Chapter 6 – The Serpent's Awakening
Darkness.
That was all Yash could see — endless, suffocating darkness.
He was falling, deeper and deeper, as if the earth had swallowed him whole.
The roar of the storm above faded, replaced by an ancient humming sound — like a thousand voices chanting beneath the ground.
Then — silence.
And light.
Yash opened his eyes.
He was no longer in Delhi.
He stood in a massive underground chamber carved out of black stone, covered in glowing Sanskrit inscriptions.
In the center stood a giant serpent statue, its eyes made of sapphire, its fangs sharp as blades.
Around it — seven golden seals, each glowing faintly, forming a circle of protection.
The air was thick with divine energy.
Every breath Yash took felt heavy with power.
From behind him, a familiar voice spoke, calm yet commanding.
"Welcome, bearer of the Seal."
Yash turned — Dr. Nandini Verma was there, her face illuminated by the faint blue light.
Aarav lay unconscious beside her.
"What… what is this place?" Yash asked, his voice trembling.
"This," she said, walking toward the statue, "is the Sarpagarbha Mandir — the Temple of the Serpent's Heart. It was built thousands of years ago by the sages who served Lord Krishna. This is where Kaaliya was sealed."
Yash felt the Rudraksha on his neck vibrating, glowing faintly like a living thing.
The ancient markings on the walls began to shimmer in response.
Dr. Nandini looked at it and whispered,
"The Rudraksha has recognized its origin."
Suddenly, a deep rumbling echoed across the chamber.
The serpent's statue trembled.
One of the golden seals cracked — a thin line of blue light escaping from within.
Yash stepped back in fear.
"What's happening?!"
"The awakening," Nandini said grimly. "The seal is weakening. The darkness is stirring again."
Before Yash could respond, Aarav gasped and woke up, his eyes filled with confusion.
But then — something strange happened.
Aarav's pupils flashed bright blue for a moment — the same color as the serpent's eyes.
Nandini saw it too. "No… it can't be."
Aarav clutched his head and screamed.
Voices — hundreds of them — echoed through his throat.
Ancient, wrathful, divine.
> "The seal was broken… the poison must return… balance will be restored!"
Yash ran to him, shouting, "Aarav! It's me! Fight it!"
But the serpent's mark appeared across Aarav's arm — glowing blue and black.
It crawled up his neck, spreading like fire beneath his skin.
Dr. Nandini chanted mantras, trying to suppress the possession.
But the light from the Rudraksha burst out again — brilliant, blinding.
Aarav's body froze mid-scream.
The mark on his skin stopped spreading.
Then a voice spoke inside Yash's mind, deep, calm, ancient:
> "You have been chosen, Yash of Aarambh. The poison and the cure are bound within you.
The Serpent and the Savior shall walk as one."
Yash fell to his knees, clutching his chest. His heartbeat echoed like a drum in the dark temple.
Dr. Nandini watched in awe.
"The prophecy… it's true."
She turned to him slowly, her eyes wide.
"You are the last guardian of the Seal of Dharma."
Yash looked up — exhausted, frightened, but resolute.
"If the serpent has awakened… then I must face it."
Outside, thunder rolled again.
The world above trembled.
And somewhere far away, deep beneath the Yamuna, something ancient moved — slowly opening its eyes.