A Tale As Old As Time - Page 14

Chapter - 21

“I’ve raised you since you were a little girl; I know you too well. You always put others’ need above yours.”

“I learned it from you only…”

“I guess I taught you a bit too much and you imbibed my teaching more than you should have. Is that why you were leaving without telling me? Now come on, wipe your tears my child. It pains me when you cry.”

“How did you realize I was crying!”

“I can’t see what others can, but my fate permitted me to sense what no one can.”

“I don’t know what my fate has in store for me… I have lost so many loved ones that now the thought of parting ways terrifies me. Who knows whether I would get to meet them again or not! That’s why I was leaving without informing you. At least there would be some hope for our reunion…”

“It must have been awfully difficult for you - bidding farewell to Guru Maa,” Piya remained silent. What was she supposed to say when she no longer recognized her own feelings? Did it hurt? Yes; she knew the journey she had embarked on could either lead to her reunion with Divya, or she would have to accept the bitter reality that her mother wasn’t coming back. In other words, she would have to extinguish the only ray of hope that had kept her going all those years. For better or worse, she had enough self-awareness of what that acceptance would lead to. And if that were to happen, Guru Maa wouldn’t survive her loss. So she chose the lone journey on her own, with a hope that when she would finally meet Divya, it would be worth the heartbreak. Or at least, that’s what she chose to believe in; because the idea of leaving behind the person who nurtured her with so much love was chocking her. Still, she could not bring herself to hurt Guru Maa just so she could assuage her guilt.

“Gudiya?” “Hmm?” “This was the beginning of your journey, perhaps the first life-altering decision you took on your own. Looking back, how do you feel now?” “I feel,” She took a deep breath before replying, “Angry,” “What?” “I feel heartbroken and like a complete failure that I couldn’t save you. I feel ashamed for putting Guru Maa though all that simply to fail spectacularly. I guess… This is the only thing I find common - even on that day I was overwhelmed. I felt like this little bird who was ready to open its wings but not sure if it would touch the sky or fall hard on the ground.” “My little bird decided to fly anyway.” “Because I love you that much Maa. The smallest chance of finding you was more than enough for me to ignore everything else. It didn’t matter when my classmates made fun of me, I didn’t lose hope when everyone turned me down for one reason or another. I didn’t let my spirit break even when Ansh,” Piya couldn’t finish her words as a lump formed in her throat.

“Said I was dead.” “Yes,” Tears started streaming down her face, I hated him for that… I… I hated myself for putting my faith in the wrong person.” “I know. What still baffles me is where did you find the courage to continue your endless pursuit despite all that…” “Why is it so surprising for you? You were the reason for my existence. It didn’t matter what the world said, I kept you alive in my heart… And I found you!” “Only to lose me forever,” “Then there’s your answer Maa - when I look back, all I can feel is pain and anguish and helplessness. What difference does it make if that was the beginning of my journey? I couldn’t protect you despite possessing so much power. Not just you, I failed Ayush; Naman lost Dilruba, Saavi never had the chance to…,” “You got Ansh.” “I beg your pardon?” “I know it’s foolish to even wonder whether the void left by your loved ones can ever be filled by someone else. However, it’s also disrespectful to forget those who stood by you in those darkest moments.”

“Who said I don’t acknowledge his efforts? But can you really blame me for wishing I had done something differently… Anything that might have prevented you from getting killed?” “And how exactly do you think you could have prevented that from happening?” “I don’t know!” Piya raised her voice in frustration, “I could have taken Guru Maa’s advice. I could ask for Baba’s help directly. Maybe he could stop Ansh frommarrying Ruby and Mohana would have never been resurrected.” “Maybe… But that would also mean you would have never met Ansh. Tell me Gudiya, do you regret that? Do you regret meeting Ansh?”

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“This nightmare must end, right? Let it end with me.”

