Svarga awakened before the sun of heaven had fully risen.
Golden halls echoed with footsteps. Messengers hurried through glowing corridors, carrying orders from Indra. Devas gathered their weapons and banners, not for war, but for a task that demanded strength from every corner of the cosmos.
At the edge of a wide terrace, Ganesh stood quietly, feeling the hum of the realm beneath his feet. The fire within him burned steady, neither flaring nor fading.
Aneet came to stand beside him.
"You didn't sleep," she said.
Ganesh shook his head. "Not much. The air itself feels like it's waiting."
Aneet nodded. "Like the moment before a storm breaks."
Soon, Indra arrived, followed by Vibhash and several other devas.
"It is time," Indra said. "We will go to the lower realms and speak to the asuras. Vishnu has already sent word through his own messengers. But I want you with me, Ganesh."
Ganesh bowed slightly. "I will walk beside you."
Aneet added, "And I beside him."
Indra looked at her and nodded. "Your presence steadies him. I can see that."
Ganesh smiled faintly.
Before they left, Vishnu appeared, walking toward them with calm steps.
"The path below is filled with old anger," Vishnu said. "Remember, you go not as lords of Svarga, but as seekers of balance."
Ganesh replied, "We will speak as equals."
Vishnu smiled. "That is why I trust you."
He placed a hand briefly on Ganesh's shoulder — not as a command, but as encouragement.
At another terrace, Shiva and Sati stood together.
Ganesh approached and bowed deeply. "Gurudev. We go now to meet the asuras."
Shiva looked at him. "Yes. The rope is being prepared even before the mountain is chosen. Words will bind it first."
Ganesh said, "I will remember your teaching. Speak when needed. Be silent when words only add fire."
Shiva nodded. "You learn."
Sati stepped closer. "Be careful," she said to both Ganesh and Aneet. "The lower realms carry pain older than this age. Do not let it cling to your hearts."
Aneet bowed. "We will walk lightly, Devi."
Shiva raised his hand in blessing. "Return with clarity."
Ganesh felt a calm strength settle within him.
Light gathered around them as Vishnu opened a path.
Svarga faded.
They descended.
The air changed.
Warmth turned to heavy heat. Light became dim and reddish. The land beneath their feet was dark stone, cut by rivers of glowing magma far below.
They had reached Sutala, one of the asura realms.
Tall pillars of black rock rose like towers. Great halls were carved into mountains, lit by fire instead of sunlight. Asuras moved through the streets — some armored, some simple workers, all strong, all alert.
As soon as Indra and the devas appeared, tension filled the air.
Weapons were raised.
Shouts rang out.
"Devas in our realm!"
"What trick is this?"
"Have they come to strike while we are weak?"
Ganesh stepped forward before Indra could speak.
"We come to talk," he said, his voice carrying across the gathering crowd. "Not to fight."
Some asuras laughed bitterly.
"Devas only come when they want something," one called.
Ganesh met his gaze. "Then hear what they want. And decide for yourselves."
There was hesitation.
Then a deep voice echoed from above.
"Let them come."
From a high stone balcony stepped a tall asura with calm eyes and a strong presence. He carried no weapon, only authority.
"I am Mahabali," he said. "Leader of these lands. Let the devas speak."
Indra looked surprised. "You would allow us into your halls so easily?"
Mahabali smiled slightly. "If you wanted war, you would not come with only a handful. And you would not bring him."
He looked at Ganesh.
"I have heard of the walker who judges by dharma, not by birth."
Ganesh inclined his head. "Then you have heard truly."
Mahabali gestured. "Come. Let us speak where words can breathe."
They were led into a vast hall carved from dark stone, its ceiling glowing faintly with embedded crystals.
Asuras gathered around, watching closely.
Indra spoke first. "The devas are weakening. Our strength fades. Vishnu has told us that renewal lies within the Ocean of Milk. To bring forth the amrita, the ocean must be churned."
A ripple of reaction spread among the asuras.
Ganesh watched their faces — suspicion, interest, anger, hope.
Mahabali folded his arms. "And why tell us this?"
Because you cannot do it alone," Indra said. "We need your strength."
Laughter broke out.
"You want us to work for your immortality?" one asura scoffed.
Indra stiffened, but Ganesh raised a hand.
"Not for their immortality," Ganesh said. "For balance."
He looked around the hall.
"If devas fall, do you think the cosmos will remain steady? When one side collapses, the other does not stand — it also falls, crushed by imbalance."
Mahabali studied him.
"And what do you gain from this, walker?"
Ganesh answered honestly. "Nothing. Except a world that does not tear itself apart."
Silence followed.
Aneet then spoke. "The ocean holds more than amrita. It will bring both danger and treasure. If only one side takes part, the other will be destroyed when the depths rise. But if both stand together, there is a chance to endure what comes."
Mahabali's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"You speak as if you already know this will be no simple task."
Ganesh nodded. "Because it will not be."
Mahabali walked slowly across the hall, then stopped before Indra.
"If we help you," he said, "what stops you from taking everything once the nectar rises?"
Indra hesitated.
Ganesh answered instead. "Nothing. Except the choices you make in that moment."
Mahabali looked at him sharply. "That is not an answer."
"It is the only true one," Ganesh replied. "No promise can bind greed when it awakens. Only dharma chosen in the moment can."
Mahabali turned away, silent for a long time.
Then he said, "We asuras are not blind. We know the devas will try to claim the amrita. But we also know this — if the churning succeeds, and we are not there, we will be forever weaker."
He looked back at Ganesh. "You walk without banners. Will you stand between us when that moment comes?"
Ganesh met his gaze steadily. "Yes."
Aneet added, "And I with him."
Mahabali nodded slowly. "Then I will bring my people."
A wave of voices rose in the hall — some angry, some hopeful.
Mahabali raised his hand. "We will not be servants in this task. We will be equal pullers of the rope."
Indra nodded. "Agreed."
Mahabali then turned to Ganesh.
"I do not trust devas," he said. "But I will trust you. Walk with us, and remind us why we chose this when anger rises."
Ganesh bowed slightly. "That is my path."
As they prepared to leave, Mahabali walked with Ganesh and Aneet to the edge of the hall.
"You carry fire," Mahabali said quietly. "But you do not burn those near you. That is rare."
Ganesh replied, "Because fire that forgets why it burns becomes only destruction."
Mahabali smiled faintly. "Then perhaps this churning has a chance."
Aneet looked at Mahabali. "Your people will face great danger. Many may fall."
Mahabali nodded. "We have always known danger. But this time, it will be for something more than conquest."
They clasped forearms — a gesture of warriors.
As light gathered to take them back toward Svarga, Indra spoke quietly to Ganesh.
"I would not have trusted them without you," he admitted.
Ganesh replied, "And they would not have listened without someone who stood with you."
Indra looked at him and smiled faintly. "You are becoming more than a walker, Ganesh."
Ganesh shook his head. "No. I am only walking where this path leads."
They ascended back toward the heavens, leaving behind the heavy heat of Sutala.
Aneet looked at Ganesh. "You made a powerful ally today."
Ganesh nodded. "And a fragile one. When desire rises, trust will be tested."
Aneet said, "Then we will stand when it is."
Ganesh looked ahead as Svarga's fading light came into view.
"Yes," he said. "That is why we are here."
Far away, in the depths of the cosmos, the Ocean of Milk waited — unaware that both heavens and underworld were now turning their eyes toward it.