AbhIya FF: And I will Be Waiting: B-2-Updtd- Pg131 - Page 27

The Keepers' Tower , Middle Earth.

Her face drained out of every last drop of blood and her eyes screaming to be life taken out of her, Piya fell on her knees in final defeat and looked up at Anushka in tired hatred even as the two men held on to her firmly.

"Kill me, then. What have you kept me alive for? If he doesn't remember me, I needn't remember this life either. I can't look at Abhay's face again and not see love in his eyes."

Anushka makes her stand up and signals the two men to leave her arms and they do so. Fighting her own tears , at the sight of this shattered teenager , Anushka looks into Piya's eyes.

Anushka ( firmly)- Killing you is killing Abhay and his every hope. I can't do that to him and I can't do that to you. I know what I have done is unforgivable but I had no choice. Maithli and Natasha have caught my weakness and they can use it to kill me . If I die , nothing in this world can save you. And you are Abhay's life. I chose to make Abhay forget you rather than damn him to a life in which there is no Piya. …(holds her head)….Abhay's mind may have forgotten you but greater than this magic is the power of what you two have. His heart remembers you, Piya and if your love is true, no Maithli can keep him away from you. Don't give up on me, Piya. I am leaving everything behind on you.

Piya sees that Anushka is just as anguished as her and as heartbroken as her. Piya was talking to Anushka! It was Anushka she was talking about here. How could she not trust Anushka? But then, Anushka had cleansed Piya out of Abhay's mind . No, she could not see sense right now and she could not judge right now. Piya's mind and heart were in a turmoil right now . Abhay.Had.Forgotten.Her.

Piya ( angrily )- On me? Leaving what on me? A life where Abhay will be in Maithli's arms? Where are you going!

Anushka can't stand the hatred in Piya's eyes and she takes steps away from her. She turns and walks to the well. The priestess gets down from the throne and walks to the center of the chamber , standing between Piya and Anushka . The priestess looks at Piya and then, at Anushka. She looks down at the stone floor and interlocks her fingers closing her eyes.

Priestess ( bellows and her voice echoes )- RIZORA!

As soon as the priestess says this, the whole chamber shakes and to Piya's shock, the floor cracks ,fissuring and creating a crevice that divides the floor into two halves. Piya screams and falls back. The two men hold her back and cover her mouth , locking her movement. As a shocked Piya looks on, fire flames rise from the fissures and a feminine figure in smoke floats. The feminine figure bows to the priestess. It's the keeper that Anushka has been waiting for.

Zeenia ( her voice echoing )- Hail Your Highness……

The priestess nods at her and then walks back to Anushka. She looks at the demons and the get off the lid. They lift the lid and fire leaps from the well. Piya is so shocked by this spectacle that she has stopped moving and her shocked numb eyes are just dazed at what is happening in front of her. The priestess looks at Anushka whose tearful eyes go to Piya.

Priestess ( flatly )- Its time to go, Anushka.

Anushka ( looks at Piya )- Please don't hate me, Piya. I had no choice . But am going to make everything okay. Trust me. I will. Before I go , I must let you know that someone from Abhay's past is coming back. Its his brother – Abheer. Remember this name – Abheer. Please warn Abhay. ……( takes a deep breath)….goodbye ,Piya. I shall see you again and till then, Zeenia will take care of you…..

Piya feels tears rolls down her cheeks as the two men keep holding on to her.The priestess raises her hand and places it on Anushka's heart. Anushka looks at Piya and folds her trembling hands , in pleading.

Anushka( softly )- Forgive me….

The priestess digs her nails into Anushka's heart and blinding light sparks out from Ansuhka's body.

Priestess ( chants )- EXODUS!

The light dies and Anushka's soul walks out of her body. Anushka's body falls to the floor lifelessly and her translucent soul waves goodbye to a stunned Piya and with one last sad and forlorn pleading look, jumps into the wall of fire. The demons shut the well immediately. And before Piya can even blink her eyes , the smoky feminine figure rushes into Anushka's body and dissolves into the lifeless body. The earth joins back , the shuddering of stone wall stops , the flames go cold and the guarding demons sit back on the lid of the well. The priestess signals the men to let go off Piya. They nod and gently release her. Piya makes no movement and just sits limply on the floor – her eyes stuck at the well into which she has just seen Anushka's soul jump. Her tears seem to have frozen on her face.The priestess walks to her and with a gentle smile puts her hand on Piya's head. Piya looks up.

Priestess ( maternal and kind )- You are a human-being , Piya. You cannot understand any of this. Loving Abhay has thrown you into the labyrinth of the supernatural. I guess you have to just learn to deal with it. ...( looks at the well)….don't worry. Ansuhka is not dead. She has just left her body to travel down to the underworld – for your sake, for Abhay's sake and for herself. Till then….

She gently makes Piya stand up on her feet and puts a motherly arm around her shivering cold body.

Priestess ( pointing to Anushka's dead body )- She will look after you….

Anushka's body moves and rubbing the back of her head like a kid, she sits up and opens her eyes. Piya is further shocked and looks at Anushka wide-eyed…

Piya ( in awe and relief )- She is fine….isn't she?

Anushka gets up and looks at her arms and her body with a cute quizzical expression.

Priestess ( shakes her head )- She is fine. But she is not Anushka.

Piya understands what the porcelain beauty is saying when she sees Anushka click a finger in the air and conjure a silver mirror to check herself out. Her whole body language has changed from royal and lady-like to casual and loose.

Anushka ( smiles at her image and winks at the priestess )- VOILA! I am B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! I just LURVE this body. Body of THE ANUSHKA. WOW! …..( narrows her eyes at Piya )… is this the chick am supposed to look after , your highness? Piya Jaiswal, hmmm?

Piya ( taken aback)- She… she is not anything like Anushka….

Priestess – Because she is Zeenia. A keeper who will keep Anushka's body and live her life until Anushka returns. Zeenia, your work starts now. Protect.Piya.From.Every.Danger.

Zeenia ( nods with a sparkling smile )- I will, your highness. I promised Anushka and I know my job. Every evil eye that is raised at Piya , will not live to see anything else in the world. ….( extends her hand to Piya)…Zeenia. Shake hands, chica. Its gonna be fun!

Piya feels her head reeling as she moves her hand to hold Anushka's…oops…Zeenia's. Abhay forgetting her, coming of a trouble sibling called Abheer, Anushka leaving her in a lurch and now….a 'keeper' in Anushka's body who was everything that Anushka would never be? Damn! Why doesn't the world end right here and right now so that she wouldn't live to see Abhay's loveless eyes!

TO BE CONTINUED….

P.S- I know its a short update but the next update will be up before afternoon of 24th March. Vacation pe hoon na, so ghoomi-ghoomi time as well.