As he witnessed the blazing fire devouring everything in its path, Ansh looked around helplessly, trying to find Piya. Clearly the nature had bowed before the Daivik’s will. Otherwise, how did the wildfire spread so much within such a short period! Despite the heavy showers, Ansh could feel the heat, threatening to burn his skin. If it weren’t for his powers, he knew he wouldn’t have survived the destruction even for a minute. Then what about Piya? Was he too late? Was she… “No!” Ansh shushed his inner voice, “Nothing will happen to her as long as I’m alive.”

He noticed on a specific corner there was more downpouring compared to the entire area. He remembered how in the past different natural elements played their part in protecting Piya while she was in danger. Unfortunately, he didn’t know if his wish made any difference in this world, and with Piya amalgamating her own thoughts, he couldn’t be sure of anything anymore. Hence he decided to follow his instincts and used his powers to create a protective shield around him before he leapt into the fire.

Lucky for him, it didn’t take him much time to locate Piya. She was lying unconscious, severely injured from the burns and Ansh wasted no time in carrying her outside of that region. He tried to heal her but it seemed the damage was too severe. Despite his best efforts, Piya’s condition deteriorated until he felt her heart stopped beating. “No!” He screamed hugging her lifeless body, “You can’t do this to me. You promised you would never leave me. Please open your eyes!” His cry echoed in the deserted land. A flash of lightening illuminated the entire area with a terrifying rumble. Several trees got uprooted and fell to the ground. It seemed as if the nature was mourning the Daivik’s death along with him.

Ansh gazed at Piya’s face - even in death there was a smile lingering on her face. What made her so content? The fact that she was able to save him? Or the relief that she no longer had to prove herself to him? He lifted her hand, and shuddered seeing the deep wound. In their world, Piya would have never been burned by fire. It made him wonder how horribly he messed up the balance in this dream world. Still Piya found a way to control the elements for long enough to make him realize his folly and then send him back. If she wanted to, she could easily protect herself. Instead, she wasted all her strength in trying to protect him and succumbed to the irreparable damage created by him.

“Why did you do this to me Piya? You told me once, you would rather die by my side than having a life without me. Then how could you leave me alone? How could you be happy knowing I’ll die every single moment without you?” He kissed her gently and smiled looking at her again, “You went back on your words Piya, but I won’t. If not in life, then I’ll reunite with you in death.” Ansh took a branch in his hand and was about to stab himself when he recalled Pandit Ji’s words,

“It’s true that Ansh has Mrityu-Yog written in his Kundli and he has already died. But it’s also written that after his death, he will become so powerful that he will be able to change the course of fate. Sanatan Agni will kill the Daavansh but a new entity will be born who will end the Ekayan Yug…”

“That’s it! Why didn’t I think of this before!” He looked at the sky with great hope and prayed to Goddess Durga, “Devi Maa, have mercy on me. Let me revive your devotee or end my life with her right here, right now…”

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“Tell me Gudiya, do you regret meeting Ansh?” “What sort of question is this!” “You were talking about alternatives, right? Let’s assume you could stop what you consider a chain of disaster by omitting this one incident - you would have never met Ansh and probably your destiny would play out in a different way. Who knows? His soul might have been corrupted by Mohana and you would have to kill him. Given that chance today, would you accept such a life? Would you sacrifice Ansh to complete our family?” “No!” Piya fell to the ground trembling, “I can’t…” “It’s okay,” Divya embraced her gently and tried to calm her down, “Maa I can’t! I… I can’t choose between you and him… I…” “Hey, it’s alright,” She cupped Piya’s face lovingly and wiped her tears, “Just because I’m your mother, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a life outside me. Your identity isn’t confined to being my daughter or fulfilling your duties to the mankind. You too, have the right to love, to live, to explore everything life has to offer.”

