The Mists of Brahma Read online

  Praise for The Pataala Prophecy: Son of Bhrigu

  ‘Doyle creates a world of fantasy and adventure, in which mythology, action and suspense come together to weave a thriller that keeps you spellbound to the very end.’

  —The New Indian Express

  ‘The Pataala Prophecy: Son of Bhrigu, another riveting series which creates an enchanting world of fantasy and adventure, blending mythology, action and suspense.’

  —Deccan Chronicle

  ‘There’s a “chosen one”, there’s a secret society, and philosophical ideas from the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam have been quoted – Christopher Doyle’s latest, The Pataala Prophecy: Son of Bhrigu has it all.’

  —Sunday Mail Today

  ‘The story…keeps you on the edge of your seat…the atmosphere crackles with energy.’

  —Sakal Times

  The Mists of Brahma

  Christopher C. Doyle is a bestselling author who transports the reader into a fascinating world where ancient secrets buried in legend blend with science and history to create gripping stories. His debut novel, The Mahabharata Secret, featured among the top ten books of 2013 and was nominated for the Raymond Crossword Book Award, 2014. His ‘The Mahabharata Quest’ series features the bestselling novels The Alexander Secret and The Secret of the Druids.

  Son of Bhrigu, Book 1 of ‘The Pataala Prophecy’ series was published in April 2018. It went on to become a bestseller and won rave reviews from readers.

  An alumnus of St Stephen’s College, Delhi and IIM Calcutta, Doyle had a successful career in the corporate sector before embarking on an entrepreneurial journey, running a firm which helps companies to achieve exponential growth. He is also one of India’s leading CEO coaches. He lives in New Delhi with his wife and daughter.

  He can be contacted at:

  Website: www.christophercdoyle.com

  Email: [email protected]

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorchristophercdoyle

  The Quest Club: www.christophercdoyle.com/the-quest-club

  Also by Christopher C. Doyle

  The Mahabharata Secret (2013)

  The Mahabharata Quest Series

  Book I: The Alexander Secret (2014)

  A Secret Revealed: The Mini Sequel to the Alexander Secret (2016)

  Book II: The Secret of the Druids (2016)

  The Pataala Prophecy Series

  Book I: Son of Bhrigu (2018)

  First published by Westland Publications Private Limited in 2019

  1st Floor, A Block, East Wing, Plot No. 40, SP Infocity, Dr MGR Salai, Perungudi, Kandanchavadi, Chennai 600096

  Westland and the Westland logo are the trademarks of Westland Publications Private Limited, or its affiliates.

  Copyright © Christopher C. Doyle, 2019

  Christopher C. Doyle asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

  ISBN: 9789387894679

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organisations, places, events and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.

  All rights reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  This book is dedicated to my mother,

  whose strength and determination are an inspiration.

  For teaching me to be strong even in the face of adversity.

  For all the nights you stayed awake, caring for me,

  so I could sleep.

  For your love, blessings,

  and years of prayers for my success and well being.

  For everything you have taught me and given me.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One Terror in Corbett National Park

  Chapter Two Where’s Maya?

  Chapter Three Kapoor’s New Case

  Chapter Four Oh, There She Is!

