Chapter 124: Chapter 122: Hide & Seek... Condition For Losing...

(A/N):

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Deep within the shimmering underwater domain of Ganga, the atmosphere had become unexpectedly lively.

The heavy memories surrounding Varga and her sisters slowly faded beneath the sheer unstoppable energy of Devara.

Because once Devara decided something—

Peace for everyone else immediately disappeared.

After properly introducing himself to the other four crocodiles, Devara suddenly clapped his hands together excitedly.

"It’s been so long since I played with my crocodile buddy!" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Before poor Varga could even react—

Devara grabbed her tail again and began dragging her across the underwater currents toward a massive ancient stone slab resting between the glowing pillars of the divine domain.

The crocodile closed her eyes in pure resignation.

"...."

At this point she had simply accepted her fate.

Meanwhile her sisters silently watched the scene with expressions that somehow mixed confusion, disbelief, and secondhand embarrassment.

Tails for them is equal to butt.

Soon Devara jumped onto the long stone slab and sat cross-legged proudly like a child preparing an important meeting.

Around him, the five giant crocodiles slowly gathered in a circle.

Their massive forms surrounded the stone platform while glowing currents drifted peacefully around them.

Even Goddess Ganga watched from a distance now with visible amusement dancing in her eyes.

Because she already knew exactly what was about to happen.

Devara looked around dramatically at the crocodiles.

Then grinned.

-Grin!

"Let’s play a game."

The crocodiles immediately became cautious. Very cautious.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Especially Varga.

Because every time this boy said the word game, suffering usually followed afterward.

The young king proudly began explaining the rules while gesturing enthusiastically with his hands.

"All five of you need to hide somewhere in the river."

The crocodiles blinked silently.

Then Devara pointed at himself proudly.

"And I’ll search for you."

So far... It sounded harmless.

Then came the disaster.

"If I find you..."

His grin widened dangerously.

-Grin!

"...then you become my ride for the day."

Silence. Absolute silence.

"...."

"...."

"...."

The five crocodiles stared at him.

Dead-eyed.

Not a single one reacted immediately.

Even the flowing waters around them somehow felt awkward now.

Meanwhile Devara sat there completely pleased with himself as though he had invented the greatest game in existence.

Inside the minds of the five cursed apsaras though—The reactions were far less enthusiastic.

’Ride? Did he just say ride?’

’Is this how a gentleman speaks to beautiful women?’

The silver-eyed crocodile slowly turned toward Varga with visible judgment in her gaze.

"...."

The crimson-eyed one looked personally offended.

The green-eyed crocodile seemed seconds away from diving into the deepest part of the river forever.

Meanwhile Varga herself simply stared at Devara with an exhausted expression.

Because somehow—Somehow—

This divine king still had absolutely no awareness that the terrifying crocodiles before him were originally celestial apsaras.

To him they were apparently just... River buddies.

And now transportation.

Meanwhile Devara looked around curiously after noticing their silence.

"What?"

The five crocodiles continued staring.

The young king frowned slightly.

"It’s a fair game."

The golden-eyed crocodile slowly closed its eyes as though praying for patience.

From the distance, Goddess Ganga finally failed to contain her laughter anymore.

The beautiful river goddess covered her mouth lightly while laughing softly at the absurd scene unfolding before her.

Because only Devara—Only this impossible child—Could look at five ancient cursed apsaras of celestial beauty...

...and somehow immediately turn them into participants of underwater hide-and-seek.

The five giant crocodiles continued staring at Devara in complete silence after hearing his "wonderful" game proposal.

The atmosphere beneath the sacred waters of Ganga’s divine domain somehow felt deeply judgmental now.

Especially toward Devara.

Meanwhile the young king blinked innocently at their dead-eyed expressions.

"What?"

Still no response.

The silver-eyed crocodile slowly looked away like she was reconsidering every life decision that led to this moment.

The crimson-eyed one visibly narrowed her eyes.

The green-eyed crocodile looked emotionally exhausted already despite the game not even starting yet.

And Varga?

Varga simply stared at Devara with the expression of someone watching a natural disaster wearing royal clothes.

Seeing their hesitation, Devara became genuinely confused.

"...."

"Why are all of you acting like this is unfair?"

He leaned forward slightly upon the giant stone slab.

"Look, I even prepared proper rules."

The crocodiles blinked slowly.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Apparently there were rules now.

Devara immediately began explaining with complete seriousness as though discussing an important royal military strategy.

"Time limit is ten minutes."

He pointed dramatically toward the glowing underwater forests stretching through the divine domain.

"You can hide anywhere within that radius."

Then he proudly placed both hands on his waist.

"And I won’t cheat."

The crocodiles continued staring silently.

Meanwhile Goddess Ganga sat nearby openly enjoying the entire scene now.

Because watching Devara negotiate hide-and-seek rules with ancient cursed apsaras trapped inside crocodile bodies was not something even divine beings got to witness often.

Still noticing their hesitation, Devara suddenly brightened as though struck by inspiration.

"Wait. I’ll add rewards too."

That immediately got their attention slightly.

Especially Varga’s sisters.

Devara grinned proudly.

-Grin!

"If I find you, you become my ride for some time..."

Then he raised one finger dramatically.

"But if you play properly, I’ll give all of you delicious food afterward."

The crocodiles exchanged glances.

That was already tempting.

The food Devara shared strangely soothed the curse inside them after all.

