Return of the Demon Lord Durbheeksh

by Utkarsh Srivastava

  Dushal tried to control his feelings, and stood up from the floor, 'You take care of her. I have to finish some work, I'll return soon.'

  Dushal ascended on his horse and rushed towards his destination.

  Soon he reached at the main gate of the palace of Vidarbh.

  'Bhabhuti….' Dushal roared.

  Listening this voice, King Bhabhuti and Vikramajit rushed out of the palace.

  'What happened, Dushal? Why you are shouting like this?' King Bhabhuti asked him.

  'Why am I shouting at you? Oh….really, you really think I should be explaining you that why I shouted at you?' Dushal looked at him furiously.

  King Bhabhuti confronted Dushal, 'I don't know, what you are talking about. Say it clearly whatever you want to say.'

  Dushal looked over Vikramajit, 'Oh, I got that, you want to prove your innocence in front of your son. But you will be penalized for your sins.'

  Dushal evocated the divine VijayDhanush. He lifted that divine bow, pulled out an arrow and sets a target towards Bhabhuti.

  Seeing this, Vikramajit also lifted his bow and came in front of Dushal to save his father.

  'I don't bother, whoever comes in my path will be ruthlessly killed. Now, only destruction will occur everywhere.' Dushal pulled the rope of the bow and shoots the arrow.

  Vikramajit also shoots his arrow to reply him. Both the arrows collided and falls down. That duel continued till very short span of time.

  Suddenly, Dushal was feeling very uncomfortable. He felt that the weight of that divine bow was continuously increasing, it was becoming difficult for Dushal to lift that bow.

  At the very next moments an arrow of Vikramajit hits the right hand of Dushal. The divine VijayDhanush falls from the ha'nds of Dushal.

  Dushal was completely astonished seeing this, 'What is happening? Why can't I hold this bow anymore? Why I am feeling so weak?' Dushal was in great confusion.

  While Vikramajit shoots another arrow which injured the shoulder of Dushal. Thereafter, he evocated a divine weapon to kill Dushal.

  Suddenly, a fog revolves all around. One hand pulled Dushal from that place. So, when that fog disappeared, Dushal was not there.

  'Where are you coward?' Vikramajit shouted.

  'Wait Vikramajit, first of all, I want to know the reason why Dushal was behaving like this?' King Bhabhuti wants to know the reality.

  Then only a Vaidya arrived at the palace of Vidarbh. He walked towards King Bhabhuti, 'I have some news for you King.'

  'And what's that, Vaidya?' King Bhabhuti was quite astonished.

  'Your sister Shivanya is no more. I saw each and everything which happened here. Dushal was frustrated because of the death of his wife.' The Vaidya explained.

  King Bhabhuti was stunned listening this, 'What? What are you saying, my sister is not alive?'

  'It's true, my lord. Why would I lie?'Vaidya tried to convince King Bhabhuti.

  Vikramajit stepped towards King Bhabhuti, 'Calm down, father. If my guess is right, perhaps you have only killed your sister.'

  King Bhabhuti shouted at Vikramajit, 'What? What the hell are you saying, Vikramajit?'

  'Relax father. I am just guessing, because you were hypnotized and your spear was filled with the stains of blood.' Vikramajit tried to explain.

  'No, No, it cannot be. I can't kill my own sister.' Tears spilled out from King Bhabhuti's eyes.

  'Relax father, we are not too sure about this. And if it is true, you haven't done it intentionally.' Vikramajit tried to convince his father.

  While on the other side, Dushal opened his eyes. The demon's mentor Bhairavnath was in front of him.

  'You, What are you doing here?' Dushal was annoyed.

  'I have arrived here to help you, Dushal.' Bhairavnath looked over him with compassion.

  Dushal stood up from the ground, he taunted Bhairavnath, 'You, arrived here to help me. The person who conspired against me, provoked my people against me, is saying that he came to help me. It seems strange.'

  Bhairavnath confronted Dushal, 'I just conspired because you were on the wrong path. I have only one motive in my life, and that is the welfare of the demon's race. You tell me, you supported humans, you wished to establish peace among humans and demons. And the result is in front of you.'

  Dushal was silent for a while. 'What happened? No answers to my question?' Bhairavnath pinched him.

  'Have you heard about my ancestor, Lord Mahabali? He also followed the same primciples.' Dushal replied him.

  'Yes, I agree with you. Lord Mahabali followed the policy of peace. He always worked for the welfare of the common people. But don't you know what he got in return? The divine gods conspired against him, and finally he was banished from his own land.' Bhairavnath was continuously trying to provoke Dushal.

  The eyes of Dushal were filled with tears. But at the very next moment there were flames of vengeance in his eyes, 'You are right. These humans are never to be trusted.'

