Chapter 2

The Lines Written in the Stars

The morning after Devika’s birth was full of brightness. The dark clouds had vanished, leaving the sky painted in gentle hues of orange and gold. The palace courtyard smelled of jasmine and ghee lamps. The celebrations had not stopped. Every corner of Indrakalpa Palace echoed with laughter and song.

But behind the grand smiles and joyous music, something deeper was happening — something known only to two people in the kingdom.

A soft knock came at the royal chamber.

King Raghvendra looked up from where he was gently rocking his newborn daughter. His eyes met Queen Vanshika’s, who sat resting on a cushion, watching them both with a loving smile.

“Come in,” the King said.

The door opened and a tall figure in white robes entered — Acharya Siddhesh, the royal astrologer. His beard was silver, his eyes sharp as the morning star.

“You called for me, Maharaj?”

Raghvendra nodded. “It is time to create the kundali for the princess.”

Acharya Siddhesh bowed. “Of course. The moment of her birth was... unusual. The sky, the storms, the alignment of stars — something powerful has arrived with her.”

Queen Vanshika’s smile faded just a little.

The Acharya walked closer, and King Raghvendra passed the baby to her mother.

“She was born in the last hour of the storm,” he said. “Can you see what the heavens have written for her?”

Siddhesh spread his scrolls and ink. He began chanting quietly, fingers moving over the positions of stars and lunar paths. Minutes passed in complete silence.

Then... his hand froze.

He looked up, eyes unreadable.

“What is it?” Vanshika asked softly, holding Devika close.

The Acharya glanced at the baby. “The nakshatra is Ashlesha... born under the shadowed moon. It is not a weak sign. It is... ancient. She carries something older than fate.”

Raghvendra narrowed his eyes. “Speak clearly, Acharya.”

Siddhesh’s voice dropped to a whisper. “This girl… she will walk through darkness. She will love… and be betrayed. She will burn… and be reborn. Her power will shake the very laws of nature. She will either save this world or destroy it.”

The queen paled. “But she’s only a baby…”

The priest leaned in, speaking only to the king and queen. “There is more… but it cannot be spoken aloud. Not in this life, not before time.”

Raghvendra stood. “You will write it. And lock it. No one else must see it.”

Siddhesh bowed his head and obeyed.

As he left, Queen Vanshika whispered, “Do you think she’ll be safe?”

Raghvendra took Devika into his arms again, holding her close to his chest. “As long as I live,” he said, “nothing will harm her.”

Five years later

The palace gardens were filled with laughter.

Little Devika, now five, ran barefoot through the flower beds, her braid bouncing behind her, petals tangled in her hair.

“Catch her!” cried Ishaan, her youngest brother, who was now twelve.

“She’s too fast!” said Vivaan, panting as he tried to catch up.

From under the shade of a mango tree, Pradyumna, now grown into a tall, confident teenager, watched with a protective gaze.

“Careful near the fountain, Devika!” he called.

“I’m not scared!” she shouted back. “I’m a tiger princess!”

She growled dramatically and leapt onto Vivaan, who yelped and fell into the grass laughing.

The queen watched them from the palace veranda with her friend and maidservant, Charumati, a clever woman who had served the royal family since Vanshika’s childhood.

“She’s already got all three brothers dancing to her tune,” Charumati chuckled, pouring tea.

Vanshika smiled. “They love her too much. She could ask for the moon, and they would try to pluck it from the sky.”

Inside, the royal tutor Acharya Kamal was waiting for Devika’s return.

“She must begin her letters,” he grumbled, tapping the scroll with his pen. “She is five already!”

“I’m here!” Devika shouted, suddenly appearing at the door, muddy, glowing, and breathless.

Acharya Kamal raised an eyebrow. “Princess, are you a student or a squirrel?”

“I’m a tiger,” she said proudly. “But I can learn too.”

He sighed. “Very well. Sit. Today we learn the story of the stars.”

While Devika learned to read, her father ruled.

In the Royal Court, King Raghvendra sat on a high throne carved from sandalwood. Beside him stood Senapati Viraj, the loyal general of Indrakalpa, and Rajguru Varun, the chief spiritual advisor.

Scrolls were laid before him — issues from across the kingdom.

A village in the west needed irrigation. Merchants in the south reported ghost sightings in a jungle. Bandits had attacked a trade route near Tamas Van, the cursed forest.

Raghvendra listened to each one, passing judgment with wisdom.

“To the west,” he said, “send the engineers from Arghya village. They will build the waterway.”

“To the south, send scouts with Rajguru Varun. If it is spirits, he will know.”

“And Tamas Van…” his voice darkened, “double the guards near the forest. No one enters it. Ever.”

Senapati Viraj nodded. “Yes, Maharaj.”

After court, the king returned to his chambers. Waiting for him was a surprise — Devika, hiding behind the curtain.

He pretended not to see her.

“Hm… who left this curtain open?” he said aloud.

A giggle.

“I must summon the guards. Maybe there’s a ghost!”

Suddenly Devika jumped out. “Boo!”

The king laughed and picked her up, tossing her into the air. “Ah! The wild spirit of Indrakalpa!”