Chapter 73 Indra's Bold Gambit

"I have something to say—please, hear me out!" Indra's voice rang with urgency, commanding the attention of all present.

"The Trimurti—Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara—are not separate. Their powers are but different facets of the same eternal principle, indivisible in essence," he declared, his tone resolute, carrying the weight of divine truth.

Lakshmi and Parvati exchanged a glance, their expressions darkening. Their brows knit together in quiet displeasure. Was this not the same tired argument he had used before—the one about the unity of mud and clay?

Before they could respond, Indra pressed on, his voice gaining an unmistakable sharpness.

"As we all know," he continued, "a husband and wife are two halves of the same soul—Ardhangini! Their power is intertwined, inseparable."

He let the words settle, the air thick with tension. Then, with a measured pause, he added, his voice edged with unmistakable intent:

"There is no fundamental divide between the World Preserver and the World Destroyer—but their consorts, it seems, are a different matter. And if I may speak plainly... the two Devis here have not lived up to their own divine roles."

With that, Indra took a step back, retreating behind Vishnu, a subtle smirk playing on his lips.

The two goddesses were livid now. Their beautiful faces twisted in anger, their eyes burning with an intensity that could scorch the very earth. They fixed their gaze on Indra, a silent promise of retribution hanging in the air.

Indra didn't flinch. He carried on, his words sharp and deliberate.

"The first is Devi Lakshmi, who has become far too prideful," he said, his voice sharp, like a hammer striking an anvil.

Standing behind Vishnu, he remained unfazed by the growing rage he knew would follow. "You take pride in bestowing wealth upon the world, but that arrogance has clouded your judgment. Your complacency blinds you to the fact that your husband's troubles stem from your jealousy. How attentive, how caring, have you truly been as a wife? Look at Lord Vishnu's face," he challenged.

His words were like thunder, echoing through Vaikuntha.

The Rishis looked on in rapt attention, some of them furrowing their brows in contemplation, others listening intently. A few even seemed to nod in quiet agreement, while others merely observed, their expressions unreadable.

Shiva and Vishnu turned their heads slightly, their faces serious as they considered the weight of Indra's accusations. The atmosphere was thick with tension as the two gods weighed his words carefully.

Lakshmi's lips twitched with frustration, her eyes darting nervously to Vishnu before she spoke, her voice faltering. "No...!" she began, a slight tremor in her words. "I'm not arrogant! I... I care deeply for my husband!"

She waved her hand in protest, her voice rising in defense. "I only care for Him! I've always been by His side!"

Indra's gaze remained calm and steady, unfazed by her outburst. "If you truly cared for Him," he countered, his voice unwavering, "you would understand His struggles. You would have seen how your jealousy grew. Did you simply choose to feed your pride instead?"

His words cut deeper, each one sharper than the last. "You want him to be number one, don't you? Still dissatisfied with him being second? Is that really the measure of your love for Him?"

The room fell into a tense silence. Every eye was on the two devis, the weight of Indra's words hanging in the air, as they waited for a response.

Each word that fell from Indra's lips seemed like a divine wheel, striking with precision and reverberating through Devi Lakshmi's very soul. Each syllable sent a tremor through her heart, splitting the ground beneath her feet as if to underscore the weight of his accusations.

Her pupils dilated slightly as shock overcame her, and she staggered back a few steps. Her hands, trembling with emotion, clenched tightly together as her gaze shifted toward Vishnu, searching his face for understanding.

"Really?" she murmured, her voice fragile, barely above a whisper.

Vishnu's gaze softened immediately. He took a step toward her, his eyes filled with unwavering affection. "Lakshmi," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "No matter what happens, I will always be there for you."

The warmth in his words was like a balm for her aching heart. His arms opened wide, inviting her in, and without hesitation, she rushed to him. They embraced, the world around them fading into a gentle stillness.

Devi Lakshmi clung to him, her tears wetting his chest as she lifted her head, her eyes wide with vulnerability. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Vishnu smiled down at her with an unshakable kindness. "Husband and wife are one soul," he replied gently, his fingers brushing through her hair. "There's no need for apologies."

With a soft smile, he reached out, his fingers touching her hand in a tender gesture of affection. At that moment, a faint blue fluorescence began to emanate from his fingertips, a sign of his divine power. Vishnu twisted his fingers gently, capturing the blue sapphire which was the pride and arrogance of Narsimha, and purifying it into nothingness, dissolving it with a simple flick of his wrist.

The sight of Vishnu and Devi Lakshmi holding each other in such tender embrace brought a serene smile to the faces of those watching, their hearts lightened by the display of love and understanding.

Devi Parvati, who had been silently observing, couldn't help but raise her head high in quiet pride. A smirk played at the edges of her lips. "Looks like I won," she murmured to herself, a quiet triumph in her voice.

Lord Shiva, holding his trident with calm grace, cast a respectful glance at Indra. His expression remained unfazed, yet there was something in his eyes that conveyed admiration.

"It seems," Shiva said with a knowing smile, "that he hasn't finished speaking yet."

Turning his gaze to Indra, Shiva's voice was steady. "Indra, continue. We are all listening."

The sudden shift in focus caught Devi Parvati off guard. She turned toward her husband, her brow furrowing with confusion and a hint of sorrow. Her eyes searched his, silently asking why he had chosen to encourage Indra's continued words.

