BeHir Memory Loss Part 4 UPDATED. - Page 6

Part 3

Soon Vish and Vikrant were slithering inside Mahir's room. As soon as I saw them I broke down completely. When I was calm enough, I told them all about Mahir and his condition. Vish had researched further on the pills. It turns out it was some new kind of anti depressants given to people suffering from severe depression. If taken in excess quantities, it caused the patients to behave in child like manner and with prolonged exposure, the damage was irreversible. The child-like state came after taking the pills for more than a year but in Mahir's case it came in six months as he was being given two pills per day as opposed to 1 pill per day. Fear gripped my heart as I feared that the damage was permanent.

Vish suggested that Mahir was beyond any cure that the human doctors had to offer. Only one thing could revive him, and that was the Naagmani. Vikrant seconded her. These days Vikrant did whatever Vish told him to do. He was smitten by her and so madly in love with her that he did not think twice before agreeing with her. It got annoying after a point especially now that Mahir was not himself. But I couldn't begrudge them that. Vish had loved him for nearly a century before he reciprocated. So all those years she had followed his orders and did whatever pleased him, but now she was trying to keep him on the straight track and so she stopped him from compromising on morals every time she thought he was going off the track. I couldn't even imagine what Vish had gone through for nearly a century knowing that I loved Vikrant and Vikrant, although his motives were selfish, did love me in his own way.

Anyways, back to me and my current situation. I was reluctant to use Naagmani for my personal use. Vish and Vikrant argued that saving the Naagraj was for the Naglok's benefit and not personal gain but still I remained stubborn. Finally Aghori Baba came and told me to perform the ceremonial Tandav required to obtain the Naagmani from Bholenath. If at the end of it, Bholenath handed over the Naagmani, my reasons are not selfish. He told me to let Bholenath decide whether my intentions were selfish or no. I agreed. I promised to do it the next day. But Vish was not done giving bad news for the day. She had heard of another disturbing news.

Sumitra was not the master-mind as well all thought. Even she was working under someone named Huzoor. Apparently this Huzoor person was extremely powerful and Sumitra was shit scared of him. No one except Sumitra knew what he looked like. For everyone else he looked like a weird shadow. So this Huzoor had the hots for the Naagmani and so we would have to hide the Naagmani at some safe place. And Mahir had to be cured before that. And oh yeah this Huzoor person was apparently a big enemy of Sesh Naag vansh! So I had to be super careful.

So it was decided that since it was too risky to bring Naagmani to Sehgal house, we would have to once again carry Mahir to the cave. I gently woke up Mahir and told him that we were going for a stroll. He was game for a night time stroll. Vish and Vikrant introduced themselves and Mahir offended them by calling them uncle and aunty. Vikrant looked like someone had slapped him while Vish looked furious. Since Mahir was fully awake, we went out of the front door. Tomorrow the Sehgal zoo, especially the minions would find out that we three had kidnapped Mahir but hopefully by then Mahir would be cured. I hoped that Bholenath would allow me to use the Naagmani to cure Mahir.

Mahir had refused to change out of his Hulk night dress, arguing that it was still night so he could wear his night dress. Now he walked beside me, clutching my hand like a small child. I had a difficult time controlling him when he saw some fireflies. It seems he loved looking at fireflies. I had to almost drag him away from them. All this while he was chattering non-stop about how much he loved walking outside at night and how he was brave boy who was not afraid of the dark. At one point he sneaked up behind Vish and shouted Boo! Vish almost jumped out of her skin and Mahir had a gala time laughing at her scared expression. He continued to tease her along the way. She did not mind his teasing, but was offended that he kept of calling her aunty.

At one point she muttered to me, "Watch your husband Bella. I am going to kill him for calling me aunty when he gets better. I whispered back, " Well you are more than a hundred years old. That makes you his aunty. She gave me a furious look. Vikrant was over his initial shock of being called an uncle and was on the verge of looking amused but kept controlling himself as Vish would have killed him. Aghori Baba was looking at us all amused as we moved towards Naag Guruji's house where Ma and Juhi were waiting for us. I was looking forward to seeing Juhi's expressions when Mahir would call her aunty. She was a lot vainer than Vish.

