Chapter - 24

Chapter - 24

The idea of coexistence always flummoxed a young Saavi. If no one could eradicate evil, what was the point of being a Reevavanshi? If one had to experience sorrow ultimately, why would they even want to elude themselves through moments of happiness? Wasn’t it futile? To fight continuously whether it’s an internal battle or an external one, knowing you have no control over anything? Albeit perturbed, Nishant always felt guilty whenever Saavi asked him those questions because he knew the little girl standing before him wasn’t a Reevavanshi but a lonely, motherless child who was lost and desperately trying to make some sense of LIFE - a fascinatingly complex but cruel idea that kept her agitated. He hoped for a miracle that someday, something extraordinary might happen that would mend her broken heart and help her find her answers…

As Saavi opened her eyes to the crimson hue of early morning, her heart ached knowing she would never see Divya’s face again. Nonetheless, she felt a strange peace that transcended her understanding. For the first time, saying goodbye to someone she loved didn’t seem like a punishment. Rather, it felt like a promise that one day she would join her mother again. And when that day came, she knew Divya would embrace her with the brightest smile…

“Remember one thing, no matter where you are, no matter what you do, I’ll always be with you…I love you!”

“Perhaps this is why pain exists. If I hadn’t lost you, I would have never fully grasped what you mean to me Mom.” She wiped her tears and got off the couch. “Don’t worry Mom, I won’t waste this gift called LIFE. I will live my life to the fullest and experience everything it has to offer so when I meet you again, I can tell you what distance I have crossed to rest in your lap again.” Suddenly she heard a child cooing. “Could it be?” She walked to the adjacent room and found Dafli playing in her cot. “Hi there sweetheart!” She bent down to lift the child. “Did you miss me?”

“She surely did.” “Guru Maa! I’m sorry if I woke you…” “It’s okay dear, I was already awake.” The old lady rose from the bed and came to their direction. “Did you find what you were looking for?” “I think I did. I finally got the closure I needed but…” “It still doesn’t make it any less painful to say goodbye to the person you love the most, even when it comes with the assurance of a reunion.” She traced her fingers across Saavi’s face, wiping her tears.

“I wish I could take your pain away like Divya would have… I wish you didn’t have to find your closure in an alternate reality. However, I can vouch for one thing - the affection you felt over there was probably one tenth of how much your mother truly loved you. I know you never got to be with her. Even when she returned, she chose the greater good over you. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t love you. She did love you, with such intensity that I can’t express it. And I’m glad that even if it was for a brief moment, you could experience a version of it.” “Thank you Guru Maa!” Saavi hugged her tightly, “How did you know I needed to hear these exact words right now!” “You sound so much like Piya,” She replied with a smile while stroking Saavi’s hair, “She would often ask me how I could sense when she was crying or feeling lonely.” “I wouldn’t blame her for that. Sometimes it freaks me out how perceptive you are.” “Amazed would be a better word but I’ll take it.” The old lady said, smiling.

“You see Saavi, we may not realize, but we are more alike our loved ones than we think we are. You and Piya have always been polar opposites but even then, ask anyone and they’ll recognize you as her little sister. You can’t put a finger on it; you simply know it. In the same way, you don’t have to prove your worth to be acknowledged as Divya’s daughter. She was and will always be alive in you… Anyway, we can continue this discussion later dear. Considering you’re awake, I suppose everyone will also be waking up. We should check up on them and see if they need any help.”

By the next couple of hours, Naman and Nishant woke up followed by Piya and Ansh. Everyone had a similar reaction as they were welcomed by Saavi and Guru Maa. They looked happy and sad at the same time but could not decide how to express themselves or whether they should talk about it at all. Sensing the awkwardness in everyone, Saavi decided to break the ice, “So, what now?” “We need to destroy the scrolls immediately.” “Are you sure Sir Ji? What if we need it someday?”

“We can’t take that risk Naman. Saavi and I had already discussed it when I first found the scrolls. We’ve had our reservations regarding how a change in history, even if it’s made in favor of the Reevavanshis, might alter our current timeline. But after what happened to Ansh, I’m convinced that we should not take any chance. We need to destroy every single trace of those scrolls before anyone gets to know that such a spell even existed.”

