Chapter 5 – The Brotherhood of the Seal
The next morning, Delhi looked ordinary — cars honking, vendors shouting, and the smell of tea drifting through the streets.
But for Yash, the world had changed forever.
He couldn't forget the dream — the serpent, the river, the glowing Rudraksha.
Every sound now felt like an echo from something ancient.
Even the air around him carried an energy he had never noticed before.
At college, Gurdeep noticed his silence.
"Bhai, tu theek hai? You look like you saw a ghost."
Yash forced a smile. "Just didn't sleep much last night."
But inside, he was shaken.
He felt as if the dream had branded his soul.
After class, Yash went to the library — not for study, but for answers.
He began searching old archives, scriptures, and references to Kaaliya Naag and Lord Krishna's legends.
Most were myths and poetic tales — but one text caught his eye:
"The Brotherhood of the Seal" — an obscure paper written by an archaeologist named Dr. Nandini Verma.
The paper described an underground group that believed the ancient seal of Kaaliya Naag truly existed — hidden beneath the soil of northern India.
They called themselves "The Raksha Mandala", protectors of divine seals left behind by the Devas.
The Brotherhood's purpose: to prevent anyone from breaking those seals… or to control their power if they did.
The deeper Yash read, the stranger it became.
Symbols from his dream — the trident, the serpent coil, the glowing Rudraksha — all appeared in the diagrams.
It was as if the paper was describing his dream itself.
He whispered, "How… is this possible?"
Just then, a voice startled him —
"You've seen it too, haven't you?"
Yash turned — it was Aarav!
He stood there, panting, as if he had run a long way.
"Aarav?! How— how are you here? You were supposed to be in Aarambh!"
Aarav nodded, eyes wide. "I came looking for you, Yash. Something's wrong in Aarambh. The temple river has turned dark — like ink. The villagers are scared. Panditji said it's the curse of Kaaliya returning."
Yash's heartbeat quickened. "It's happening already…"
Before they could speak further, a faint vibration ran through the floor —
then a low hum echoed from nowhere.
The copper box in Yash's bag began to glow again.
From the corner of the library, a woman stepped out — calm, composed, and carrying a palm-leaf manuscript.
Her eyes met Yash's. "So it's true," she said. "The seal has chosen its bearer."
"Who are you?" Yash asked.
"I am Dr. Nandini Verma," she replied. "The author of that paper you're reading.
And if we don't act fast… the Raksha Mandala will not be the only one after you."
The lights flickered.
For a brief second, Yash saw a shadowy symbol on the wall — a serpent wrapped around a trident — glowing red.
Dr. Nandini whispered, "They've found us."
Suddenly, the windows shattered.
Men in black robes stormed in — their eyes glowing with an unnatural light, chanting in a forgotten tongue.
Aarav pulled Yash down. "Run!"
But Yash could feel the Rudraksha pulsing like a heartbeat, the soil in the copper box vibrating violently.
Dr. Nandini held out her hand, chanting:
> "ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्।"
A wave of light burst from her palm, pushing the attackers back — but only for a moment.
Yash, Aarav, and Dr. Nandini sprinted through the corridors.
The world outside the library felt different — winds howled, birds scattered, and the air was thick with unseen power.
At the gate, Dr. Nandini turned to Yash.
"There's a reason you saw Kaaliya in your dream. You are connected to the Seal of Dharma — the last one left unbroken."
Yash asked, breathless, "What does that mean?"
Before she could answer — a blinding light struck from the sky, and a deep voice thundered through the air:
> "The Balance Must Be Restored…"
The ground split open.
A storm of black mist erupted from below.
Aarav screamed as Yash was pulled backward by an invisible force — the Rudraksha glowing furiously.
Everything went dark.