The sun was beginning its descent, casting long shadows across the courtyard. Ajashakti, his body relaxed and his eyes closed, lay on a comfortable mat inside the hut. Rachna, her movements gentle and graceful, fanned him, the cool breeze a welcome respite from the afternoon heat.

Meanwhile, Diti and Danu, their eyes fixed on Ajashakti, decided it was the right moment to inquire about the progress of his conquests.

Diti, her voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and impatience, addressed Ajashakti, "Son, as per the yagya we were supposed to perform..... Have you completed all the marital rites ?"

Ajashakti's gaze met Diti's, a confident glint in his eyes. "Yes. I have completed all the marital rites," he replied, his voice firm.

"Have you both consummated the marriage?" Diti pressed, her eyes fixed on Rachna.

Rachna's cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she lowered her head, avoiding her mother-in-law's gaze. Ajashakti nodded, his smile a silent affirmation.

Diti, to be completely sure, asked again, "Are you certain you have properly bedded her ?"

Ajashakti chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Quite certain," he replied, his tone playful yet reassuring.

Rachna's face turned an even deeper shade of red, her shyness intensifying. Danu placed a gentle hand on Diti's shoulder. A forced smile played on her lips as she signaled for her sister to refrain from further questioning in that matter.

Turning to Ajashakti, Danu asked, "When will you perform the yagna ?"

"When the Rakshasas and Danavas return, after the monsoon subsides," he replied, his voice carrying a note of determination. "We will perform the yagna together."

Danu's eyebrows raised, a hint of skepticism in her voice. "I hope you haven't forgotten your purpose after marriage, son." She said

Ajashakti sat up straight, his movement startling Danu, who leaned back slightly. His eyes carried a cold intensity replacing the warmth that had previously filled his gaze.

"Nothing," he said, his voice low and menacing. "Nothing can stop me from fulfilling my ambition. Not even love or marriage, will deter me from achieving my goal."

His words were a chilling reminder of the ruthless ambition that fueled his actions. Danu, her heart pounding in her chest, could feel the weight of his determination, the unwavering resolve that drove him forward.

Diti's expression softened, a proud smile spreading across her face. She placed a comforting hand on Ajashakti's shoulder, her eyes filled with a sense of admiration. "He will fulfill his destiny," she declared, her voice carrying a note of unwavering belief.

Turning to Danu, she continued, "We should not question his resolve. He is my son, born for greatness."

Diti's gaze lingered on Ajashakti, her eyes filled with a mixture of pride. In him, she saw the realization of her dreams, a vision of her Daitya children ruling over the heavens. Her heart swelled with a sense of anticipation, a belief that the future would be theirs.

Ajashakti's gaze drifted towards the window, where the setting sun cast long shadows across the courtyard. A sense of urgency filled him as he realized the time.

"We must leave now," he said, his voice firm.

"Indeed." Diti smiled, her eyes filled with a sense of warmth and affection. "Go safely."

Ajashakti and Rachna bowed in gratitude before turning to leave. As they stepped out of the hut, the setting sun cast long shadows, painting the courtyard in hues of orange and gold.

Diti's laughter echoed through the hut, a sound filled with a mixture of anticipation and triumph. Her ambition, so long stifled, was finally on the brink of realization. The future, once uncertain and fraught with danger, now seemed within her grasp.

Danu, her heart filled with a sense of relief, couldn't help but smile. The sacrifices her Danavas had made, the risks they had taken, were finally about to bear fruit. The conquest of Swarglok was within reach, a tantalizing prize that would cement their legacy for generations to come.

As Ajashakti and Rachna walked towards the chariot, Rishi Kashyap arrived there after having completed his daily worship. Seeing him both Ajashakti and Rachna joined their hands in a respectful greeting.

Sage Kashyap's gaze, initially filled with a sense of familiarity, turned into a frown as he focused on Ajashakti. His eyes, filled with a mixture of surprise and recognition, lingered on the Daitya king, his expression contemplative.

A moment later, a realization dawned upon him.

"Devi, it is you." he muttered, his voice barely audible, "The scriptures have called you and Srinav as one. Just like how Uma is Shankar, and Lakshmi is Narayan, you too are him. Blessed are my eyes that have witnessed this proof."

Sage Kashyap's gaze shifted from Ajashakti's form to Rachna, his eyes filled with a mixture of wonder and admiration. The chariot, the Daitya charioteer, the entire facade - it was all an illusion, a carefully constructed deception. A knowing smile played on his lips.

"It is true," Kashyap said, his voice filled with a sense of awe. "The entire world is a maya. But none plays with the fabric of material world like you do, Amarsri."

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A/N

Ullu banaya bada maza aya 😂