from your awful accident, I want you to immediately take up your duties. Help Gauri decide tonight's menu and order the manager to decorate the Palace like a new bride. I want everybody in Palace, including the staff to dine with us tonight. Now, I must go and attend to the old King."

Ambika bowed in respect and watched as the old queen passes by.

The moment, Vasundhara disappeared from the holy premises, a serious Gauri turned to face the old handmaiden.

"Ambika Ji, as the bride of your King, I order you to immediately retreat to your bed chambers and rest till the evening. Mother isn't aware of the condition of your injuries because his highness didn't want to put her under more stress. The doctor has prescribed you to stay on bed rest for at least a month before running around the palace. You must be sore at places and better not overwork yourself. I shall send a maid to massage your..."

"What are you saying?" A baffled Ambika spat unable to believe her ears. This new girl was now ordering her around. She had duties assigned to her by the Queen. She can't rest until everything was set.

"Don't worry about these measly tasks. Everything will be taken care of. Go, rest, please. I know you aren't feeling well. The tiny winces and the limp in your steps gave you away."

Feeling resigned and tired, Ambika nodded in agreement. Patting Gauri's shoulder, she takes the hand of a maid and slowly descends from the temple stairs. Gauri smiled watching the old women walking away and turned towards the other women with an eager grin.

"Let's prepare for the evening."

A loud cheer was heard before everybody scurried in different directions to finish their job assigned by the princess early in the morning. Her mother-in-law was too late to fret about things, she has been preparing since early morning.

After a long time, happiness was spread in the palace despite some painful encounters, like the poor health of the old King. People were busy bidding on the orders released by a young princess. The smile never left their face. They joked and gossiped, helped each other, and pulled the time-taking tasks in short intervals. Their enthusiasm hit the roof watching the princess take over the kitchen. A feast to feed a hundred stomachs were being prepared in the Annapurna Kaksh. The fragrance of spicy and sweet flavors evaded their nostrils making them salivate. Their entrails grumbled in appetite. The reward was worth all the hard work.

But the gloomy corridors and mourning rooms of Chandra Mahal begged to differ.

In its canopy, a naked dance of diabolical forces was going on. The ruined portraits of ancestors, barely hanging on the walls, registered the evil breathing corruption in the foundation of the fort. Bats flew in a circle, shrieking and disturbed by the poisonous smoke coming from a pyre lit in the center of the main hall.

A witch wailed unholy hymns as she sat in front of the blaze. Her upper body moved in a circle, sometimes back and forth as she chanted forbidden messages to please the otherworldly. Her long silver hair was left open which ran down her back like snakes. Her face and limbs were bathed in ash and her forehead was covered in the blood of a chicken. Her frail figure vibrates with a large amount of power as she slowly becomes a connecting link between the dead and the alive.

The walls of the palace shook and gradually dust a layer of paint when the resonance of unholy tune clawed at their surface, stealing the essence of power and glory that once forged them from the blood and sweat of mighty warriors.

The witch shook her head speedily, her loose flesh shaking as well. Taking a bowl filled with virgin blood, she tosses it into the fire resulting in a small blast and multiple popping sounds.

"Oh, my prince of darkness, I call for you.

Come and take the offering I have for you."

She sang while pointing at a golden platter filled with raw meat of goat and cow dripping with blood, kept at the opposite side of the pyre. She hums deeply until her voice attained two pitches. One female and another deep like a male.

"Promises were made and deals were broken,

There's more to seek, in this fort of fallen.

The king's a beast, hungry and dangerous,

He dwells in shadows, lonely and bibacious.

I've seen, I've felt, the fury in his vessels,

It's not one but two, fighting overriding battles.

The man is a slave of beast, the beast is a slave of moon,

Rebelling to take over, breaking the barracoon.

He is an expansive trooper, I want to bring him down,

Destroy his legacy and break his crown.

The name of Ranas, must become an ancient lore,

No one must remember, their pride in galore."

Suddenly, the bright fiery pit, the glowing amber, extinguishes with a whoosh, blanketing the once-lit premise with complete darkness. Goosebumps erupted on the flesh of the witch and her body goes rigid. Chills ascend her spine and her lips quivered in the fright of the unknown. Her heart thudded hard against her ribcage when she heard labored breathing with suppressed moans ringing beside her ear.

