Misha felt sick. Her hand began to tremble on the piece of board she was holding. She didn't want to move, but she couldn't stay here.
''I'm sorry-I have to get something.'' Her words came out in a painful gasp. She knew that everyone was looking at her, but she didn't care. She stood up and walked away.
She kept walking until she was in the other end of the college. She stared at the students in front of her.
How could she be so stupid? The signs were right there, in front of her face. Why didn't she see them before? Maybe because she didn't want to..
''Misha.''
Misha turned around. ''I will be okay. It was just a shock.''
''Misha .. ''
''It's just that I have known him so long. It's not easy to picture someone, you know. But I guess people are never what they seem.''
''Misha.'' Rhea shook her head. ''Just what are you talking about?''
''Him. Shaurya. Ofcourse.'' Misha sighed. ''He did it. He really did it.''
''Why do you think so?''
''Because he is a werewolf.''
There was a pause, and Misha looked around to make sure no one heard it. ''Isn't he?'' She said more quietly.
Rhea was looking at her curiously. ''How do you know?''
''Well, you said Dahlia is for werewolves, and that's Dahlia on his ring. How did you know?''
''I can sense other werewolves. The only thing is, I can smell them only if they want me to. And Shaurya is right there, he doesn't want to hide anything.''
''He sure is.'' Misha said bitterly. ''I should have sensed it. I mean, his eyes, the way he talks.. he lives near the jungle, that land has been in his family since generations. And people say that they've seen a big hairy monster around there, half human, half beast. Now what does that sound like?'' She turned away. ''I thought he was a nice guy.''
''I still think he is.'' Rhea said. ''And, actually, you know, it means he didn't do it.''
''The fact that he's a nice guy?''
''The fact that he is a werewolf.''
Misha turned back. ''What?''
''You see.'' Rhea said. ''Us, werewolves are different. We are not like vampires. We can't drink a little blood from humans and stop without doing any harm. We kill every time we hunt because we have to eat.'' Misha gulped, but Rhea went on. ''Sometimes we eat the whole animal, but we always eat the internal organs, the heart and liver. We need to do it the same way a vampire needs to drink blood.''
''And that means..''
''He didn't kill Ruhi. Or the goat. They were both intact.'' Rhea sighed. ''Look, werewolves and vampires traditionally hate each other. There are exceptions like me who, well, work for the vampires. But, we have been rivals forever, and the vampires look at werewolves as sort-of second class. You know, one of the reasons I ran away. But, actually, a lot of us are gentle. We only hunt to eat.''
''Oh.'' Misha said blankly. ''So the nice guy has to eat an odd liver occasionally, and that's it?''
''Misha, you know you can't blame him. We didn't choose to be like this.''
''But they still kill.'' Misha said flatly.
''Yes, but only animals. Lords are really strict about that. Otherwise humans catch it in no time. Vampires can disguise their work by making it look like a cut throat, but werewolf kills are unmistakable.''
''Okay. Great.'' Misha said. She should have been more enthusiastic, but how could she trust someone who was a wolf behind her eyes? She might admire them, but trust them..no.
But she could trust Rhea.
''Misha, look.'' Rhea turned the opposite way.
Pia saw her, the girl with amber-green eyes and long brown hair. But it was her expression that started Pia. Her eyes were sparkling in recognition, her mouth was open in excitement.
''It's her. Her.'' Rhea whispered.
''Who?'' Misha turned to look at her.
Pia gasped. The same girl. How could she look so much like that girl in the hypnotism session, so much like Maithali's friend.
She stared at both of them, bewildered. Rhea took Misha's hand and ran towards Pia.
Pia kept looking at Misha, when Rhea hit Misha in the shoulder. ''Her.''
''I don't know what you're talking about.'' Misha threw back her hands. Rhea rolled her eyes and looked at Pia. ''Hi.''
''Hi.'' Pia finally found her voice back. ''I am Pia..Pia Jaiswal.''
