A sharp, piercing wail echoed through the vast silence, the cries of a newborn reverberating in the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Wahhh… wahhh…"
A hazy awareness began to stir within the child's mind.
"Where… am I?" he thought, only to realize with a jolt that he had thoughts, memories even—a strange, fragmented recollection of another life. He was nestled within something warm, fluid, and comforting; the faint sound of flowing water surrounded him.
"Water? Why do I hear water?"
He felt himself being lifted, cradled by strong arms, and above him, a voice—a deep, gruff voice filled with awe—spoke, "How did this child appear here?"
"H-Holding me?" The shock of it struck him as he attempted to move, only to find his limbs weak and uncoordinated. His mind swam with confusion and a rush of realization. "I'm… a baby? How did this happen?! Dammit!"
In the midst of this bewilderment, a memory bubbled up, a flash of something familiar…
(Flashback)
He stood on a bustling sidewalk, the muted noise of the city around him, one hand buried in his pocket while the other scrolled absentmindedly through reels on his phone. Nearby, a mother was glued to her own phone, oblivious to her young daughter beside her, who was playing with a bright red ball that bounced erratically.
The ball slipped from the girl's hands, rolling toward the street. Without a second thought, she darted after it, her small figure breaking away from the safety of the sidewalk. At that moment, the mother looked up, her face twisted in horror.
"No! My daughter!" she screamed, her voice cutting through the hum of the city.
He jolted, his focus snapping away from his phone as he saw the little girl just a few feet away from the traffic. His pulse quickened. "Oi!" he shouted, but the child paid no heed.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw it—a truck barreling down the road, gaining speed. People around gasped, some even pulling out their phones to capture the moment, but no one moved to help.
"No time," he thought, a surge of determination propelling him forward. He broke into a sprint, heart pounding, calling out, "Look out!"
He reached the girl just in time, shoving her out of harm's way, only to feel an intense, blinding force hit him head-on. A loud BAAM echoed, and he felt himself flung through the air, the world spinning before everything faded to black.
(Flashback ends)
In his new form, he lay silent, bewildered. "So... I died? I was reborn... but as who?" He peered up at the figure holding him, sensing an unfamiliar yet powerful aura emanating from the man. He could feel it too—something fierce, something fiery and divine coursing through his own tiny form, as if he were born of fury itself.
The man holding him stared in awe, as if recognizing some profound truth. "This child," he murmured, his voice reverberating with a sense of reverence, "is born from the krodha Agni of Lord Shiva..."
Then as the baby's cries softened, another sound reached his ears—the faint, sorrowful wailing of a woman. The man holding him seemed to hear it as well, his gaze shifting toward the distance. Without a word, he turned and walked, cradling the newborn as he followed the anguished cries.
They traveled until they reached a beach, where the woman's lament grew louder, her voice rising and falling like the waves crashing against the shore.
"No... Why? Why did this happen to me?" she cried out, her hands clenched as she looked skyward, eyes filled with grief. "They were about to be born… They were my hope, my future… Why did you devas crush my unborn children beneath your chariots? Did you even hear me?! I want justice—justice!" Her voice broke as her sobs overtook her, a cry of heartbreak and anger echoing across the empty sands.
The baby looked at her with an innocent curiosity he couldn't control, but still, a cry escaped his lips. He struggled to contain the primal urges of a newborn, but his cries broke through.
The woman paused, startled. "A… a child's cry?" She looked around in disbelief, her sorrow momentarily replaced by confusion. "Who… who is crying?"
Her gaze fell upon the man holding the baby, and she froze, taking in the sight of him. Her eyes softened as they moved to the newborn in his arms, her sorrowful expression melting into one of quiet hope. The man offered her a warm, reassuring smile.
"Your wish for motherhood shall be granted," he said, his voice calm yet powerful. With a gentle motion, he extended the child toward her, placing him in her trembling arms.
The woman looked down, her eyes wide with awe and disbelief as she cradled the newborn, feeling his warmth against her. Almost instantly, his cries ceased. He felt an inexplicable sense of calm, as if enveloped by something warm and familiar, as if this woman's touch was the very essence of peace he had longed for.
The woman's tears flowed anew, this time softer, full of gratitude. Her face softened as she whispered, "A son… given to me by the gods…" Her arms tightened around him protectively, and he felt it, the deep, undying bond of a mother's love.
The woman looked up at the man who had been holding the child and, her voice gentle but curious, asked, "Whose child is this, Samudradev?"
Before Samudradev could respond, a brilliant light appeared a few steps ahead, filling the shore with a divine glow. Emerging from the light was a figure with four heads and four arms, each arm holding symbols of creation and knowledge. A lotus rested in one of his hands, and his white hair glowed with ageless wisdom. The child recognized him instantly—Brahmadev, the creator himself.
Both Samudradev and the woman looked upon Brahmadev in awe, instinctively bowing their heads in reverence. Samudradev respectfully joined his hands, acknowledging the god with deep respect.
Brahmadev looked upon the woman with a kind, knowing smile. "Samudradev has gifted you this child," he declared, his voice filled with warmth and reassurance. "Care for him as if he were your own son."
The woman, now the mother of the child, touched his cheek gently, feeling the divine peace that radiated from his small form. Brahmadev continued, "From this day forward, he is yours alone. It is your love that quiets his spirit, your touch that brings him peace."
With a smile, he added, "Since he is born from samudradev he shall be known as Jalandhar."
At this, both Samudradev and the woman smiled, a powerful sense of destiny binding them together. This newborn was more than just a child.