“But…” “There’s no but Gudiya; you love him, you’ve always had. You survived my death because you had Ansh. If you lost him too, how would you breathe? Just look around, that stupid boy took your one word to heart and proceeded with creating an alternative universe. If that’s not love, what is?” “I don’t understand…” “What?” “You never accepted Ansh wholeheartedly. You gave us your blessings just for my sake. During Pralay Yudh, you wanted him to die. Then how come you’re taking his side today?” “I’m not taking his side… I’m trying to do what’s best for my daughter.” Divya stopped for a moment, “You’re right, I never liked Ansh. I’ve never admitted this to anyone but the truth is… My despise goes far beyond his lineage. I hated him because he was Mohana’s son. It didn’t matter if she used him as a ploy to attain immortality. All I could think of was that wretched Ekayan’s child survived while my kids died.”

Her voice chocked, “I lost Ayush, then Danish, but Mohana had everyone. I could never bring myself to accept it. Deep down, I wanted to punish Ansh just for being alive. I know he was innocent; I know he didn’t deserve such hatred. But I couldn’t help it. The only reason I said “Yes” to your marriage was because I could see how much you loved him. I realized you would let go off him for my sake but you would never be happy. I couldn’t do that to you. I couldn’t place my unreasonable hatred over your happiness. That is what I’m doing even today…” She took a deep breath before continuing, “My death was your breaking point. It transformed you from an innocent girl to a fierce worrier. Nevertheless… We both know vengeance wouldn’t be enough. Without Ansh, your loneliness would devour you sooner or later. As much as I hate to admit it, that boy healed you in a way no one ever could, not even me. Until you met Ansh, you lived in my memory. When you found him, you finally started living for yourself. You laughed, you cried, you accepted life in its truest sense. Ansh became your friend, your partner, your HOME… It’s believed that a Daivik only comes to this earth for a Daavansh - either to protect him, or to end his reign of terror. But in your case, it was Ansh who saved you.”

Piya remained silent. No wonder a mother knew her child the best. Who would have ever thought reliving the past could bring out so much of contrasting emotions in someone! Until sometime ago, she was miffed with Ansh. Frustrated, as to why she needed to prove her devotion every step of the way. If Ansh truly loved her, he should have been able to understand the meaning of her silence, to realize that she wasn’t simply in love with him, she made him the center of her universe. However, could he really be blamed for their current situation? With mere a visit to her past, she was ready to gamble everything to bring her mother back. She didn’t spare a moment to ponder over its implication on their relation. Then how could she blame Ansh for not understanding her? He in fact, understood her greatest desire better than herself!

Do you remember the exact moment when you fell for Ansh?” “Well… I think it was around the time of our college trip to Alibag… We were attacked by a pack of hunters. I took an arrow for him… And the next thing I remember was I was lying on my bed and Ansh gave me his word that he would help me find you.” “Interesting…” “What?” “Comforting someone when they are down is the most basic thing we can do. How were his words any different than the others?” Piya stared at her mother blankly. How she wished she had an answer for that question!

“We will find your mother, don’t worry.”

“My mother?”

“You were muttering her name when you were unconscious. We may have our differences, but we have something in common too - our mothers. We both understand how a mother’s affection feels like. I can feel your pain. Just remember, from this moment on you’re no longer alone…”

That night she saw something different in his eyes. When he made those promises, she could feel the genuinity in his words. She would be lying if she said she never felt attracted to him before. Whether it was their altercations or the moments when she noticed his caring nature, she always felt drawn towards Ansh. But something about that night was different. It was far beyond physical attraction or curiosity… That night, she saw a different side of Ansh - something unexplainable… A strange connection that she never felt with anyone before. Perhaps that’s why for the first time in her life, she lowered her guard down, revealing the vulnerability she hid with her brightest smile. “There was something different about him, wasn’t it? Something that tugged your heartstrings?” “What are you trying to imply?” “How about you see it for yourself?”

