The storm never broke outside — it just hovered, growling behind clouds like a warning that refused to release rain.
Inside Jagannath Mandir, they all gathered in the main hall — Parth, Aarav, Neel, Sia, Avni, Meera, and the runaway woman. The lamps cast shadows against the pillars, and every flame wavered slightly, as if the air itself was listening.
The woman sat near the sanctum, hands trembling slightly as she held a glass of water. She stared at it before whispering:
> "What I'm about to say… cannot leave these walls."
Sia folded her arms defensively, but there was curiosity in her eyes. "Just say it."
The woman exhaled hard — like tearing open a wound.Her voice cracked — not from fear, but from the weight of truth.
> "It's a frequency."
Everyone went still.
She continued.
> "A programmed radiation. When activated, it targets the emotional centers of the brain. Not enough to kill… just enough to make emotions disappear."
Silence settled thick.
> "The Elites are building a device to destroy emotions — not physically, but neurologically. Once it's done, a person loses everything that makes them human — fear, grief, empathy, love, loyalty, compassion… everything."
Avni's breath hitched. "Just… empty?"
The woman nodded.
> "An obedient shell. A slave who can be ordered, used, discarded."
Aarav clenched his jaw. He wasn't even surprised but it looked like he was still hoping for some miracle to happen and fix everything. "Why? They already have the world."
> "Not enough," she replied. "Elites rule, yes — but people still rebel. Still pray. Still love. As long as emotions exist, oppression is never permanent. Nexus is their answer."
She looked up now — her fear visible, but so was revulsion.
> "How will they activate it?", Neel asked.
> "They already have the infrastructure," she whispered. "Towers disguised as signal boosters. Satellites repurposed. Every wealthy city wired. Once Nexus is triggered… it spreads like sound. Like Wi-Fi."
Meera whispered, horrified, "So the mastermind behind your plan...who is it? Is he even a human?"
The woman nodded.
> "Something else. A… presence. A man. A leader. I don't know his name. They call him the Overseer. He designed Nexus. Whenever he walks the halls, the air… changes. Even the Elites — the most powerful people alive — bow to him."
Parth and Aarav exchanged a glance.
Neel spoke quietly. "Does he look fully human?"
The woman shuddered. "Too human. That's the frightening part."
Hanuman ji stepped forward, breaking his long silence.
> "When does Nexus activate?"
The woman swallowed.
> "Three days. They're preparing for the final sequence."
Sia gasped. "Three days!? That's— that's too soon!"
Aarav stood suddenly — the room spun a little, but his voice was steady.
> "Where is the activation center?"
The woman shook her head. "I don't know. They keep it hidden — even from the Elites. Only the Overseer knows."
Parth lowered his gaze, thinking hard. "If we can't find the activation center… then we need something else."
Hanuman ji answered for him.
> "We need the one who walks between heaven and war."
Everyone looked at him.
Hanuman ji's eyes dimmed with an emotion none had seen on him yet — something between reverence and urgency.
> "The time has come. When war approaches, the guardian leaves Sambhala. Find him before he leaves."
Aarav whispered, "Kalki…"
Parth closed his fists slowly.
The woman — unaware of the word they said — looked at the idol of Jagannath and whispered a prayer. The name sounded too familiar and it felt like she was becoming a human once again.
Outside, lightning flashed — but this time there was no thunder. No sound. Just blinding light for a moment, like the world blinking.
And something — unseen — shifted.
The countdown had started.