Akshmalika's fascination with discovery began when her mother introduced her to the Discovery Channel at a young age. She spent hours watching documentaries on inventions and new discoveries, often preferring them to playing with her friends. As she grew older, her thirst for knowledge only deepened. She devoured general knowledge books, further enriching her understanding of the world.

One day, while channel surfing, Akshmalika stumbled upon a documentary about the Devadasi culture. Entranced, she watched every episode, mesmerized by the soulful, painful, and humbling stories of these women, who had dedicated their lives to their creator. A particular ancient sculpture of a Devadasi caught her eye. It was a haunting image of a young one who had tragically lost her life, while never straying from the path of devotion. The image lingered in her mind day and night.

One moonlit night, as Akshmalika sat by the window, a gentle breeze rustling her hair, she felt an unusual energy surround her. Suddenly, a brilliant light illuminated the sculpture of the Devadasi before her. As she blinked in wonder, she felt herself being pulled from her seat, transported to a strange, unfamiliar land.

Confused and scared, Akshmalika walked on, only to discover that she was dressed exactly like the Devadasi. She ran, crying and begging for help. But the paths were deserted.

She simply ran until unwittingly she entered a Shiva temple. 

A loud noise ensued followed by the entry of a barbarian king, dressed in black clothes and an intimidating presence.

He walked towards her, laughing diabolically, his eyes dripping with lust. He thundered, "O devadasi, I have heard so much about your beauty. You are incomparable. Why are you wasting your youth on that stone? Come, in to my arms. I will show you heaven!"

A shooting pain shot up her spine by his mere touch and she felt like all the anger in the world had taken birth in her breast.

"I am a devadasi. My life belongs to only Lord Shiva. How did you find the courage to even look at me?"

His soldiers rushed towards her and set her on fire.

The king craned his neck so as to not miss even one frame of her shrieking in pain and begging him for mercy.

But the only screams that came from her burning figure was, "Om namah shivaya!"

He stared at her, fascinated, appalled and then finally scared.

His eyes popped out and he could have sworn, a third eye appeared out of her burnt forehead. A fire rushed out of it, wrapping itself around the king. Claimed him till he was a black burnt mass.

The Devadasi, a heap of ash, got swept by the wind and rested at the feet of the linga.

"Wake up..."

Akshamala got up with a start, looked at her mother stupidly.

"Aksha, go to your room and sleep."

Akshamalika groggily walked to her room, absentmindedly feeling her birthmark between her brows that resembled a third eye...