The mansion was quiet. Almost unnervingly so. The usual hum of activity had been replaced by an eerie stillness, as if the house itself was holding its breath in anticipation of something yet to come. Rudra stood at the grand staircase, his hand gripping the railing tightly, his mind replaying the cryptic words of the stranger from earlier.
"Remember my name, Rudra. It's the last one you'll hear before everything changes."
The words echoed in his mind, a warning he couldn't shake off. His gaze swept over the large hallway, the echoes of footsteps long faded. The family had retreated to their respective chambers, no one daring to speak the words that weighed heavy in the air. He had to do something. There was no way he could allow whatever this man had hinted at to come to pass.
Rudra clenched his jaw, his mind working furiously. It wasn't just the stranger's threat that had unsettled him—it was the way the power of Vidhatri had reacted to the ritual. A new energy had filled the mansion, a force that seemed to pulse just beneath the surface of everything. He could feel it, seeping into the very walls of this house, into his skin.
The danger was no longer a distant thought. It was here. It was real.
His eyes met the door of the family hall, the room that had witnessed so many moments of change in their lives. He stepped toward it, every footfall measured and deliberate, and with a steady hand, he pushed open the door.
Inside, his wives were gathered around the large wooden table, their faces a mixture of concern and confusion. They were all waiting for him. Waiting for guidance. For answers.
Rudra swallowed, taking a moment to compose himself before stepping fully inside. He needed to be strong—for them, for the family. He had promised that they would face whatever was to come together. And he would keep that promise, even if the truth was more terrifying than any of them could imagine.
"I've made my decision," Rudra said, his voice calm but firm, and the room fell silent. Every pair of eyes locked onto him.
Kavya, standing closest to him, stepped forward, her gaze searching his face. "What do you mean, Rudra?"
"I'm going to find him. The man who came here earlier. Whoever he is, whatever he knows, I will get to the bottom of this."
The wives exchanged looks, and though there was fear in their eyes, there was also a deep trust. They knew Rudra—he would not falter. He would do whatever it took to protect them.
"Rudra, we're with you," Meera said, her voice steady despite the uncertainty in her eyes. "But you don't have to do this alone. We'll come with you."
"No," Rudra replied, shaking his head. "This is something I need to do on my own. I don't know what lies ahead, and I won't risk putting any of you in danger. Stay here, keep the house secure. I'll return soon. I promise."
Kavya stepped forward, reaching out to place a hand on his arm. "Be careful. Whatever is happening, it's bigger than we thought."
Rudra gave her a tight smile, the weight of their situation pressing down on him like never before. He couldn't afford to show fear, not when the lives of everyone in this house depended on him.
"I will. I always am."
---
Rudra left the house, the cold air of the evening wrapping around him like a cloak. The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the path that led to the gates of the mansion. His mind raced as he walked, each step taking him closer to the answers he needed, and to the danger that was surely waiting for him.
As he approached the edge of the estate, he noticed a figure standing in the distance—an unexpected silhouette against the fading light. His pulse quickened.
The stranger.
Rudra's eyes narrowed as he approached the figure, his footsteps slowing, every muscle in his body tense with anticipation. The man turned as he heard Rudra's approach, his expression unreadable, his stance casual as if he had been expecting this moment all along.
"You've come," the man said, his voice soft, yet laced with an undeniable confidence. "I was wondering when you would finally find me."
Rudra stopped a few feet away, his gaze fixed on the stranger. "Who are you?" he demanded. "What do you want from me?"
The man smiled, a slow, almost mocking smile. "What I want is irrelevant, Rudra. What you want is what matters now."
Rudra's hands clenched into fists at his sides, but he held his ground. "Explain yourself."
The man's smile faded slightly, his expression turning more serious. "You've awakened something. Something that has been waiting for centuries to return. The power of Vidhatri. The power you think you control. But you don't. Not yet. Not fully."
Rudra's breath caught in his throat. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm the last of the ones who were meant to wield that power. The chosen vessel, the one who was supposed to bring Vidhatri back into this world. But it was stolen from me," the man's eyes darkened with a hint of malice. "By you."
Rudra's mind spun as the implications of the stranger's words began to settle in. The power of Vidhatri—it wasn't just a tool. It was a force, an ancient, dangerous force that had been waiting for the right moment to return. And Rudra had somehow, unknowingly, set it loose.
"I didn't steal anything from you," Rudra said, his voice low and dangerous. "I don't even know who you are. I don't care about your so-called power."
The man's eyes glinted with a mixture of amusement and anger. "You're arrogant, Rudra. You think you understand it all, but you don't. The truth is, you and your wives are nothing but pawns in a game that you don't even know you're playing."
Rudra's anger flared, and before he could stop himself, he took a step forward, his fists tightening. "I will not let you threaten my family."
The man's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Threats? No, Rudra. I'm not threatening you. I'm simply showing you the truth. And the truth is, everything you've done has led to this moment. Your power, your wives, this house—it's all part of something far greater. Something that will change everything."
"Enough!" Rudra roared, his body vibrating with the intensity of his emotions. "You don't control me. You don't control any of us!"
The man chuckled, the sound cold and cruel. "I'm not trying to control you, Rudra. I'm simply telling you what's coming. The real question is, are you ready for it?"
Rudra's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the stranger's cryptic words. What did he mean by what's coming? What power did he truly have over them?
The man's smile faded, replaced by something darker. "The choice will be yours soon. When it comes to your door, you will have to decide: Will you fight for control, or will you let Vidhatri claim its rightful place?"
The wind howled in the distance, carrying with it the weight of the man's words. And as Rudra stood there, his mind churning with uncertainty, he knew that whatever came next, the battle for the future had only just begun.