Chapter 20

Chapter - 20

“I love you Adi… Always remember, whenever I’ll close my eyes, you’ll be my last thought.”

“I don’t want to be your last thought… I want you with me, always and forever!”

“Adi!” Her despairing appeal found its answer in complete silence, making her realize the bitter truth - she had lost! The same inevitability she tried to warn Adi of, who knew she herself wasn’t ready to accept that? Suddenly Piya felt a sharp pain in her chest. It was more intense than anything she had ever experienced. Wasn’t death supposed to be peaceful? When some of the most vicious Asuras found their salvation in their end, why was she deprived of the Goddess’s mercy despite being a Daivik? “Perhaps that’s what you deserve.” Her mind barked at her, “Stop playing the victim when you chose destruction on your own.”

Yes, she was responsible for whatever transpired between her and Ansh. She was guilty of prioritizing his safety over hers. Was that really her fault? Her heart wanted to protest. She did try her best; she fought until the last moment as she had promised Adi. She wanted her children to have the love of both their parents. Unfortunately, her intentions didn’t matter, she failed anyway. The mighty Daivik who had slain countless demons, finally lost the battle against time. A choice had to be made and she could only hope she took the right decision. If not, then… She shut her eyes, trying to block the voice inside her head. No, Adi and Pari should never go through what she had endured. They deserved happiness and if that required for her to beg in front of the Goddess and trade all her virtues with an eternity in hell, she was willing to go down that path as well.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a flock of chirping birds. Something was wrong. Her brews furrowed. Nothing about her surroundings seemed remotely close to what afterlife felt like. She had been there, she could sense the difference. If she wasn’t dead, where was she?

“Don’t give up Gudiya!”

She recalled hearing Divya’s voice just before she closed her eyes. “Was it my imagination? Or Maa was really with me?” Her confusion worsened seeing the fog slowly disappearing around her. The air was chilly and wet. She could feel the freshness of sprouting; a strange serenity that reminded her of an autumn dawn. She tried to get up and heard some noise, almost like someone was chattering. “Maybe I should follow that voice.” After walking for a while, she reached a local market. “Why do I feel like I have been here before?” Her heart skipped a bit when she noticed a billboard nearby, “Bandap Bus Station”. “No! This can’t be.” She looked around frantically, only to receive the biggest shock of her life - a young woman was bidding farewell to her daughter. It was none other than her and Divya!

“I’ll return very soon.”

Divya kissed on little Piya’s forehead and was about to leave. “Maa please wait, don’t go!” Piya ran to her direction and cried out, “You don’t understand, everything will fall apart if you…” Before she could finish her sentence, Divya passed through her, sending another shiver sown her spine. “You can’t see me!” She looked at her hands hopelessly and gazed at her mother again. As a child she didn’t understand the pain hidden in her eyes, but today she could. She saw Divya tearing up as her past self was waiving at their mother, hopeful of a quick reunion. “Please don’t leave Maa!” She burst into tears, “Your daughter needs you… I need you! Come back to me!” “Gudiya,” “Maa?” Piya realized Divya was standing right behind her and hugged her immediately, “Promise me you’ll never leave me again.” “I promise.”

Divya stroked her hair lovingly, “I never left you Gudiya; I was always with you, in your heart.” Confused, Piya broke the hug and saw Divya boarding the bus. “No!” She rushed behind the speeding vehicle until her legs gave up and she fell down, “You don’t understand, you won’t succeed today and…” “And our entire family will bear the consequences of my actions?” “How did you?” Piya looked at the speeding bus again and turned her head towards Divya who was smiling at her, “It’s alright, I would have questions too.” Divya wiped Piya’s tears while she looked at the direction little Piya was standing, “I failed her,” she whispered, “All my life I’ve wanted to return to this exact moment and prevent you from facing Mohana and today… I failed Maa. I failed our family. I destroyed everything because of my weakness.”

