"The boy of the prophecy… is Om!"
The moment Vipul heard those words from Dhumketu's mouth, his feet froze to the ground as if turned to ice. For a second, even his breath seemed to stop. Then, with a sudden, explosive turn, he roared back over his shoulder—
"What did you just say? If you have the courage… say it again!"
The expression on Vipul's face had turned terrifying—eyes blazing, jaw clenched, veins rising like cracks of fury. The sheer intensity of it dried the throats of even the mightiest warriors of Badallok standing nearby. Fear gripped them in silence.
But in the middle of that suffocating tension, Dhumketu stepped forward—calm, unshaken, and fearless.
He came closer to Vipul… and spoke again, his voice filled with pride—
"The brave boy who will save the world is Om. The child of prophecy… is Om, my son."
For a brief moment, silence hung heavy.
Then suddenly—
Vipul laughed.
A sharp, broken, almost manic laugh.
"Hahaha… wow, Baba… just wow."
His laughter faded, but the fire in his eyes only grew darker.
"Was it not enough for you to leave us? Was my death… my wife's death… my entire family being torn apart… still not enough for your peace? And now you want to put the burden of saving the entire world on the shoulders of that innocent child?"
His voice rose, trembling with rage and disbelief.
"I know Om… I know him better than anyone! He was scared since childhood… he was never brave enough to fight! Then how… how can he be the child of prophecy?! How did he get divine energy inside him?!"
He stepped closer, his voice now a storm demanding answers—
"You're behind all this, aren't you, Baba? Tell me the truth. Tell me everything!"
Seeing Vipul consumed by anger, Dhumketu hesitated for a brief second… then began to speak, his voice carrying both pain and truth—
"After losing his family… that child was left alone."
Vipul's expression flickered.
"For fifteen long years… he lived in darkness. In an empty house… waiting every single day… hoping that someone—just one person from his family—would come back to him."
Each word struck deeper than the last.
"But no one came."
A pause.
"And then… one day… he broke."
Dhumketu's voice lowered.
"He shattered completely."
Vipul's fists tightened.
"And your son… jumped into a lake… trying to end his life."
That was it.
Vipul's eyes turned blood red—not just with rage, but with unbearable pain. His lips trembled. Tears burned behind his fury.
"But when I jumped in to save him…" Dhumketu continued, "something unbelievable had already happened."
He looked straight into Vipul's eyes.
"The golden energy inside him had awakened. His golden aura had formed… and it created a glowing shield around him underwater… allowing him to breathe even beneath the surface."
Vipul stood frozen.
"That's when I realized… he is the one. The child destined to carry the responsibility of saving the world."
Dhumketu's voice grew steadier.
"I saved him… and gave him books to understand and control his powers. For five years… he locked himself in a room… and awakened everything within him."
A deep silence followed.
"But whether you accept it or not… Om is that child."
Vipul didn't react immediately.
He just stood there.
Stunned.
Broken.
The storm inside him slowly began to collapse into something heavier… something quieter.
Pain.
Dhumketu and Neerja Devi watched him, their own eyes softening with sorrow.
And then suddenly—
Vipul stood up.
His calm shattered again—this time not with confusion, but with rage.
"Baba… I never let my brothers suffer after you left!" he burst out. "I gave them everything! Stood by them through every hardship!"
His voice cracked.
"And what did they do?! They left my innocent Om… alone… like an orphan!"
His anger turned raw, personal.
"I treated them like my own… and they couldn't even go meet him?! Couldn't even look at him once?! What kind of justice is this?!"
His breathing grew heavy.
"I gave up my share of the property just so they could live better lives! I chose poverty… but never let them suffer! And they… they abandoned my son like he never even existed!"
A pause.
Then came the eruption—
"I'll kill them."
The words fell like a death sentence.
"I swear… I'll kill them both. You're their father, so listen carefully. I will make them die like dogs… even if it means I burn in hell for eternity!"
His voice trembled—not with madness, but with grief too deep to contain.
"My son… lived a life worse than hell after I was gone… and for that… I can never forgive them. Never."
Tears finally escaped his eyes.
"I can't even imagine what he went through… how much he suffered… didn't they feel even a little shame?"