Finally we reached the house and Naag Guruji opened the door for us. He and ma were horrified after seeing Mahir in his Hulk pyjamas, clutching my hand and trying to hide behind me at the sight of the elders. I had to drag him out and introduce him to the three of them. And yeah, did I mention? Teddy and Chomu had accompanied us as Mahir insisted that even they loved roaming about at night. Mahir sat in one corner playing with them as I narrated the whole thing to Ma and Juhi. They agreed that I should use the Naagmani to cure Mahir. I went inside and changed into Naagin clothes and stepped out so that the transformation did not happen in front of Mahir. As soon as he spotted me, Mahir rushed towards me and started running his fingers on my tummy and back, looking at me with mischievous eyes. I was very embarrassed that this was happening in front of my mother, sister, Aghori Baba, Naag Guruji, my best friend and well... my ex-boyfriend. Mahir did that a couple of times and waited for me you bolt away. When I didn't react in any way, he said, "Do it na. We will show them as well how she ran away. I explained what he was trying to say and everyone looked relieved and embarrassed, both at the same time. To defuse the awkwardness, Naag Guruji went and opened the cupboard that open the secret passage that led to the Naagmani cave and beckoned us forward. Mahir was very excited at the prospect of entering a secret passage. He wanted to carry Chomu and Teddy as well but I somehow convinced him that they would scared of the darkness as they were just babies. "See? How scared they are looking! They are so small and they are not even as brave as you are Mahir. We will not take them. I said. He nodded his head and waited for me to lead him inside.

Ma told me that I will have to simply place the crystal on his head and wait for five minutes. All the medicine will get extracted from his system and he will become absolutely normal. They would be waiting for us. Next we would have to take steps to deal with the new Huzoor. The journey to the cave was a quick and swift one. Once inside the cave I told Mahir that I would have to dance in order to get Bholenath's blessings while he, Mahir would have to sit quietly in one corner. I went to the adjacent cave where Bholenath's idol was placed and began my ceremonial Tandav while Mahir quietly watched me from one corner. I think my raudra Tandava scared him to some extent but he didn't say anything. As I fell at Bholenath's feet, I was happy to see the idol's third eye opening and the shining, precious Naagmani flew towards me.

I caught hold of it and placed it on Mahir's head, warning him to stay still. I knew it would hurt a lot as the poison was extracted from his body and soon enough he began screaming. With each scream, my gut twisted a bit more and soon I was shaking so much that I could barely hold the mani in my hand. As more and more of the poisonous medicine left his system, his screams peaked and the mani began to glow an eerie blue. It grew hotter and hotter and Mahir's whole body was shaking badly. He was hugging me tightly, his face pressed against my heaving chest. After what seemed like an eternity the mani returned back to its normal colour and vanished from my hands.

Mahir remained hugging me tightly. We both were sweating profusely and shaking badly. After a few minutes, Mahir raised his head to look at me. I looked back at me and he smiled his old smile. I heaved a sigh of relief and hugged him even more tightly. "Oww! You are squashing me Bella.Mahir said. I laughed loudly as I let go of him. He stood up and took my hand in his hand and kissed it lightly.

"Bella, how are you? I was so worried when you fell off the cliff. I thought I had lost you forever. How did you get well so soon? And why are you in your Naagin form? Mahir began bombarding me with questions.

I laughed as this, I had missed a lot.

"Hold your horses for a bit, Mahir. It's been six months since I fell down the cliff. We had been away from each other for six months. I replied.

"Six months? But why don't remember anything? And what the hell am I wearing? Mahir question me.

"Well, that's because you were not yourself in these last six months. Relax, let's get back to ma's place, I will explain everything. Anyways Chomu will be waiting for us.

"Chomu? Just a minute. Did you get pregnant because of the... well last time? Is Chomu our son? What a weird name you have given him! And how did you deliver the baby before nine months got complete?

"Chomu is... Well he is not our baby but yes, he is certainly your baby. I never thought you would do something of the sort with me. But well, I am ready accept Chomu as my own and since you love him so much.