The next moment Piya found herself in a forest. Before she could understand what was happening, she saw a hunter releasing an arrow to shoot Ansh. “No!” Without thinking for a second, she stood in front of Ansh. “You can’t help him Gudiya. We’re just spectators in time, nothing more.” Baffled, Piya witnessed the arrow passing through her and striking her past self who came before Ansh to shield him. The incidents that followed in the next several minutes puzzled her even more. It felt as if she hadn’t experienced any of this before. Why did she not remember Ansh getting injured so badly? “Isn’t it fascinating?” Divya stood beside her, “How the same incidents look different when you experience it from someone else’s perspective?” “It’s…” Piya fell short of words, “I remember Ansh rushed to my aid. But he stopped midway… I lost consciousness thinking he didn’t care.”

“On the contrary, he cared too much. He didn’t touch you fearing that would bring out his Daavansh side. He was afraid that if he lost control, he would end up hurting you. But as you can see, his powers got activated as part of his protective mechanism. Otherwise, he wouldn’t survive such a brutal attack.” With bated breath, Piya gazed at Ansh. The hunters shot him from multiple direction until he fought back and pulled most of the arrows out of his body. “He could have left easily. Instead, he roamed around the jungle until he found you.” “I don’t remember any of this! Why didn’t he tell me?” Overwhelmed, Piya looked ahead. She always suspected that she had blabbered something in her unconscious state that night. Which was why Ansh offered her his help. Never had she thought, she revealed so much unknowingly.

“Why did you leave me Maa? You promised me you would return. Then why didn’t you come back? Till this day I have been waiting for you! You may not have been able to find me Maa, but don’t worry; wherever you are, I will find you!”

Piya had a hard time deciding what affected her more - her own agony or Ansh’s helplessness? Poor guy couldn’t even touch her without fearing for her safety. He had no one, no help, no idea of his own identity. Despite that, he tried his best to keep his Daavansh side in control while trying to apply the herbs on her wound. “You see Gudiya, there is no such thing as the ultimate truth. Try and think from Ansh’s point of view, you’ll understand why he took certain decisions. He identifies with your pain way more deeply than you give him the credit for. I’m sure you guys have felt some connection before this night as well. However, this was the exact moment when he saw his reflection in you. A lost child, desperately seeking its refuge in its mother’s embrace. A vulnerable soul carefully shielded in a façade of strength and elegance.”

Divya turned to Piya and wiped her tears, “You know Gudiya, there are millions of people in this world. Yet, we find our soulmates in the ones we least expect. When I started killing the Reevavanshis one by one, I never thought I would fall in love with your father. But I did… For the first time in my life, I felt alive! In my hundreds of years as a Sarpika, Nishant gave me the peace I didn’t even know I longed for! He gave me hope, a family; he replaced my unquenchable desire with a love so powerful that I realized I didn’t need anything else. It’s the same with you and Ansh. Your shared destiny most certainly played a crucial part for you to came face to face. But your love… It is far more superior that transcends the barrier of the supernatural world. Daivik, Daavansh, Sarpika or Kaalishaktiyo Ka Raja - was there any moment when your hearts stopped beating for each other?” Divya’s words reminded Piya of Ansh’s words,

“It doesn’t matter to me whether you are a Daivik or a Sarpika. All I care about is the fact that you love me!”

Tears started brimming her eyes. She had it all! The kind of love poets immortalized in their verses, she had it right there, only to toss it away in her ignorance. Wasn’t it ironic? She once begged the Gods, imploring her heaven was only with Ansh. And when she finally got it, instead of savoring those precious moments, she kept eluding herself, blaming everything on her fate. No wonder she was granted this realization as her punishment. “Devi Maa isn’t punishing you Gudiya. How many people do you think get to revisit their past on the verge of death? This is not the end. I would rather address it as your final chance at happiness.” “What do you mean?” “You know Ansh; you might be upset with him for a thousand different reasons but you wouldn’t need to revisit your past just so you can be sure of his devotion. It’s something entirely different. Tell me something Gudiya, has it ever occurred to you why you and Ansh got separated right after Pralay Yudh? You fulfilled your destiny, you finally got the normal life you always wished for. Then what was it that drew such a huge wedge between you two?” “I…”