But then—Devara casually added another line.

"And I’ll even take all of you around my kingdom for a walk."

The moment those words entered the waters—All five crocodiles froze.

Completely.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Even Goddess Ganga’s amused expression softened slightly.

Because unlike Devara—The crocodiles immediately understood the deeper meaning behind those words.

Take them out of the waters.

Onto land. Their ancient curse.

The prophecy.

Narada’s words. The sage’s condition.

Everything connected instantly inside their minds.

For one long moment none of them moved.

Then all five slowly turned toward Devara simultaneously.

The young king blinked in confusion seeing the sudden intensity in their glowing eyes.

"...Why are all of you looking at me like that?"

Inside their hearts though—Excitement had exploded violently.

Because after all these years...

After endless waiting beneath sacred waters...

The prophecy was finally approaching its fulfillment.

The one destined to free them truly stood before them now.

And he was currently bribing them into participating in underwater hide-and-seek.

The absurdity of fate itself nearly made Varga question reality.

Meanwhile beside her, the green-eyed crocodile suddenly moved closer excitedly.

The crimson-eyed one’s tail actually splashed the waters slightly in excitement.

Even the silver-eyed crocodile looked energized now.

Varga herself slowly closed her eyes for a moment.

Then opened them again while staring at Devara.

The same overexcited child now grown. The same ridiculous energy.

The same warm heart.

He truly had not changed.

Meanwhile Devara finally smiled proudly seeing their reactions.

"Aha! Now you’re interested!"

The five crocodiles immediately nodded.

-Nods!

Very quickly. Almost suspiciously quickly.

The sudden enthusiasm actually startled Devara slightly.

"Why do I feel like all of you became motivated for completely different reasons..."

None of them answered.

Instead—The five giant crocodiles instantly scattered through the glowing underwater domain at incredible speed to begin hiding.

Leaving Devara sitting alone on the stone slab blinking in surprise.

"...."

Then slowly—A grin spread across his face.

-Grin!

"Oh ho..."

"You’re taking this seriously now."

Far away within the sacred waters, Varga swam swiftly beside her sisters while trying not to laugh internally.

Because somewhere between curses, prophecies, divine fate, and ancient suffering—Their liberation had somehow become connected to the most ridiculous game imaginable.

Mount Kailash...

Far beyond mortal kingdoms, beyond rivers, forests, politics, and wars—

High above the world upon the eternal сне-covered peaks of Mount Kailash—

The divine family quietly watched.

The sacred winds moved gently across the heavenly mountain while divine bells echoed faintly through the endless snowy silence surrounding Kailash.

Seated peacefully beside one another were Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Before them floated a divine vision formed through sacred energy.

Within it—The scene beneath Goddess Ganga’s waters unfolded clearly.

Their son.

The crowned king feared by neighboring rulers.

The young man capable of dancing the Tandava itself.

The ruler whose words now shook kingdoms.

And yet—Despite all of that—He was currently playing underwater hide-and-seek with cursed crocodile apsaras.

Goddess Parvati could not stop the soft smile blooming across her face.

Meanwhile Shiva simply watched silently, though the faint amusement visible within his eyes revealed enough already.

Because for divine beings like them—Power alone never mattered.

A person’s heart mattered more.

And even after becoming a king...

Even after carrying the burden of kingdoms upon his shoulders...

Devara had not lost the child within him.

That innocent warmth.

That strange ability to treat even cursed beings like companions rather than monsters.

That refusal to let power harden his soul completely.

Goddess Parvati softly shook her head while watching Devara chase the crocodiles through the underwater domain with alarming enthusiasm.

"He truly hasn’t changed at all."

Lord Shiva’s lips curved very faintly.

"He was never meant to."

The answer carried calm certainty.

Because both of them understood something important.

The world would eventually try to shape Devara into many things.

A conqueror. A king. A warrior.

A divine figure. A symbol.

But if he lost that simple heart beneath all of it—Then none of those titles would matter.

Nearby stood their two daughters as well, both quietly watching the vision with smiles of their own.

Pride shone clearly within their expressions.

Because they had witnessed his journey from the beginning.

After his marriage with Gandhari.

The struggles.

The training.

The burdens.

The expectations placed upon him.

And now—Watching their little brother standing confidently within his own kingdom while still laughing so freely...

It filled them with warmth.

One of them softly chuckled seeing the poor crocodiles desperately trying to hide while Devara loudly announced he would find every single one.

"He still terrifies people and animals equally."

That earned a quiet laugh from Goddess Parvati herself.

Meanwhile the divine household around Kailash remained peaceful.

Lord Ganesha had already departed earlier after hearing the prayers of one of his devotees calling sincerely for help.

As a god he needs to answer the call of his devotee who was calling him with such a pure devotion.

As always, the compassionate deity never ignored those who sought him with true devotion.

And Kartikeya too had returned toward his own abode after spending time at Kailash, where his wives now awaited him.

For a little while, only Lord Shiva, Parvati, and their daughters remained watching quietly.

Below them, kingdoms prepared for future conflicts.

Kings burned with pride and hatred.

Fate slowly moved its pieces across Bharatvarsha.

Yet amidst all of that—

Their son still found time to laugh beneath sacred waters while playing games with cursed crocodiles.

And strangely enough—

That simple sight brought more peace to their hearts than even grand victories ever could.

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(Author note:)

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Guys I have a new fic which named: Karuppan: King of Openings.