  Chapter Five A Strange Case

  Chapter Six Revision

  Chapter Seven The Creature

  Chapter Eight In the Dorm

  Chapter Nine Maya’s Mission

  Chapter Ten Dwarka Again

  Chapter Eleven Ramganga

  Chapter Twelve Visitors

  Chapter Thirteen Arjun Has an Idea

  Chapter Fourteen The Sangha Council

  Chapter Fifteen Arguments

  Chapter Sixteen Farewell, Now

  Chapter Seventeen A Plan

  Chapter Eighteen Discovered

  Chapter Nineteen Satyavachana Explains

  Chapter Twenty Shukra Reflects

  Chapter Twenty-one The Council Agrees

  Chapter Twenty-two Disappointment

  Chapter Twenty-three A Decision is Made

  Chapter Twenty-four The Rest of the Plan

  Chapter Twenty-five Something Special

  Chapter Twenty-six Denied

  Chapter Twenty-seven Midnight Meeting

  Chapter Twenty-eight Trouble

  Chapter Twenty-nine A New Angle

  Chapter Thirty Kapoor Follows Up

  Chapter Thirty-one Arjun Reflects

  Chapter Thirty-two Maya Explores

  Chapter Thirty-three Dilemma

  Chapter Thirty-four A Shocking Discovery

  Chapter Thirty-five Unexpected Encounter

  Chapter Thirty-six The Mystery Deepens

  Chapter Thirty-seven A New Development

  Chapter Thirty-eight Grim Possibility

  Chapter Thirty-nine Kapoor Has a Plan

  Chapter Forty Kapoor Investigates

  Chapter Forty-one Frustration

  Chapter Forty-two Hopeless?

  Chapter Forty-three Maya Makes Progress

  Chapter Forty-four Maya Understands

  Chapter Forty-five Maya Gets a Gift

  Chapter Forty-six A Decision

  Chapter Forty-seven A Mystery

  Chapter Forty-eight Friends

  Chapter Forty-nine Fear

  Chapter Fifty A Promise is Made

  Chapter Fifty-one Progress

  Chapter Fifty-two Happy Birthday!

  Chapter Fifty-three Atma Travel

  Chapter Fifty-four Discovery

  Chapter Fifty-five What’s Happening?

  Chapter Fifty-six Preparation

  Chapter Fifty-seven Arrival

  Chapter Fifty-eight Anticipation

  Chapter Fifty-nine Confrontation

  Chapter Sixty The View from Above

  Chapter Sixty-one The Battle of Bhimbetka

  Chapter Sixty-two Pisachas

  Chapter Sixty-three Vikritis

  Chapter Sixty-four Overwhelmed

  Chapter Sixty-five Identification

  Chapter Sixty-six What Happened?

  Chapter Sixty-seven Oh No!

  Chapter Sixty-eight Shukra’s Move

  Chapter Sixty-nine Shukra Acts

  Chapter Seventy Return

  Chapter Seventy-one Shukra’s Cavern

  Chapter Seventy-two Graduation Day

  Chapter Seventy-three Kapoor Takes Stock

  Chapter Seventy-four Arjun Broods

  Chapter Seventy-five Farewell

  Chapter Seventy-six Parting

  Chapter Seventy-seven Update from Allahabad

  Chapter Seventy-eight The Boatman

  Chapter Seventy-nine Shukra Makes a Choice

  Chapter Eighty Shukra Searches

  Chapter Eighty-one Recall

  Chapter Eighty-two New Information

  Chapter Eighty-three A Walk in the Twilight

  Chapter Eighty-four Amyra

  Chapter Eight
y-five The Test

  Chapter Eighty-six Attack

  Chapter Eighty-seven Something Strange

  Chapter Eighty-eight Shukra Wonders

  Chapter Eighty-nine Second Test

  Chapter Ninety Inside the Portal

  Chapter Ninety-one Briefing

  Chapter Ninety-two About the Mists

  Chapter Ninety-three The Dark Side

  Chapter Ninety-four The Mists of Brahma

  Chapter Ninety-five Unexpected Meeting

  Chapter Ninety-six Last Instructions

  Chapter Ninety-seven Onward

  Chapter Ninety-eight The Source of the Verses

  Chapter Ninety-nine Maya Asks for Help

  Chapter One Hundred Maya Tells Satyavachana

  Chapter One Hundred and One That Strange Feeling Again

  Chapter One Hundred and Two Inside Dandaka

  Chapter One Hundred and Three Missing

  Chapter One Hundred and Four The Consequences

  Chapter One Hundred and Five Exile!

  Chapter One Hundred and Six Plans

  Chapter One Hundred and Seven The Search Begins

  Chapter One Hundred and Eight A Dead End

  Chapter One Hundred and Nine Books

  Chapter One Hundred and Ten Confrontation

  Chapter One Hundred and Eleven Shock!

  Chapter One Hundred and Twelve No!

