"Kreen, the battle is over. We've won." Shangra said, his voice trembling with joy. The battleground, painted with the blood of the fallen, a brutal canvas.
"A gift bestowed upon me by Krishna himself. Now that the war is over, there is no need for this gift to exist anymore. It will only cause bloodshed in the future." Kreen sighed. "But how are you planning on destroying it? Don't tell me!"
Kreen cut in, "My death is certain. The day I was provided with this duty, was the day my death started calling for me. This power is embedded within my blood. I cannot fully destroy it. What I can do is, just remove its projection in my future generation."
"That's madness! Is that even possible?" Shirka stepped forward. "It's beyond my understand, but I know that this can be done." He replied, and before anyone could say or do anything, Kreen pierced his heart with his hand.
"Kreen! No!" Shangra gasped.
Suddenly, Kreen's body convulsed. His massive, godlike frame began to shrink, his muscles softening, his form reducing to that of a mere man. Blood squirted out of the hole in his chest. He fell to his knees, coughing out blood violently.
"Why, Kreen! You didn't have to do this!" Shangra cried, holding him in his hands.
"These tears won't change the reality and our Dharma, brother Shangra. We are kshatriyas. We take pride in death and smile at it, with our right hand, twirling our moustache upwards." Kreen replied in a weak voice.
"Your child was just born." Shirka sobbed. "You promised your wife you'd return!"
"Kriya, my beloved. Tell her that I passed on to heaven for the sake of my lineage. Tell everyone in the village; never hail me, never sing my name. I don't want this battle to pass down in history. Let this battle vanish into silence. This power… it is sacred, brother Shirka. It shall return only if Krishna himself will it."
He looked up, with eyes full of hope. "Now, I shall pass. I see him, Krishna… he's calling me."
A faint smile lingered on his lips, as his eyes slowly closed.
After 3100 years…
"Rohit! Come, Raj is flying his drone, let's get in some photos!" Sanya called out, her voice echoing towards the balcony.
"You guys go ahead; I'll be right behind." Rohit replied, leaning on the railing.
"Dude! You're always late!" Sanya grunted. "Don't eat him up girl. He'll come. Let's go." Aisha said with a smile, walking up from behind.
"But this is not done dude! He's always like this. Never on time." Sanya grumbled.
"Remove this frown and let's go." Aisha exclaimed and grabbed her by the wrist.
A few steps away, Raj should with his controller in hand. "Alright then, it's time. I'll start."
The drone lifted up into the air, as they all shouted in unison, "Gyanganj!"
Suddenly, Sanya felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned—and froze.
Rohit was standing behind her, on one knee.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"Sanya," he began, "we've been together since the start of college. It's been five years already. I know it might feel early, but I've planned my whole life with you. I love you from the bottom of my heart."
He paused; his voice trembled a little.
"Yes, we haven't figured everything out yet. Yes, we're still kids learning how to navigate life. But I don't want to take another step on this journey without you. So I'm putting myself out here and asking…..Sanya Sindhi, will you marry me?"
Sanya stood speechless for a moment. She hadn't seen it coming. Tears welled in her eyes.
"You are the best, Rohit," she whispered, voice breaking. "I love you too. Yes! I want to marry you!"
Rohit slid the ring onto her finger and rose. Sanya pulled him into a tight embrace and kissed him, as cheers and applause erupted around them.
A few steps away, Aisha pinched Raj on the arm.
"Dude! I'm recording," Raj grumbled, trying to keep the drone steady. "This is such a beautiful moment."
Aisha leaned into him. "So... when are you proposing?"
Raj glanced at her, then lowered the controller and set it aside. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.
"If it were up to me, I'd propose—hell, I'd marry you right here, right now," he said softly. "But you know I'm still paying off that debt. Let me build something for us. When the time is right, I'll make it happen. I promise."
Aisha smiled, her eyes misty. "Hey silly, you know I was just joking. I know how hard you're working. There's no rush. What are we—twenty-two? We have our whole lives ahead of us."
She kissed his cheek gently.
"Our parents know about us. They approve. What more do we need? The only thing I want is your love and support. And yes, relationships need support from both sides. So don't worry, baby. I'm your partner in crime."
They then hugged Rohit and Sanya, congratulating them.
"Raj, listen. Thanks for the photos and videos, man. Seriously, it means a lot," Rohit said, giving him a firm dab.
Raj grinned. "Dude, you don't have to thank me. It's the least I could do."
"No, I mean it. You even picked this valley. It's beautiful—like untouched. And no one's ever heard of it. Gyanganj? What even is this place?"
Raj's smile widened. "Took me over four years to find it."
"Wait, what?"
"I'm serious," Raj said, his voice dropping slightly, as if sharing a secret. "It's a mythological valley. No one's ever officially found it. I made several trips to Tibet just to track it down. That's why it's not on any map."
Rohit stared at him. "You're kidding."
"Nope," Raj said, almost proudly. "Found it last week. Pure luck… or maybe destiny."
