In my Devil's Arms

" Oh God what did I do", said Riya.

" You accidentally removed it", said Laxmi.

" Lets tie it back", she said.

" Okay", said Laxmi as girls tried to tie it back.

" There is no need to do it", came a voice.

They both turned back.

An ascetic stood there. He was smiling. He looked around 35-40. Pretty young to be an ascetic thought Riya.

" Pranam punditji", said both the girls politely.

" May Shiva bless you", he replied.

" Punditji it came out by mistake. We will tie it again", said Riya.

" Actually we were trying to click photographs", explained Laxmi.

The ascetic smiled again.

" Shiva never makes mistakes my child. And I assert you need not tie these bells again".

" Umm but why"?

" Because this bell came out as your wish is granted. You asked for something and Shiva gave it to you", said the ascetic.

" But we never came here before", said Riya.

" Yes this is the first time", said Laxmi.

" Are you sure", said ascetic to Riya. Then as she was thinking he asked her, " Do you believe in miracles my child"?

" Umm I don't know", she answered. She was flustered.

" Because you are one", he said.

" I don't understand ", she began to say.

" The mysteries of life are not easy to understand. Only Shiva knows what he has in store for all of us. May he guides you well".

And then he left.

" Wierd", said Laxmi.

" Kind of", agreed Riya. " So I guess we can keep this", she looked at the bell.

" Yeah", said Laxmi. " I have to ask about earthquake to other priest. Can you wait"?

" I will take a look at the backyard ", said Riya.

" Okay I will find you there", said Laxmi and left.

Riya looked at the bell keenly and got a vision...

A weeping Gunjan climbed the temple stairs at night . From inside a thick veil she wore she took out a bell and tied it in temple.

" My body is impure Shiva. I am not allowed to do puja here. Let this impure body dissipate into five elements. My soul is pure. Give me a new body Shiva. Then I can relive a new life with Sahib. And I will come her with my new body to do your puja."

And weeping she ran away.

THE BELL..SHE WAS THE ONE TO TIE IT..SHE IN HER PAST LIFE..

She ran to the backyard. The ascetic had gone there. Shiva told her that he granted her wish. But what was the war? She needed answers. And he could give them to her.

She found him sitting under a Banyan tree in the backyard. He was cleaning a discarded idol.

" Punditji", she said.

He smiled at her.

" So now you believe me child", he took a halt and then said, " Gunjan".

" I do", she said. " It took me some time but I finally realised. But I was Gunjan. I am not her anymore."

The ascetic looked at her keenly.

" Yes", he said. " You are not her. So you do have questions ".

It was a statement not a query.

" All mortals do", she said politely.

" I am a mortal too Riya", said the ascetic guessing her name correctly. She was not surprised.

" But closer to Him than anyone else", she said .

He smiled.

" Okay ask. I will try to answer."

" So I am reborn to unite with Srikant".

" That is the primary objective. There are other matters."

SO VIKRAM WAS HER SOULMATE.

" Shiva wants me to deliver justice, to guide someone and and"

" And", the ascetic turned serious.

" He asked me to prepare for a war".

" THEN ITS INEVITABLE ", said the ascetic.

" What"?

" The war between Good and Evil".

She remembered Mrs. Pundits words.

" Was there a war before"?

" Yes between two brothers; good and evil".

" Was the evil truly vanquished "?

" Never until one resides within us. It remains there in dormant form and as a temptation is offered it rears its ugly head".

" Whom will I guide"?

" Shiva's son", he replied. But he refused to divulge any further information.

" For whom I need to struggle for justice"?

" For a righteous and courageous girl who rejected an ultimate temptation. But instead of rewards she was shunned by society. She was refused entry in temple. Her veil of modesty was taken away. And she was discarded...just like this idol", said the ascetic as he continued cleaning Shiva idol.

Riya joined him. He looked sad.

" Gunjan ", she asked.

" Yes", he answered slowly. " Putting things right, earning her a respect, setting her soul free, guiding him and unision of two wandering souls is what you aim to achieve. Hence you are here. I am not sure if you can complete the journey but at least you can give it a direction", he said. " A right one".

" Another question punditji ", she said.

" Ask"

" Was Srikant's sin so big that he was denied the right to perform the last rites of his wife"?

" It was monumental ", came the answer.

" So rejecting his wife and remarriage was not the only crimes he did against her", she asked.

" His crimes are endless Gunjan. But he knows and suffers for them. And he never complains."

" And you will not let me know them".

" It is not my story to tell. He will confess himself or the time will let you know", he said.

" And what then"?

" That is up to you my child. The justice, the forgiveness, the war and THE LOVE...Its you who will choose", said the ascetic.

" And Vicky", she asked sadly. " Doesn't rebirth makes us different people? Why should he suffer for Srikant's sins?"

" It made you a strong person that is for sure Gunjan", he said." And the day Srikant earns Gunjan's forgiveness is the day Vikram's suffering ends."

" Just one last question "

" Ask child", said the ascetic.

" Why does Shiva allow an evil to prevail right in front of His temple in the forbidden forest"?

" Because the evil challenges the lord and He accepts it. He is not the one to run away. But it will not be him who ends this evil. THE PROTECTOR will come to end it. It is His duty", he said.

Riya thought for some time.

" Thank you punditji. I take your leave now", she said.

" May Shiva bless you", he said.

At night after dinner Riya wrote three words in her diary. These were the reasons for her existence.

Justice

War

Guide him.