  'That's why I told you, they are born to be our slave. We should rule over them.' Bhairavnath ignited the flames on fire.

  'They are to born to be slave or not, I don't know. But one thing I must say, King Bhabhuti and his whole family have to pay for the death of my wife. I will kill that whole family, and will get back my son Bhanusen.' Dushal evocated the divine VijayDhanush.

  As soon that bow appears in his hand, it's weight rapidly increased and it falls from the Dushal's hand.

  'What is happening? Why I can't lift this bow anymore?' Dushal was confused.

  Suddenly a voice came from the divine bow, 'You cannot lift me anymore, Dushal, because you are not capable for it. You have no compassion in your heart. You don't have any devotion towards your goal. You want only destruction, only and only destruction.'

  'Don't be disheartened, Dushal. Don't pay heed to this bow. Just believe in yourself, you have the capability to achieve your goal.' Bhairavnath tried to encourage Dushal.

  Dushal closed his eyes for a while. After sometime he opened his eyes and looked over Bhairavnath, 'I agree with you, I am capable enough to destroy the whole kingdom of Vidarbh. And it's time to destroy them all.' Dushal pulled out a sword from his sheath.

  'No, no. It's not the right time to attack, you can't defeat them right now. I have enquired about Vikramajit, he defeated Durbheeksh. And still that warrior with the divine power of five elements is unconscious. Vikramajit is born with the blessings of Sage Omeshwar, a symbol of Kaalshastra. I don't know what it actually means, but this time you need to increase your strength before you face Vikramajit. Because Vikramajit is trained by the disciple of Lord Parshuram i.e. Sage Kapish.' Bhairavnath explained him.

  'Ok fine, but first I want to pay the last funeral to my wife Shivanya. I should go there.'

  'Yes, sure.'

  Dushal proceeded towards his destination.

  While on the other side, King Bhabhuti and Vikramajit were ready to burn the pyre of Shivanya. King Bhabhuti stepped towards the pyre to burn it.

  Suddenly one spear with tremendous speed arrived and strikes the hand of King Bhabhuti. The burning wood falls from his hand. He turned back, Dushal was right behind him.

  'How dare you touched her body?' Dushal jumped from his horse and rushed towards King Bhabhuti.

  'Firstly you killed my wife, and now you are here to burn her pyre.' Dushal shouted at King Bhabhuti.

  While Vikramajit tried to interfere, 'Wait, this was just a misunderstanding. My father was hypnotized by someone.'

  'Oh, really. You are a warrior Vikramajit, this type of lies doesn't suits you. Your father is a culprit and you have to accept that. I was having doubt on his intentions since he asked for my child 'Bhanusen'. And now he is making a stupid excuse to save his life. And if he was hypnotized, then when I was taking Shivanya to Vaidya, the soldiers of Vidabrh who blocked by path were also hypnotized or what? They doesn't seem to be hypnotized?' Dushal accused King Bhabhuti.

  Both Vikramajit and Bhabhuti were silent listening this. T
hey were unable to think what they should say.

  'If he would have truly loved his sister, then no hypnotism in this world could force him to kill his sister. Actually, he doesn't deserves to be a king. He is a symbol of shame.' Dushal accused King Bhabhuti again and again.

  Vikramajit turned furious, he tightened his grip on his sword. But King Bhabhuti stopped him, 'Calm down, Vikramajit, let him do what he wants to do.'

  'I'll not do it today, because today is the funeral of Shivanya.' Dushal stared at Vikramajit and picked up a burning wood.

  Thereafter, he stepped towards the pyre on which Shivanya was lying down. He looked over Shivanya's face and kissed her on her forehead. Thereafter, he stepped back and put that pyre on the flames. His eyes were filled with tears.

  The eyes of Dushal werea lso burning with the flames of vengeance, 'It's my oath, I will avenge for my wife's death. It's my oath to destroy your murderer, and I will not leave this earth before that. And if die while taking my revenge, I will return back to fulfill my oath.'

  Thereafter, he turned towards King Bhabhuti, 'Wait for me, I'll return back soon.'

  Dushal ascended on his horse and rushed towards his destination.

  Soon Dushal and Bhairavnath reached together to Patallok.

  The demon's mentor Bhairavnath collected all the demon's troops at the single place and brought Dushal in front of them.

  There were lot of murmuring sound among the demon's crowd.

  'Stop it. I have some news for you all.' Bhairavnath ordered them.

  The demons were silent. Thereafter, Bhairavnath begins to speak.

  'The Demon Lord Durbheeksh is no more. So I have decided that your old leader will continue leading you. The old Dushal is dead now, he has lost compassion in his heart for humans. Now he is completely dedicated towards the welfare and benefit of the demons. Now I am introducing you the new leader of demons, 'Markesh''The Demon King.'

  Dushal stared at Bhairavnath with surprise.