"That's insane," Rohit murmured, eyes scanning the misty peaks around them. "So, what's the plan now? We've got hours before sunset."
"I've got a little something lined up," Raj said, already hoisting his backpack. "According to some of the texts I read, there's supposed to be a hidden town somewhere nearby."
"A town? Out here?" Rohit raised an eyebrow. "Is that even safe?"
Raj shrugged, eyes twinkling. "Who knows. That's the fun of it."
Rohit laughed under his breath. "Of course. Raj and his crazy ideas."
"Come on, live a little," Raj said, slapping his back. "Let's go. Get the girls."
Rohit shook his head, a half-smile on his lips. "Alright. I'm in."
"That's more like it. Let's go! Get the girls." Raj exclaimed.
All of them started trekking towards an unknown destination.
"We've been walking through this jungle for like three hours. How much longer?" Sanya groaned, wiping sweat from her brow.
Raj glanced at his compass, then cross-checked the map in his hand. "Five, maybe ten more minutes," he replied.
"I can't walk anymore!" Sanya grunted.
Without a word, Rohit scooped her up into his arms. "Don't worry," he said with a smile. "I'll be your mule."
Laughter echoed briefly among the trees.
Soon, the dense foliage began to thin, and golden light spilled through the gaps in the canopy. As they emerged onto a cliffside, all four of them froze.
Before them stretched a hidden valley, glowing in the afternoon sun. Nestled between snow-tipped mountains and lush forests was a town—ancient, untouched, impossibly beautiful. Houses built of white stone clustered along a crystal-clear river. Banners fluttered in the breeze, inscribed with symbols none of them recognized. The entire valley shimmered with an otherworldly calm.
"It's so beautiful," Aisha whispered.
"Finally," Sanya sighed in awe. "We're here."
Rohit took a cautious step forward, eyes wide. "What is this place, Raj?"
Raj looked over his shoulder, calm but deliberate. "Shambhala."
Rohit froze. His breath caught in his throat. "Shambhala?" he whispered. "Wait... this is Shambhala?"
"What happened, Rohit? Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" Sanya asked, concerned.
Rohit turned toward Raj, stunned. "Raj... is this the mythical valley of Siddhashram?"
Raj nodded. "You're right."
Rohit blinked, stunned. "But... how? How did you find it? No one has ever found this place!"
"There's a reason it was never on the maps," Raj said, his tone flat. "But honestly, I'm surprised no one else found it. It wasn't even that hard."
Before the tension could build further, Sanya pointed toward the valley below. "Look! There's a river. Let's go down there!"
As the girls began walking down the slope, Rohit grabbed Raj's arm. His eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Raj, do you realize what this means? You've found the city of Shambhala—the valley of Gyanganj. If this is real, then... Hindu mythology isn't just mythology. It's truth."
Raj exhaled slowly. "Scriptures are one thing, Rohit. But the existence of Shambhala alone doesn't prove all of it."
"Man, you and your atheism," Rohit muttered. Then, hesitantly, "I know you discovered this place, but... can I include it in my research?"
Raj didn't answer immediately. He looked out across the valley—the peaceful town, the glowing sky, the untouched sanctity of it all.
"Rohit, if this place is truly what the texts describe, then it should remain a myth," he said.
Rohit stared. "Why?"
"Because if it gets into the wrong hands, it'll be exploited, desecrated. You know what the world is like. I might not believe in the divine, but I do believe in protecting what's rare. I didn't find this place to claim it. I found it... to preserve it."
Rohit nodded slowly. "You're right. I'm sorry. It was naïve of me to ask."
Raj smiled faintly. "Don't sweat it. Come on, let's catch up with the girls."
The two of them turned back toward the trail, the sun dipping lower behind the mountains. In the distance, the river glittered like silver silk, whispering ancient secrets to the wind.
Near the river, Rohit and Sanya were busy with each other, while Raj and Aisha sat on a rock, their feet dipped into the flowing water.
"The water feels different here," Aisha said.
"Different in what way?" Raj asked.
"I don't know how to explain... It's cold, but at the same time, there's a strange warmth to it."
"Interesting," Raj replied, staring at the crystal-clear water shimmering in the sunlight.
Suddenly, something caught his eye—his right foot.
"Aisha, do you remember the bike accident I had last week?" he asked.
"I do. Rohit rushed you to the hospital," she replied.
"Yeah. You remember the wounds I got on my right foot?"
Aisha glanced down. "Yeah? These ones righ—" She stopped mid-sentence, stunned.
"How!?" she gasped.
"I don't know," Raj said quietly. "Those weren't the kind of wounds that heal in a week. And certainly not without a single mark."
"Wait, Raj… I saw those wounds on your right foot this morning!" Aisha exclaimed.
"I know. I saw them too, just before I took off my shoes and dipped my feet in the water," Raj said.
"You mean…?"
"I think so, yeah. This water… it's not normal." He paused, eyes narrowing at the ripples.
"What are you, Shambhala?"