Chapter 74 Forgotten Promise

"Narada!!"

The booming echoes of Indra's voice reverberated in Narada's ears, shaking him to his core. For a moment, he froze, caught in the waves of sound that seemed to rattle his very being.

"!!!"

Narada Muni's eyes widened in alarm, and the panic that flashed across his face seemed to grow tenfold. The shock in his gaze was unmistakable—his usually calm demeanor shattered by an overwhelming sense of dread. His body went rigid, an icy chill creeping down his spine, as an unshakeable panic surged from deep within his heart.

Could it be? Was the King of Svarga about to curse him?

Narada's mind raced, his eyes darting nervously from side to side, seeking escape, but it was too late. The surrounding Devas and Rishis had all turned their attention toward him, and the Trimurti watched closely. There was no way out now.

With a deep, resigned breath, Narada steeled himself. The only option left was to face Indra head-on.

His resolve hardened. He could not afford to back down. Narada was an immortal, a sage whose wisdom and eloquence were unmatched. To be outdone by Indra in a battle of words would be unthinkable. It would turn him into a laughingstock among the Rishis, a humiliating defeat he could not endure.

"Narayana Narayana..."

Narada recited his mantra under his breath, closing his eyes to steady his racing thoughts. When he opened them again, a calm smile graced his lips. There was a rare seriousness in his gaze, a flicker of caution mixed with his usual confidence. He stood slightly sideways, cradling his Veena close to his chest, preparing himself for the confrontation.

Indra's gaze never wavered. He raised his hand, pointing directly at Narada, and an invisible tension crackled between them. The air grew thick with unspoken words, the silence laden with anticipation.

Dong… dong… dong… dong…

The soft celestial music of Vaikuntha shifted, becoming urgent, almost frantic. The once-gentle melody now mirrored the rising tension in the air.

"Narada!" Indra's voice cut through the stillness, sharper now. "Do you remember your promise to me last time?"

The question hung in the air like a weight, and the surrounding Devas and Rishis gasped in surprise. A murmur spread among them. What had led to this confrontation? Why had the King of Svarga turned his wrath toward Narada?

Even the Trimurti and the Devis, who watched from a distance, were drawn into the unfolding drama. Every subtle shift in the expressions of the two figures—every flicker of emotion in their eyes—was noted with keen interest.

"There is a rift between Narada Muni and Indra!"

Narada Muni has been causing trouble for the Devas for quite a while now. It's becoming unbearable. I fear he's finally drawn the wrath of the King of Svarga. We'll have to see how this plays out."

"But Narada in the end is a Rishimuni," some of the Rishis whispered among themselves, their voices filled with concern and curiosity.

Narada, ever the confident and unflappable sage, flashed a bewitching smile. "King of Svarga, I merely failed to answer the Devi's question. What harm is there in that?" He spread his hands, exuding a charm that was impossible to ignore. "Besides, the Devas must show respect to the Tridevi. Are you blaming me for her questions?"

Narada Muni cradled his Veena in his arms, his smile lazy and unbothered, his demeanor as carefree as ever.

But Indra was far from amused. His eyes narrowed, a subtle yet menacing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Who told you to speak like this?

"Narada Muni!" Indra's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "What are you insinuating? Did I ever say it was because of the Tridevi?" His tone was sharp, laced with an undeniable authority. "What, are you changing the subject?"

A flash of light flickered in Indra's eyes as he lowered his head, his gaze intense and unyielding. His hands rested firmly on his waist as he tilted his body slightly, radiating an oppressive aura so powerful that it seemed to swallow the space around them, leaving Narada momentarily breathless.

The weight of Indra's presence was overwhelming. It felt as though the very air had thickened, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken tension.

Narada Muni was taken aback. His gaze shifted instinctively to Devi Lakshmi and Devi Parvati, both of whom had turned their heads in his direction. Their eyes held unspoken questions, confusion, and perhaps a hint of reproach.

There is another reason for this rift? What does Indra's word mean? Does Narada know what Indra is going to say?

In that fleeting moment, Narada understood the silent messages in their gazes. A cold realization settled in his chest.

"Wait!" Narada's voice faltered, his words breaking as he tried to explain. "I didn't—"

Before he could finish, Indra's voice erupted like thunder, cutting through the air with an intensity that seemed to rattle the heavens themselves.

"Narada!!!"

The force of Indra's shout reverberated across Vaikuntha, his voice ringing with the fury of a thousand storms.

"As a messenger to the Lord Vishnu, when you came to aid Svarga and the Devas, you personally vowed to assist Agni in repelling the army of Hiranyakashipu in the human world!" Indra's words rang out, heavy with accusation. "Where is that promise now?!"

Indra's eyes blazed with cold fury, the fire of his anger reflected in the storm raging behind his gaze. His words echoed, sending a chill down Narada's spine, the weight of his reproach pressing down on the sage.

