The laughter of the children, the gossip of the ladies, the serious discussion of the people, who used to stay in this town, which was covered with greenery, valleys, rivers, lakes, groves, crops, plantations, and many more. Its glory was something that words couldn't even describe.
But still, all of that couldn't be compared to this temple. The place where he met her, for the first time, centuries ago. Amrita. His mate. The most beautiful, compassionate, empathetic, wise, cute, crazy, stubborn, wild girl.
She was nothing more than a 16 years old young girl, yet she didn't mind going against a hundred-year-old priest, just because she thinks he was wrong. She didn't even care that she was all alone. She didn't even care, he was a powerful, well-respected person of the town. She didn't even care when people started mocking her.
At that time, the only thing that mattered to her was the person in front of her was wrong and she was right. She didn't give up, till she was proved right. Since then, the royal family had come to pay their respect to the temple that day.
So, the council was conducted right at the back of the temple, itself. In the end, under an in-detail investigation, led by a bunch of royal guards the priest was declared guilty and the girl was proven right.
He was fired from his position as a result. While the girl was praised by royals for her strong, stubborn will for standing against the wrong and in the favor of the right, favor of Dharma and justice.
She was more than happy, unknown to the fact, she had caught the eyes of a 20-year-old boy, who was mesmerized by her look and character.
A few decades later, this same place became the witness of their love confession to each other. This was the same place, where two young bloods realize they want to spend the rest of their life with each other.
A few months later, a grand revelation ceremony had taken place, where they were classified as each other's mate, who was bound to live and die together. They were very happy, unknown to the conspiracy their fate was designing for them.
Before they could mark each other, their entire town, their safe haven, their home, their place was attacked. Their people were hunted and killed. In such one fight, he lost her.
His mate, but not marked. Amrita. His Amrita.
~~
Centuries had passed and here he was in the same temple, where their story started. He thought Kirti was his mate, given her character, her persona, her unparalleled beauty, matched heavily with his Amrita. But now, his decision was wavering greatly.
He knows his Amrita won't return, won't reincarnate. But, the mating bond that he and Amrita shared once, would revive itself in a human girl. He will get another mate, who will end his suffering, his loneliness, his burden.
That very person would fulfill the prophecy. That day is coming sooner than expected. He has to find his mate before that. His clan, his species, his people, his family's life would depend on this mate of his.
No, he isn't looking for a person who would be his partner. He loves Amrita too much to let that happen. He just wants his mate to fulfill the prophecy and then end his life of suffering.
The fact that a creature of his species can't live without a mate, is indeed true. If anything happens to one of the people linked with the mate bond, then this bond would end the other's life too.
The reason he survived and is still living is because of vengeance. It was his quench for vengeance that didn't kill him and centuries later, he is still surviving, missing her, wanting to be with her in the afterworld.
The thousand-year-old monk had prophesied centuries earlier that; the same thing will happen. The same scenario will repeat itself. Once again, his family, his people would be in grave danger.
Once again cruelty will show its ugly face on them. Once again they would be hunted, mass slaughtered, burned, killed, tortured on the weakest day of their life. The Mahashivratri.
The day which is approaching rather soon. The day when his entire species devote themselves completely in the worshiping of Lord Shiva. The night, when they lose all of their powers and become powerless creeps.
The night when they could be harmed, controlled, killed, and tortured.
Why?
Because of the gemstone granted to their ancestors eras ago, for protection by Lord Shiva himself.
The little thumb-sized, bluish-white gem, is one of the rarest, most wonderful, and most powerful gemstones of this world. The Naagmani. Also known as The gem of the serpent or the serpent gem.
Since the blue and white color when met together, creates the greenish hue, just like the eye of the snake.
Given that they have been protecting this gemstone for centuries, humans couldn't digest the fact that a lowly species than theirs was given such a golden opportunity. As the Naagmani is not just a gem, it also carries the power of prosperity.
So, the people protecting and taking care of it would never run out of power, money, and reverence from the people, the creatures all over the world including humans. Thus, within centuries many attacks have been made on their species
After all, who would want such a golden opportunity of ruling the world? But since they are the devotee of Lord Shiva, definitely not as cunning, greedy, corrupt and selfish as humans. So, they protect and take good care of this gemstone, even at the cost of their lives. Given that they don't know the betraying trait. So, their loyalty remains unquestionable even to the gods.
Also, they know the meaning of being content with what they get. So, they never use or misuse the power of the gem, even when they are in the power to do so.
Yet, there comes this day once a year, when they become too weak to even walk freely, without any support. The day when they are too vulnerable that even the normal moonlight can hurt them gravely.
As per the prophecy, the time is coming when Ashutosh and his people will suffer a huge blow on this very day. The chances are that evil might win. The Naagmani would get out of their protection forever, leading to the destruction of this World. Since the evil forces are definitely going to explode the world, with this most powerful yet most dangerous power of this World.
But the prophecy also says that there is only one way to save the destruction, the chaos from happening. Human assistance. Only with the help of a human, who can be trusted, whose loyalty must be unquestionable, who would volunteer to protect this gem, even at the cost of his/her life.
When they ask how? Then the monk had said; ' Since Prince's mating bond hasn't been completed with his old partner. Then the mating bond will revive again. With all the powers I had cultivated over centuries, I will shift this bond to a human girl, a few centuries later.
Since they weren't able to mark each other. Her spirit is still looking for vengeance and to be marked. Making things easier for us. I will shift the mate bond of Amrita's to an ordinary human girl. Since she would be our prince's mate, her loyalty, trust on us would be unquestionable.
I am sure she will devote herself fully to our prince. It would be the love between them, that would make her volunteer, to protect what her mate believes, worship in.
It would be the unconditional love of the couple, that will make her put her life on line, if needed, to protect this gem.
She would be born just a few decades before the major destruction. You would be given many hints, many references that your mate is near you. All that you have to do is to make her fall head over heels in love with you.'
~~
But now, when the time is coming nearer and nearer, things are messing up, greatly. He can't distinguish between the girl, who carries the same character as Amrita and the one, for whom his body, his mind is betraying him.
Forcing him to think carefully, to not to make any decision in haste, to take time, even if there's not much left.
He kept staring at Yuvika, then led her back to the company, where they could rest. Since, it was already 10 pm.
~~
Next day;
The same boring meeting routine followed. In the evening, again Ashutosh asked her a question and told her to follow him.
This time it was a lakeside park. The lake was full of fishes. The park was full of tree swings, birds and rabbits. Again he observed her.
Again he took her back, when it was late enough to sleep.
~~
Another day full of meetings and before they know, evening came;
One more question and this time they visited a restaurant near the high school. He made sure to stop for a long time, while passing by the high school.