Chereads / The God of Grotesque / Chapter 5 - The morning after a long time.

Chapter 5 - The morning after a long time.

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The sun rose, casting its soft rays across the dark sky, gradually painting it with hues of yellow and orange. Birds began to sing, filling the air with the songs of the morning. People stirred from their slumber, beginning to wake. It was a beautiful morning indeed.

For one person, however, this morning felt different—a departure from the routine days that all seemed the same, like facades masking the monotony of life. For someone who had long believed that mornings brought nothing new, today was special. There had been days when they thought it would be better to sleep and never wake again, but today felt like something—or someone—had finally arrived. The air felt charged with purpose.

It was as if the very sun whispered, "The one you've been waiting for has returned."

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A crow perched on a water tank's pipe atop a rooftop, cawing persistently. In India, the cawing of a crow is often believed to signal the arrival of someone at the home.

Amid this mix of early morning sights and sounds, a young woman stood. Her eyes were closed, her long, black hair tied in a neat chignon. She was dressed in a light yellow saree, simple yet radiant. To describe her as beautiful seemed an understatement; she appeared otherworldly.

In both hands, she held a **kalash** (a ceremonial pot) as she offered *arghya* (a traditional water offering) to the rising sun—a common practice in many traditional Hindu families in India. After a few moments of chanting mantras and completing the ritual, she opened her eyes. They were a brilliant crimson, sparkling in the morning light like embers in a fire.

This was Ammala Vijyaputri, the eldest daughter of Danush and Mira Vijyaputri. The name *Ammala* means purity, while *Vijyaputri*, though a surname, carries deeper meaning—*daughter of victory*, *daughter of power* itself.

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Ammala's parents, Danush and Mira Vijyaputri, were an extraordinary couple bound not just by marriage, but by a deep and unshakeable love forged through hardship. Both were orphans, raised in the same orphanage where they first met as children. From a young age, they learned the harsh realities of life, but instead of becoming hardened by it, they found solace and strength in each other.

Danush had always been the protector, strong and disciplined, with a keen sense of responsibility that he developed early in life. Even as a child, he looked out for the younger orphans, shielding them from the world's cruelty whenever he could. He was a high-ranking military officer, a man of strict discipline and unwavering morality. He was a master of several traditional martial arts like Kalaripayattu and Silambam, alongside modern combat techniques—a strong man with a deep sense of honor.

. Mira, on the other hand, was the survivor—intelligent, resilient, and resourceful. She had a fire in her that refused to be extinguished by the suffering they had both endured. Together, they shared a dream of escaping poverty and building a future where they wouldn't just survive, but thrive.

Their love story wasn't one of grand gestures or poetic romance. It was built in the quiet moments, in the small acts of kindness and sacrifice they made for one another. When they had nothing, they gave each other everything. They spent countless nights under the stars, sharing their dreams of a better life, whispering promises of a future where they would always be together—no matter how tough the journey became.

As they grew older, those dreams turned into reality. Through sheer determination, they climbed their way out of poverty. Danush pursued a career in the military, where his ironclad discipline and skill in martial arts made him rise through the ranks quickly. He became known as a man of principle, respected and feared in equal measure. Mira, with her sharp mind and unyielding will, built a business empire from scratch, becoming a tycoon in her own right. Her beauty and grace often distracted people from seeing her true strength—a mistake many would regret.

Despite being in her 40s, she appeared much younger, with the grace and beauty of someone in her 20s or 30s. However, appearances could be deceiving. Mira wasn't just beautiful; she was a warrior, a master swordswoman feared by those who crossed her. Stories circulated about how she had once decapitated 13 men who tried to assault her and severed the limbs of 47 more who leered at her with lustful eyes. Ruthless, perhaps—but in a world where power is rarely won with clean hands. But never bullys weak and innocent.

Her husband, Danush, remained unaware of these rumors, or perhaps he simply chose not to acknowledge them. After all, his love for Mira and their family outweighed any sordid gossip. Even if he knew, he would likely just ask for her reasoning. Their bond was unshakeable; together, they had risen from the depths of poverty to where they stood now, through sheer determination and willpower.

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Despite their individual success, it was their bond that remained the cornerstone of their lives. They had survived the worst together, and that made their love unbreakable. Danush adored Mira not just for her beauty, but for the fierce, indomitable woman she was. And Mira loved Danush for his unwavering loyalty, his moral compass, and the way he had always protected her.

In moments of tenderness, they would sit together and reminisce about their childhood, about how far they had come. "Remember those nights, Mira?" Danush would say softly, his eyes full of warmth. "When we had nothing but dreams and each other?"

Mira would smile, her hand finding his. "And now look at us," she'd reply, her voice steady with pride. "We built this life together, and I wouldn't trade a single moment of it."

Their journey from orphans to a powerful, respected couple was not just about wealth or success. It was about the love and partnership that had carried them through every storm. They were each other's anchor in a world that had once threatened to tear them apart.

Even now, with all the luxury surrounding them, their love was simple and pure. It was built on shared hardships and a deep, unwavering commitment to one another—a love that neither time nor circumstance could ever diminish.

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Ammala also had two siblings—an older brother and a younger sister. Though their parents were often absent due to work, the siblings were close and cared deeply for one another. Despite their wealth—extreme wealth, really—money never defined them.