The eyes of every Deva and Rishi in the room turned to Narada, their expressions a mix of surprise, concern, and judgment. It was clear: this was not just a personal dispute anymore. The whole of Vaikuntha had become a stage for this confrontation, and every divine gaze was fixed upon the immortal sage.

One by one, all eyes were drawn to Narada—Devas, Rishis, even Tridev, and Tri Devis, all focused on the Narada Muni.

Vishnu's gaze fell upon Narada as well, his eyes sharp and calculating.

"Narada...?"

Under the weight of the Lord Vishnu's gaze, Narada's smile faltered, freezing on his face. The word barely escaped his throat, his voice thick with dread. This situation…

Carelessness. Narada's heart sank.

Indra's lips curled into a slight smirk, his eyes cold and unwavering. He took a deliberate step forward, his pace slow but purposeful. Each step seemed to echo in Narada's chest, a heavy thud that reverberated deep into his soul.

"Narada! You! Before the war had even begun, before the Svaraga's army descended upon Earth, you ran away, fleeing without even looking back!"

Indra's voice was a biting frost, his words laced with unforgiving ice. The sound was like the grinding of ancient glaciers—cold, unyielding, and relentless. Narada Muni's body shuddered beneath the weight of that voice, a cold that pierced him to his very core.

"..."

Narada's confident expression shifted, his smile fading into something more strained and uncomfortable. The mocking tone in Indra's voice sent a wave of embarrassment crashing over him. He had hoped to avoid this moment—had hoped the truth would remain buried. But here it was, thrown into the open.

At that time, when the Devas' army surged forth, Narada had sensed the danger, the sudden threat of Asura's surprise attack. His instincts had screamed at him to flee, and so he did. He had run.

"I..." Narada hesitated, fumbling for the right words. "I noticed the Asuras' ambush. It came so suddenly. I felt…"

"Heh!"

Indra's laugh was sharp, cutting through the air like a whip.

"I don't care what you felt!" Indra's voice rose in intensity. "Answer me this!" He fixed his gaze on Narada, his eyes blazing with righteous fury. "Did you warn Agni before the battle? Did you warn him of the danger? Did you speak to him at all?!"

Narada could feel the heat of Indra's gaze like the sun itself burning through him.

"No!" Indra's voice rang out, his words like a hammer strike. "You didn't! You didn't offer a single word of help! Not a warning, not a piece of advice!"

Indra's fury surged, and he leaned in closer, his voice growing louder. "So tell me, Narada—was your promise to Agni just empty words? Are the words of a muni worth nothing at all?"

Narada stood there, unable to reply. The silence hung heavily in the air, thick with tension.

As Indra's words echoed in the vast space of Vaikuntha, the surrounding Rishis stirred restlessly. Their discontent grew louder, each word cutting deeper into Narada's pride.

"Hmph! Narada Muni is truly mischievous. He promised the Devas and yet failed to fulfill his promise. He deserves every bit of this shame."

"He causes chaos at every turn, and now this is the price of his karma!"

The murmurs of the Rishis echoed in the chamber, each voice adding to the weight of the accusation against Narada. There was no escaping it now—the immortal sage had been exposed, his promises shattered before the eyes of all.

…

One after another, the Rishis spoke, their voices harsh with rebuke as they castigated Narada Muni.

Narada, caught off guard, felt a flush of panic rise in his cheeks. His mind spun in confusion, and for a moment, his thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind.

Tightly gripping his veena, Narada turned toward Vishnu, his face painted with desperation. He silently begged for help, his eyes wide with panic, seeking solace in the Lord's gaze.

Vishnu's smile was tinged with helplessness. His eyes, like a still and reflective pool, mirrored the helplessness and panic now consuming the sage.

The Lord's gaze seemed to say it all: You must pay the price for your broken promise.

Had Narada taken Agni when he fled, this might have been forgotten. But now, there would be no escaping the consequences.

"Narada!!!"

Indra's voice thundered like a storm. "You've thrown your promise aside! You've deceived all living beings! Your wisdom has turned to dust in front of fear!"

His words were a sharp lash against the sage's pride.

"I can endure much defeat, Narada," Indra continued his voice now a growl. "But betrayal?!"

A heavy silence hung in the air, thick with the weight of his words.

"I curse you!!!"

Indra's figure now stood directly opposite Narada, his eyes blazing with the fury of the sun, divine light radiating from him, burning through the stillness of the moment.

"Narada!!!"

The word reverberated through Vaikuntha like a rumbling storm, echoing across the heavens. The air itself trembled, and a surge of power—the power of asceticism—filled the space, rising toward the sky like an unstoppable wave.

The entire realm of Vaikuntha seemed to shift under the weight of the curse, the very atmosphere crackling with raw, divine energy.

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