Confounded, Piya found herself at a loss for words. Till this date she could not find an answer to that question. Several times her mind veered into the possibility of her being a very important second priority in Ansh’s life. But her heart refused to believe it. How could she question his loyalty when he chose her over and over again? When Shalaka came to avenge Rahul’s death, Ansh could easily protect his family by telling the truth to her. Instead, he risked all of their lives. More importantly, the Rathods rallied behind him and shielded her. And that was only one instance; time and again, whether it was Chaitali, Avinash, Vedashree or Shekhar, they stood by her side when she least expected.

“When we have never held Ansh’s parentage against him, how can we discriminate against Piya for being a Sarpika!”

“Even if Piya isn’t a Daivik anymore, she is still doing everything that a Daivik would do.”

Then where did they go wrong? What caused such drastic change in Ansh that he abandoned her when she needed him the most!

“Your silence answered my question,” “But…” “It’s okay, you don’t have to answer right away,” Divya stroked Piya’s hair in a comforting manner, “Can you see the pattern here? That time he left you, accusing you of choosing power over him. And this time you have pushed him away, believing he doesn’t value you enough,” “How can you even say that!” “Let me finish Gudiya, whether you believe it or not, those were the words you uttered. You made him believe you were tired of taking care of him and his family, and Ansh being Ansh, dealt with the situation the only way he knew - by omitting himself from the equation.” “I still don’t think the situations are nearly as similar.”

“Aren’t they? Because from where I can see it, once again you have eradicated darkness from the supernatural world, at least for the time being. With Sanatan Agni embedded in his frame, Ansh now possesses an unimaginable amount of power that no one can possibly comprehend. For the first time, he has full control over himself. He doesn’t need your protection anymore. Look deeper and tell me, isn’t there a small part of you that feels insecure of this sudden certainty?” “That’s absurd! Why would I be upset when this is exactly what I have wished for all along? Ansh’s constant need for validation has never allowed him to embrace his true self. That’s why I had to reassure him constantly that he wasn’t responsible for anyone’s misery. It’s only now that he is slowly coming to terms with how to use his powers for the greater good. Why would I feel threatened by it? You of all people should know I never longed for power.” “I’m aware; a Daivik’s first priority is the wellbeing of mankind. But Piya? Where does her allegiance lie? A Daivik can thrive on her own, but can Piya truly accept Ansh moving forward independently?”

Piya remained silent. She couldn’t deny there was some truth to Divya’s words. She stood firmly as Ansh’s protector for as long as she could remember. With that role being eliminated, what was her place in Ansh’s life? Did Ansh still need her? Or was he simply honoring their marriage as that was the dignified thing to do? Why did she feel so conflicted about his newfound liberation? What did it mean? “It means you are just another regular person with an enormous amount of trauma that need to be dealt with if you really want a true shot at happiness.” She gently wiped Piya’s tears, “Years ago when Ansh heard you making a wish for reuniting with me at the Lantern Festival or the night when he witnessed your longing for me in your unconscious state, it wasn’t mere pity or your shared love for your mothers that bound him to you. I know that’s what he told you, perhaps that’s what he believes himself, but the truth is, what truly steered his emotions was the void in your heart. He had his entire family, you had Guru Maa; he was “Intense Kumar” for the world, you were a regular chirpy young girl, exploring life as it came to you. But deep down, both of you were lonely. You could never express your true feelings to anyone, fearing that might hurt their feelings. Remember? You were ready to leave Guru Maa silently than hurting her feelings?” Piya nodded in response.