“I’m so sorry Papa.” Remorseful, Ansh looked down to avoid everyone’s gazes. “I had no idea I would end up creating a dream world just by touching the Kohrayan Talwar. I still don’t know how or why that happened, I…” “It’s okay Jiju, we know you’re not at fault here,” Saavi paused for a moment before finishing her sentence, “It was an accident.” “Then why did you hesitate?” “I’m sorry?” “You paused before finishing your sentence. Which means I contributed more to this mess than I already think I have.”

“You did nothing Ansh, at least not intentionally. It’s just that you were present at the wrong place at the wrong time. You shouldn’t blame yourself for that. None of us could have predicted that something like this might happen.” “Isn’t that the most pressing issue?” Naman said hesitantly. “No one tried to cast the spell in the first spell. Saavi was brewing a regular potion which contained some of the essential herbs required for the spell and all Ansh did was touch the sword. Still, an alternate reality was created. Not to mention Piya nearly died while trying to reverse the spell,” He stopped midway, unsure of how to address his concern without accusing Ansh.

“You can go ahead Naman. I know you are not attacking me for old time’s sake.” “Thank you Ansh. What I’m trying to say is… We need to look deeper than simply destroying everything related to the spell. Technically you may be immortal, however, that doesn’t mean you are freed of other human constraints. There will be times when you’ll feel overwhelmed and who knows? You might end up triggering something worse. As long as Piya is there, we know she’ll find a way to make everything right. But…” “What will happen after my death? Is that what you’re implying?” Piya asked nonchalantly. “I…”

“You really need to let go of your inhibitions, Naman. As a Reevavanshi, it’s our duty to address these questions even if they make us uncomfortable. As for your question, I have something important to share with all of you.” She turned toward Ansh, “How are you feeling Ansh?” “What?” “I asked, how are you feeling, physically? When you absorbed the energy from Sanatan Agni, you told me you felt like you were invincible. Now that we have untethered the dream world from ours, how do you feel?”

“I feel… Light! I mean… I still feel powerful but it’s just how I used to feel when I was only a Daavansh. Wait a second, why are you asking me this?” “I’d say, you just answered all of our questions.” “Di what’s going on?” “You guys are aware that I created an identical parallel dream world first and then merged it with Ansh’s so I could have full control over it...” “I beg your pardon?” “I thought you knew about it.” “That’s not relevant anymore Naman. Let Di speak.”

“Thank you Saavi. As I was saying, I was sure you would try to stop me. You and Naman connected with Daayan Vriksh before, I knew it was a matter of time before you would try that again and bring me back. That’s why I didn’t rely on the sleeping potion alone. This time, I created an additional energy barrier around Daayan Vriksh to prevent you from connecting to it so you can’t enter the dream world.” “I thought I was faltering under pressure…”

“You didn’t. I felt your presence every time you tried to breach the barrier. I have fought a lot of Kaalishaktis over the years, so trust me when I say this, you were good. You were really really good. At one point, you almost overpowered me. But I guess Devi Maa listened to my prayers. I still had some energy left to stop you.” “No wonder it took a toll on you. With so many things going on simultaneously, I’m surprised you made it back.” “Actually, I didn’t.” “What do you mean?”

“By the time Ansh got back, my soul had reached the Paatal Lok. You weren’t there and Ansh didn’t know what other possible alternatives he had. So he did the one thing he could think of - splitting his life force to revive me.” “He did what!” “Yes Saavi, he tapped on the power of Sanatan Agni and let the energy flow through me until he got me back. However, in his attempt to resurrect me, Ansh lost his immortality. He still has his Daavansh powers intact but the additional energy no longer exists.”

“I’m mortal now?” The ecstasy in his voice surprised everyone. “Yes.” “I can’t express how relieved I’m feeling right now.” “You must be the first person in this universe who’s happy to be a mortal. But Gudiya, are you certain about this? Do you really think Ansh doesn’t have any residual powers left?” “Piya is right Nishant Ji.” Pandit Ji entered the room, “It’s written in his kundli.” “Namaste Pandit Ji! When did you come?” “I called him when you were still asleep.” Guru Maa replied, “Once you all entered the dream world, we discovered something in Ansh’s kundli and thought we should inform you about it.”

