The Cold Embrace and Agni's Lonely Battle
The echo of Nirgh's scream still rang in Agni's ears as he ran towards Neer's chamber. He pushed the door open, and the scene stole his breath.
Neer was on his knees on the floor, his blue robes torn and dust-streaked. His back was hunched, his shoulders heaving violently as if he were a fish gasping for air. Beside him, Nirgh sat slumped, a deep, black wound on his arm oozing not blood, but a dark, viscous liquid.
"Neer!" Agni's voice echoed through the hall, hard, firm, yet underneath that hardness lay a broken softness. "This is not you! Neer, look into your own eyes! Look at your hands! What are you doing?"
Neer lifted his head. His eyes were still half-black, half-blue, as if two opposing forces warred within them. The black color spread, receded, fought. Then, slowly, like a heavy curtain being lifted, the black began to retreat. The blue expanded. Within moments, Neer's eyes returned to their familiar blue the blue Agni loved so dearly.
"Agni…" Neer whispered, his voice so weak it seemed choked.
"Yes, Neer! It's me! Agni!" Agni immediately knelt beside him, supporting him. His fingers gripped Neer's shoulders tightly, as if afraid he would disappear again.
Agni glanced at Nirgh. Nirgh's eyes were wide, not with fear, but with a deep, painful concern the kind a child feels watching a parent break.
"Nirgh… beta," Agni said, his voice gentle now. "You go… go to your chamber. I am here."
Nirgh bowed his head. "As you command, Tauji." He stood, and as he left, he looked back once. His gaze lingered on Neer, who now sat supported by Agni, his head bowed, shoulders trembling.
As soon as Nirgh was gone, Neer asked in a trembling voice, "Agni… did… did I hurt Nirgh? Did I do something…?"
His voice was broken, filled with a terrible self-loathing. Agni wiped the sweat from his forehead. The sweat was cold, icy.
"No, Neer," Agni said, choosing each word carefully. "You did nothing. Nirgh… there was an accident. I've healed him. You just rest now. I… I must meet the minister. You sleep."
Neer closed his eyes, but his eyelids fluttered. Agni covered him with a blanket and felt it then an unusual, deep cold emanating from Neer's body. It wasn't the normal coolness of the water element. It was a dead, hollow cold, like that of a deep grave. Agni unconsciously increased his own fire element, warming his body to withstand the chill.
---
Agni went straight to Nirgh's chamber. Nirgh stood by the window, looking outside, but his gaze was distant, elsewhere.
"Nirgh," Agni said.
Nirgh turned. His face held the sadness of a child forced to grow up too fast.
"Tauji."
"Listen," Agni said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "What happened today… forget it. Never speak of it to your Pitashree. He… he is unwell. And unwell people sometimes do things they don't mean."
Nirgh nodded, but his eyes held questions. "But Tauji… that wound… it wasn't normal. It was black. Not burning, but numbing."
Agni didn't answer. He took Nirgh's hand in his and placed his palm over the wound. A soft, golden flame emerged, touching the wound and beginning to lighten its black color. The black liquid evaporated, and the skin slowly returned to its normal shade.
"Tauji," Nirgh asked again, his voice almost a whisper. "Will Pitashree… will he really recover? Will he be himself again?"
Agni hugged him so tightly Nirgh struggled to breathe. "Yes, Nirgh. Yes. Your Pitashree will recover. I promise. By tomorrow morning… everything will be better."
But the words of the promise hung in the air, feeling hollow.
---
In the minister's chamber, Agni seemed a different person. The calm, compassionate expression was gone from his face, replaced by the stern resolve of a king.
"Minister ji," Agni said, each word clear and heavy. "No information about Neer's health should leave the walls of this palace. If a single word leaks… the responsible person will face the consequences."
The minister bowed. "Yes, Maharaj."