''I know.'' Rhea winked. ''We met before, but I couldn't exactly introduce myself. Don't you remember?''
Pia started to shake her head, but she blinked. And blinked again. Those eyes..
''Yeah.'' Rhea grinned. ''That was me. I got some bruises in the fight but the other wolf got it worse, though.''
Pia's mind was reeling. This girl was a werewolf, she thought. They are real. She protected me.
She said dizzily. ''Than'Thanks. You saved my life, didn't you?''
Rhea laughed. ''Part of the job.''
''Job?''
''Erm, Abhay. Haven't you met him?''
Pia opened her mouth to speak, to talk about anything but him, when the other girl ' Misha ' spoke up. ''Am I missing something here? Rhea, you have been in a fight? With a wolf? And you didn't tell me?''
''Relax.'' She shrugged. ''Remember when I told you about Abhay, the one who convinced me to run away from where I lived and start my own life. I work for him.'' She looked at Pia.
''You work for him.. As in?'' Misha asked faintly.
''As in, protecting her.'' Rhea smiled at Pia. By now, Pia was really confused. A girl warned her about a guy who had sent werewolves for her protection? From who? Maya? Or..Abhay himself? She was even more determined to get her hypnotist session done, now.
''Erm, yeah, Pia. This is Misha. Misha, that's Pia.''
Pia looked at Misha for a minute, before turning away. ''I know her.''
''You do?'' Misha raised an eyebrow.
''Yeah, you were there..'' Pia's voice trailed off, she didn't know how to put it in words.
''I think I know you too.'' Misha said. Her voice was as faint as a whisper, Pia's head jerked up, and she felt a glimmer of hope for the first time. Finally, someone who might understand her.
''Maybe it's the connection.'' Rhea smiled. ''Both of you have vampire soulmates.''
Pia felt her glimmer of hope rising..taking the form of something like trust.
''You have a vampire soulmate?'' Misha smiled warily. She didn't know what to say. ''Let me guess, Abhay?''
Pia's smile died, she nodded abruptly. ''It's over, I guess.'' She looked away. ''I told him to go away.''
Rhea's mouth hung open, but she didn't say anything. She knew that Abhay would probably rip her off in pieces if she says anything to his soulmate. Misha looked at her with something like respect. ''You really did? I mean, I never thought it would be easy..''
''It's. Not. Easy.'' Pia forced the three words out slowly. She fought against the tears brimming in her eyes. ''But, it's better than spending your life with a monster.''
''Abhay is not a monster.'' Rhea jumped in. ''He is the most sensible and sensitive vampire I have ever met. He cares for others more than himself. He's.. '' She looked at Misha. ''He's basically the opposite of Raj.''
''You're lucky.'' Misha laughed. She actually laughed. ''I mean, I thought I'm the only one that has to put up with these supernaturals, but I guess I was wrong.. And, Pia, if you have someone good as your soulmate, keep him. Trust me, you couldn't be luckier.''
''Erm, guys.'' Pia looked away. She didn't want to talk about him before she found out what the truth was. ''I gotta go, okay? I will see you later.''
''Okay.'' Misha nodded. Rhea turned to look at her. ''Misha, I forgot to tell you, there's one problem.''
Pia's footsteps trailed away as she looked for some quiet place to gather her thoughts.
''What?'' Misha asked.
''If Shaurya realizes that you recognized his ring, he may know we have told you about..you know.
Misha understood. ''Oh, god.''
''Yes. That means it's his duty to turn us all in, or kill us himself.''
''He would never do that.'' Misha snapped.
''I don't think he will, either. He likes you. A lot. I don't think he could bring himself to turn you in.''
Misha felt heat creeping up her cheeks. ''But, then, that would get him in trouble, too, wouldn't it?''
''It could, if anybody finds out. We should go back and see what's going on. Maybe he doesn't realise, you know. Maybe Raj and Panchi have managed to bluff him.''
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Udne Ki Aasha
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