Shiva's gaze remained innocent, his smile unchanged. He stood resolute, watching Indra intently, as if he could see deeper into the heart of the situation. His quiet support for the unfolding drama seemed unshakable.

Indra blinked, his gaze flickering toward Devi Parvati. A realization struck him—this was not the direction he had intended, but rather the words of Lord Shiva. No matter. If Shiva had opened the door, he would not hold back.

"Then..." Indra began, his voice calm yet sharp, as he stood just behind Shiva, casting a measured glance at Devi Parvati.

"Then there is Devi Parvati," he continued, his tone now rising with accusation. "She has allowed her wrath to overtake her!"

His voice rang out, charged with a quiet fury. "When Devi Lakshmi voiced her dissatisfaction, you nearly descended into the form of Kali—an embodiment of destruction itself. All of this, over a single word spoken about the greatness of Lord Vishnu. Is Vishnu not your brother?" Indra's gaze sharpened as he pressed further. "It seems your anger arose from a single question. Has it clouded your judgment so completely?"

Indra's words cut through the air, and Devi Parvati inhaled sharply, her face flushing with indignation. She had been angered by Devi Lakshmi's words about her inability to bear a child, something that weighed heavily on her heart.

Parvati turned her head away, huffing in disdain. "Sometimes, lies are harmless, but the truth..." she murmured bitterly. "The truth cuts deeper than any falsehood."

Indra's words continued, relentless as ever. "Easily swayed by anger, Devi. Do you still remember your identity as the mother of the world? Are you nurturing this world with the tenderness of a mother to her children?"

The room fell silent as Parvati's expression shifted. Indra's words struck deep—yes, she was not just the mother of her children, but the mother of all.

Indra, feeling the momentum of his words, pressed on. He raised his hand and pointed toward Varuna, now reduced to a puddle of water by Parvati's wrath. "Look at what has become of them because of your anger," he continued, his voice growing more impassioned. "They are all children, just like us. We are all children of the universe!"

He pounded his chest, his voice echoing through the divine halls. "We are all just children!" Indra declared with conviction, as though the weight of the cosmos hung on his every word.

In that moment, he felt the righteousness of his stance, as though he were a divine lawgiver, setting the world to rights. The power of his speech made the other Devas seem insignificant in comparison.

Devi Parvati's prideful head lowered, her gaze softening with a touch of humility.

"It seems... I was really wrong," she murmured, her voice tinged with regret.

She walked toward Shiva, her steps measured and slow. Shiva, ever calm, met her gaze with a gentle smile.

"Parvati," Shiva said warmly, his tone light, "it's just because of your love for me."

His words were simple, yet full of reassurance. Parvati's shoulders relaxed, her heart easing as she met her husband's understanding gaze.

For a brief moment, peace settled between the two Devis, a rare stillness after the storm of their earlier confrontation.

The Devas, watching the scene unfold, turned their gazes toward Indra with deep reverence.

As expected of the King of Svarga!

Suryadev clasped his hands together, his voice barely a whisper but filled with admiration: "May your wisdom continue to lead the Svarga, Indra. We are ever grateful for your words!"

"We are ever grateful for your words!" echoed the Vayu and Agni, their eyes glowing with gratitude and respect.

Their reverence was palpable, like brothers bound by unspoken bonds.

Varuna, who had been reduced to a mere puddle, slowly gathered himself from the ground. Gradually, he regained his divine form, transforming into his human shape once more. With a respectful gesture, he clasped his hands together, his gaze filled with admiration. "Thank you big brother!" he intoned.

The Rishis, too, watched with awe, their eyes fixed on Indra, expressions of respect, admiration, and wonder etched across their faces. To defeat the two powerful Devis with nothing but righteous speech? His strength was undeniable.

So strong, they thought in unison. Such power and wisdom were a rarity among them. Indeed, Indra had become a model to which all Rishis aspired.

"Indra is growing ever more wise," Devi Saraswati murmured, her voice soft with admiration.

"Indeed," Brahma agreed, his beard slightly raised, a knowing smile on his face. "What a spectacle we've witnessed today. It has been most... entertaining."

Amusement danced in his eyes as he observed Indra's skillful display.

But Indra was not yet finished. He turned his head, scanning the Devas and Rishis with his piercing gaze. His eyes blazed like fire, intense and unyielding, before finally resting on a familiar figure: Narada Muni.

Ha! Indra's expression twisted into a knowing smirk.

Even the realms of Svarga and Earth were no longer safe from his wrath.

"Narada!" Indra's voice thundered, a fierce blaze of power that seemed to scorch the very air around him. The sound reverberated across Vaikuntha, shaking the heavens, like a clap of thunder.

"Narada! Narada! Narada!" The echoes of his fury rang out, cascading over the vast ocean of milk, stirring the waves into a frenzy.

Narada Muni, caught amid this storm, had already been preparing to slip away. His legs moved to leave Vaikuntha, his Veena in hand when Indra's voice reached his ears. Realization dawned upon him—he had pushed too far.

Too late... Narada thought, a wry smile crossing his lips, but the damage had been done. There would be no escape now.

As the echoes of Indra's fury continued to reverberate, a tense silence fell over Vaikuntha. Time was running short, and the approaching night would see even greater challenges. It was growing late.

---

Get exclusive access to 40 chapters ahead and bonus content from three additional fanfictions — only on P*treon.c*m/Marioni.