"And another thing," Agni continued, a slight softness entering his voice. "From today… I will take charge of Prakashgarh. Neer needs rest. I need your help. Because… because my family is breaking apart. My oldest friend, and his son… both are in a crisis I don't fully understand yet. Do you understand?"
The minister's eyes held understanding, and the loyalty of an old servant. "Yes, Maharaj. Completely. Do not worry. All palace boundaries will be sealed. No rumors will spread. Every entry and exit will be recorded."
When the minister left, Agni was alone. He clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms. His eyes held pain, anger, and a decision.
"Neer…" he whispered, his voice lost in the room's silence. "You will be well. I will free you from that black thing's clutches! Even if I have to fight the entire creation for it… even if I have to burn myself!"
---
Nirgh was sitting in his chamber when a soldier knocked. "Greetings, Prince. Maharaj has called you to the dining hall."
In the dining hall, Agni was already seated. The table was laid with Nirgh's favorite dishes—spiced vegetables, fresh breads, sweet desserts. But the plate before Agni was empty.
"Come, Nirgh," Agni said, trying to form a smile.
Nirgh sat. His gaze wandered around the table. "Tauji… Pitashree isn't coming?"
"He is resting," Agni said, his tone flat. "He is unwell. I will send food to his chamber. You eat, Nirgh."
Both prayed in silence. Nirgh picked up his fork, but his heart wasn't in the food. He noticed Agni ate nothing. He only lifted a glass of water, took a sip, and put it down.
"Tauji," Nirgh finally said. "You should eat too."
"I'm not hungry right now," Agni said, eyes lowered.
Nirgh understood. He knew. Agni was so consumed with worry for Neer that he'd forgotten his own body's needs. Nirgh ate very little—just enough not to upset Agni—and got up.
As soon as Nirgh left, Agni served food onto a plate and walked towards Neer's chamber.
---
Neer's chamber was dark. The curtains were drawn. Neer lay on the bed, eyes open, staring at the ceiling.
"Neer," Agni said, opening the door. "Get up. Have some food."
Neer sat up. Agni sat beside him, placing the plate on his own lap. He lifted a morsel and brought it to Neer's mouth.
Neer ate the bite, chewed, swallowed. Then he looked at Agni. "Have you eaten?"
"Yes," Agni said, without meeting his eyes. "I've eaten."
The corner of Neer's lips lifted slightly. He raised his finger and wiped a tiny crumb from the corner of Agni's mouth.
"You can hide from everyone, Agni," Neer said, his voice regaining its old softness. "But not from me. I know you haven't eaten. Come, open your mouth. Aaa…"
Agni surrendered. He closed his eyes and ate the morsel from Neer's hand. A grain of rice stuck in his throat. He was getting emotional.
"As long as you don't eat," Neer said, lifting another bite, "how can I eat, hmm? I know you haven't eaten."
They fed each other, a silent, intimate ritual. Agni put Neer to sleep, covered him with a blanket, and turned towards the door.
As soon as he stepped out, Agni leaned his back against the door. Tears streamed from his eyes, silently, without a sound.
"Neer…" he whispered, voice broken. "You know everything. My pain, my joy… every breath of mine is connected to you. So why all this? Knowing that my pain hurts you too… why did you choose this path?"
Inside the chamber, Neer's eyes were open. Tears were soaking into his pillow from the corners of his eyes.
Agni… my Agni… I had no other way. To save our family. I know it hurts you to see me like this. Every time I see fear in your eyes, my soul screams. But I… I cannot lose you. Cannot lose Nirgh. Even if the price is my own soul.
---
Agni returned to his chamber, but sleep eluded him all night. He sat by the window, staring outside where moonlight had painted the palace gardens a ghostly silver. Every moment, his heart beat for Neer. Every breath held Neer's name.
As soon as morning came, Nirgh went searching for Agni all over the palace.
"Soldier! Have you seen Tauji?"
A soldier bowed. "Prince, Maharaj rode out on his horse early this morning. He didn't say where."