“That’s the same with Ansh. You know very well how hard he tries to be the best version of himself to ensure Vedashree’s sacrifice doesn’t go in vein. Sure, Neha and Rishi were always there for him. Still, being normal human beings, they never fully understood Ansh’s fear regarding his power. He felt lost and alone until…” “He met me,” “Yes, his loneliness resonated with your pain. You weren’t the first person who loved him. He already had a very caring family. What made a difference was the way you made him feel cherished. He might not say it out loud, however, he is painfully aware of the unspoken feud between Mohana and his family regarding which side he would eventually choose. He knows even if the Rathods don’t recognize it, there is a bit of conditionality laced with their unwavering love. And then there were you - a person who had every reason to clash with him, yet chose his affection over the world. You stood by him through thick and thin, making him believe he wasn’t doomed to be consumed by darkness. You never made him feel like a burden, you accepted him with all his vices and virtues…”

“Hence, when you started mirroring Pari’s power, it shook his core. For the first time he felt betrayed by you. His mind posed questions as to why did you feel the need to hide your intentions from him. It was never about you choosing your power over him, Gudiya. It was about you following the others’ footsteps - loving him on your own terms. He felt you didn’t respect him enough to trust his judgement or allow him to be useful as he didn’t possess any power anymore, and went ahead with what you felt was the best for you two. Once that misunderstanding crept in, there was no looking back. Unknowingly he did the one thing he believed he was incapable of - breaking your heart. You are repeating the same mistake Gudiya. You’re letting your fear suppress your faith in him.” Divya stopped for a moment, giving Piya the time to process her words.

“Your greatest fear has always been losing the people you love. Consciously you know you could do nothing to protect me or Danish. When the time came, you were ready to sacrifice your life for Ayush. Unfortunately, your subconscious mind thinks otherwise. That’s why you keep thinking of alternative scenarios where you could have saved us.” “What does that have anything to do with Ansh?” “It has everything to do with Ansh. You have always wanted to protect him. Whether it was taking an arrow for him or jumping into fire, you never thought about yourself when it came to his safety. On top of that, Pandit Ji’s prophecy about you being Ansh’s savior further increased your responsibility. It hasn’t been easy for you, yes, still, you can’t deny protecting him gave you a sense of fulfillment. For the first time in your life, you were at a position where you could utilize your power to save someone you love. However, now that Ansh has finally broken free of the shackles of darkness, imbued with power beyond our imagination, he doesn’t require your protection anymore. This new life that he has been blessed with, what if he stops feeling the connection that once tied him to you? And worse, what if he falls into some trouble? You no longer have enough power to come to his rescue. You will lose him the same way you lost me, Danish, and…”

“Stop! Please, I beg you!” Divya teared up seeing Piya’s state - broken and inconsolable. “I can’t! I can’t do this again! If anything happens to him… I’ll…” “Nothing is going to happen to him, Gudiya. I promise…” “When did I become so selfish Maa? What am I not happy when he’s thriving?” Piya broke down completely. “You’re not selfish. You just love him way too much… Same as the way he loves you…” Divya said gently stroking Piya’s hair, “Gudiya, I can never apologize enough for deserting you to fulfill my duties as a Reevavanshi… I have regretted that decision my entire life and even now… I…” “It’s okay Maa. You don’t have to apologize.” Piya cupped Divya’s face who was trying hard to control her tears. “I know why you took that decision, I understand…” “You don’t, or at least, the little Piya in you, who still holds herself responsible for my death…” “I…” “Your high regard for me never let you hold me accountable for anything Gudiya. I must have done something really good to be blessed with a child like you. Which also means, I need to do right by you… You need to understand and more importantly, accept that you weren’t responsible for our family’s doom. Nishant and I were the adults, not you. It’s time you forgave yourself and got over your fear. Otherwise, you’ll truly lose the ones you love the most.”

“I wish it was that simple! Every time I think of moving forward, I feel like I am trampling on your sacrifice. I can’t truly be happy without feeling guilty because it means I am letting you go. What sort of life would that be where you are not with me?” “My foolish little girl! When will you understand that you are not holding on to my memories; by doing this you are tormenting yourself. You’re a mother now Gudiya. You know a mother can never be at peace knowing her children are suffering. By letting me go, you are not ending our ties; you are finally lifting the burden off of your chest that has never let you be happy. And once you do that, once I know my child is finally living her life, that’s what will give me truly happy. Always remember, we never left you…” “We?” “Hey Piya!” Ayush’s voice made Piya’s heart skip a beat, “Ayush!” Piya ran to her brother and hugged him tightly, “I missed you so much!” “I know,” He hugged her back, “I missed you too!” “You see Gudiya, those who love us, never leave us.”

