Ravi stirred beneath the sterile white sheets of the hospital bed. His breathing was shallow but steady. Kartik sat beside him, worry etched into every line on his face. Veer stood silently near the window, arms crossed, eyes on the setting sun outside.
A soft groan broke the silence. Kartik leaned forward.
"Ravi?" he whispered.
Ravi's eyes fluttered open. Confusion clouded them at first, then fear. "K… Kartik… it… it wasn't a dream, right?"
Kartik gently placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "It wasn't a dream. But it's over now. Whatever negative energy was inside you… it's gone."
Ravi's lip trembled. "I felt like I was drowning… in someone else's anger."
Veer stepped closer, pulling a pendant from his pocket — a small, silver talisman engraved with ancient markings. He hung it around Ravi's neck.
"This will keep you protected," Veer said, his voice calm but firm. "But the house… is tainted now. You need to leave it behind. Sell it. Move somewhere new. Somewhere clean."
Ravi, still weak, nodded slowly. Kartik gave him a final reassuring smile. "We'll check in soon. You're safe now."
With those final words, they turned and walked out of the hospital room, leaving behind the shadows of what had nearly consumed their friend.
Towards Trinetra -
The next morning, Kartik and Veer set out. Their destination: Trinetra, a hidden village deep within the jungle — untouched by maps or modern roads.
As they were riding, the forest thickened. The air grew heavy with the scent of earth and ancient trees. The path became wild and overgrown, almost as if nature was deliberately hiding what lay ahead.
After a while, Kartik saw something unusual.
Snakes — dozens of them — were slithering across the path. Some hung lazily from tree branches; others watched silently from under rocks. Their black, brown, and golden scales glistened in the
dappled sunlight.
"Snakes?" Kartik muttered, we should stop. "So many…"
Veer kept riding, completely unfazed. "Don't worry. They won't harm you."
"Says the guy who probably does snake yoga," Kartik muttered, but kept moving. "These aren't ordinary creatures," Veer said calmly. "This is Shiva's sacred jungle. The snakes here are his oldest
and most loyal devotees. They sense the divine energy on you."
Kartik touched his chest instinctively — the faint closed eye mark still pulsed there. It didn't hurt, but it always felt like something lay beneath the skin, dormant… waiting.
The Sealed Passage -
After hours of trekking, they reached a colossal moss-covered rock nestled between two ancient trees. It stood like a silent guardian, untouched by time.
Veer stepped forward and placed his palm on the stone. Then, in a low, steady voice, he spoke:
"O Lord Shiva, open the path for your devotee.
Guide our steps into your sacred domain."
A deep rumble echoed beneath their feet. The stone vibrated, then began to slide aside with a grinding noise. Behind it, a narrow passage revealed itself — dark and cool, like the throat of a mountain.
Kartik stared. "Every time I think I've seen the weirdest thing, something weirder happens."
Veer didn't answer — he simply stepped inside.
Kartik hesitated, looked once more at the still-watching snakes behind them, and then followed.
As they entered, the rock rolled shut again, plunging them into a chilling silence. The air was damp. Thenarrow tunnel walls were slick with moss, and the sound of hissing echoed softly all around them.
More snakes slithered silently along the passage walls. Kartik tried not to panic.
"Why are there so many of them?" he whispered.
"They're guardians," Veer replied. "And you're under Shiva's gaze now."
Revelation -
After what felt like hours, the passage widened — and the darkness gave way to a glowing light.
Kartik stepped out… and stopped dead in his tracks.
Before him lay Trinetra — a hidden world carved into the jungle itself. In the heart of the village stood a gigantic statue of Lord Shiva, seated in meditation, his third eye glowing faintly even in daylight.
Around it flowed a still pond where blue lotuses bloomed, glowing faintly under the soft light.
The homes were crafted from black basalt and white marble, arranged in harmony with nature. Trees grew through rooftops. Vines framed windows. Lingams stood at every corner, each one freshly
anointed with milk and Bilva leaves.
Children ran through the village — laughing, playing… with snakes. Not a single soul looked afraid. In fact, the snakes seemed just as playful, curling around wrists and necks like companions.
Martial artists moved in unison in open training grounds — their motions precise and powerful. Some broke stones with bare fists. Others meditated mid-air, levitating inches above the ground, a faint aura shimmering around them. Most wore Rudraksha beads, and many bore the familiar eye symbol on their foreheads or hands — all open.
Kartik instinctively glanced at his chest. His eye was still closed.
The wind carried a deep, rhythmic chant across the village:
Om Namah Shivaya… Om Namah Shivaya…
But it wasn't sung. It felt like it rose from the village itself — like the earth, the trees, and the stones were part of the chant.
Kartik couldn't help but whisper, "This place… it doesn't feel real."
"It's real," Veer replied. "This is Trinetra — home of the warriors who protect the balance."
"Are they… all connected to Shiva?" Kartik asked, eyeing the symbols.
"Yes. The eye is the symbol of that connection. Through it, each warrior receives Shiva's energy as divine medium."
Kartik swallowed. "Then why is mine still closed?"
Veer looked at him, his voice steady but softer.
"Because some eyes only open when the soul is ready."
Toward the Truth -
They climbed a staircase leading to a raised structure overlooking the massive Shiva statue. It was simple in design but radiated quiet authority.
"The village chief will know more about your mark," Veer said. "And about what comes next."
As they walked, Kartik looked back at the peaceful village. Snakes coiled lazily under the trees. Birds flew overhead. The massive statue loomed in silence.
He placed his hand over the closed eye on his chest.
He wasn't sure what lay ahead.
He wasn't sure if he believed in fate, destiny, or divine power.
But he was sure of one thing — something inside him had already started to awaken.
And there was no turning back now.