Cold air brushed her neck and cheek, and something sharp grazed her shoulder. She jumped, ready to bolt but multiple whispers kept her rooted in the sitting position. Biting her lips, she waited and gulped the saliva to aid a dry throat.

The being she called, has arrived listening to her prayer.

An owl hooted in distance and the cold atmosphere starts to turn humid. Sweat accumulates in her pores and she breathed through her nose. The putrid stench filled her lungs and she shuddered at the disgusting aroma. A demonic chuckle reached her and she started feeling light-headed from fear. Oxygen-deprived, nausea hits her hard and she gagged, unable to control the flow of acidic bile.

The pit in front of the witch glows for a minute, the burning coal inside turns red as if someone was filling them with air and in no time, the fire comes back. This time, the flames were higher than before. The platter moved from its position and was pulled swiftly by an invisible force into the darkest corner where the light failed to reach.

Loud moans, sniffs, gurgling, and chewing noises filtered through the air, and the witch sighed.

"Welcome!"

She exclaimed before downing another bowl filled with blood into the fire. A low roar reaches her ears, appreciating her selfish ritual. The demonic entity was happy with her offering and latched on to it hungrily. He purred and licked noisily before addressing her through the dark fog.

"I heard your incantation,

murky and gory misintensions.

You seem anxious and weary,

making the same deals to quench your fury.

Hungering for revenge which might bring you doom,

Still, you insist, wishing for a boon.

There's no point in stopping you, dear mage,

The path has been paved and will cause you collateral damage.

Still, you insist and bound to deal I must guide you,

Show you, tell you, the secrets and wishes which will come true.

If the man is the king or the beast is the man?

Is currently under debate, because for once they seek the same thing.

It is Peace, Peace, Peace,

That comes from a girl wearing crown of flowers,

filtering with youth and devotion.

She is a beauty, whose heart is pure,

A virgin with healing touch and clean soul.

Watching her every time even stirs the hunger in me,

The beast has shown great restraint for walking away from such she.

His life and control lie in her ethereal chaplet,

Like that of a powerful sorcerer in his parrot.

Clever, tranquil, curious, and unyielding,

She rules the heart of the man and the soul of the wildling.

The King wouldn't lose when she stands behind him tall,

If you steal her life, he will fall.

Gauri is the name of a goddess, who was created by gods to destroy evil,

Similarly, the girl was born to cure the seed of evil.

The fort might degenerate and the crown might fall,

The moment you unleash the beast by stealing his mate of soul."

The witch shook her head in disbelief, unable to believe the words coming from the mouth of the supernatural. The King was connected to his new bride on the cosmic level. The death of his first wife didn't steal his peace or provoked him to go berserk because she was part of the material world. Kirti was a love who forced him to keep things together, but Gauri was the wild river that urged him to quench his thirst, for he has been burning for so long. She brought him peace, an assurance that his monstrosity wasn't sinful. He shouldn't be guilty of his barbaric nature for it is the role of a wild in the jungle.

The witch pulled at the roots of her hair in anger while gritting her teeth.

If she is the true soulmate of the beast, the one whose Nakshatra complements both man and the monster, then the bastard King has become unimaginably strong. Because he was finally complete as the two parts of one broken soul have glued together.

According to ancient texts, by the blessing of Goddess Parvati, the soulmates share a powerful bond, an unbreakable one. It is impossible to separate them. If you hurt one, another perishes. Those who try to destroy them commit a sin of the highest degree, equal to Brahmahayta. Brahmahatya means the murder of a saint who has devoted his life to dharma and is an expert on ancient texts of the four Vedas.

But drunk in vengeance, the witch was ready to do anything, even if it ended badly for her or if she gets burned into the pits of hell. She wanted them to suffer. If what the demon said was right, then killing the King's wife would be the correct move. She only had to keep the king alive and watch him break every day. A wicked smile lit her lip, exposing her crooked teeth, and she turns to pyre once again.

"Then it is decided, my lord.

Your slave offers you a soul.

Of a virgin, of a devotee that rules the beast unknown.

I know she stirs your hunger,

The one you call the game changer.