Mahabharat: Shiva's Last Variable

(A/N):

Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.

Guys I hope you put more comments and power stones... Which will encourage me...

-------------------------------------------------

As the Pushpaka Vimana finally reached the entrance of Surya Lok, the golden craft slowly descended from the celestial sky.

The moment it crossed the outer boundary, the harsh desert-like landscape gave way to a realm filled with an almost overwhelming radiance.

The Pushpaka Vimana descended toward the grand entrance and finally touched the ground without making the slightest impact upon the golden earth.

Devara stepped down first, followed by Karna and a few attendants who had accompanied him for the journey.

Karna had insisted on coming along because this was the Swayamvara of his sister Yami, and there was no way he was going to miss such an important occasion.

The moment they stepped onto the ground, the celestial guards stationed at the entrance immediately recognized them.

They lowered their weapons and bowed respectfully.

"Welcome to Surya Lok, Maharaja Devara."

Devara returned their greeting with a slight nod.

"Thank you. We have come in response to the invitation of Surya Dev."

"We were informed of your arrival. Please proceed. His Majesty is expecting you."

The guards moved aside, allowing Devara and his companions to enter.

And the moment Devara crossed the entrance, he found himself staring.

Surya Lok was unlike any kingdom he had ever visited.

The realm was bathed in a constant golden radiance, yet there was no harsh heat despite the brilliance surrounding everything.

The light seemed to come from the very atmosphere itself.

The ground beneath their feet appeared golden and polished, reflecting the celestial glow without becoming painfully bright.

Towering structures rose throughout the realm, their walls decorated with intricate carvings depicting celestial beings, divine horses, lotus flowers and scenes from ancient stories.

Golden pillars supported enormous halls whose roofs seemed to disappear into the radiant sky above.

But the most striking feature was the light.

There was no ordinary sun hanging in the sky above them.

Surya Lok itself seemed to exist within the presence of Surya Dev.

Streams of golden radiance flowed through the realm like rivers, passing between magnificent gardens filled with celestial flowers.

Trees with leaves that shimmered like polished gold stood along the roads, while birds with brilliantly coloured feathers moved freely between their branches.

Devara noticed something else.

There was no darkness.

Not even beneath the enormous trees.

Every corner of the realm remained illuminated by the gentle radiance that filled the air.

Karna looked around with open amazement.

"I have never seen anything like this."

Devara smiled looking around.

"Neither have I."

They continued along the grand avenue leading toward the royal palace.

Celestial beings moved through the streets, some carrying offerings, others preparing decorations for the Swayamvara.

Gandharvas could be heard practising music in the distance, while groups of Apsaras were rehearsing their dances.

The entire realm had been transformed into a festival.

Golden banners bearing the emblem of Surya Dev hung between the buildings, enormous garlands of celestial flowers decorated the entrances and thousands of lamps had been placed along the roads even though the realm itself hardly needed additional illumination.

Devara couldn’t help noticing the sheer scale of the celebration.

"This isn’t just a Swayamvara."

Karna looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

Devara gestured toward the city.

"Look around. The entire realm is celebrating."

Karna smiled hearing him.

"She is Surya Dev’s daughter. Did you really expect them to hold a small ceremony?"

Devara laughed hearing him.

"Fair point."

As they continued forward, Devara noticed several magnificent chariots parked along the royal avenue.

They belonged to guests who had already arrived from different celestial realms.

The guards stationed throughout the city watched the visitors carefully, but whenever they recognized Devara, they immediately bowed.

News of his arrival had clearly spread quickly.

Eventually, the massive royal palace came into view.

It stood upon an elevated platform surrounded by radiant pools and gardens.

Its walls appeared to be constructed from a mixture of celestial metals and luminous stone, while enormous golden pillars rose toward the heavens.

At the very centre stood a vast entrance decorated with the symbol of the Sun.

Devara stopped for a moment.

He had seen magnificent palaces in Bhulok.

He had seen divine architecture in other realms.

But Surya Dev’s palace felt different.

It wasn’t merely built to impress.

It seemed to have been designed as an extension of the celestial light itself.

Karna looked toward Devara.

"Ready?"

Devara smiled hearing him.

"For what? Your future brother-in-law’s Swayamvara."

As Devara and Karna were escorted deeper into the royal palace, the grandeur of Surya Lok continued to surround them from every direction.

The corridors were wide enough for several people to walk side by side, their walls decorated with intricate carvings and golden patterns that seemed to glow from within.

Servants and celestial attendants moved through the palace carrying flowers, ornaments and various items needed for the Swayamvara, while the sound of distant music could be heard throughout the halls.

Eventually, they reached one of the large inner courtyards, where Lord Yama and his wife were already waiting for them.

They had clearly been informed about Devara’s arrival, and judging by the warm expression on Yama’s face, he had been expecting him for some time.

As Devara approached, Yama stepped forward and welcomed him.

"Devara, welcome to Surya Lok. I’m glad you accepted Father’s invitation and came here."

Devara joined his hands respectfully before him.

"Thank you, Lord Yama. It is good to see you again. I hope I haven’t caused too much trouble by arriving so close to the Swayamvara."

Yama laughed softly.

"Considering why you have actually been invited, I don’t think anyone here will complain about your timing."

Devara understood exactly what he meant and gave him a knowing smile, while Yama’s wife watched the exchange with an amused expression.

"We have all been looking forward to your arrival, Especially Yami."

Devara’s expression softened slightly at hearing her name, although he tried not to make it too obvious.

Before he could respond, Yama’s attention shifted toward the man standing beside him.

For a moment, Yama simply stared.

Then his face immediately lit up.

"Karna?"

Karna looked at him and smiled.