We had begun walking back along the passage back to the house. Mahir was trying to puzzle his brains as to how come a baby came in less than six months. And what did Bella mean by, Chomu was his baby? When did he...? And that too with another girl... It seemed impossible but... Well he would get answers soon enough. Once they came out of the cupboard, the passage sealed itself up. Mahir was very embarrassed to come out in Hulk pyjamas and it did not help that Vish attacked him as soon as we stepped out for calling her an aunty. As he tried to defend himself against two angry girls as even Juhi had joined Vish in hitting him for calling her an aunty as well, I narrated all that had happened inside the cave. I summoned the Naagmani and showed it Aghori Baba. He told me we would have to hide it in the safest place that we could find and that was the underwater cave.

After the discussions were done, everyone mysteriously disappeared by giving some or the other reasons. JUhi muttered something about needing to visit the Haveli and everyone soon followed her. I was puzzled. Why did everyone need to visit the Haveli together? I was about to question Mahir, when suddenly I felt his hand on my waist and I was pulled close.

"Hey there gorgeous! What say we have some fun, now that everyone has left us alone?

I turned to him.

"Don't you want to meet Chomu?

"Oh yeah! I don't believe that I now have a son. Are you sure he is mine? I mean I would never cheat on you, even if I was not in my senses.

I had gone and picked up the Panda and took him to Mahir and gently placed him in Mahir's hand.

"This is your Chomu. And this is Teddy. They are yours.

"What? Is this some kind of a joke?

"Nope!

I explained him all that had happened to him in the last six months right up to that day's events.

"So that is why you are wearing this Hulk night dress. When I told you to change, your eight year old self's logic was that it was still night time so you could wear night dress while going out.

"This is so weird. I feel weird. Do you have anything that I can wear before we step out? Please?

"I am sure you will fit one of Vikrant's suits. I will look for one for you. Wait.

" Before you do that...

He had once again pulled me close to him and I could feel his hot breath on the back of my neck.

"Mahir! Why are you being such a despo?

His response was a slow, sensuous kiss on my neck while his fingers were busy undoing the knots on my top.

"Come on Naagrani! Naagraj was deprived of this privilege for the last six months. he said, his voice husky.

I finally gave in to his advances. By that time my top was lying on the floor and he had lost his shirt. Suddenly he spotted Teddy and Chomu, who were sitting facing us. He went and took them out of the room.

"Bad boy, Chomu and Teddy! Momma and Daddy are having some fun. Go and sleep in your room!

I giggled as he came back and carried me to my old room. Once there, we quickly lost rest of our clothes and continued having "fun for a long time. After some, as we lay back exhausted but happy and content, Mahir turned to me, "Bella, how old are you?

"What?

"I asked, how old are you? he repeated the question. "Something Vish said struck me as odd. She said although she was more than a hundred years old, she did not look a day older than twenty-five. So I wondered if even you were... I mean... he trailed off.

I cleared my throat loudly suddenly awkward. I had never given this a thought... But the truth was that we had an age gap of more than a century.

"Ermmm. Well yeah I was twenty-eight when I started my tapasya for becoming an able and just naagrani and also to keep the in-born gift of being an icchadhari naagin. See ma did the tapasya before me. Although we get the gift from our parents, we have to do a tapasya to keep the gift of being shape-shifting serpents or else we lose it as we age. And... Well... yeah I am forever frozen in this age. Unless someone manages to kill me, I will not die of old age.

"And for how long did this tapasya last?

"Ermm. A hundred years actually.

"Let me get this straight! You are a hundred and twenty-eight years old? And you don't age. So despite you being a century older than me, I will look older than you in a few years time? So when I will be eighty, you will still me twenty-eight. I will be called the Tharki old man who has a twenty-eight year old wife? Why didn't you tell?

" Well last time we did not have a lot of time. As soon as I untied you... You... ermm.. pounced on me and well I too got carried away. And then well I fell of the cliff... And now.. well...

"Not then, but before that.

"You didn't know anything and when you came to know about my truth, you were as it was freaking out so I thought it would be unwise freak you out some more.

"You thought I would freak out then? Then what am I doing NOW? I made love to a one hundred and twenty eight year old naagin twice? This is so freaking... I don't know... Awesome!!

" Wait! What? You are not upset that I am a hundred years older than you?

"No! I mean I didn't know that my wife is such a cougar!!

"Don't Mahir!

