‼️the following chapter contains self harm by superstition acts, mension of blood and triggering personalities. If you're not comfortable then don't proceed.
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Author pov
Indra gulped, looking at the amount of steps infront of him. The priest told him the ways he can redeem himself infront of God. and he wanted to do every single one of them.
The first one was to climb 100 stairs on his knees. He joined his hands and closed his eyes and then got on his knees.
He started climbing the rocky stairs on his knees. It was painful, but he kept going.
The priest was watching him from up the stairs, waiting for him. He doesn't know what sin Indra had committed, but he hoped that he would be okay after all this.
Indra was grunting in pain, but he still proceeded. His knees started bleeding after a while. Since the stairs were not smooth, it was really hard.
After some hours, Indra reached the end; the priest was waiting for him.
The priest helped him to stand up, but Indra couldn't stand; his knees didn't have any strength. and his body was exhausted and in agony.
"You should go home now… Your body can't handle more of this, son." The priest tried to explain.
"N…no. Tell me what's next. I'm not going anywhere until I do all those. Even if I die." Indra panted out in pain.
The priest gulped and nodded. "The next one is… you roll around this whole temple of lord Rama for 3 times. You can't use your hands; you must keep them joined, and your mind must be filled with devotion and determination."
Indra nodded slowly. His body's strength was at its lowest. but he still decided to do it for Tulasi. He knows that if he doesn't do this, then his own guilt will eat him up later.
He laid his body down and joined his hands and stretched them out above his head and started rolling around the temple.
Because of the earlier act, his knees hurt every time he touches the ground.
He tried to ignore his pain and focus his mind solely on devotion. He kept going and going.
Meanwhile, Keshav enters the temple to pray and ask for something that's troubling his mind and heart.
As he makes his way around the temple, he spots someone rolling around the temple.
He raised his brows; he knows that people only do this type of stuff to ask for forgiveness.
He was about to walk away, but then he noticed something. That man's clothes looked so familiar.
Keshav then walked closer, trying to look at that man's face. His eyes widened when he recognized the person.
He quickly took long strides towards Indra. He was stunned to see him doing all this. He was about to speak and halt Indra's act, but the priest stopped him.
"Not now. Wait for him to finish. Otherwise all this would be a waste." The priest says.
Keshav closed his mouth and took a deep breath, then nodded.
After some time, Indra finally finished it. He tried to sit up, but his knees just won't give in. Keshav wrapped his arms around Indra's shoulder and made him sit against a wall.
"What is all this, Indra? Look at you. Why are you harming yourself?" Keshav asked after kneeling down to face him.
"I'm just trying to redeem myself…." Indra spoke lowly.
"Redeem yourself?? You didn't do anything." Keshav said.
"No... I did; I hurt Tulasi." Indra said, looking down.
"w…what do you mean?" Keshav asked.
"I... I hurt her. I… r**p*d her. I…I don't know what happened that day, but I was drunk, and I couldn't control my anger then… it happened." Indra said with tears.
Keshav was speechless. He didn't know how to react to this. The fact that he did it was infuriating for Keshav, but… when he heard that Indra was drunk… he understood the situation.
"Indra... You shouldn't have done that. But now you can't change the past. B... but don't hurt yourself like this; your people need you. You're not only the head of your house but also for the whole village." Keshav said.
Indra chuckled with tears "I thought the same, but… this guilt is just eating me alive. I couldn't take it anymore. Tulasi refused to even look at me now."
"Please… Let's go home now." Keshav tried to convince Indra.
"No…I still have something else to do." Indra tried to stand.
"Are you crazy!?? Look at your state; you can't even stand properly. Stop this nonsense and let's go home." Keshav said loudly.
"N...no! I have to do the last one before I even look at Tulasi again. It doesn't matter if I'm in pain" Indra said with furrowed brows.
"You're acting nuts! Let's just go home. Your family must be waiting for you." Keshav tried to escort him outside, but Indra pushed him away.
"Don't… I told you that I'm not going anywhere until I finish this." Indra says and looks at the priest.
He nods and escorts Indra to the spot. Indra walked slowly while using walls and pillars as support.
Keshav followed him after letting out a growl of frustration.
Indra looked at the coals pile infront of him. It was burning hot. It was letting out sparks of fire.
"You're not going to do this! Let's go home." Keshav yelled.
Indra was breathing heavily. He doesn't know how he would complete this. His knees were on the edge of giving up; he can't walk, but… He closed his eyes while panting.
The sweat beads were falling down his face; his knees had blood stains, and his white pants were making it more visible.
Indra's pov
The moment I closed my eyes, the only image I could think of was Tulasi's face. I smiled to myself.
I imagined myself having kids with her and leading a happy life… But then, I remembered her crying face when I hurt her. I quickly opened my eyes with angry tears. and took a deep breath.
He moved forward towards the raging coal pile. I grit my teeth hard and walked on them.
I was in agony… My legs were not supporting, and my feet were burning. If I tripped or fell due to my situation, then… I might even burn myself.
I chanted the name of Rama, and it gave me a bit of energy… I quickly walked on them, and I reached the end of it, but the moment I stepped out, my legs fell.
But before I fell on the ground, Keshav caught me. My heart felt lighter but... I still need to go to my tulasi, she must be worried. I need to go home and beg for her forgiveness again. I can't be at peace without doing that....
I smiled looking at him. "I… I did it. N..now I feel better. B...but i... I want to see my tulasi now." I muttered while looking at Keshav. Then my vision became blurry, and I lost my consciousness.
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