Return of the Demon Lord Durbheeksh

by Utkarsh Srivastava

  'And why it is famous?' Durbheeksh was eager to know.

  'Actually, he was one of my ancestor. He was one of the greatest warrior that the whole Aaryavart has produced. But he was very impatient, and he was not having any control over his anger, which lead to his death.'

  'That's it?' Durbheeksh stared at Shatrughan.

  'Yes, this much only. Were you expecting something else?'

  'No…, nothing, I shall leave now.' Durbheeksh stood up.

  'Wait, Wait. Why are you annoyed? You are not him.'

  'Of course, I am not. I am the Demon Lord.' Durbheeksh stared at Shatrughan.

  'Ha, Ha….., well that was a nice joke. Look at your face, you are looking like an innocent child. So what's your order for me, Demon Lord?' Durbheeksh told the truth, but Shatrughan took it as a joke.

  Durbheeksh smiled at Shatrughan, 'Why you are behaving like a joker?'

  'I am a joker? You are the one cracking such weirds jokes, and you are saying that I am joker.' Shatrughan taunted him.

  'Ya, it was actually a joke.' Durbheeksh didn't find it right to tell him the truth, he was seeing a good friend in form of Shatrughan. He sat on the stone again.

  Seeing this Shatrughan asked him, 'Now you tell me, where are you from? Also tell me something about your parents.'

  Durbheeksh was quite silent listening this, but soon he was back to normal, 'I am an orphan, I don't have anybody in my life.'

  Shatrughan was silent for a while. After some time he stood up and came nearer to Durbheeksh, 'Will you be my friend? Believe me, you can stay here with me. And my Gurudev, 'Sage Vasudhar' will teach you many things we need to know at this age. I have seen your bravery today, I think you deserve to be a fierce warrior. My mentor will surely train you.'

  Durbheeksh stared at Shatrughan for a while, and stood up, 'I have never received such affection from anyone. I am really grateful to you, but will your mentor will agree to train me?'

  'I think he will surely teach you. Come let's go and ask him.'

  'Ok fine, I am coming with you.'

  Both Durbheeksh and Shatrughan came nearer to Sage Vasudhar. Both of them joined their hands in front of Sage.

  'What happened, Shatrughan?' Sage asked.

  'I want to be your disciple, Sage. Please accept me.' Durbheeksh requested.

  Sage Vasudhar asked Durbheeksh, 'Who are you? Firstly introduce yourself.'

  'I am Surjan, an orphan. I don't have anybody in my life.'

  Sage Vasudhar stared at Durbheeksh for a while, 'Ok fine, if you want to be my disciple, you have to give a small test.'

  'Sure Sage, I am ready for it.'

  'Take a sword, and come with me in an arena.' Sage Vasudhar directed him.

  'Sure, Sage.'

  Soon both Sage Vasudhar and Durbheeksh were in the arena with a sword in their hands.

  'Attack on me.'

  Durbheeksh rushed towards Sage Vasudhar, and swings the sword. Sage was impressed with this move, he defends and pushed him back.

  They continued the practice for a prahar. Suddenly, Durbheeksh was pushed back, and Sage punched him on his face. Durbheeksh was annoyed, he turned back and made a fierce blow, but Sage Vasudhar defends it successfully.

  'Control your anger, Surjan. It could be the weapon of your enemy.' Vasudhar pushed him back.

  Durbheeksh falls on the ground, and was feeling too much exhausted.

  'You could be a great warrior, but you have low stamina. You need to gain it.'

  Durbheeksh stood up, and came near to Sage, 'I think you are right, I need guidance. Please accept me as your disciple.'

  'I have already accepted you, Surjan.'

  Durbheeksh was delighted listening this, 'Thank you, Gurudev.' He touched the feet of Sage Vasudhar.

  While Shatrughan came nearer to him, 'I told you Surjan, he will surely accept you as your disciple.'

  Durbheeksh smiled at Shatrughan, 'Yes you were right, friend.'

  Both Durbheeksh and Shatrughan continued their training under the guidance of Sage Vasudhar. Within some time Shatrughan became very close to Durbheeksh.

  Three years passed

  Jaivardhan (Subaahu) comes to meet Bhairavnath. While the demon's mentor asked him, 'The plan worked?'

  'Of course, Gurudev. I got married before Vikrant, and now my son is three months old. And son of Vikrant is just ten days old.'

  'Well done, Subaahu. Oh, I am sorry, Jaivardhan.'

  'Whatever you say, I will listen.' Jaivardhan (Subaahu) smiled.

  'Yes, of course. It's time to work on our next plan.' Bhairavnath smiled.

  'And what's that?'

  'I have a new information, that Vikrant is not real son of King Tejasvi.'