“If you can remember, during Pralay Yudh, Vedashree Ji asked me to check Ansh’s kundli and I found something puzzling - he had Mrityu Yog and still there was more to it. When he sacrificed his life to save Piya, that’s when I realized his death was essential so he can be reborn as the supreme entity who’ll end Mohana’s reign. Nevertheless, it was contradictory to natural order - since the beginning of the universe, no one has ever attained immortality, except for the Gods. Then how could Ansh break that rule without facing any consequences?”

“That’s when we discovered, shortly after his battle with Mohana, something extraordinary was supposed to happen that would transform him into a mortal again and restore the natural balance. We couldn’t figure out how it would happen but going by Piya’s narration, we think this is it.” “I too agree with Guru Maa. It can’t be a coincidence that I was brewing that particular potion on the day when Dad discovered the time travelling spell. Not to mention Jiju entered the room and touched Kohrayan Talwar right before we got back to destroy the scrolls. Everything happened as per course. It’s just that we didn’t realize what was happening until now.”

“I have a question though, what was the need to create a parallel world? If Piya’s life was in danger, Ansh would risk everything in this world too. Then why did it take place in a dream world?” “I think I know why, if I unleashed my energy in its pure, unadulterated form, the flow of energy would be so great that it would destroy everything in its vicinity. But when I created the dream world, it absorbed a significant amount of energy from me as its driving force. So when I used Sanatan Agni, the intensity decreased significantly and no one was harmed.”

“Considering it was a dream world, even if things went downhill and a disaster befell, it would still be contained within the boundaries of the dream world. No one in the real world would face any consequences, right?” “Right. Also, call me crazy but after everything we have been through these last couple of days, I feel it was just another way of Devi Maa to remind us of what truly matters. I genuinely consider it as a reward that we got to spend some time with our loved ones, even if it was an illusion.”

The certainty in Piya’s voice didn’t escape Ansh’s notice. He could swear the tranquility he saw in Piya’s eyes had deeper meaning. Nonetheless, he decided to keep quiet and let Piya reveal everything when she felt was the right time.

“Dad, what’s wrong?” “Nothing, I think… I believe what Gudiya just said is right. Unfortunately, old habits die hard. I wish we had a definitive way of knowing if our hypothesis is right.” “For now, this should suffice.” Pandit Ji showed Nishant the vessel where they preserved a flame of Sanatan Agni before. “Is that…” “Yes Saavi, remember how you weren’t able to douse the fire until now? When Guru Maa and I were contemplating whether this mishap with the time travelling spell could be the event prophesized in Ansh’s kundli, we realized it started to flicker; and it died down just when Piya was revived. Based on everything we have observed so far, I think it’s safe to assume Ansh is mortal now.”

“Can I request something?” Everyone turned toward Ansh. “I understand your skepticism. In fact, I agree with every single point Naman has raised so far; with my uncontrollable power, I pose more threat to the magical world than any other entity. We must come up with a plan to ascertain the extent of my power before another such catastrophe ensues. But before we move forward with that, can I meet my kids once?” “I was going to ask the same thing Baba. I know it has only been a couple of days but each one of us has gone through a lot. We can destroy the scrolls now to thwart any imminent danger. But the rest of the proceedings, can it wait until tomorrow?”

“I don’t think that should be a problem. Even I want to spend some time with Dafli before we proceed.” “Fine by me. Dad, what do you say?” “I think you are right. There’s no point in rushing into something so complicated like this without having a proper plan. As much as I’d like to deny it, even I want a break from all of this.” “Besides, Vedashree Ji has been very anxious since they haven’t heard anything from Anshfor the last few days. I think it’ll be better if he joins his family for now and assuages their worry.” “The kids are also missing them, specially Adi. Yesterday when I dropped them off, he seemed to be very worried about Piya.” “Adi,” Piya’s breath hitched as she recalled her last conversation with her boy.

“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!”

Here she was, surrounded by her loved ones, with a renewed hope for their future. And there her son was dealing with the repercussions of her decisions. She knew she couldn’t be blamed for preparing the child for the worst. After all, what could be more painful than waiting in uncertainty? If she couldn’t be there for him, the least she could do was to let him know how much she loved him. But would that ever truly compensate for her absence?