"Brother."

Yama didn’t wait for another word.

He walked straight toward Karna and pulled him into a warm embrace.

"It’s out first time meeting."

Karna laughed as he returned the hug.

"Well now we met."

Yama finally released him and looked at his brother properly.

"You have visited Surya Lok before, haven’t you? Father mentioned that you had come here a few times."

"I did,"

Karna replied with a smile on his face.

"But most of those visits were short. And somehow, every time I came, you weren’t here."

Yama shook his head with a laugh.

"So you were coming to my father’s realm and leaving without even meeting your own brother?"

"I wouldn’t say I was deliberately avoiding you,"

Karna replied with a grin.

"It was simply bad timing."

"Bad timing for years?"

Karna shrugged his shoulders.

"Perhaps the universe wanted us to meet properly only now."

Yama smiled at that and placed a hand on Karna’s shoulder.

"Then I’m glad you came this time. You aren’t leaving so quickly again. We have a lot of things to talk about."

Karna nodded his head.

"I’d like that."

Devara watched the brothers with a faint smile.

He knew Karna had visited Surya Lok before, but seeing the warmth between the two brothers made him realize that those previous visits must have been rather brief.

Karna had always spoken about his divine family with respect, but there were still parts of his relationship with them that Devara had never personally witnessed.

Yama then turned his attention back toward Devara.

"And you, my friend, are finally here."

Devara smiled back.

"Apparently, everyone in this realm already knows why I was invited."

Yama laughed.

"Do you really think Yami has kept quiet about you all these years?"

Devara’s expression immediately became slightly embarrassed.

Karna, standing beside him, noticed it and chuckled.

Yama’s wife also smiled.

"Don’t worry. We aren’t going to embarrass you too much."

Devara gave her a doubtful look.

"That doesn’t sound very convincing."

Everyone laughed.

Yama then gestured toward the inner palace.

"Come. Father is waiting for you, and there are still several preparations that need to be completed before the Swayamvara."

He glanced toward Karna.

"And you are coming with us. I want to hear everything that has happened since the last time you visited."

Karna nodded as the group began walking together.

Devara followed beside them, quietly taking in the palace around him, but his thoughts inevitably wandered toward Yami.

After everything that had happened between them, he was finally standing in her home realm.

And somewhere inside this magnificent golden palace, she was waiting for the Swayamvara that would decide whether the promise they had once shared would finally become a reality.

Meanwhile, inside Surya Dev’s private chamber, the atmosphere was far more serious than the celebrations taking place throughout the rest of Surya Lok.

The sounds of music and preparations for the Swayamvara could still be heard faintly from outside, but Surya Dev and Indra were occupied with a problem that neither of them could afford to ignore.

Indra stood near the large golden balcony, looking toward the outer regions of Surya Lok where the celestial armies had been stationed.

"We need to decide what we are going to do before Kandarpaasura reaches the gates,"

Indra said with a sigh.

"If he comes here and demands that he be allowed to participate in Yami’s Swayamvara, we can simply tell him that he was never invited."

Surya Dev remained seated, his expression thoughtful.

"Legally and according to the rules of the Swayamvara, we would have every right to refuse him. The invitations were sent to those whom we wanted to attend. Kandarpaasura was not among them."

"Exactly."

Indra turned toward him.

"But that is where the problem begins."

Surya Dev’s expression hardened.

"We both know what he can do."

Indra nodded.

"Kandarpaasura’s power isn’t limited to physical strength. If he becomes angry and uses that ability to engulf the place around him in darkness, the consequences could be disastrous."

Surya Dev slowly looked toward the radiant city outside.

"This entire realm is sustained by my light. If he attempts to suppress it from within Surya Lok, even temporarily, the disturbance could spread through the surrounding regions."

"And the darkness would give strength to the very beings we are trying to keep away,"

Indra added already thinking about the trouble he was facing.

"The longer it remains, the worse it becomes."

Surya Dev’s fingers tightened slightly against the armrest.

"So we cannot simply throw him out."

"Not without knowing how he will react."

Indra sighed.

"That’s what makes this difficult. If he were simply another Asura demanding entry, we could deal with him immediately. But Kandarpaasura has enough power to turn a refusal into a catastrophe."

Surya Dev looked toward Indra.

"Then perhaps we allow him to enter."

Indra’s eyebrows rose.

"You are considering letting him participate?"

"Not because I want him anywhere near my daughter."

Surya Dev’s voice became firm.

"But because keeping him outside may be more dangerous than allowing him inside under strict conditions."

Indra thought about it.

"If he is allowed to participate, we can keep the celestial forces stationed around the ceremony. If he follows the rules, there is no reason to interfere."

"And if he does not?"

Indra’s expression hardened.

"Then we act."

Surya Dev nodded slowly.

"I don’t like this."

For a moment, both remained silent.

Outside, the music of the approaching Swayamvara continued, completely unaware of the discussion taking place inside the chamber.

Surya Dev finally spoke.

"Yami deserves to choose her husband without being forced into anything because of fear."

Indra nodded.

"Then that should remain the rule."

Surya Dev looked toward the distant horizon.

"But if Kandarpaasura believes that bringing an army and threatening the realm will force us to surrender my daughter..."

His eyes began to glow faintly.

"...then he has misunderstood what kind of father he is dealing with."

Indra gave a faint smile.

"Let us hope he is wise enough to understand the difference between being allowed to participate and being allowed to threaten Surya Lok."

Neither of them noticed the faint disturbance forming beyond the outer boundary of the realm.

Kandarpaasura was getting closer.

*******************************

(Author note:)

I hope you guys give me your opinion and idea’s.

-->

Don’t forget to review guys...

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!