Before his rage could spiral further—
"They've already paid for their mistakes."
Dhumketu's calm voice cut through the storm.
Vipul froze.
"Your son… made them realize their sins."
Vipul slowly turned toward him.
Dhumketu stepped closer, his tone firm yet compassionate—
"Forgive me, Vipul… I always believed you were the finest son. But your own son has proven you wrong."
Vipul's eyes widened slightly.
"Your anger is pushing you to punish people… but you were never like that. Your kindness made you great."
A pause.
"Yes, you had flaws… but Om doesn't."
Vipul's breathing slowed.
"He punishes only those who deserve it… but his greatest strength is this—he forgives those who deserve forgiveness."
Something inside Vipul shifted.
The storm… began to settle.
His face softened.
A faint, fragile smile appeared as he whispered—
"Tell me more… Baba."
His voice had changed completely now—like a father longing for his child.
"Tell me about my little Om… what does he look like? Is he like me… or like his mother? Is he happy? How does he live? Tell me… please, Baba… tell me everything."
The room felt lighter.
Dhumketu wiped his tears, smiling through them.
"You know… he looks no less than a hero. Like a god of beauty himself."
A faint chuckle escaped him.
"There are girls always around him… wherever he goes, he leaves an impression. He spreads goodness everywhere."
Vipul listened, completely lost.
"He even changed your brothers. Manoj and Vijay… now love him more than their own sons."
Vipul's eyes softened.
"He is happy… very happy. But yes… he still feels the absence of his parents."
A pause.
"He's successful. A perfect blend of you and Veena… but even better in goodness."
Dhumketu's voice deepened.
"But there's one more thing…"
"When it comes to fighting… he becomes something else entirely."
Vipul looked up.
"Like Bhairav himself."
A chilling intensity filled the air.
"As calm and innocent as he is in kindness… he becomes ruthless and merciless when delivering justice."
A smile formed on Dhumketu's face.
"When you see him… you'll feel proud."
A pause.
"Because I do."
Vipul closed his eyes.
A peaceful smile spread across his face.
For the first time… he wasn't drowning in regret.
He was… proud.
Around them, everyone felt the shift. Relief. Warmth.
Neerja Devi, watching Vipul like this, couldn't look away—his quiet smile, his softened eyes… something about him held her completely.
After a moment, Vipul stepped forward.
He folded his hands before Dhumketu and Neerja Devi.
"Baba… Maharani… I apologize for my mistakes."
His voice was calm, sincere.
"But I ask for one favor."
He looked straight into their eyes.
"Now that my Om is the child of prophecy… promise me… no matter what happens… you will protect him."
His voice trembled slightly.
"Please… don't let anything happen to him."
He turned to Neerja Devi—
"Maharani… teach him every art of war… but keep him safe."
Neerja Devi smiled.
Then, with unwavering authority, she declared—
"I, the Queen of Badallok, vow this—every danger that comes toward Om in battle… will face me first."
Her eyes burned with resolve.
"Even death… will have to cross me before it reaches him."
A pause.
"This is my promise."
Vipul bowed his head deeply.
"Thank you…"
Then he turned to Dhumketu.
Before he could say anything—
Dhumketu pulled him into a tight embrace.
Tears streamed down his face.
"Forgive me… my son… I couldn't do anything for you…"
His voice broke.
"But I swear… I will protect Om from every danger. Even if it costs me my life… this old man will stand between him and death."
Vipul held him silently.
For a while, nothing existed but that moment—father and son, reunited after lifetimes of pain.
Finally, Vipul stepped back.
His face was calm now. Resolved.
"Well… now that I know my Om is the chosen one… it's time I fulfill my own duty."
He folded his hands.
"Forgive me for my mistakes… but I must leave now."
He bowed to everyone, taking blessings from Dhumketu and Kakbhushundi.
As he turned to leave—
"Take care, my son!" Dhumketu called out.
Vipul smiled… and nodded.
Then he walked away.
Kakbhushundi watched him go, a faint smile on his lips.
"What a remarkable man… even the demi-gods were shaken by him."
A pause.
"I hope… you complete your mission soon."