As someone who spent the majority of her life longing for her mother, Piya was well-aware of Adi's feelings. Even though he wasn’t old enough to grasp the intensity of his emotions yet, Piya understood at times when Adi complained about Pari being her favorite, it wasn’t typical sibling rivalry. Unknowingly he channeled his frustration that stemmed from his deep-rooted pain of abandonment. The empathetic child who could recognize his mother’s shortcomings and had it in him to forgive her, also struggled with a persistent fear of losing her for whatever reason. That’s why consciously and subconsciously he became a lot more tenacious of her than Pari ever was.

If only she could end his fear once and for all! How she wished she had a way of expressing what he truly meant to her! She might have spent more time with Pari but it was Adi who made her a mother. She was afar but never apart. While Pari attracted a lot more attention from everyone, it was mostly because of her mischievousness and the natural bond shared between a mother and her daughter. But the type of love she had for Adi, nothing could ever come close to that. He wasn’t merely an extension of her; he was the embodiment of her heart - the joy, the pain, and the purity within. He was her, Ansh, and much more.

Unfortunately, no amount of power or assurance could prepare someone for facing the void left by their mother. While her assurance could ease his pain a bit and help him move forward without feeling guilty, why should Adi be put in such a position in the first place? He deserved both of his parents’ presence and affection in his life. And with the second chance she was given, Piya vowed to herself that she would make sure that Adi grew up to be a confident young man, without any fear or insecurity.

“Adi… Is he okay?” “He’s alright. I told him you guys were fine. But you know, he shares a psychic connection with Piya. Perhaps he sensed some discomfort when her life was in peril.” “All the more reason we should get back to them immediately, can we?”

Nishant nodded his head and got inside to bring the scrolls. Once he came back, Piya and Ansh combined their powers to burn them to ashes and Pandit Ji collected it. It was decided that he would divide the ashes into different portions and give them to his disciples so they can discard it in different parts of the world. That way even the Reevavanshis and Ansh will never know about its whereabouts and won’t be able to cast the spell ever again. Once everything was done, Piya, Ansh and Pandit Ji left for their home.

“Even we should leave now. I’ll see you guys later. Come Amma.” After Naman had left with Guru Maa, Saavi looked at Nishant and let out a tired smile. “I guess it’s just the two of us again.” “As always…” “You know you can talk to me, right?” “I know.” Nishant said affectionately, “I also know you have a tendency to run away from your feelings.” “What is that supposed to mean?” “We just said goodbye to the people we love the most. And by we, I mean Naman as well.” “So?” “A conversation about our family might help lighten my mood but what about you? Don’t tell me now it didn’t affect you when you saw him with Dilruba.”

“You do realize I set up his meeting with Dilruba so he can say goodbye?” “I do. That doesn’t mean it can’t stir up any insecurity in you.” Saavi hid a sigh. She was hoping Nishant wouldn’t notice her discomfort but apparently, she underestimated her father. “All I’m saying is, talk to him, clear your confusion before it’s too late. As for me, I’ll be okay. Just give me some time. Although I won’t mind if you want to share your feelings with me.” “How do I share my dilemma when I don’t even know what exactly I’m feeling? Maybe you’re right, we just need some time to clear our heads.” “Alright, I’ll be in my room. If you change your mind,” “I’ll come find you.”

She forced a smile. As Nishant went upstairs, Saavi remained hesitant, unsure of how to approach Naman and express her hesitation about the next phase of their relationship…

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“I can’t believe I got so late today! I better finish allthe arrangements before,” “Good morning, Chaitali!” Vedashree greeted Chaitali with a smile. “Don’t worry about the arrangements, we still have enough time.” She placed the thali before Chaitali so she can take blessings. “You look surprisingly relaxed, what happened?” “Ansh called earlier this morning. He’s heading home now.” “That would explain the smile on your face.” She said smilingly, “Finally I can stop walking on eggshells around you.” “Was I that bad?” “Ask Bhai Saheb, you have been a nightmare since Ansh left last week.”

“I can’t help it, Chaitali. You know why I worry so much,don’t you?” “I know Bhabhi. But everything is alright now. Mohana is dead and Ansh and Piya are also settling into their normal lives. I think it’s time you relaxed a bit.” “You’re right. Let Ansh return with Piya. Once we are done with the havan, we can take a small break and visit Neha and Kajal.” “That’s a great idea. In fact, we can visit Rishi too on our way home. After all, why should only Ansh suffer from our smothering.” “Anything interesting I missed?” Ansh entered the temple with Piya. “Depends, would you like to know how we’re gonna torture your siblings?”