  Chapter One Hundred and Thirteen Grief

  Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen Help Please!

  Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen Farewell to Arjun

  Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen Maya Gets an Idea

  Chapter One Hundred and Seventeen Maya Confides

  Chapter One Hundred and Eighteen The Journey

  Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen Waiting for Maya

  Chapter One Hundred and Twenty A While Longer

  Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-one Maya’s Test

  Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-two What Next?

  Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-three Maya’s Story

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  Acknowledgements

  Have You Joined the Quest Club?

  Prologue

  Five Years Ago

  New Delhi

  Maya tossed and turned in her sleep. The nightmare had her in its steely grip and would not let go. Her body stiffened, her muscles tensed, as her brain responded to the horrifying scenes that were playing out in her mind. Her hands clutched the bedsheet as if trying to gain purchase, the movements of her fingers betraying a sense of desperation.

  She screamed; a sound filled with terror and despair.

  The sound of her own shriek jerked her awake and she sat bolt upright in her bed.

  She was sweating profusely.

  The door to her room crashed open and a figure rushed in, looming in the darkness.

  Maya shrank back against the headboard, cowering under the quilt.

  The lights came on, flooding the room with a sense of comfort and assurance, a shield against the darkness and the things that hid beneath its cloak.

  ‘Maya!’ It was her father, Naresh Upadhyay, roused by her scream. He looked anxious. ‘What happened?’ he asked gently.

  Maya closed her eyes. Unbidden, the images from the nightmare rushed back into her mind. She saw the black, shadowy shapes as clearly as if they were real. The intense cold that had permeated the dream still clung to her bones.

  And the voice … the voice …

  Whispering to her, the words unintelligible. It had been a hoarse rasp with a chilling edge to it that made her hair stand on end even now, when she was awake.

  What the dream meant Maya couldn’t fathom, but it had ended with her being sucked against her will into an infinite darkness that enveloped her. She had tried to scream but no sound came out. Desperate to escape the clutches of the living darkness that drew her into its fold, she had scrabbled wildly for something to hold on to, to no avail.

  The cold voice had seemed to beckon to her, drawing her deeper into the darkness, wrapping itself around her. Even now, she could feel its slimy touch, as if it were a living thing, folding her in its embrace, stifling her consciousness.

  Then, suddenly, she had found her voice. And screamed.

  That was when her father had woken up and rushed to her room.

  Maya shivered involuntarily. Her eyes were still wide with terror and glazed with confusion. She snuggled up against her father, as he sat next to her on the bed and put a protective arm around her. She struggled to tell him what she had seen.

  ‘It’s alright,’ Naresh Upadhyay murmured. ‘It was only a nightmare.’ His voice was calm and comforting, assuaging her fears. ‘It wasn’t real. Those things weren’t real. Nothing but a nightmare.’

  ‘Mmm … hmmm.’ Maya snuggled closer to her father, safe in his protective presence. Her breathing returned to an even rhythm. Nothing could harm her as long as her father was with her. Not even the shapes from her nightmare.

  ‘Dad, I won’t be able to go back to sleep,’ she said tremulously.

  ‘Don’t worry, my dear,’ her father told her with a smile, as he stroked her head. ‘I am going to recite a very powerful mantra that will not only help you go back to sleep but will also ensure that you do not have any more nightmares tonight.’

  ‘Dad!’ Maya was not reassured. ‘How can a mantra help?’

  ‘It will. I promise you. Now, lie down and close your eyes. I’m turning the lights out.’

  Ten minutes later, Naresh Upadhyay shut the door of Maya’s room behind him. His forehead was creased with thought. He made his way to his study and sat at his desk, lost in contemplation.

  A little over a month ago, Maya’s dreams had begun. She had had them every night since then, but they weren’t the usual dreams of a ten-year-old’s fertile mind. She had described them to him as slow, lazy dreams filled with peace and happiness. Nice things happened in them, though she never remembered what they were about once she woke up. But she always rose in the morning with a smile on her face and a strange, joyful sensation inside her head.

