The three girls—Shweta, Rekha, and Ananya—stared intently at Kalki. Just then, Maya emerged and playfully chided, "Hey, you lot! Why are you staring at my son like that? If you even think of taking him with you, I'll chop you up, I'll bite you!" She started down the stairs, but Radha, standing nearby, laughed loudly. "What, elder sister!" she called out. "Who would take him? Even God couldn't take him from us. Do you think they can separate Kalki from us?" She giggled softly. "Okay, Kalki, come on in, put on your dress!" Maya, Akshara, and Meenakshi urged him to come inside. Radha also echoed, "Go!" playfully shooing the three girls away. Rekha, Shweta, and Ananya departed with a smile.
Inside, Kalki turned to his five mothers. "What, Mom? Why do you talk like that in front of them?" he asked in exasperation.
Maya simply smiled. "Nothing, dear. Okay, you go get dressed. I'll bring you something to eat."
Kalki then looked around. "Where's Dad?"
Maya replied, "He's coming, dear. He's bringing the car. You get ready."
Just then, Rudra arrived. "What, haven't you gotten ready yet? You always cause me so much worry," he said, shaking his head as he settled into the car. "Your mother worries about makeup, and you worry about dressing up. You two are just like mother and son!"
"Oh, I'm coming!" Kalki replied, leaping down from the veranda to the ground with a soft thud.
Rudra's eyes widened. "What, you are a hero, we know that, but do you have to show it off? You'll kill yourself! Besides Samrat, you also have a little bit of craziness, otherwise, why would you jump from there?"
"Cool, Dad! Why are you so tense?" Kalki responded, opening the car door and sliding inside.
The five mothers emerged, adorned and ready for the day. "By the way, Dad," Kalki began, "where did Vikramarka go? I don't understand anything. If I have parents, I should only be born to one, right? Why am I everyone's son? I don't understand, Dad."
Rudra chuckled. "Hey, dummy! Don't talk too much. Why do you need to know all that? We adults will take care of it, right?" He started driving the car.
"And where did Uncle go? Did he go to Anji'?" Kalki continued.
They talked as they drove. The world around them seemed strange; some people were riding on peculiar creatures. "Why, Dad?" Kalki asked, looking out the window. "Can't we also go on a horse or something? Why are we in a car?"
Kalki's questions, his mysterious birth, and the glowing mark on his hand all pointed to a destiny far greater than he could imagine. The hidden university, the murderous "Series Company," and the enigmatic gem at the bottom of the ocean were all connected, but how and why remained a central puzzle of his life's path.
CHAPTER 3: Admission at the Academy & The Hidden Truth
The Kalki family arrived, stepping out in front of the grand university gates.
Meanwhile, in Yaksha Lokam, Kaleshwar, the formidable leader of the Yaksha people, sat upon a throne shaped like a magnificent peacock. Before him stood several Yakshas and Yakshinis, their faces etched with concern.
"Guru Kaleshwar," one of the Yakshinis began, her voice strained, "your directive has brought immense suffering. Every tree, every living being on Earth, faces destruction. The Yakshini of the plant kingdom is in deep distress. As animals slowly perish, the Yakshini of the animal kingdom also loses her very essence."
Another Yakshini stepped forward. "You know well our profound connection to the Earth. But for ten long years, our absence from Earth has caused drought, trees to wither, human populations to swell unchecked, and animal numbers to dwindle. These imbalances are now strongly affecting our realm too. Is this truly fair?"
As they spoke, Narada arrived, the rhythmic clatter of his chidatalu (a small musical instrument) preceding him. "Bahubali ra! Narada has come!" he sang, his voice echoing playfully. He approached Kaleshwar. "What, Kaleshwar? Has your decision brought any good?"
Kaleshwar's eyes narrowed. "Maharishi Narada! You've returned after a long time! Wherever you go, you sow chaos and destabilize realms. You once ventured to Yamalok, to Yamapuri, disturbing the Goddess of Death and sending her to Earth in the guise of Maya. Now Kalki, born to her, embodies destruction, acting as another form of death. Because of him, we were forced to cease our visits to Earth. All this, because of you!"
Narada waved a dismissive hand. "Leave it, Kaleshwar! Why trouble yourselves with us? Besides, we have business with Rani. We'll be back!"
"Look, if you go to Rani, our very authority will be challenged!" Kaleshwar interjected immediately, a flicker of alarm in his eyes.
Just then, another Yaksha approached, whispering urgent news to Kaleshwar. Narada, undeterred, continued forward, his chidatalu still clattering.
There, the queen of all Yakshas and Yakshinis, Maharani Panchami, stood. She gazed at the vibrant, flourishing nature around her, a stark contrast to the despair she felt for Earth. 'It's so wonderful here,' she thought, 'but on Earth, it's very disheartening. The forces of injustice have grown too strong. If this continues, even if Krishna takes the Kalki avatar and destroys them, these humans will simply find new ways to perpetuate evil and attack the world!'
Narada approached her, his usual jovial self. "How are you, Rani? You haven't graced us with your presence even once!"
She turned, her form a living mirror of ethereal beauty. Narada then looked past her, a curious glint in his eye. "By the way, where is Mayuri?"
Panchami's expression tightened. "Maharishi Narada! You always do this! Wherever you go, you fill my daughter's mind with unnecessary notions and spoil her! You've visited twice already, and ever since, she's been talking about her love for humans and nature. I don't understand why you've come now!"