“Forget them, you come here first.” Vedashree twisted Ansh’s ear playfully, “Couldn’t you call me at least once? Do you know how worried I was?” “I’m sorry Maa. It will never happen again.” He hugged her emotionally. “Ansh, what’s the matter dear?” Vedashree sensed something off as her son held on her tightly. “Nothing Maa,” Ansh wiped his tears carefully and broke the hug, forcing a smile, “I missed you, that’s all.” “And here I was complaining about Bhabhi being overly dramatic.” “Let it be Chachi, it’s better to express your emotions than bottling up everything inside. Besides, we only realize the value of our loved ones when we’re forced to be apart.”

“You guys have started to scare me now. What’s this all about?” “Don’t worry Chachi, everything is fine. All I can say is, these last couple of days have been an eye opener for us.” “It felt as if our entire life flashed before our eyes, making us realize what truly matters.” “Hence got a bit emotional.” “Where are the kids Maa? I hope they didn’t trouble you much.” “Not at all.” “I think I saw them sleeping when I was passing by their room.” “That’s okay. We’ll wake them up and bring them downstairs. Come Piya.” Once Piya and Ansh left the temple, Vedashree and Chaitali exchanged glances.

“Am I the only one who thinks they were acting a little strange?” “No, I noticed it too.” “Then why didn’t you say anything?” “Because I also saw tranquility in their eyes that was missing for quite some time now.” “Do you have any idea what that was about?” “No, I’m thinking about what Piya just said.” “That they got to relive their past?” “Yes. I don’t know if she meant it literally or figuratively. However, if those kids got to reminisce at least one quarter of what they have been through together in some ways, that should be enough for them to bury the hatchet and move forward.”

“I hope you’re right Bhabhi. It’s no secret they were facing some issues and it was taking a toll on their relationship. I just hope they can sort everything out between them before it becomes a bigger problem.” “Something tells me they already did.” “What?” “When they were going upstairs, I saw how they were looking at each other. Exhausted, yet happiness was evident on both of their faces.” “Yeah, I noticed it too.” “Let’s just pray they always remain happy and face everything together, being each other’s shields.”

Vedashree and Chaitali offered their prayer again seeking blessing for their children’s happiness and got busy in the preparation of conducting a havan.

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“Amma?” “Yes.” “Would it be okay if I go back to Sir Ji’s house now? Can you look after Dafli until I come back?” “When I could take care of her for the last few days what difference will a couple of hours make?” “Yeah, right. But then I was stuck in the dream world. Now that I’m here…” “You don’t have to come up with a justification Naman. I know you want to talk to Saavi, and you should. Don’t worry about Dafli. I’m more than happy to spend time with my granddaughter.” “Thank you Amma! I’ll come back right away.” Before Guru Maa could say another word, Naman rushed out, slamming the door behind him. “Finally, the idiot is becoming sensible.” She smiled to herself and hoped that everything would be sorted out between Naman and Saavi.

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“Rise and shine Sleepyheads!” “Papa!” Both Pari and Adi sprung from their bed and hugged Ansh, causing him to lose his balance and fall on the floor. “Easy there, kids,” He pulled them closer and engulfed them in a bear hug, “What if you got hurt?” “Nah, that’s not gonna happen. We knew you’d catch us anyway.” Adi said smiling. “Is that so?” “Yes. Besides, we were missing you.” “I missed you too!” Ansh broke the hug and caressed his children’s faces, unaware that a tear trickled down his cheek. “What happened Papa? Why are you crying? Did you get hurt?” “I’ve never been better dear. It’s just that… You know Papa went on a mission, right?” The kids nodded their heads.

“At some point, it got quite difficult and I was about to give up when I remembered we were supposed to watch Avengers: Endgame together and that motivated me to fight back.” “See, everyone except you gets how cool it is!” Adi exclaimed excitedly. “That’s not fair! You come home after so many days and that weird movie is all you can think about?” “Stop being a drama queen little sister. It hasn’t been even a week. Besides, Papa knows what matters the most, right Papa?” “Let Mumma come, she’ll decide.” “So now you remember her, when you need her support?” The boy rolled his eyes.