Suddenly the fog around them disappeared and Piya saw Ansh doing Tandav in front of her seemingly lifeless body. “Ansh!” Piya rushed to his direction. To her horror, she saw blood oozing out of his mouth. Still, his lips were moving, as if he was chanting something. “What happened to him?” She cried out. “He’s trying to revive you.” “How!” “By splitting his life force,” “He can’t do that! He has already done it once. If he does it again…” “He’ll be fine,” The calmness in Divya’s voice confounded Piya. How could her mother be so relaxed in such a situation? “You don’t understand…” “Actually, we do. You need to calm down before we can explain everything to you,” Ayush nodded his head in agreement, leaving Piya even more confused. “Ansh returned for you Gudiya. Once you sent him back to your world, he connected the dots and got back here.” “He shouldn’t have done that.” “Says the martyr; did you seriously think he would let you go so easily?” “At first, he tried to heal you using his power. When that didn’t work, he decided to split his life force to revive you.” Piya stared in disbelief as Ansh fell to the ground. It appeared as if he had lost all energy. Still, he stood up again and continued his Tandav. “If you were worried about him getting over you, then this is your answer Gudiya,” “Death doesn’t change someone’s feelings Piya. Believe me when I say this, his rebirth didn’t change his personality; it only helped him win against Mohana. When it comes to you, he’s still that stupid guy who is irrevocably in love with you.”

“Sorry… I was just trying to pull your leg.”

“Please don’t pull such pranks in the future. I thought I lost you.”

“If I hadn’t, how would have I known how much my husband loves me…”

“You would never know how much I love you.”

“Why?”

“Because my love won’t remain the same, it’ll keep increasing with each passing moment…”

“You can either let go off your fear and return to him. Or, you can proceed to afterlife. The decision is your Gudiya.” “What about Ansh?” “It depends on your choice. Either way, this ritual will be completed and the balance of nature will be restored.” “What do you mean?” “I used to think our victory in the Pralay Yudh would ensure the eradication of all evil from this world… I was wrong.” “The battle between good and evil is eternal Piya, we are merely playing our parts in our respective timelines.” “You see, when Reevavanshis defeated Kaalishaktis in Pralay Yudh, it tipped the balance in our favor.” “That is why Bhasmika was born, to shift the balance towards their end. When you defeated her, your path crossed with Dev, Singha and I don’t know how many other entities. Everything happened for one simple reason - to keep the cycle moving forward as a permanent shift to either of the sides would destroy the natural balance.” “In all those battles one thing remained constant - Daivik and Daavansh’ unity. Good won over evil every time because nothing can beat a Daivik when she resonates her power with her Daavansh counterpart.”

“So nature played another game - it imbued Ansh with so much power to test whether he’ll remain good or reclaim his thorn as the King of Darkness after defeating Mohana. That way, the balance would tip toward the other direction, filling the power void created by you.” “Nonetheless Ansh chose your side again, causing further disbalance. So an extremely rare situation had to ensue where he would be forced to sacrifice his powers.” “As you’re aware, he has Sanatan Agni embedded in his frame. And you can’t douse Sanatan Agni, which makes Ansh immortal. It’s both a blessing and a curse. Now he has full control over his destiny. But at the same time, he’ll have to pay a huge price for this boon. Over the years, he’ll witness his loved ones’ death. He will lose you, then your kids and all future generations. Nothing can be more horrible than such fate.” “So nature found a middle ground - strip him off of this eternal energy so he is only left with his original Daavansh powers and can lead a peaceful, happy life with you in reward for his service to the mankind.” “At the same time, it will give the evil force some time to reclaim their lost glory and the battle between good and evil will continue as it’s supposed to be.”

