All the souls are free now...

And the winter solstice arrived.

In the morning Riya visited the temple and prayed to Shiva;

" Guide us Lord of the Lords for now we are ready to enter the battlefield".

She as usual gave prasad to Vicky who was tending to the broken idol.

Agni included Ramcharan.

" I don't know why but I want you to come. I feel like you should definitely come today", he said.

" As you say punditji".

Ramcharan joined them.

They entered the forest in the morning. They were near the mound now.

Riya felt a sense of familiarity and peace here.

" I am sure I did come here", she said to Vicky.

" We have passed through so many births that I don't doubt your words for a second", he said.

" Thanks", she hugged him.

" Does she come everyday", asked Riya to Shalini.

She was enquiring about her mother.

" Without fail during winters", answered Shalini.

Riya nodded. They all waited.

Riya absent mindedly sat on mound removing the soil.

A vision came over her

A severe Earthquake occured. A temple shook. Shiva's idol races down from the stairs towards a dead girl.

" I am taking her away. Now you shall suffer", said the sky.

The man mourning the woman was thrown away as the woman's dead body is draped over Shivaling.

The Earth shook again. With superhuman speed the statue and dead body entered the forest where it entered a fissure.

And the fissure closed.

" GUNJAN", screamed Riya.

" Gunjan", asked Vicky hugging her.

" She.she is here", tears flew from Riya's eyes." Buried here with her Shiva. Waiting for centuries", she hiccuped. " Vicky oh Vicky.. help her"!

" Start digging", said Agni.

They all did.

And THEY FOUND HER

The skeleton of an innocent wronged woman draped over her deity.

Vikram broke down.

"GUNJAN MY WIFE", he wailed. " WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME? TAKE ME WITH YOU MY LOVE", He said.

Riya was at a loss of words. Vicky hugged the skeleton and cried. Riya just hugged him from behind.

" She needs cremation for her soul to be free", said Agni. " Lets collect Sticks".

In half an hour they prepared a pyre for her.

" Srikant you need to cremate your wife", said Agni.

He just nodded.

" Wait", said Riya.

" Here Vicky", she handed him a vermillion box and her Mangalsootra.

" She died a married woman" said Riya.

She draped her dupatta over her .Vikram applied vermillion and put the Mangalsootra.

" Gunjan your misery is over", said Riya.

" May peace be upon you".

With Agni chanting funeral mantras Srikant cremated his wife.

One soul was free

" The Shivaling", said Shalini.

" I think it belongs here", said Agni.

" As you say guruji", said Shalini.

At noon

They all saw a creepy woman walking in a direction.

" Sumati", said Shalini.

They all followed her. She looked frail and head a deer in her hand.

" Remember", said Agni. " Venom is poisonous. Bring the monster in light first".

Now they were in deep forest around bushes. A large hole was there.

The woman left the injured deer there.

A slither and hiss followed. Riya was completely excited. As tremors occured they felt creature move up.

" Be ready", said Agni. " Beware Devil will come to help him".

As the snake came up Ramcharan and Agni blew the conch. The lied on ground doing it as snaked can feel vibrations but they are deaf.

Hhhiiiiiissssss...

The monster now howled in pain. The lady turned violently.

" You", she hissed

Hervhairs were green worms, face half burned. She looked vicious.

" Leave her to me", said Riya.

" SUMATI", she cried. " Time for retribution".

The woman was stunned.

A fireball came out of Riya's hand as it hit the woman.

" That's how Aditi felt", she cried.

The monster came completely out now.

" " Attack", said Agni.

Vikram hit it with strong thunder. Shalini and Ramcharan continiously blew the conch effectively blocking its exist. Riya burned the surroundings so that heat is produced.

She fought with Sumati as Vicky fought the monster.

Sumati had black magic but Shalini had already conveyed this to Riya.

A black smoke entered the forest. As devil manifested Agni threw holy water on ground.

" You Ascetic", he cried. " So it was you who spoiled my plans".

Agni shook his head.

" It was our Protector. Lord Vishnu. You are doomed. He is coming for you", he said.

" I SHALL USE HIS CREATION AGAINST HIM. I AM THE ULTIMATE EVIL", he said.

" Only Lord Trimurtis are ultimate. The powerhouse of knowledge Vedas are ultimate. Only the righteousness in our souls are ultimate".

As the evil attacked him Agni threw a lotus(padma)in his face.

" Noooooo", cried the evil.

A hurricane attacked Him.

" Srikant Pundit", cried evil. " I have your enemy with me".

And then a vehicle arrived. Black cobra gang members rushed out of it

" Surround them and kill", said THE COBRA BOSS.

" I know him", thought Vicky. " He has heard this voice. Who could it be?

" Not so fast", said Riya as she moved forward.

She raised her hand and waves of fire came out. Most of the men got swept with it. The fight continued for hours. Slowly the evil army perished.

" She is a mortal. Kill her", shouted evil.

" No", said Cobra boss. But a man aimed at her But Cobra boss fired a gun. And the other one died.

EVIL WAS FURIOUS.

He ordered the snake monster.

" Kill her".

Snake fired venom at Riya. Death was coming to her again. SHE FROZE.

" No", cried Vicky in pain. But evil threw him away. " Riya". He could not wait again for her. " Shiva", he cried.

At that moment someone pushed her.

" I ; Reshma redeem myself today. Shiva forgive my sins and give me a respectable life", said Shalini.

Venom hit her full bloom. The snake hit her with fangs.She welcomed her death.

" May he be my father", she prayed.

She closed her eyes and saw herself as a young girl playing with Manav and Sonia.

" Aai, Baba", said the kid.

With a smile on her face Shalini breath her last.

Another soul was set free.

" Shalini", cried Riya.

" Gunjan gather yourself ", said Agni. " Don't let her sacrifice go waste.

Riya took out the five chakras. And threw them in sky. Agni and Ramcharan blew conches.

" Vicky tie them together", said Riya.

A force of hurricane brought them together.

Riya raised a hand and they were tied together with a creeper.

" Tackle the evil", said Riya to him.

But the satan disappeared.

" Baldev", Vikram said to cobra boss. " You will be a dead man".

" No no no Vicky", he cried.

" Vicky", he was alert. " He knows me and I know him.

" Someone close to you is involved", the military guys had said.

A gust of wind blew as he raised the man.

" Evil save me", he said.

" You don't disobey me", said the evil.

" As you say".

THE COBRA BOSS DISAPPEARED.

" DAMN",Vikram was angry.

Meanwhile.

" The chakras of Lord Vishnu disintegrate them in five elements", said Riya.

The chakras surrounded them as their bodies were destroyed.

" Srikant as their heir cremate them", said Agni.

Vikram took the fire ball and cremated them.

" Shalini", said Riya.

But her body had disappeared.

" Her body needed to be discovered. Don't worry. She is in peace", said Agni.

At that moment three souls appeared in front of them.

" Dhara you did it", said Dhruv. " We all are free now".

Riya smiled.

" I am sorry I helped prince Tamas", said Uttam.

" So am I ", said Sumati.

" I, Aditya forgive you", said Vicky.

" All of you go in peace", said Riya.

They all disappeared.

All the souls were now finally free.

Rain started pouring in forest as all the teaces of evil was finally washed away.

Next morning a pleasant sunrise occured. A gentle waterfall flew. The idol was discovered. The forest was now blessed.