**Setting: A Storm-Wracked Night in Ancient Ruins
The heavens were torn asunder. Lightning scarred the sky, and thunder roared like a wounded beast. Within the crumbling skeleton of an ancient structure, a microcosm of the storm raged—on one side, flames clawed hungrily at the stone, while on the other, torrential rain and runoff fought a desperate, losing battle. It was a perfect, terrible painting of two primal forces at war.
At its center stood a young man in red robes, his sword a sliver of cold light in the chaotic dark. His face, illuminated in a sudden flash, was a mask of agony, his eyes pools of a pain so profound it seemed to swallow the storm itself. With a cry that was torn from the depths of his soul, he lunged forward. The blade found its mark, sinking deep into the abdomen of the young man before him—Neer, his blue robes darkening instantly.
Agni (his voice a shattered whisper, trembling with the weight of the world):
"Forgive me...Neer. There was no other path... no other way to end this. Please... forgive me."
Neer crumpled, his body folding to its knees on the wet stone. Tears carved clean paths through the rain on his face, but his lips, against all reason, curved into a faint, heartbreaking smile. Each breath was a shallow, struggling thing.
Neer (his voice soft, almost carried away by the wind):
"If this moment...this ending... was my destiny... then I am blessed that it is you who holds its pen, Agni. I carry no regrets... only a single, lingering ache... that I could never speak the words I held... or perhaps... you could never hear them."
A shuddering breath escaped him. "But there is peace in this. To be with you... at the end... Even in the death you have given me... I will find a way to live on... inside you. You won't... you won't be able to forget me... will you, Agni?"
Agni looked down, his gaze locked with Neer's. Words were ash in his mouth, impossible to form. He watched, helpless, as the light in Neer's stormy eyes slowly stilled, the final breath leaving his body in a soft sigh. The body in his arms grew heavy, and cold, and terribly, irrevocably still.
Agni gazed into Neer's eyes, unable to speak. Neer's breathing stopped, and his body grew still.
Suddenly, Agni felt a strange warmth spreading from the sword into his hands.
Neer's body began to glow with a soft blue light, and the rain around them froze mid-air.
A voice echoed—not from Neer, but from everywhere at once:
"You think this is the end, Agni? This is only the beginning of the prophecy."
Agni stepped back in shock as Neer's eyes snapped open—now glowing with an unearthly blue fire.
Neer (in a voice that was not his own): "We will meet again… in another life, in another form. But next time, I will not be the one dying."
The universe_____
I am Adi-Brahma. I alone am the originator of this entire universe. I am all that is around and I am also the conduct. I am the soul and I am the Supreme Soul. I am Manu, and I am the Asura, and the Danava, and I am both darkness and light. From me, this world exists; from me come love and desire. I created heaven and hell. I created the planets and the countless forms of this world. And whatever is in this world, that is me. What is not, that is also me. And what will be, that is also me.
The world originated from me. From me alone, Devas, Danavas, Asuras, Suras, humans, good and evil were born. To maintain balance in the world, I alone created the Devas and the Asuras.
Devas - symbols of light and goodness.
Danavas and Asuras- symbols of darkness and evil.
In this creation of mine, everything functions according to my law. For many ages, this world has been balanced.
But the era that was prevalent was divine and emotional.
An Asura and a Deva, created by me and natural enemies, fell in love and desired to change the rules of the world. As a result, many obstacles arose in their union.
Everything in the world was balanced—the Devas were adept in their duties, and the Danavas were diligent in their actions.
Meanwhile, the brother of a Danava king was flying through the sky using his divine powers when he saw a beautiful maiden.
Devi Vasudha said:
"O Asura king,please give your tongue some rest and stop describing us. Leave this place now. If any Deva sees you, your end is certain."
Danava King Vranasur said:
"Goddess,we have given you our heart. Even if our end comes now, we accept it. We wish to make you our wife."
Devi Vasudha said:
"What are you saying,Asura king? You know very well that this love has no future; it is a sin."
