"If that's what you want… then so be it. Let's finish this."
Vipul's voice burned with fury as he stretched both his hands outward, energy beginning to surge around him like a rising storm.
By now, Ambu and Sarpdoot had reached Kakbhushundi's side, and within moments, the serene, divine garden of Badallok began transforming into something far more dangerous…
A battlefield.
But before the storm could erupt—
A thunderous voice shattered the tension.
"Enough!"
It echoed like a lion's roar.
"Will both of you stop behaving like children?"
Dhoomketu stepped forward, his presence commanding, his voice sharp and unyielding.
"You represent the side of righteousness… and yet you stand here ready to fight like immature fools? This does not suit either of you!"
His words struck hard.
Both Neerja Devi and Vipul froze.
The anger that had consumed them just seconds ago began to fade, replaced by a quiet realization—they had almost crossed a line they shouldn't have.
Taking a deep breath, Dhoomketu spoke again, this time calmer.
"Neerja Devi… I will handle this. There is nothing to worry about."
Neerja Devi glanced at Vipul, then nodded.
"Very well, Gurudev. I apologize, Devdoot, for my behavior… but I will stay here until your conversation ends… just in case."
Both Vipul and Dhoomketu gave a silent nod.
Then—
Dhoomketu stepped closer to his son.
His voice softened… almost trembling.
"Vipul… my son… I am not asking you to forgive me."
He paused, eyes heavy with guilt.
"I only want you to know the truth."
Vipul let out a hollow, bitter laugh.
"Truth?"
His eyes burned with sarcasm.
"What kind of truth forces a father to abandon his own blood?"
"What kind of helplessness leaves three children to grow up like orphans?"
"Tell me, Gurudev Dhoomketu… what kind of 'compulsion' was that?"
Despite the fire in Vipul's voice, Dhoomketu remained calm.
And then… he began.
"After your mother passed away… you remember I used to disappear into the forests."
His gaze drifted upward, lost in the past.
"I was born with a purpose… a duty. But after falling in love with your mother… I forgot everything."
"For years… I lived only for myself. For my dreams… my happiness…"
His voice broke slightly.
"And when someone turns away from their duty… God takes away what they love the most."
"I lost your mother."
A painful silence followed.
"But even after losing her… instead of returning to my duty… I drowned myself in grief."
"I escaped into illusions… into dreams… where I could still see her… talk to her… live those moments again."
His fists clenched.
"I wasted time… precious time."
"And while I stayed lost… the world began to change."
"Not for the better."
"The Devas noticed me… and they were furious."
"One day… Neerja Devi herself came down from Badallok to warn me."
"She tried to bring me back… told me I was in danger… that Devlok had turned against me."
He let out a bitter breath.
"But I was blind… deaf… lost in my own sorrow."
"I ignored her."
"And because of that mistake… the celestial soldiers tried to kill me."
A stunned silence spread.
"Neerja Devi saved me that day… and she paid a heavy price for it."
That truth hung heavy in the air.
"That was the moment I woke up."
"I realized the magnitude of my mistake."
"But by then… it was too late."
"The soldiers still wanted me dead."
"So they gave me a choice."
His voice turned grave.
"Return to my duty… leave my family… protect them from the dangers to come…"
"Or stay with my family… and let the future spiral into a destruction so great… that saving Earth would become impossible."
Dhoomketu's eyes filled with tears.
"It was the hardest decision of my life…"
"But to save the world… and to save my children…"
"I chose to leave."
Silence.
Heavy. Suffocating.
Then slowly, Dhoomketu stepped closer… raising his trembling hands… gently touching Vipul's face.
"I came to Badallok… devoted myself to protecting the world."
"I was in pain leaving you… but I wasn't worried."
A faint, proud smile appeared through his tears.
"Because I trusted my eldest son."
"And I was right."
"You took care of everything."
"You became stronger than I ever imagined."
His voice cracked again.
"I may not be a good father… but I love you… all of you… more than anything in this world."
"And even more… I love my grandchildren."
His eyes dimmed with sorrow.
"I watched everything… from afar."
"Your marriage… your struggles… your sacrifices…"
"When you joined that cursed lab…"
"And… when you and your wife died…"
Vipul's body stiffened.
"I was there… in every moment."
"But you were trapped somewhere even I couldn't reach."
"And you know… if I had tried to save you with that disease…"
His voice fell into a whisper.
"What it would have become."
Dhoomketu fell silent.
The weight of his truth settled over everyone.
Then—
Neerja Devi stepped forward.
Her voice gentle… yet firm.
"Devdoot… despite having every luxury in Badallok… your father chose to live like a common man."
She looked straight into Vipul's eyes.
"When asked why… he always said—"
"I cannot live in comfort… when my children are living ordinary lives on Earth."
"What you ate… he ate."
"He slept on the ground."
"And every single day… he watched over you three brothers."
Her voice softened.
"I thought it was an act… but even when I was away… he never changed."
"I can say this with certainty…"
"Your father loves you deeply."
Then Ambu stepped in, placing a hand on Vipul's shoulder.
"Devdoot… after you were gone… it was your father who protected your son—Om."
"When your brothers couldn't take care of him… he stayed near… watching over him… protecting him… without interfering."
"Maybe knowing this… will ease your anger… even if just a little."
Vipul stood there.
Silent.
Broken.
Tears streamed down his face as he stared at the ground.
Slowly… he looked up at his father.
His voice trembled.
"Thank you… for what you did… for me… for my child…"
"For that… I'm grateful… Baba."
A pause.
"But my anger…"
His fists clenched again.
"It won't disappear."
"My child lived alone for years… and somewhere… you are responsible too."
"That truth… won't let me be at peace."
He took a step back.
"I forgive you…"
"…but I won't forget."
His voice dropped.
"I should leave."
And with that—
Vipul turned and began walking away, his face wet with tears.
Everyone watched in silence.
Emotional.
Stunned.
But then—
A single sentence echoed through the air.
"He is Om."
Vipul froze.
His steps halted instantly… as if time itself had stopped.
Slowly…
He turned back.
His eyes blazing with shock… with disbelief… with something far deeper.
"What… did you just say?"
His voice thundered.
"If you have the courage…"
"Say it again."