  Then, exactly one month after the dreams began, she had had her first nightmare. Like her earlier, nicer, dreams, she was unable to remember what her nightmares were about, but she would wake up with an unpleasant feeling of unease the next day, and tell her father about it at breakfast.

  Tonight was the first time he had been roused by her reaction to a nightmare.

  Naresh realised that the nightmare Maya had experienced tonight was no ordinary one. What really worried him was that, for the first time, she had vivid recollections of it.

  Why had her dreams suddenly turned? And what was special about tonight’s nightmare?

  Naresh hadn’t given much thought to the dreams over the last month, but if he was right, they would continue. Unless he was able to figure out the source of the nightmares, he would not be able to do anything to stop them from recurring.

  Still lost in thought, he rose and walked to one of the bookshelves that lined three walls of his study. He studied the books along one of the walls and, after a few moments of searching, found what he was looking for. An old leather diary, well thumbed and worn.

  He flipped it open and glanced through the pages which bore inscriptions, written by hand.

  When he reached a particular page, he found a loose sheet of paper that was covered with inscriptions. He frowned and sat down at his desk, reading the inscriptions. A few moments later, he closed the book and sat for some time, lost in thought.

  The conclusion was inescapable. He had been wrong.

  So, so wrong.

  Everything he had done had been for nothing.

  Now, he had a choice to make.

  He had already sacrificed a lot. But the decision that he was confronted with called for something greater.

  He knew what had to be done. But he couldn’t bring himself to confront the reality of what it would mean. For him. And for Maya.

  Nares
h sat there for a long time, considering the possibilities.

  But there seemed to be only one way forward.

  He knew Maya would never forgive him for this.

  But he had no choice.

  Present Day

  ‘The setback is only temporary, O Wise One.’

  Shukra had been lost in deep thought. He stirred and eyed the Naga who had spoken, an enormous being more than ten feet tall and all muscle, who towered over him as he sat brooding in his secret cavern.

  Encouraged by Shukra’s silence, the Naga continued, ‘Garuda will not stay at the Gurukul for long. His place is near his Lord, near Dwarka, the place where Krishna lived in Bhu-lok. If he hasn’t returned yet to his island, he will, and soon. There are more Gurukuls spread across Bharatvarsha. How many will Garuda defend?’

  ‘There are the sadhs,’ a second Naga, equally massive, added. ‘We now know the Sangha is weak. If we spread out among the sadhs, we can take Bhu-lok by ourselves.’ He allowed the hint of a snigger to escape him. ‘We won’t need the Daityas or Danavas or even the Mahanagas.’

  ‘Kuhaka, Kâlya,’ the third Naga, who had been silent so far, addressed the two Nagas who had just spoken. He was the largest of the trio, standing head and shoulders above the other two giant reptiles, and spoke with a tone of authority and superiority. ‘You do not understand the thoughts of the Wise One. The Gurukul we attacked is where the One of the prophecy resides. We will achieve nothing if we create chaos and panic among the sadhs or destroy the other Gurukuls, as long as Yayati’s scion lives. And Garuda will defend that Gurukul with his life. We have to be realistic. We have to find a way to get the boy.’

  ‘No, Takshaka.’ Shukra spoke finally, as he rose to his feet. ‘You are correct about the boy from the prophecy residing in the Gurukul. But he is weak. He is not ready. I do not see him as a threat. He means nothing to me.’

  ‘Then what do you wish us to do, Son of Bhrigu?’ Takshaka asked. ‘The ranks have been restless this past week. They have not taken their defeat well. None of them had gone to the Gurukul expecting to be routed. Shall we mount another attack and finish off the boy before he has the chance to fulfil the prophecy?’

  Shukra shook his head. ‘No, Takshaka. If I wish to kill the boy, I won’t need the Nagas to help me. Even Garuda cannot protect the Gurukul if I bring my powers to bear against it. But there is always a cost. Even for someone like me. And, right now, that cost is not worth it. I have much work to do before my plans come to fruition. And I have learned what I needed for now. But you have raised a valid issue. Your troops need to be satisfied.’