“It’s not your fault,” Divya held her hand tightly, “Neither were you responsible for what happened that day, nor today. I wanted to stop Mohana; I wanted to bring an end to her terror. If you want to blame someone, it should be me.” “It doesn’t matter,” Piya pointed to her younger self, “That little girl doesn’t understand the complexity of the grand design. She’ll spend her life waiting for her mother’s return and…” “Unknowingly repeating the same mistake,” “That’s not what I…” “This is when it all began, right? The moment you accepted you’ll lose everyone you love eventually?” “How did you…” “It was never about changing what Gods had planned. Your heartbreak was essential for turning you into this thoughtful, kind young woman you needed to be to become a Daivik. But you have endured more than your fair share, forgetting some crucial moments along the way. That’s why I’m here today, to remind you of what truly matters,” She stood up and forwarded her hand, “Shall we?”

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“I’m still that same, foolish girl whose days start and end with you… This nightmare must end, right? Let it end with me.”

“Piya!” Ansh woke up screaming. He looked at his glowing palms and realized his powers were reactivated. Noticing the familiar ambience around him, he was about to heave a sigh of relieve only to face the harsh reality - it wasn’t a dream. Piya was lying beside him, seemingly lifeless, and Nishant, Savi and Naman were trying to revive her. “Bring us the Neel Heem, Naman, hurry!” Savi shouted while rubbing Piya’s hands. “Oh God, this is not happening.” “Gudiya, wake up!” Nishant’s voice choked, “You can’t do this to us, you can’t do this to me. Please open your eyes!” “Sir Ji,” Naman came back with some essential herbs, “Take these, they might help activating the Neel Heem faster.”

“What’s happening Papa?” Ansh’s voice startled the trio, “Jiju!” Savi rushed towards his direction, “Help Di, please!” “Don’t worry Savi, I won’t let anything happen to her,” He knelt beside Piya and tried to heal her. To his horror, her condition worsened even more. “Oh God, what’s wrong with me!” “You can’t save her like this Ansh, she’s still stuck inside your dream land.” “What?” “News flash - you created a parallel world as per your wish and Piya is stuck in between. If something happens to her there, she’ll feel the same here.”

Suddenly Ansh felt weak in his knees. How many times did Piya try to warn him about that? Yet he kept denying it, believing he was hallucinating. How could he be so foolish! “A Daivik has control over all natural elements. Why is she getting burned then?” “Because you made sure no one in your dream land possess any power.” “That’s enough Naman, we don’t have time for this blame game now. We need to preserve Gudiya’s body and…” Nishant kept instructing the Reevavanshis while Ansh stood devastated. He could hear Savi’s different theories on the fastest was to get Piya back but his mind remained stuck on the moment Piya’s last words.

“Is that what I’m to you now, an illusion… Punish me in whatever way you deem appropriate. But not this... I’ll die without you Ansh! Please don’t leave me...

Tears stung his eyes as realization dawned upon him. Even in the end, she kept her end of the bargain. She chose to burn herself so he could live. Why? Why did he do for her to love him with such passion? A jolt of pain running down his arm brought him back to the reality. For the first time he noticed the roots of Daayan Vriksh binding hishand with Piya’s. “That’s it! She merged her consciousness with mine to gain control over whatever that world was. That’s why she was able to control fire this time.” “What?” “I know what I have to do to get back Piya.” “You need to act quickly,”

Saavi pointed out the roots slowly coming out of their hands and disappearing, “This can’t be a good sign…” “Look, the Neel Heem is also turning red, what does this mean?” “It means Gudiya is dying,” Nishant fell to his knees, “That’s why she’s breaking the connection between her and Ansh, She wants him to be safe.” “No, she doesn’t get to decide on my behalf, not this time.” Before Nishant could say anything, Ansh started chanting and commanded Daayan Vriksh to teleport him back to the dreamworld. “I’m coming Piya, your Ansh won’t let anything happen to you, I promise…”