I was suddenly very shy and I hid my face in my hands. He pulled my hands away from my brilliantly red face and kissed the tip of my nose. I blushed even more at that. After a while he sobered up and turned to me, "No but Bella one day I am going to die as I am just a human.

"Nothing of this sort will ever happen. There is a series of poojas that you can do to remain with me till I die. You have been proven as my soul mate when my most potent venom could not kill you. So, if you choose to, you can do that difficult tapasya and then get a boon from Bholenath to live till I live. Post my death, you will also die.

"So I have a choice? I mean since I am your soul mate, shouldn't this be... I don't know compulsory?

"No. Being a soul mate doesn't mean that we have to love each other. We can be platonic soul mates too. Soul mate is the other part of one soul. They need not be romantic partners. My romantic partner could be someone else and my soul mate can be someone else. It has happened before. So this choice is given. Most go for this as, soul mates are unable to live without each other. How can one survive without the other half?

"Wow! That's deep. In that case I will do the tapasya to stay with you till the end.

"Okay, we will initiate the process once this Huzzor problem gets solved.

"And what happens if someone manages to kill me first?

"You won't die. You life will be tied to mine, not mine to yours. So unless and until I breath my last, you will continue to breath.

"Well that's good. I will never die, since my wife is invincible.

"We'll see about that. Now come on let me go. I have to hide the Naagmani and then I will come to take you to a safe place till this fiasco gets sorted.

"Aww. We will be parting so soon?

"Duty calls Mahir. Can't stay locked up with my handsome Naagraj for long otherwise my subjects will say that Naagrani is addicted to sensuous pleasures.

"Isn't she? I mean look at you Naagrani. You were so desperate that a couple of kisses from me had you peeling off your clothes. No self control at all!

"Stop it Mahir! And Mr Naagraj, you have not yet been crowed a Naagraj. So tone it down a bit.

"Ji, Naagrani! he gave me a cheeky wink. "Waise, when do you plan to become Naagrani Ma?

"NOT NOW! The rule is still pretty unstable.

"That is precisely why we need kids. I have studied in history, the more the heirs to the throne, more the stability of the empire. So, what do you say?

"Woow my Naagraj! I am convinced but not today. Once I get back from hiding the Naagmani. Okay? Bye now. See you soon.

Saying this I got dressed and laid out a set for him to wear. Once we both were properly clothed, I left the house to go the underwater Shiv Mandir to hide the Naagmani. I was very happy that day. The love of my life, my soul-mate was safe and sound, I had managed to keep the naagmani safe from Sumitra, I also had an intel about this Huzoor person. All in all life was going good.

As soon as I thought this, I spied a couple of gidh's following me. I fully expected them to attack me but they didn't. They just kept following me. I decided to throw them off the track by taking a roundabout route to the cave, thus tiring them out. Surprisingly as suddenly as they had appeared, they disappeared. Their sudden disappearance made me uneasy and I increased my pace. Soon I was entering the lake where the temple was. I had expected someone, or something to stop me, but I experienced no hurdles or obstacles. This lack of any opposition was making me very uneasy. Why were the Gidhs following me in first place? They had neither attacked me nor had they tried to delay me. Then why?

It suddenly dawned upon me and my heart grew cold. They had managed to delay me. I had taken the longer route, thus automatically delaying myself. Once inside the cave I rushed to the lord's idol and immediately felt a sense of calm and serenity wash over me. Shoving away these disturbing thoughts I immersed myself in the ceremonial Tandava, thanking the lord for allowing me to use the mani for curing for my husband and keeping him safe from all harms. As I fell at the lord's feet, I summoned the Naagmani and offered it to him. The idol's third eye opened and the Mani was swallowed inside it. I heaved a sigh of relief. I had succeeded in keeping the Mani safe. Now no one other than me would be able to revive the Mani from this spot.

The waters around this temple were treacherous to anyone other than the Naagrani. This temple had its own mechanism to protect itself and the Mani. It was because of this mechanism, this temple had been used as the ultimate hiding place for the Mani for centuries. Once the Naagmani was safe and sound I came out of the water and some way away from the lake I found the gidh mommy dearest and her boring son waiting for me. I told them that the Mani was well beyond their reach. Her return answer was the worst smirk I have ever seen. I felt like punching that smirk from her face and I did just that. She was the one who had helped her pervert son keep my sister captured for all those months. She was the one who had tried to throw Juhi off the cliff.

