The sacred chamber had fallen completely silent.
Only the faint sound of burning lamps echoed through the ancient stone hall as Mahārishi Kripacharya stood before us like a timeless guardian of forgotten wisdom.
"Among the five eternal elements…"
His calm voice resonated through the chamber.
"God…"
"the soul…"
"nature…"
"time…"
"and karma…"
His sharp gaze moved slowly across all of us.
"Four among them are eternal."
A brief silence followed.
"But karma alone is impermanent."
Then he looked toward Maan.
"Can either of you explain why?"
Maan stepped forward without hesitation.
"Karma is impermanent because once the consequences of an action are experienced…"
"…its existence comes to an end."
A faint smile appeared on Mahārishi's face.
He was pleased.
"Then tell me…"
"What is karma itself?"
Maan folded his hands respectfully before answering.
"That force which creates the experiences, conditions, and growth of living beings…"
"…that sacred process of creation and manifestation…"
"…is called karma."
His voice remained steady.
"Every movement within the universe…"
"…and every effort made by mankind…"
"…is karma."
The hall fell silent once again.
Mahārishi slowly nodded.
"You have understood every chapter well, my disciple."
Then his expression changed.
More serious now.
"You three have attained every form of knowledge I could offer."
"You have even received the wisdom hidden within the Dharmagranth…"
"…the scripture said to embody limitless knowledge itself."
The flames around us flickered softly.
"And yet…"
"…despite all this…"
"…you still struggle against the most human emotion of all."
"Love."
The word itself felt heavier than any weapon.
Maan lowered his eyes briefly before speaking.
"Forgive me, Gurudev…"
"But love is not something one fights against."
His voice carried unusual peace.
"Love carries sacrifice."
"Devotion."
"Surrender."
"How can someone battle against such feelings?"
Mahārishi smiled faintly.
"That…"
"…is exactly what you must understand, Maan."
The atmosphere deepened.
"To become emotionally connected to someone is natural."
"But when the absence of that person begins destroying you…"
"…that attachment itself becomes your greatest danger."
His words echoed heavily through the chamber.
"I do not say attachment is wrong."
"But when that attachment reaches such an extreme that it begins harming you…"
"…then it is no longer love."
"It becomes selfishness."
Maan remained silent.
"You cannot imprison anyone beside you forever."
Mahārishi continued calmly,
"In love, seek surrender instead of possession."
"Then your love will no longer remain limited to a single person… or a single body."
"You will begin to feel it everywhere."
"In every moment."
"In everything surrounding you."
Even Andy, sitting quietly at a distance, understood the meaning hidden behind those words.
Mahārishi then spoke once more.
"Stabilize your mind."
"And search for your love."
"You will discover it closer than you realize."
A faint smile appeared on Maan's face.
"I have already experienced that, Gurudev."
"Now whenever I remember my loved ones…"
"…I see them smiling everywhere around me."
"It feels as though they are telling me they are happy."
His voice softened further.
"I have even spoken to Siya…"
"And I saw my mother as well."
Mahārishi looked genuinely pleased.
"I am glad."
"You are beginning to understand the true essence of life."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"Now all that remains…"
"…is for you to understand your purpose."
Maan looked confused.
"My purpose?"
Mahārishi nodded slowly.
"That…"
"…is what you must discover yourself."
Then his voice deepened with spiritual authority.
"Go."
"Meditate upon Brahmā—the Creator."
"Meditate upon Narayan—the Sustainer of worlds."
"And meditate upon Mahakal…"
"…our eternal Lord."
"There…"
"…you shall find the answers to every question within you."
I remained silent, simply listening to Mahārishi's words.
But one question still lingered inside my mind.
"Gurudev…"
I hesitated briefly.
"Is Maan truly the one... ?"
Mahārishi turned toward me.
Then slowly—
he smiled.
"You are far more intelligent than you believe, Ali."
His words carried certainty.
"Yes."
"Maan is capable of bearing the burden."
"He possesses both wisdom… and understanding."
I stayed silent for a moment before asking another question.
"One more thing troubles me, Gurudev…"
"Will Hanuman not fight beside us in the final war?"
For the first time—
Mahārishi's expression grew unexpectedly serious.
"You are correct, Ali."
"Hanuman will not participate directly in the war."
That answer unsettled me instantly.
"But why?"
Mahārishi looked at me carefully.
"What made you ask such a question?"
I answered honestly.
"Because I have noticed something."
"Hanuman never attacks first."
"He only appears to protect…"
"…to stabilize situations…"
"…or to save others."
A faint smile appeared on Kripacharya's face.
"You have truly surpassed my expectations, Ali."
"Your intelligence and perception are extraordinary."
Then his voice deepened once more.
"Hanuman will not descend into battle."
"Especially not to fight."
"He will answer only when called upon during great crisis."
A chilling silence followed.
"Because if Hanuman enters the war completely…"
"…the very purpose of the war itself will cease to exist."
My heartbeat slowed.
Mahārishi's eyes reflected something ancient.
"Hanuman possesses immeasurable divine power."
"He is so powerful…"
"…that ending Kali would require mere moments for him."
The chamber felt colder.
"But the destruction of Kali…"
"…is destined to occur at the hands of Lord Kalki."
"It is written within destiny itself."
"That is why Hanuman will not fight."
"He will only appear when the time demands salvation."
"And when called upon…"
"…he will help."