  Jaivardhan was astonished, 'What? Are you serious? If it is true, then I have got a reason to revolt against Tejasvi.'

  'Yes, you got it right. The time has come, it's time to revolt against Vidarbh's clan.'

  'Yes sure. I shall go now.' Jaivardhan was about to leave.

  'No, wait.'

  'What happened, Gurudev?'

  Bhairavnath came nearer to Jaivardhan, 'Before you revolt against King Tejasvi, you need to meet Durbheeksh. Without his support, you can never defeat Tejasvi.'

  'Durbheeksh, but we have not seen him since years. How will I find him?'

  Bhairavnath smiled, 'Do you think I am fool? Three years before, when Durbheeksh left us, since then I have appointed many demons to keep eyes on him. Since three years, Durbheeksh is getting training under the guidance of Sage Vasudhar. And according to current news, he has turned into a great warrior. Also, he has received many divine weapons through his capability.'

  'That's great. I will go and ask the fierce warrior Durbheeksh for his help. So I should leave now.'

  Jaivardhan ascended on his horse, and proceeded towards the Gurukul. Soon he reached his destination.

  'Surjan, your one friend has arrived to meet you.' Shatrughan came to Durbheeksh in the Gurukul.

  'My friend?' Durbheeksh was quite astonished.

  'Yes, you haven't told that you have one more friend.' Shatrughan stared at Durbheeksh.

  Durbheeksh stood up, 'Firstly, let me know, who is that friend waiting of me?'

  Soon Durbheeksh came out of the Gurukul, Jaivardhan was waiting for him there.

  'Jaivardhan……' Durbheeksh was astonished looking over him.

  'Welcome back. Do you remember your promise?'

  Durbheeksh stared at him for a while, 'Yes, I remember my words. So, for what you have come here?'

  'I am going to attack on Vidarbh's clan. I want you to lead my army. So I think you will not deny for the position of army chief.' Jaivardhan requested Durbheeksh.

  'You don't worry, I will come soon to help you. You should leave now.' Durbheeksh convinced Jaivardhan.

  'Ok fine, I'll wait for you.' Jaivardhan ascended on his horse and returned back.

  Durbheeksh was staring at Jaivardhan. While Shatrughan listened this whole conversation, he came in front of Durbheeksh.

  'Where are you going, Surjan? Who was that man? And are you really going for a war?'

  Durbheeksh smiled at Shatrughan, 'Years before he saved my life, when I was almost dead. That is the reason, why I have promised him to support at any cost. He is going to attack on Vidarbh's clan, and I have to help him.'

  'Vi….Vidarbh?' Shatrughan was stunned.

  'What happened? Why you are so shocked?'

  'Have you ever heard about the Demon King Markesh?'

  'No, I haven't heard about him.'

  Shatrughan was astonished, 'Markesh, you don't know about Demon King Dushal?'

  'Wait, Wait. Firstly confirm it, either Dushal or Markesh.'

  'I am talking about the Demon King Dushal, who was later named as Markesh.'

  Durbheeksh was silent for a while listening this.

  'Oh, hello Surjan. Now what are you thinking?' Shatrughan pinched him.

  'Ah.., nothing much, you were telling something. Just complete you
r words.'

  'Yes, Yes, I was. I was telling that you are going to take a suicidal step, as you are going to attack on Vidabrh's clan.' Shatrughan warned him.

  'Suicidal step, but why?' Durbheeksh was quite astonished.

  'Some years before, there was a fierce war in the Aaryavart. That fierce war lasted till five days, in which lakhs of warriors sacrificed their lives. It was war between human, demons and nagas. Often people describe about the fourth day of this war, when there was a clash between Prince Tejasvi and the Demon King Markesh. People says, that it was a greatest duel of this era. Finally, the Demon King Markesh who was earlier named as Dushal, was defeated and killed by the fierce warrior Tejasvi.' Shatrughan narrated whatever he knows.

  Durbheeksh was smiling listening this.

  'What happened? Why you are smiling?' Shatrughan was astonished.

  'I am very thankful to my friend, he has given me a chance for which I was waiting for.'

  'He has given you a chance, what do you mean?' Shatrughan was still not getting what he was saying.

  'Yes, it is a great chance. The whole Aaryavart knows, that the greatest warrior of this era is King Tejasvi. This war will prove them all wrong. It is a great chance to prove our skills and capability. I only want one thing in my life, the respect for my strength and capability, and I think that I deserve it. The time has come that whole Aaryavart should get to know, that I am better warrior than Tejasvi.' Durbheeksh stared at his sword.

  Shatrughan stared at Durbheeksh's eyes, 'What happened, Surjan? Why your eyes are filled with pain and flames?'

  'Pain. No, I don't think that there is any pain in my eyes.'

