Chapter 7: Karma’s Wheel

The sound of the village's morning hustle filled the air as Yagya sat in the shadow of Dhania's hut, lost in thought. He had spent days poring over the Book of Shadows, unraveling fragments of his past life as Yama, the Dark Lord of Heaven. Yet the more he learned, the more questions seemed to arise, gnawing at his mind like a persistent itch. The mystery of his fall from grace was a puzzle with too many missing pieces, and the weight of his lost power pressed heavily on his mortal shoulders.

As Yagya contemplated his next steps, Dhania approached him with a small bundle in her hands. "Yagya, you've been cooped up inside for too long. Come with me today. There's something I want to show you."

Reluctantly, Yagya nodded, rising to his feet. Dhania led him through the village, the dirt paths winding between huts and fields. The villagers greeted them with polite nods, though many cast wary glances at Yagya. He was still an outsider in their eyes, a boy with no known past, and his quiet demeanor only deepened their suspicion.

They walked for a time until the village was far behind them, replaced by open fields and distant hills. The land here was more fertile, green and lush compared to the dry soil around Nagari. Dhania finally stopped at the edge of a small grove, where a single tree stood in the center, its branches heavy with ripe fruits.

"This is the Tree of Karmaphala," Dhania explained, gesturing to the tree. "It's said that this tree bears the fruits of karma, the results of one's actions in this life and the lives before it. The villagers believe that by eating the fruit, they gain insight into their karma, seeing the consequences of their deeds, both good and bad."

Yagya approached the tree, its presence commanding a strange sense of reverence. The fruits were golden, glowing faintly in the morning light, each one seemingly pulsing with an inner power. He reached out to touch one, but Dhania gently stopped him.

"Before you take a fruit, Yagya, you must understand that karma is a force that binds all beings. Even the gods are not exempt from its laws. The wheel of karma turns for everyone, and its results can be both blessings and curses."

Yagya stared at the fruit, the weight of her words sinking in. Karma. The word resonated deeply within him, stirring memories of ancient teachings and divine laws. As Yama, he had once been the arbiter of karma, delivering judgment to souls based on their deeds. But now, as Yagya, he was on the other side, a mortal subject to the same cosmic laws.

"What will happen if I eat one?" Yagya asked, his voice tinged with both curiosity and apprehension.

"You will see your past," Dhania replied. "You will witness the deeds that led you to this life, and perhaps you will understand why you were cast down. But beware, for the truth is not always easy to bear."

Yagya hesitated, his hand hovering over the fruit. The thought of confronting his past filled him with dread, yet he knew that he could not move forward without understanding the karma that had brought him to this point.

With a deep breath, he plucked one of the fruits from the tree and took a bite. The taste was sweet, yet there was a bitter undertone that lingered on his tongue. As he swallowed, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and the world around him began to blur.

Suddenly, Yagya was no longer standing in the grove. He was in a vast, shadowy realm, the Land of Shadows that he once ruled as Yama. The darkness here was thick, almost tangible, yet it was not oppressive. It was a place of balance, where light and shadow coexisted in harmony.

He saw himself seated on a throne of obsidian, his eyes glowing with power. This was Yama, the Dark Lord of Heaven, feared and revered by all who knew his name. But something was different. There was a weariness in his gaze, a heaviness in his shoulders. The once-mighty deity was burdened by the weight of his responsibilities, and a deep sense of apathy had taken root in his heart.

Yagya watched as Yama neglected his duties, allowing the shadows to grow unchecked. The balance of the heavens began to falter, the darkness spreading beyond its bounds, threatening to engulf the realms of light. The other deities looked on in concern, but Yama paid them no heed, lost in his own indifference.

Then came the day of judgment. The Emperor God of Creation summoned Yama before the celestial court, his voice booming with authority. The other deities stood as witnesses, their faces a mixture of disappointment and sorrow.

"Yama, you have failed in your duty," the Emperor God declared. "Your negligence has brought imbalance to the heavens. For this, you must be punished."

Yama stood before the court, silent and unmoved. He did not protest, did not defend himself. Perhaps, in his heart, he knew that he deserved this fate. The Emperor God raised his hand, and with a gesture, Yama was stripped of his divine power. The once-mighty deity was cast down from the heavens, his form dissolving into the ether as he fell toward the mortal realm.

Yagya gasped as the vision ended, his heart pounding in his chest. The dizziness faded, and he found himself back in the grove, the half-eaten fruit still in his hand. Dhania watched him carefully, her expression unreadable.

"What did you see?" she asked softly.

"I saw… my fall," Yagya replied, his voice shaking. "I was Yama, but I had lost my purpose. I let the darkness spread, and for that, I was punished."

Dhania nodded slowly. "Karma's wheel turns for all, Yagya. Your past actions have led you to this life, but that does not mean you are bound by them. The future is still yours to shape."

Yagya clenched his fists, determination rising within him. He now understood that his fall was not just a punishment, but a consequence of his own actions. He had allowed apathy to overtake him, had failed in his duty as a deity. But this was not the end. He had been given a second chance, a chance to redeem himself and reclaim his power.

"I will not let my past define me," Yagya said, his voice firm. "I will learn from it, and I will rise again. But this time, I will not make the same mistakes."

Dhania smiled, her eyes filled with pride. "That is the right path, Yagya. Remember, karma is not just about punishment. It is about growth, learning from our actions, and becoming better for it."

As they made their way back to the village, Yagya felt a renewed sense of purpose. The weight of his past was still heavy, but it no longer felt like a burden. Instead, it was a reminder of the journey he needed to undertake—a journey of redemption, of reclaiming his divine heritage, and of mastering the karmic forces that governed the universe.

The wheel of karma had turned, and Yagya was determined to rise above it, to forge a new path where he would not just be a ruler of shadows, but a true master of balance.