"So, Trikala… there lies your Kashi."
A faint smile crossed Ashwatthama's weathered face as he gestured toward the barren horizon.
Trikala stared ahead in confusion.
Nothing was there.
No sacred city.
No shining temples.
No hidden civilization.
Only endless dust and silence.
His brows furrowed.
"If this is Kashi," he said, "then why can't I see it?"
Ashwatthama laughed softly.
"Try not to ask questions that insult your own intelligence."
He slowly picked up a fallen Bel leaf from the ground and rolled it between his fingers.
"If Kashi were visible to everyone, it would have become another graveyard long ago."
His ancient eyes darkened.
"This is the land of my Lord. Even a handful of its soil cannot be taken without His permission."
Trikala remained silent.
Then he asked,
"Fine. Then tell me how to enter."
Ashwatthama's smile widened.
"Simple."
He pointed toward empty space before them.
"The moment you try to damage the invisible gate, Kashi's guardians will awaken. They will open the gate themselves—to destroy you."
Trikala rolled his eyes.
"You mean Ali, Andy, and Maan?"
"Perhaps."
"Then you open it."
Ashwatthama sighed dramatically.
"Very well."
Stepping forward, he cupped his hands around his mouth and called out into the emptiness.
"Bhiksham Dehi..."
Grant alms to a wandering soul.
The ancient words echoed through the wasteland.
And deep within hidden Kashi...
Everyone heard them.
Inside the concealed city, tension instantly spread.
Andy and I exchanged worried looks.
Yet something felt strange.
Hanuman was smiling.
Kripacharya was smiling too.
Andy frowned.
"Gurudev... should we open the gate?"
Kripacharya nodded calmly.
"One must never send away a seeker who asks for food."
"But Gurudev," Andy protested, "Trikala is standing beside him. What if it's a trap?"
"Open the gate, Andy."
The sage's voice carried absolute certainty.
Reluctantly, Andy obeyed.
The invisible barrier trembled.
Ancient seals shifted.
And the gate opened.
The moment Ashwatthama stepped through, his expression changed.
For the first time, the immortal warrior looked emotional.
His eyes wandered across the hidden city.
Across the people.
Across the sacred land.
Across a home he had not seen for centuries.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I am hungry, Mamashri," he said softly to Kripacharya.
"Will this poor wanderer receive something to eat?"
He stepped forward.
Instinctively, he lowered himself toward Kripacharya's feet.
Before he could touch them, the sage stopped him.
"Not today, son."
Kripacharya opened his arms.
"Come here."
"Embrace me."
For a moment Ashwatthama simply stared.
Then the immortal warrior embraced his ancient teacher.
Silence fell over the courtyard.
Even I and Andy stood frozen.
I whispered,
"So... this is him."
"The third Chiranjivi."
Andy immediately bowed.
I followed.
"Greetings, revered Ashwatthama."
The son of Drona looked at them.
Then chuckled.
"Enough."
"Stand up."
They obeyed.
Ashwatthama studied them carefully.
"So... you are Siya's two pillars."
His gaze moved across the courtyard.
"One is missing."
"Where is the third? "
"I am here."
A calm voice answered.
Maan stepped forward.
The moment Ashwatthama saw him, something changed in his eyes.
A strange emotion.
Respect.
Recognition.
Perhaps even something deeper.
Without hesitation, Ashwatthama folded his hands.
"My respects."
Maan looked completely stunned.
"Why are you bowing to me?"
"I should be bowing to you, Mahavidwan Ashwatthama."
Ashwatthama merely smiled.
Then he exchanged a glance with Kripacharya.
No words were spoken.
Yet it felt as if an entire conversation had passed between them.
A moment later Ashwatthama approached Hanuman.
Without hesitation, he lowered his head.
"Pavanputra," he said respectfully.
"Accept my pranam."
Hanuman smiled warmly.
"Rise, noble one."
"How could I refuse the respect of a soul like yours?"
For a brief moment, two immortals stood face-to-face.
One burdened by a curse.
The other blessed by devotion.
Then Ashwatthama looked behind him.
"Why are you standing so far away, Trikala?"
"Is something troubling you?"
Trikala took a step forward.
The instant he moved—
Steel flashed.
Andy was already standing before him.
Weapon drawn.
Eyes burning.
"You don't take another step."
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
"This monster cannot be trusted."
Andy's voice shook with rage.
"Give me the order, Gurudev."
"I'll separate his head from his body right now."
"Just as he did to Clara."
Kripacharya immediately intervened.
"Stop, Andy."
"Do not act in haste."
Trikala stared in disbelief.
"What are you talking about?"
"Why would I kill Clara?"
Before he could continue, Andy exploded.
"Because that's what demons do!"
"They destroy everything for their selfish desires!"
The accusation struck hard.
For the first time, genuine anger appeared on Trikala's face.
In an instant he lunged forward and grabbed Andy by the collar.
"You fool!"
"I was trapped inside your chamber for an entire year!"
"I was imprisoned until Siya freed me today!"
Andy shoved him away.
"Lies."
"Another one of your tricks."
"You won't fool us."
Kripacharya raised his hand.
"Enough."
"Let him speak."
Andy reluctantly stepped back.
The sage turned toward Trikala.
"Explain."
Trikala took a deep breath.
Then spoke.
"Mahārishi... I am as confused as all of you."
"Clara locked me inside that secure chamber."
"I remained imprisoned there for an entire year."
"Today Siya freed me."
"She ordered me to come to Kashi."
"She saved me."
"And then—"
His voice stopped.
I stepped forward immediately.
"What happened to Siya?"
"Why isn't she here?"
The question hit everyone like a blade.
Trikala swallowed.
"She pushed me away."
"She created a protective shield around me."
"Then that storm came."
His eyes darkened.
"That enormous vortex swallowed the entire chamber."
"Everything."
"The building."
"The land."
"Siya."
Silence.
A terrifying silence.
Then—
Andy snapped.
He grabbed Trikala by the throat.
"And you ran?"
"You left her there?"
"You coward!"
Trikala didn't resist.
For once, he looked genuinely guilty.
I stepped between them.
"Enough!"
"This isn't the time."
Andy glared at him.
"You believe him?"
"He's lying!"
"No."
The voice came from Kripacharya.
Everyone turned.
The sage's expression was grave.
"Every word he has spoken is true."
Andy froze.
"What?"
Kripacharya nodded.
"The Trikala who attacked Kashi was not him."
"It was an impostor."
"A shapeshifter."
"A masquerader."
The revelation struck everyone like thunder.
The enemy they had fought.
The creature that caused blood rain.
The monster that terrorized Kashi.
It had never been Trikala.
Not even once.
A chilling realization settled over the gathering.
If that wasn't Trikala...
Then who was it?
Who possessed such power?
Who knew so much about Siya?
Who had manipulated events from the shadows?
And most importantly—
Why?
Kripacharya looked toward the dark horizon.
"The danger is growing."
"We do not know who our true enemy is."
"We do not know when they will strike."
"We do not know how."
"But they will come."
His words carried the weight of prophecy.
No one argued.
No one spoke.
Except for one person.
Or rather—
One person who hadn't spoken at all.
Maan.
Throughout the entire confrontation, throughout every revelation, throughout every accusation and explanation...
Maan had remained completely silent.
Standing motionless.
Watching.
Thinking.
His expression unreadable.
And somehow...
That silence felt far more dangerous than anything that had happened so far.