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Ammala wasn't the only remarkable child in the Vijyaputri family. She had two siblings who, like her, were shaped by the values of strength, discipline, and deep familial love passed down by their parents.

Her elder brother, Ram Vijyaputra, was the embodiment of discipline and leadership. As the firstborn, he felt the weight of responsibility from a young age, much like their father. Ram Vijyaputra was a master of martial arts, particularly excelling in traditional Indian fighting forms like Kalaripayattu, which he learned from Danush. His physical prowess and combat skills were unmatched, but what made him truly formidable was his sharp mind and strategic thinking. He was often compared to a general in battle—a man who not only fought fiercely but thought ten steps ahead.

Despite his stern exterior, Ram had a soft spot for his sisters, Ammala and their younger sibling, Ramya. As the eldest, he took on the role of protector, ensuring that no harm ever came to them. But he also admired their strength, especially Ammala's. He often trained with her, pushing her to sharpen her skills, knowing that one day she would need to rely on them. "You're strong, Ammala," he would say during their sparring sessions, his voice both challenging and encouraging. "But strength alone isn't enough. Master your mind, and you'll master any enemy."

Ram's bond with Ammala was deep and complex. While he was often the stoic older brother, rarely expressing his emotions outwardly, Ammala knew that he cared for her more than he ever let on. They shared an unspoken understanding—a respect for each other's abilities and an unwavering loyalty to their family.

Then there was Ramya Vijyaputri, the youngest of the three. Where Ram was the disciplined warrior and Ammala the balanced one, Ramya was the fire—a free spirit with a sharp tongue and a mischievous glint in her eyes. Her rebellious nature often clashed with Ram's seriousness, but it was this very spirit that made her unique. Ramya had inherited their mother's fiery personality, and while she lacked the patience for deep meditation or strict training routines, she was still an incredibly skilled swordswoman.

Mira, their mother, had taken Ramya under her wing, teaching her the art of swordsmanship from a young age. Unlike Ammala, who practiced her swordsmanship with calm precision, Ramya fought with raw passion. She was fierce and fast, often unpredictable in battle, and her impulsive nature made her a formidable opponent. But where she truly excelled was in the art of charm. Ramya had a natural charisma that could win over almost anyone—whether in the boardroom or the battlefield, she knew how to bend situations to her will.

Despite her rebellious streak, Ramya adored her older siblings. She looked up to Ram, though she would never admit it, and shared a special bond with Ammala. They were close, often sharing their deepest thoughts in the quiet moments away from the chaos of life. Ramya could sense the emptiness in Ammala—the feeling of something missing, of waiting for something unknown. "You think too much, Ammala," Ramya would often tease, but there was always concern behind her words. "Maybe what you're waiting for isn't out there. Maybe it's something you have to find within yourself."

The three siblings, though different in temperament and skill, were bound by a deep familial love. Growing up, their parents were often away due to their demanding careers, and as a result, the siblings became each other's world. They faced every challenge together, from childhood scrapes to the pressures of being the children of such accomplished parents. And while wealth surrounded them, it never created distance between them. They were a family that valued strength, loyalty, and love above all.

Ram was the protector, the shield of the family. Ammala was the heart, the steady balance between discipline and compassion. And Ramya was the flame, unpredictable but powerful in her own right. Together, they formed an unbreakable bond that no external force could shatter.

Despite the love they shared, each sibling had their own struggles. Ram felt the burden of expectations, constantly trying to live up to the legacy of their father. Ammala carried the weight of her inner emptiness, a feeling that even her siblings couldn't quite understand. And Ramya, though outwardly carefree, often grappled with finding her own path, torn between her rebellious nature and the desire to make her parents proud.

In moments of peace, when the world outside seemed far away, the three siblings would sit together, laughing and reminiscing about their childhood. It was in those moments that they remembered what truly mattered—the love they had for each other and the strength they drew from their bond as siblings.

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To the outside world, Ammala appeared to be a simple, beautiful, and wealthy young woman. But in truth, she was anything but simple. Like her parents, she was trained in both swordsmanship and martial arts. While she hadn't reached the mastery level of her siblings, who excelled in their respective disciplines, her combined skills were deadly. If her opponent was not a master, they wouldn't even see when they lost.

Despite her abilities, Ammala remained kind-hearted. She loved animals, cherished traditional festivals, and visited temples daily for prayer. Yet, deep within, she always felt incomplete, as if something—or someone—was missing. There was a void in her heart, a sadness that words could not express, a love that yearned to be fulfilled.

She didn't understand these emotions. But today, she felt something different—a subtle healing, as though someone long lost had returned.

After finishing her morning *arghya*, Ammala made her way to the temple on her family's estate. Once there, she began to meditate. Within minutes, a radiant, five-colored ring of light appeared behind her, and symbols of the chakras glowed along her body, signaling the activation of her first chakra at level 2. After an hour of meditation, she opened her eyes, now glowing with a dark crimson light.

A tear, resembling blood due to the glow of her eyes, rolled down her cheek. She whispered in a voice filled with sorrow and longing, "Davis... Davis, where are you?"

With another tear, she continued, "Sister, where are you?,come back... we need to find Davis."

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