“At least someone here remembers good old mum,” Piya entered the room, “Otherwise, everyone else was busy hugging and planning their outings without me.” “That’s not true,” Adi ran towards her direction and hugged her, “There are people who do not believe in showing off their affection.” He stuck his tongue out at Pari and held on to Piya tightly. “Yeah yeah, go ahead Mumma’s boy. As if you were the only one who missed her.” “Pari, please! Is it necessary to always antagonize your brother? Why can’t you two simply greet us without turning it into a competition?” Piya beckoned Pari to join her in the group hug and the little girl jumped into her lap.

“Adi started it.” “Well, I’m ending it.” Ansh ruffled her hair and hugged them all. “Does it really take so much effort to enjoy a family moment?” “No.” Pari replied giggling. “Now come along, brush your teeth and have some light breakfast. We’re going out.” “Please tell me we’re not going for that stupid Avenger movie?” “We are. After that, we’ll go to that park you like and any other place you guys want to visit.” “Alright!” Pari rushed to the washroom to get ready. “What happened Adi? Don’t you want to compete with Pari now?” Piya asked playfully. “No,” “Huh? That’s anticlimactic.” “Actually Papa, I wanted to talk to Mumma first,” The seriousness in his voice surprised both of his parents. “Are you alright Mumma?” “I’m fine sweetheart. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know… Yesterday, I felt something odd, like a strange pulling, as if you were calling out my name. I know it doesn’t make any sense but for a moment there, I felt like I was losing you. Then I remembered your words about the inevitability of death and it terrified me even more. This morning, when Papa arrived, I was glad because I knew you must have helped him in his mission. But my heart sank at the same time when I couldn’t find you in the room. I thought you…” “You thought something terrible had happened to me?” “Yes.”

“Well guess what? You were right about everything. There was this one moment when I fell weak; I wondered if it was worth fighting at all. Do you know what changed my mind?” “What?” “Your face. I remembered my beautiful little boy was waiting for my return and that helped me fight my battles.” “Really!” “Yes. You recalled my advice but not my promise? Didn’t I give you my word that I’ll never give up on you? Then how could you think I won’t return to you?” “Sorry Mumma, I shouldn’t have…”

“Adi, what did I tell you dear? Never shy away from asking the right questions. If you’re not going to express your doubts, how will I clear your confusion? Although, there’s one thing I’m aware of that you have never verbalized and I hope I can provide you with the assurance you need…” “What’s that?” “You still struggle with the thought of me leaving you, don’t you? You still think I chose Pari over you all those years ago?”

Adi looked down to avoid Piya’s gaze. This was a feeling he tried to suppress ever since Piya came back. After all, life hadn’t been easy for his mother either and he didn’t want her to feel unwelcomed or unwanted in any way. Then how did his mother realize it?

“I’m your mother, Adi. I can feel your pain even when you try to put on a brave face. Unfortunately, sometimes we mothers try too hard to protect our children and end up hurting them even more in our illogical, relentless pursuit, as I realize I have done the same. When I told you not to hold yourself responsible in case something ever happens to me, I wasn’t trying to say goodbye or desert you again. I only wanted you to save you from a lifetime of misery that I had gone through. At that moment I didn’t anticipate it would stir up your abandonment issue all over again.” She looked away to hide her tears.

“I can’t change what happened in the past. And I know no amount of apology is enough for the pain I’ve caused you. The only thing I can do is spend the rest of my life assuring you that no matter what happens, I will never leave you again. I just hope my actions reflect my intention well enough so you can finally be free from that burden.” “I think you have already done it.” “Have I now?” “Yes. Let’s be completely honest with each other, you almost died in the battle, didn’t you? Because I felt like something had devoured from within until that feeling subsided and I heard your voice. That can’t be normal, right?”

“No, you’re right. I almost died out there. The only reason I survived was my willingness to reunite with you was still more powerful than the pain I was enduring. And you know what? It was worth it. If it gives you the assurance you need to move forward and live an amazing life, I will go through all that trouble infinite times over again.” “You don’t need to prove your affection to me Mumma, just stay here with me, that’s all I need.” Adi hugged Piya again and cried out loudly. “Hey, it’s okay… Mumma is not leaving you ever again.” She kept stroking his hair to comfort him.

“Come here Adi,” Ansh made Adi sit in his lap, “I am assuming you had a heart-to-heart conversation with your Mumma in my absence. Now let Papa tell you something, your mother is the strongest person I’ve ever met. And when I say strongest, it’s not about her divine powers, but her inner strength. Do you know where that strength stems from?” Adi shook her head.