Danava King Vranasur:
"We know.But you tell us, in love, one doesn't see caste or lineage. Love is just love. We have lost our heart to you. Forgive us, but we would rather die than stay away from you."
Devi Vasudha:
"Your love and your devotion have won our heart too.In our heart, we have already fallen for you. But you also know, all this is a sin—the union of a Goddess and an Asura is a great sin."
Vranasur:
"We know,Goddess, but no rule, no bond holds sway over the heart."
---
As soon as he saw her, the Danava brother lost control over his mind and eyes, and could not stop himself from entering the boundaries of heaven.
The sister of the Deva king—
Was busy in the garden of the Brahma temple in heaven, picking flowers and making garlands, when she felt someone's presence behind her. Using her powers, she attacked the source of the sound. The Danava king dodged the attack and appeared before Devi Vasudha.
Seeing a Danava before her, Devi Vasudha asked in surprise:
"Danava king,are you not aware of your limits? Do you not know this is the boundary of heaven? Your presence here is forbidden."
Danava King Vranasur said:
"O Goddess,we lost control over our mind and eyes. Upon seeing a woman as beautiful as you, your lotus-like eyes, your gaze deeper than the ocean, your lips like rose petals, and your words filled with love and your voice sweet like nectar—we were drawn to you.
Now we have seen your powers too. You are not just the epitome of beauty but also a Kshatriya warrior woman.
So please tell us, how can we look away?"
Devi Vasudha said:
"O Asura king,please give your tongue some rest and stop describing us. Leave this place now. If any Deva sees you, your end is certain."
Danava King Vranasur said:
"Goddess,we have given you our heart. Even if our end comes now, we accept it. We wish to make you our wife."
Devi Vasudha said:
"What are you saying,Asura king? You know very well that this love has no future; it is a sin."
Danava King Vranasur:
"We know.But you tell us, in love, one doesn't see caste or lineage. Love is just love. We have lost our heart to you. Forgive us, but we would rather die than stay away from you."
Devi Vasudha:
"Your love and your devotion have won our heart too.In our heart, we have already fallen for you. But you also know, all this is a sin—the union of a Goddess and an Asura is a great sin."
Vranasur:
"We know,Goddess, but no rule, no bond holds sway over the heart."
Devi Vasudha:
"Alright,Asura king, but you must leave now. Before any Deva arrives here. We will meet you again."
Vranasur:
"As you command,Goddess. Please do not forget us, we will wait for you." After this, the Danava king returned to his realm. But now, only the image of Devi Vasudha was imprinted on his heart.
After meeting each other in secret for a long time, some Asuras and Devas saw them. Then, in a council of Devas and Danavas, their marriage was decided. Some time later...
A yajna was organized for the marriage of Devi Vasudha and Asura Vranasur.
Joy was spread all around for the wedding.
Danava King Vranasur was very happy about his marriage. On the other hand, Devi Vasudha was also about to attain her love.
After the wedding, when the two lovers went to meet each other, the Danava king and the Deva king killed each other's siblings. They attacked them from behind and took their lives.
Seeing this betrayal, streams of tears flowed from the eyes of the two lovers. The Danava king said:
"You may be a Goddess, but how dare you break the rules of us Asuras? You deserve only death. Do you not know that Devas and Asuras are enemies? This is a sin."
The Deva king:
"You knew that this love would never be accepted.How could you impose your affection on us Devas? You have committed a sin."
Asura Vranasur went to his beloved Vasudha and, with love, reached out to touch her hand.
Devi Vasudha:
(Crying,moving towards Vranasur)
Both moved to hold each other's hands but could not grasp them.
Devi Vasudha:
"I,a Goddess, taking my love, my God, my vow of fidelity as witness, curse you both—
You will never attain your love. For ages upon ages, you will wander, searching for your love.
But your love will never be accepted by society. Until you understand the true meaning of love, you will wander for ages upon ages.
This is my curse."
---
In the meantime, both lovers die, and their union remains incomplete.
They are left just short of holding each other's hands.
Many ages later, two souls were born again - one in red robes, one in blue."