  'Don't be astonished, Dushal. Your name was Dushal, when you were a peace lover. You were devoted towards the welfare of both humans and demons. But now you are only for demons, and a symbol of terror for humans.'

  The demons started praising the new Demon King.

  'Now it's time to attack on Vidarbh, what do you say, Gurudev?' Dushal turned towards Bhairavnath.

  'Gurudev, you called me Gurudev?' Bhairavnath was surprised.

  'Yes, of course. You showed me the right path, the path of justice. So now I accept you as my mentor. Let's go on for a war. Now there will not be any boundation or rules for war, I want only my enemy dead anyhow.' Dushal pulled out a sword.

  'If you have accepted me as your mentor, then control your emotions. It's not right time to attack on Vidarbh.'

  The new Demon King Markesh was astonished listening this, 'It's not right time, what you are saying? I am capable enough to destroy them.'

  'No, you are not. Yes, you are capable enough to defeat King Bhabhuti and his army. But Vikramajit, no you cannot defeat him. He is born with the blessings of Sage Omeshwar, and a disciple of Sage Kapish too. And regarding Sage Kapish, I must say, he is one of the most skilled and capable disciple of Lord Parshuram.' Bhairavnath explained.

  'But…'

  'No, Markesh. Control yourself, you need to increase your strength. You have six brothers with you, they need you. Your six brothers Trikaal Bhairav, Dudumbhi, Danshak, Trbhuj, Adheem and Hidimb are still amateur. They all need to work very hard and need intense austerity to increase their power, so that they can support you. So my suggestion is, that you should go on with them to an intense austerity. You need such a boon, through which you could become almost immortal. Then only you will be able avenge for the death of your wife.' Bhairavnath concluded.

  'Ok, as you wish. I'll follow as you say.' Markesh kept the sword down and stepped towards his room.

  The demon's mentor Bhairavnath continued talking with the demons.

  Sixteen years passed

  Prince Vikramajit was now crown prince of Vidarbh. It was a fresh morning, he was on the visit of the villages of Vidarbh with his both younger brothers Veersen and Bhanusen.

  All the three brothers were passing through the jungle.

  Suddenly, a fog spreads all over. None of them were able to see anything.

  After sometime, when the fog disappeared, Vikramajit and Veersen were stunned to notice that their younger brother Bhanusen was not there.

  'Bhanusen, Bhanusen…' Vikramajit shouted to search him.

  Veersen followed him too.

  Both the brothers were in search of Bhanusen, but were not able to find him. But they didn't gave up, they continued searching him.

  When Bhanusen opened his eyes, he found himself in a closed room. He was tied with the heavy chains.

  Soon a door opened and the six brothers of the Demon King along with the demon's mentor Bhairavnath, entered in that room.

  Bhanusen was annoyed seeing all of them, 'Who are you? And why did you abduct me?'

  Bhaiavnath stepped forward, 'Don't worry, Bhanusen. I am not your enemy.'

  'Then why did you tie me with these heavy chains?' Bhanusen cross questioned.

  'Ok, if you don't believe me, then I am going to free you.' Bhairavnath signaled Trikaal Bhairav.

  On his command, Trikaal Bhairav stepped towards Bhanusen and opened his chains.

  At the very next moment, Bhanusen stood up from the chair and pushed Bhairavnath on the ground. All the six brothers of Markesh tried to grab him, but they failed to stop him. Bhanusen pushed them back. Thereafter, he looked over an opened door, and rushed towards it. He came outside the door, but soon he stopped looking over a person in front of him.

  The person whom he was seeing was the Demon King Markesh. It was hard to predict why Bhanusen stopped seeing Markesh, who was busy in intense meditation. His eyes were closed, and Bhanusen was continuously staring at him.

  'Now why did you stopped? Run away. If you want to stay with your fake identity then you can go.' Bhairavnath confronted Bhanusen.

  'Fake identity?' Bhanusen was in deep thoughts for a while.

  'What happened? What are you thinking?' Bhairavnath pinched him.

  'I was just thinking that I have seen this face before.' Bhanusen was still staring at Markesh.

  'Yes of course you have seen him. And you know why? Because he is your father.'

  Bhanusen smiled and stared at Bhairavnath, 'First tell me, who are you?'

  'I am Bhairavnath, the mentor of demons.'

  'Oh, Bhairavnath. I am hearing lot of things about you since childhood. I know very well what type of person you are. So how could you think, that I'll ever believe your words?' Bhanusen turned towards Markesh.

  Bhairavnath smiled at Bhanusen, 'Have you ever heard about Demon King Dushal?'

  Bhanusen thought for a while, 'Yes, I have heard. He was a great warrior, and was our family member too. But after death of his wife, no one knows where he is. We don't have any news regarding him.'