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"Hi friends, how are you? My name is Abhinav, I am a 25-year-old young man from a wealthy family. I have come to a different village with my friends for a trip. There is a festival celebrated here that lasts for 10 days, and a fair is held with a lot of excitement. We have arranged our stay in a guest house.
Today is the fourth day of the festival, and several games are being showcased, including sword fighting in some areas. After wandering around all day, we sat in the dance hall at night. Both men and women were performing dances. My eyes went to a girl sitting nearby. And then, what happened, both of us got lost in each other's presence. Our love slowly started to grow. She told me her name was Ruhi, and she was from this village.
Even after the festival ended, I decided to stay in the village. My friends slowly began leaving the village, but I stayed for the next 5 months with her. One day, Ruhi told me that she was going to become a mother. She was pregnant. I was happy but also in a dilemma because I had not yet married Ruhi. I went to her father and spoke to him about our relationship.
Ruhi's father was the village head. He called for a meeting in which both Ruhi and I were present. The villagers began questioning her father.
One villager said, "Chief, your daughter is pregnant before marriage. What will happen to the other girls of the village?"
The Chief replied seriously, "Now, you tell me, should their marriage happen or should they be punished?"
One person from the village said, "If they are forgiven, then the other girls in the village will start getting pregnant before marriage. Men from outside will also become bolder."
The Chief, with tears in his eyes, said, "Throw this bastard out of the village."
The Chief's eyes were filled with tears; whether it was due to his own disgrace or the fact that my marriage with Ruhi wouldn't happen, only the Chief knew."
The villagers beat me up and threw me out of the village. In my weak state, I reached my village. I was shown to a doctor, and it took me several days to recover. Once I was better, I went to Ruhi's village with some friends.
There, I got shocking news: the chief had arranged Ruhi's marriage to a madman. Four days ago, Ruhi gave birth to a girl.
Suddenly, due to the birth of the child, the madman poisoned Ruhi and killed her, and then he poisoned himself.
A prostitute took the little girl with her.
I went to the prostitute's house and tried to buy the child, but she refused to give the child to me.
I told the prostitute, "I can give you so much money, you can live comfortably for a year."
The prostitute refused, as she did not want to sell the child for money.
I made a proposal to her, "If you marry me, you will have a wealthy life, and I will get my daughter."
This time, the prostitute agreed, and we had an unexpected marriage. I took her to my village, but my family expelled me from the house and disinherited me for marrying a prostitute.
One of my friends gave me shelter, and I started working hard. I worked all day and slept peacefully at night with my daughter. Although Ruhi left, she left behind a beautiful gift for me.
For the next five years, I worked hard, but nature didn't favor me or my daughter, Veshali. After five years, a drought struck, and we couldn't find any work. The farmers had no crops, and it became difficult for me to feed my family.
One day, some outsiders were with the prostitute, and they beat me up. The prostitute left with them, laughing. As she was leaving, she said, "Coming with you was the biggest mistake of my life. In ten years, I will turn her into a prostitute too."
I chased after them, but their fast horses soon vanished from my sight.
I continued searching for them relentlessly, traveling through villages, towns, tribes, and districts, but no news could be found. For the past ten years, I have been searching. Once, I wandered into a forest, which was unlike any other. There were trees, but no flowers, leaves, or fruits. The ponds were dry, and there were no wild animals.
I had been wandering, hungry and thirsty, for two days. My body lacked the strength to keep going. As night fell, I noticed a light in the distance. Crawling towards it, I came upon an extraordinary sight—a lotus glowing like fire (a Fire Lotus).
Driven by my intense hunger and thirst, I ate the lotus without thinking.
A short while after eating it, I began feeling a burning sensation inside my body. It was worse than death—unbearable pain—but after some time, my hunger and thirst disappeared. I felt strength and energy coursing through my body.
Fire began emanating from my body, yet I could not feel its heat or pain. Gradually, I learned to control this fire.
Crossing the hills of Gidhour, I reached the Eastern Region. While searching for my daughter, I arrived in Pindari City.
Discussions among traders had grown significantly, centered around Vishakha, as an auction was about to be held for her first night. The talk of this event had also spread among new and young warriors.
One night, I went to a special restaurant where wine and women were both offered. There, I saw the courtesan and quickly realized that the auction was for my daughter's life. I learned that a shipment of red stones was being sent from Pindari City to Kaushal Nagar.
I attacked the shipment and took some tokens and silver coins, then headed to the special restaurant that night.
As the evening progressed, the crowd began to grow. Connoisseurs of wine and beauty started gathering there.
An announcement was made—it was the auction for Vishakha's first night. I participated in the auction and won it at 16 lakh and 30 thousand. I was then taken to a room.
My daughter's name, Vaishali, had been changed to Vishakha, but she looked just like Ruhi.
I spent the entire night trying to make Vishakha understand, saying, "You are my daughter. This place is not right for you. That woman is not your real mother."
However, having grown up in a courtesan's environment, her mind was not receptive to what I was saying. She gave more importance to her profession than to being my daughter.
By morning, I was forced to leave the place. That same day, I had to face a group of soldiers, but I managed to escape.
The next night, another auction was held. I participated again, and though the admirers of beauty pushed the bid to 8 lakh, I still managed to win the auction.
I was sent back to the room again. Vishakha asked me, "What exactly do you want?"
I started explaining to her, "I want your freedom. I don't want you to strip for others. You should live a free and pure life." Tears welled up in my eyes as I said this, and there was a hint of moisture in Vishakha's eyes too.
I told Vishakha everything about her past. Vishakha replied simply, "I'll ask my mother and find out the truth."
As a final attempt to convince her, I said, "I won't be able to save you in tomorrow's bidding. I'm going to attack in the afternoon."
In today's attack, I burned anyone who came in my way to ashes. I succeeded in saving my daughter.
As Abhinav recounted this, tears flowed from his eyes.
Prabhas, feeling a tinge of compassion, said to Abhinav, "You've taken the lives of many. We can't let you go any further. If you want your daughter to reach a safe place, tell us the name of the city, and we'll take her there."
In a faint voice, Abhinav replied, "I'm destined to die—if not later, then now. Take care of my daughter. Then feed Vishakha the Fire Lotus."
Saying this, Abhinav used his fire power to burn himself to ashes.
The Fire Lotus remained intact.
Kapil handed the lotus to Vishakha, saying, "You should eat this."
Thanks All readers