Sheshnag Hero Awakens

The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows over the fields of Warangal. The village lay quiet, bathed in golden light, as if holding its breath for the stories told at dusk. Under a sprawling neem tree, Arjun sat cross-legged beside his grandfather, the old man’s voice low and steady, weaving legends that had danced in the minds of villagers for generations.

“Sheshnag is not just a serpent, Arjun,” his grandfather said, eyes twinkling with a mix of reverence and mystery. “He is the guardian of our land. Seven-headed, he watches from beneath the rivers, beneath the mountains. His gaze can see your heart, and his power is both a blessing and a curse.”

Arjun had listened with wide eyes as a child, mesmerized by the tales. But as he grew older, those stories seemed like old myths beautiful, but distant from the reality he wanted to create for himself. He dreamed of moving beyond the village, beyond the fields and small houses, toward a life filled with opportunity.

Leaving Home

The morning air was cool but carried the scent of earth and harvest. Arjun’s mother called from the kitchen, “Arjun, eat before you leave. Your father and I will miss you.”

He smiled softly, taking the plate she handed him. “I’ll be back soon, Amma. I want to make you proud.”

His father’s rough hand ruffled his hair as he stood by the doorway. “City life is different, beta. Be careful.”

Arjun nodded, knowing the worries hidden in those words. He wanted to believe that Hyderabad, with its towering buildings and endless possibilities, was where his future lay.

The bus to Hyderabad rattled away from the village, leaving behind the fields and the quiet whispers of old legends. Arjun’s heart pounded with anticipation and a flicker of fear. Would the city welcome him? Would he find the chance to prove himself?

The City’s Pulse

Hyderabad was a tempest of noise and color. The streets buzzed with honking cars, vendors shouting prices, and crowds flowing like a river. Arjun found himself swallowed by the chaos but also energized by the endless motion.

He moved into a small rented room near the university, humble and cramped but his own. Days blurred into nights as he juggled his studies with searching for a job.

One evening, while scrolling through his phone’s classifieds, a notification caught his eye:

“Assistant required for archaeological field research on ancient Telangana. Join a team uncovering hidden secrets. Contact: Dr. Aditi Sharma.”

Arjun’s thoughts flashed to his grandfather’s stories. Could there be truth buried beneath the soil of his homeland?

He dialed the number, hands trembling slightly.

Meeting Aditi

The next day, Arjun stood nervously outside a stone building on the university campus. He took a deep breath and stepped inside.

A woman looked up from her desk, her eyes sharp and curious. “You must be Arjun,” she said, standing and offering her hand. “I’m Aditi Sharma. Thank you for coming.”

Arjun shook her hand firmly. “I’m eager to help, ma’am.”

Aditi smiled, sensing his earnestness. “Good. This project is important. We’re exploring sites tied to Telangana’s ancient past hidden temples, ruins that might hold clues to civilizations long forgotten.”

She paced the room, spreading out maps and photos. “We need someone willing to travel, to get their hands dirty. It won’t be easy.”

Arjun’s eyes shone with determination. “I want to learn. I want to understand the stories my grandfather told me.”

Aditi nodded, impressed. “Welcome aboard.”

Into the Field

Days later, Arjun found himself standing in a dense forest near the outskirts of the city. The team was preparing to explore a little-known site near the Qutb Shahi tombs.

Aditi led the way, her enthusiasm contagious. “These ruins may hold the key to Telangana’s forgotten history,” she explained. “And maybe, just maybe, something more.”

Arjun’s heart skipped. “More?”

She hesitated, then said, “There are legends… stories about guardians, protectors of the land. Ancient powers that shaped the very earth beneath us.”

As they moved deeper into the forest, the air grew thick and still. Shadows stretched long beneath towering trees. Arjun felt a chill, as though unseen eyes watched from the darkness.

The Discovery

They stopped before a crumbling wall, covered in vines and moss. Symbols were etched into the stone, worn but visible the shape of a serpent with seven heads twisted along the surface.

“Sheshnag,” Aditi whispered, awed.

Arjun stepped closer, fingers tracing the carvings. A sudden jolt surged through his body. He staggered back, breath caught.

“Are you alright?” Aditi asked, concerned.

“I… I felt something,” Arjun said, voice shaking. “Like the serpent was alive.”

That night, camped near the ruins, Arjun lay awake. Faint whispers drifted through the trees, calling his name. He sat up, eyes searching the darkness.

“Arjun…”

The voice was soft, impossible to locate. A warning? A beckoning?

New Realities

Over the following days, Arjun’s thoughts churned. The city, the stories, the carvings all pointed to a destiny he hadn’t imagined.

“What if the legends are true?” he asked Aditi as they catalogued artifacts.

“Legends often hold truths,” she replied thoughtfully. “And sometimes, those truths choose their keepers.”

Arjun’s fingers tightened around an ancient amulet they had found—a serpent coiled in a figure eight. The weight of it seemed heavier than metal, as if charged with unseen power.

He didn’t yet understand what lay ahead, but something deep inside him knew his life had changed forever.

At the Village:

Grandfather: “Remember, Arjun, Sheshnag watches all his power flows through the land, but beware. Greed awakens the curse.”

Arjun: “But Grandfather, why would anyone risk that power? Isn’t it safer to let the stories stay stories?”

Grandfather: “Some men are blinded by greed. The land has long memories, and Sheshnag never forgets.”

At Aditi’s Office:

Aditi: “You seem eager, Arjun. Why this sudden interest in archaeology?”

Arjun: “I grew up hearing stories about our land, its guardians. I want to see if there’s truth behind the tales.”

Aditi: “Good. We need minds like yours. Sometimes, the past speaks loudest through those who listen.”

At the Ruins:

Arjun: “This symbol… it’s like the stories I grew up with. But why here, so hidden?”

Aditi: “Because power hides in silence. Those who seek it must be careful.”

Arjun (touching the serpent carving): “It’s… alive. I feel it inside me.”

Aditi (alarmed): “Arjun, step back! That energy there’s something beyond history here.”

Camping Night:

Whisper (soft voice): “Arjun… chosen… protector…”

Arjun (whispering to himself): “Who’s there? What do you want from me?”

The city lights blurred behind Arjun’s bus window as he traveled back to his small room. His thoughts were tangled with questions and fears.

The legend of Sheshnag was no longer just a story. It was real. And somehow, he was part of it.

In the dark, the serpent’s eyes gleamed watching, waiting….