“If you can remember, when you split a share of your life force to revive Vedashree all those years ago, it almost cost you your life.” “The second time, you and Ansh did it together; so the effect was minimal. Still you lost control over your powers. Not to mention both of you were going to die much earlier considering both of you sacrificed your longevity to save Pari’s life.” “This time, you are on the verge of death and Ansh is tapping on the energy of Sanatan Agni to bring you back to life. He will succeed if you choose to go back to him.” “Otherwise, energy will flow uncontrollably and Ansh will die by your side. Either way, the balance will be restored. It’s up to you now how you want destiny to play its part.”

With tears in her eyes, Piya looked at Ansh. There was not an inch of his body from where blood wasn’t flowing. She could clearly see how he was losing his energy slowly and was about to collapse. Even if she wasn’t aware of the grand design, she knew it in her heart that nothing could stop him until he reunited with her, either in life or in death. But how could she leave knowing her family was still in this side?

“It’s okay Piya,” Ayush smiled at her, “When I decided to take Mohana down with me, I didn’t do it just for your sake. I saw how your entire family was ready to die with you. If they wanted, they could blame you for their downfall. After all, their paths wouldn’t cross with mine if you weren’t my sister. Instead, they came and shared your woes. Their selflessness made me realize what it is to have a family, why it is worth to die for them. Do not ignore their sacrifice in your attempt to honoring us. Go, live. Prioritize your life with the family we could never have.” “Ayush is right Gudiya, nothing will make us happier than watching you thrive.” Divya hugged her tightly, “Tell Saavi that I’m proud of her. That she has truly carried my legacy forward despite possessing no supernatural power.” “Tell Papa that I love him; tell him that he doesn’t need to turn back the wheels of time to reunite with us. We are, and will always be with him.” “Yes, tell Mr. Reevavanshi not to feel bad or lonely for I will always be watching over him.” “And that Maa loves him.” “Ayush!” Piya couldn’t help but chuckle seeing Divya’s face turning red,

“That’s what we’ve always wanted Di, to see you smiling.” “Danish!” Piya hugged her little brother tightly and cried out, “It’s okay Di, don’t feel bad.” The little boy wiped her tears, “Always keep smiling.” “If you spend another moment here, you will never be able to leave Piya. It’s time to say goodbye.” “We will always be with you Gudiya, in spirit, and in your heart…” Divya, Ayush and Danish together hugged Piya one last time and encouraged her to move forward. As Piya looked back, she saw their smiling faces dissolving in fog. It broke her heart all over again but yet the pain felt soothing. She knew she could not get her family back. But the fact that they were watching over her and cheering for her from the other side, gave her the will to live as she owed it to them. And she owed it to Ansh for loving her so deeply that even the universe was forced to bow before his resolve…

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“Ansh!” Ansh opened his eyes to find Piya caressing his face, “Wake up Ansh.” “Piya!” He sprung from his position and pulled her into a bone crushing hug, “I thought I had lost you!” “For a moment there you did,” She carefully wiped her tears, without letting Ansh see it and cupped his face, “Until you found me again.” “I need to tell you something, I…” “I love you Ansh!” She said in a deep voice, catching him off guard, “I gave you my word that I will choose you in every situation, in every birth, in every alternate universe. But it is you who kept those words. Thank you for loving me so much Ansh! Thank you for taking my breath away, literally!”

She hugged him tightly and finally let her tears flow. Surprised at first, Ansh hugged her bag and took in her scent. Only God knew how much he had missed her! It didn’t matter who failed whom or what went wrong in the past. She found her way back to him, just the way she promised. It was time he acted upon his and filled her life with colors. “I love you too Piya!” With great satisfaction, he passed out in her lap as the universe witnessed the retelling of a tale of an everlasting love…

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