Nirgh's heart grew heavy. He went to Neer's chamber. Neer was awake, standing by the window looking out.
"Greetings, Pitashree. How are you? How are you feeling?"
"I am fine, Nirgh," Neer said, his voice normal but strained. "Your Tauji hasn't woken yet?"
"No, Pitashree. He left somewhere early this morning. No one knows where."
Neer's brows furrowed. "Alright. You go, practice your swordsmanship. In the field behind the palace."
As soon as Nirgh left, Neer stepped out of his chamber. In the corridor, he saw Ramlal—the palace's old cook, who had served for thirty years.
"Ah, Ramlal!" Neer said, a warm smile on his face. "How are you? Your children? Your daughter's wedding happened, right? How was it?"
Ramlal joined his hands, a humble smile on his face. "Maharaj, I am well. All is well. Daughter is happy in her new home. It's the effect of your blessings."
"Very good. Your service has always…"
Neer's sentence was suddenly left unfinished.
His eyes began to turn black again. This time, not slowly, but abruptly. As if an invisible hand flipped a switch inside him. His smile vanished, his voice grew deep, metallic.
"How dare you… speak to me so casually? Bandy words with me?"
Ramlal's face turned white. "Maharaj! I… I said nothing wrong!"
Neer raised his hand. Thin arrows of black water shot from his fingers, whistling through the air towards Ramlal.
"Forgive me! Please!"
Just then, a golden flash brightened the air. The black arrows burned to ash mid-air with a crackling sound.
Agni stood there.
"Ramlal," Agni said, his voice calm but commanding. "You leave. Now."
Ramlal bowed his head and scurried away.
Agni took Neer's hand. Neer's hand was cold as ice.
Neer blinked. The black faded from his eyes. He suddenly grew frantic. "Agni! You're back? Where did you go so early? I looked for you everywhere! You were nowhere!"
"Neer," Agni said, a weariness in his voice that had sunk to his bones. "Come, I need to talk to you."
---
Agni took Neer to his chamber. Closed the door. Then, he took out a silver amulet from his pocket. This was no ordinary amulet. Intricate mantras were engraved on it, and at its center was a sun symbol glowing faintly.
"Neer," Agni said. "You sometimes… lose control. I… I went to meet Gurudev. I brought this amulet for you."
He fastened the amulet around Neer's wrist. The silver chain warmed upon touching the skin, and a soft golden light emanated from the amulet, forming a luminous aura around Neer's arm.
Neer looked at the amulet. A complex emotion surfaced in his eyes relief, gratitude, and a deep fear. "You… you went to Gurudev? What did he say? Did he say anything about me?"
"No, Neer," Agni said, his gaze piercing Neer's eyes. "He said nothing. Just that this amulet will prevent the dark shadow from overpowering you. But tell me one thing, Neer. Tell me the truth. How did that shadow… how did it gain control over you? Why did you let it inside?"
Neer lowered his eyes. His lips trembled. For a moment, his soul wavered between truth and lie. Finally, he shook his head, eyes still downcast.
"I… I don't know, Agni. Truthfully… I don't remember."
At that same moment, miles away in the gurukul, Guru Vishrayan sat in deep meditation in his hut. A gentle, sorrowful smile touched his lips.
"Agni…" he whispered to himself, his voice almost vanishing in the air. "You have saved Neer from the dark shadow… for a time. This amulet is a wall, but walls too break with time."
He opened his eyes, and his gaze lifted towards distant Prakashgarh, as if seeing through the palace walls.
"That shadow is not as simple as you think, Agni. It is not just a shadow. It is a messenger. A herald. And the one it heralds… is the source of darkness itself. No one can avert this play of destiny. It will return, and next time… Agni, even your fire will not pierce its cold."
The Guru took a long, pained breath.
"The path Neer chose… this amulet is only a temporary pause on it. A chance to catch a breath, nothing more. And when the storm returns… it will be even more destructive."