“It stems from an ever-encompassing love… Love that she has for you, for Pari and for the rest of our family. So as long as you preserve that same love and purity within you, your mother will always be with you. Not just in spirit, but in physical form also because your love will protect her, the same way her love has forever been my shield.” “You could have just said you love Mumma. There was no need for such a complicated sentence.” “Why you little,” Before Ansh could hold him, Adi ran out of the room laughing.

“Are you okay?” “I will be,” She let out a dry smile, “We have a lot to rebuild Ansh. It’s not just about ourselves anymore. We need to make sure our children do not suffer the same way as we did.” “We surely will,” He pulled her into a side hug, “I have spent so much time trying to rationalize how someone like me could find love, regardless of my lineage. In the process, I have hurt you tremendously. It’s time I corrected the error of my ways and provided our family the love and happiness they have always deserved.”

“As much as I would love for you to take all the blame, I have my fair share in this mess as well. How about we strike a deal? From this moment on, there won’t be any self-victimization nor will anyone play the martyr. We will face everything as a team – the good, the bad, everything. Deal?” “Deal. Now come on, before those devils catch us romancing, we need to get ready for our outing.”

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“Can you come downstairs? I’m waiting for you in the garden……. Naman”

“It hasn’t been even an hour since he left with Gur Maa. I hope everything is alright.” Tensed, Saavi pressed on the elevator button. She wasn’t exactly known for her patience. However, for the first time in her life, she wished the elevator worked slowly. With every passing moment, she grew more anxious anticipating what might Naman say to her. Was she expecting him to choose her over Dilruba? Or did she want him to end their relationship, absolving her of her guilt? Would either of those options make her happy? She felt frustrated by her own contradictory thoughts. “I wish you were here Mom! I wish you could tell me what to do!” Outside, she found Naman talking to a tree, as if he was practicing a speech.

“Hey!” “Hi! I’m sorry for disturbing you at this hour. How are you?” “It’s 8:32 am Naman.” “So?” “You left around 30 - 40 minutes ago. What could possibly happen to me within such a short period of time?” “Anything is possible. A parallel world could be created, a portal to the past might be opened, or you could have been kidnapped by a Kaalishakti, you know… So I thought I should ask you about your whereabouts.” “What!” “Yup, I’m losing it.” He mumbled to himself. “Listen Naman, I know we have been through an emotional rollercoaster and that is bound to create some confusion. I think you should take some rest and we can talk later when it’s…”

“I love you Saavi!” The sudden declaration caught Saavi off guard. “I know it might seem like I’m trying to do some damage control because of what happened in the dream world but trust me, I’m not here out of any obligation. I wanted to tell you how I truly feel so you can decide for yourself.” He took a deep breath and continued, “I still love my Mrs. Ji, Saavi. No matter what happens, she will always be a part of my being. She transformed me into a responsible person, made me a better Reevavanshi, she gave me the greatest joy of my life - our Dafli. If I have to let go off her memories, I will also have to leave everything behind that essentially makes me Naman the Kancha Reevavanshi. I can’t do that Saavi, I won’t. But that doesn’t mean what I feel for you is any less precious…”

“We have had our ups and downs and yet, you stayed with me when no one else did. You were my partner, my frenemy, my true confidante. And I have loved you all along, albeit platonically, but in a way that mattered. Then Dafli came into my life; you accepted her as your own, and our mutual trust and admiration grew even stronger. It felt so natural that I never even realized when I fell in love with you.” “Naman…”

“Please, let me finish this one instance. I know the way I just described my emotions right now, you must be thinking I want you as the caretaker of my child. But that’s not true. I want Dafli to know you for the person you are. I did not fall in love with you out of gratitude. We practically evolved together. We became each other’s support when we were at our absolute worst and faced every hurdle together. I honestly don’t know what could be more beautiful than that. When I think of my life, I always imagine you by my side - scolding me for my stupid ideas, rolling your eyes at my jokes, and yet, defending me on every occasion without ever being asked for it. You’re not a part of my life anymore, you are my life! And I’ll be honored if you give me the chance to walk by your side as your husband.”