  Shatrughan came nearer to Durbheeksh, 'I am knowing you since years, Surjan. I can read your expressions. If you don't want to share, I will not force you. But, I will also join you in this war.'

  Durbheeksh stared at Shatrughan, 'No you cannot. You are too young for this war. This war is with Vidarbh's clan, so it's not an ordinary war. And you are the only one in my life, you are more than a brother for me. I cannot lose you.'

  Shatrughan hugged Durbheeksh, 'You can't lose me, and you think that I will leave you alone in this huge war. I'll be with you, wherever you will go. So stop arguing with me, and let's go for this war.'

  'Ok fine. But during the entire war, you'll be with me.' Durbheeksh warned Shatrughan.

  'Yes, Yes. I'll be with you. Now don't waste time, let's go now.'

  Both Durbheeksh and Shatrughan proceeded towards their destination.

  Soon they both reached the place, where Jaivardhan called him.

  As soon as they reached, they found Bhairavnath in front of them. Shatrughan was still not knowing the actual truth of Durbheeksh. Durbheeksh stared at Shatrughan, 'You stay here, Shatrughan. I'll be right back.'

  Thereafter, he came nearer to Bhairavnath, 'We need to talk, Gurudev. Come with me.'

  Both Bhairavnath and Durbheeksh went inside the cave. Jaivardhan was also present there.

  'My name is Surjan, and I will fight as Surjan. My friend Shatrughan doesn't know the reality of my life. He doesn't know the reality that I am half human and half demon. For him, I am just a human being, so you all have to make sure that he should not get to know about me.'

  Bhairavnath stared at Durbheeksh, 'You are going to lead the demon's army. How can we hide this truth from your friend?'

  'I don't know how you'll do this. But if you want my support, you have to do this.'

  'Ok fine, let's see what we can do. Right now, we should work on our plan.' Bhairavnath said.

  Jaivardhan came forward and asked, 'Sure Gurudev, I am ready for it.'

  'So, it's a right time to revolt against Vidarbh's clan. You should go now.'

  'Sure, Gurudev. I should leave now.' Jaivardhan went out of the cave, ascended on his horse and proceeded towards his destination.

  While Durbheeksh also came outside the cave. He came nearer to Shatrughan, 'We have to attack within some days. So let's go and decide the strategy.'

  'Ok fine, let's go.' Shatrughan was unable to understand anything till now.

  Mahabali Akhand (the secret of survival)

  Soon Jaivardhan reached the palace of Vidarbh. He reached at the time, when the court was arranged in the palace.

  He rushed in the court without asking anyone.

  'What's this Jaivardhan? How could you enter like this without asking anyone?' King Tejasvi confronted Jaivardhan.

  Jaivardhan was staring at Tejasvi angrily. Prince Vikrant, Sage Shankracharya and all other ministers were astonished to notice his expressions.

  'What happened? Why you are staring at me like this?' Tejasvi was astonished.

  Jaivardhan stared at Vikrant, 'This man is not your son. So why you declared him as your successor?'

  Vikrant was astonished listening this, he stared at Tejasvi, 'What? What he is saying, father? And why he is saying like this?'

  While Jaivardhan interfered in between, 'Yes, you are not the real son of King Tejasvi. Your real father is Mahabali Akhand, who was the grandson of the Demon King Markesh. It means you are a demon.'

  The furious Tejasvi stood up from his throne, and confronted his son, 'No, he is not a demon. He is my elder, so take his name with respect.'

  'Enough my lord, enough. This throne is mine, and if you will not declare me as your successor, I will surely revolt against you.' Jaivardhan shouted back.

  Listening this, King Tejasvi stepped down from his throne and came near to Jaivardhan, 'You are free from my side. You can do whatever you want.' He pushed Jaivardhan on the floor.

  Jaivardhan stood up from the floor, he stared at Tejasvi, 'How dare you? How dare you humiliate me like this? You don't know me, the result for this will be disastrous.'

  Tejasvi grabbed the collar of his son and started slapping him. While Jaivardhan pushed him back. Tejasvi was on the floor, his heart was filled with pain because of his son's behavior. He stood up from the floor and stared at Jaivardhan.

  'Get lost Jaivardhan, go out. And don't you dare to return back.' There were flames in the eyes of King Tejasvi.

  Jaivardhan stared at the King, 'I will return, with my own army. Be ready King Tejasvi, be ready for a war.' Jaivardhan turned back and went out of the palace.

  Tejasvi was continuously staring at his son. Sage Shankracharya and Vikrant came near to him.

  'There is something very wrong with Jaivardhan. It seems that, he is under control of any evil spirit.' Sage Shankracharya tried to convince Tejasvi.

  King Tejasvi was astonished listening this, 'An evil spirit, how could you say that?'