The sun had barely risen above the treetops of Vrindavan, yet an eerie hush settled over the forest, like nature itself was holding its breath.
Aarohi sat cross-legged before the ancient hourglass inside the Chakrapath Mandir. It had once glowed golden, symbolizing balance, but now—its sands swirled violently, defying gravity, some even flowing upward. Aarohi's fingers trembled as she reached out. Was Kalchakra losing control?
Suddenly, a loud knock echoed through the temple door.
Vrinda, her face pale but determined, entered with a crumbling parchment — the missing pages from her mother's secret journal. "Aarohi," she whispered, "The Guardian's memory is splintering. And if Ishaan doesn't regain control… the loop will collapse."
Aarohi's heartbeat quickened. Ishaan.
Meanwhile…
Far across time, in the ruins of the old Nidhivan, Ishaan stood before the two-faced idol—half divine, half demonic. A voice inside him—The Last Guardian's soul—was growing louder, more desperate.
"You are not whole, Ishaan," it echoed. "Your truth lies in the Mirror of Shesha, where your fate will be rewritten or erased."
A sudden flash struck the idol—and for a split second, Ishaan saw two shadows behind him. One was himself. The other? Aarohi… with her eyes glowing white.
In the real world, Inspector Suryavanshi visited the Agni Archives — an underground storage beneath the old Mathura Library. The priest had whispered, "Only those who've seen the divine hour can read the Forbidden Manuscript."
The inspector opened the final chamber. Inside was a single scroll… burning without flame.
Its title read:
"Yugaant: The Final Unraveling of Kalchakra"
His hands shook as he read the first line:
"When the soul splits and the clock bleeds, the Guardian shall become the Destroyer…"
Back in Vrindavan, Aarohi turned to Vrinda. "The prophecy… it's not about one guardian. It's about two."
Vrinda's eyes widened. "But who's the second?"
Before Aarohi could respond, the hourglass shattered.
Time screamed.
And across the sky, a crack tore open.
To be continued in Chapter 23 – The Mirror of Shesha 🌌🪞