“Are you done?” “I think so...” “You think so?” “I mean, I can elaborate more if you…” “For what? To make it even more confusing?” “I don’t know!” Naman raised his voice in frustration. “I don’t know how else I can express my feelings without hurting you. Although you shouldn’t be surprised, I’m not exactly known for articulating my thoughts. I just… I don’t want to hurt you Saavi. But I can’t lie to you either, that won’t be fair to you, to us. I wish things were simpler. I wish I could tell you, you’re the only woman I have ever truly loved. Ironically, I can’t do that. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. Which is why I can’t be selfish with you.” He knelt before her and smiled awkwardly.

“Saavi Sharma, this is typically how men propose. I thought about at least five different ways of asking for your hand without making it weird. I guess there’s no point worrying about that anymore because I’ve already done that but,” He held her hands and looked into her eyes, “Take my hand if you feel the same way as I do. Otherwise, you should move forward and choose your happiness. We’ll always be friends and I promise you, I’ll never cross my limits.” “So you’re saying, I can go out with any potential suitor and you’re not gonna sabotage my meetings with them, am I correct?"

“Yes. Considering my track record, I’m also giving you my word - I’m not gonna plan any attack on your future husband at any point of time or create havoc on the day of your wedding. Crap, this reminds me I have never formally apologized to Ansh or Piya for troubling them.” “Yeah, you should probably do that. For now, let’s keep the focus on ourselves, shall we?” Saavi got down on her knees, surprising Naman, “Dear Lord! I never thought I would do something so stupid like this but here I am…” She smiled nervously.

“Naman, I’ve spent my entire life trying to do the RIGHT thing, only to realize now that nothing in life is so straight forward. When you’re too focused on the black and white, you tend to miss the other colors life has to offer. Just because I have made that mistake before doesn’t mean I have to keep repeating the same mistake. I love you Naman! There, I’ve said it, I love you! I can’t think of a life where you won’t be present to annoy me, or a day without your silly commentary regarding every Kaalishakti we come across. I don’t want to miss those precious moments when you notice my discomfort hidden behind my strength and take care of me in your own stupid way…” A lone tear escaped her eyes.

“I grew up watching Dad spending his entire life in Mom’s memory. I’ve seen Di going through literal hell just so she can be with Jiju. Who wouldn’t want such a love as consuming as theirs? Who wouldn’t want the assurance of being the first and last choice of their partner? That doesn’t mean I would trade what we share for a fairy tale like love story. It’s true that I felt jealous when I saw you with Dilruba. Despite knowing everything, a part of me felt broken. I guess, at the end of the day I’m just an ordinary girl who wants to be cherished.” “Saavi, I…”

“If we met in an alternate universe, under normal circumstances, perhaps our story would be different. We may or may not end up together, and that’s okay. So what if I wasn’t your first choice? It’s not like I’ve pined for you my whole life.” “Now that sounds like the Saavi I know.” He gently wiped her tears. “Of course, I have a limited capacity for showing myemotional side.” She tried feigning seriousness but ended up chuckling.

“On a serious note, I can’t accept you without acknowledging Dilruba’s influence on your life. I never imagined I would say this but she truly changed my perception of what makes someone honorable. How do I hold it against anyone for loving her when I respect her so much? I know she was the love of your life. But can I be the last? Can you give me your heart without any strings attached?” “I already have.” “Then that’s all that matters to me.” Saavi hugged Naman finally.

“I don’t want to waste my life wondering about what could have happened when I could live in this moment. I don’t know what will happen in another lifetime but I promise, I’ll never try to erase Dilruba’s existence nor will I try to take her place in your or Dafli’s life. Just… Let me create my own place, okay? And who knows? Maybe in another lifetime, things will work out perfectly and all three of us will end up where we belong.” “Maybe,” Naman nodded his head and hugged her back. “Unfortunately, in this one, you’re stuck with me till death do us apart.” “Don’t make me regret my decision Naman.” “It’s too late for that now.”

Naman lifted Saavi in his arms and started twirling. As their laughter filled the air, both felt relieved having the weight lifted off of their chests. Finally, the agony hidden deep within their souls found their way through the tears of joy, unspoken words of doubts were heard as they began to untangle the delicate strings of their relationship. A new beginning arrived in the truest sense as they decided to savor the memory of their loved ones by honoring their sacrifice and letting go of the heartache…

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