Morning, as the sky glowed faintly, Chandrapur lay cloaked in pre-dawn shadows...
**In the Chandra Vihar Ashram**
"Outer disciple Virat Singh, your shattered nadi render you unfit for the sacred arts. You are forever banned from this ashram," proclaimed the Maha Guru, a sage of fifty, seated among other gurus. On the elevated throne, the Acharya listened.
Kneeling before them was Virat Singh, a youth of fifteen.
"But, Maha Guru, my nadi were destroyed guarding the tulsi grove! Your disciple Rohan Dev, with a senior disciple, caused this. Punish them, not me!" Virat pleaded.
"Silence!" the Maha Guru roared. "A broken soul like you dares make excuses?"
"I've served this ashram devotedly, and this is my reward?" Virat's voice shook, pain coursing through him.
"The Acharya has granted you 3,000 copper coins—more than you deserve," snapped the third guru.
"Acharya, Guru Vimal, I was raised here, yet you cast me out. I, Virat Singh, renounce the Chandra Vihar Ashram!" Rising, he limped toward the gates.
"Wait," called the Maha Guru.
Virat turned, facing their cold stares.
"What now?" he asked sharply.
The Maha Guru pointed to a cloth bundle. "Your copper coins. Take them."
"I need no pity. But I'll return to claim justice!" Virat vowed, striding away.
Disciples mocked him as he passed.
"See, broken Virat Singh crawls away!"
"Useless fool."
"I knew he'd be banished."
Fists clenched, Virat swore: if his nadi could be restored, he'd return to punish these heartless souls.
---
Virat Singh, an outer disciple of the Chandra Vihar Ashram, had reached the Prana Bindu Stage at fifteen, a prodigy. Orphaned, he was found begging by Guru Anand, who saw his potential, named him Singh, and brought him to the ashram.
Under Guru Anand, Virat flourished, seeing the ashram as home. But when Guru Anand died battling a Rakshasa Vyaghra for a Sanjeevani herb, Virat's world crumbled. Relegated to the tulsi grove, he faced relentless bullying yet served faithfully.
Yesterday, Virat ventured into the Kali Van to slay a Dushta Simha for an ashram task. Returning, he caught Rohan Dev, Maha Guru's disciple at the ninth stage of Deha Siddhi, stealing an Ashwagandha root with a powerful senior disciple. Trying to stop them, Virat was beaten, his nadi shattered, and the grove ruined.
As he lay in pain, Dharma Rakshak disciples bound and dragged him before the Acharya. Rohan Dev, backed by the Maha Guru, framed him. Despite Virat's pleas, no one listened. He saw the Maha Guru's grudge against Guru Anand drove this betrayal, with none, not even the Acharya, daring to oppose.
For six years, Virat served, only to be crushed. Burning with hatred, he staggered toward the Kali Van, disciples' jeers ringing in his ears.