By dawn, Kaalpur changed.
The temple no longer stayed in one place.
Its shadow stretched across houses.
Wherever the shadow touched, people felt watched.
Ananya walked the village barefoot.
Her feet never touched the ground properly.
She whispered mantras backward.
Plants died behind her.
Children cried without seeing why.
Pandit Devraj followed her, trembling.
"Beta, fight it," he begged.
Ananya stopped.
Turned slowly.
Her eyes reflected the temple, not the village.
She whispered,
"The god remembered hunger."
Behind her, the temple doors opened.
Inviting.
The village heard breathing.
From stone.