I punched her so hard that it sent her reeling backward. Her son tried to attack me but I smacked him with my tail once and he was lying on the ground, moaning and crying like a child. Honestly! Vyom was the only Gidh who had some skills. These all were plain annoying. So back to the fight, the gidh mommy was holding her jaw and the baby gidh was holding his hand, both lying on the ground at my feet. If I wanted, I could have killed them both there and then. But then I was feeling rather benevolent just then so I let go of them. The baby managed to tell me that Kuhu and Andy Sehgal were in danger and so I rushed to the Sehgal House to find Rohini holding baby Ruhi and threatening to bite her. Ruhi was crying bitterly and in that moment I felt very sorry for Kuhu. Kuhu was shaking badly, pleading to Rohini to let go of her daughter. What Naag Guru had told me was true, I was feeling more powerful than ever and I manager to knock her lusty husband who was holding Kuhu flat on his back. Once she was free, Bultu and Andy dragged her away from the battle and I approached Rohini. I had to be super careful as she had the baby and she wanted to hurt her.

I managed to subdue Alekh somehow and used him as a bargaining tool. After going back and forth a bit she relented and even I was surprised that Rohini agreed to hand over the baby so easily. I asked Kuhu to thoroughly check the baby before I released Alekh. Once she was absolutely sure that the baby was not bitten or hurt in any way I shoved Alekh towards Rohini and unleashed the full extent of my powers on them. Soon they both were withering and groaning on the floor, completely sapped of all their powers. As I pushed them out, I realised my evil sasu ma and lusty ex fianc were missing from the action. I wondered where they were.

I threw them out and hastily set up a protective shield around the house and warned dad and Kuhu to not let anyone, absolutely anyone inside the house. If I came back, I would be able to enter the house, but anyone else will not be able to do so unless and until they let them in. Today Kuhu had finally called me bhabhi and had accepted me as a part of the family. Even Bultu apologised to me for the fateful night when his friends had molested me and he had stood a mute spectator. Dad had lovingly laid a hand on my head and told me that henceforth, he would support me in all my decisions. With these happy memories, I stepped out of the house muttering about Yuvi and Sumitra being missing.

"Finally! I turned around sharply to see Rohini and Alekh standing there with an evil smile on their faces. "Finally the smart Naagrani asked the most intelligent question! But don't you think she is a bit late, Alekh?

"Yes, Ro. She is, I think very late.

Seeing a puzzled look on my face, Rohini told me that like an ideal bahu I had managed to save my sister-in-law and father-in-law but now I would be too late to save my husband. Cold fear gripped my heart and I caught hold of her and shook her, threatening her to tell me more. She was completely spent, all her energy had drained after the fight, but still she managed an annoying smirk and told me to head towards my mother's home to know what had happened to Mahir.

With a protective measure in place, I rushed towards Naag Guru's home. As I was running, I kept on repeating only one thing. "Please Mahir be safe and sound. I was some distance away from the house when I knew something was horribly wrong. Smoke bellowed from where the house stood till a couple of hours ago. As I reached there, huffing and puffing, I saw a horrific sight. Naag Gurru's house was completely engulfed in flames , with flames even licking the roof. Even as I watched in horror a part of the house fell in, such was the intensity of the fire. Tears blurred my vision as I blindly stumbled forward towards where the door was. It was impossible to even get near the door without getting burnt, I did not care about my own safety just then. My Mahir was trapped inside and I had to get him out at any damn cost.

Strong pair of hands pulled me back and I think I fainted because next thing I remember was opening my eyes to see a very worried looking Vish and Vikrant looking at me while my mother and Juhi, Aghori Baba and Naag Guruji stood nearby. The fire had been put out. As I sat up with great difficulty, I saw the burnt out shell of what was a beautiful house just a couple of hours ago. As soon as I could stand up, I rushed towards the house shouting for Mahir. I knew it was not of any use, but still I had to make sure... The fire that had taken care of the whole house would surely have had its effect on my human husband. But still I had to make sure.

As I entered the house, I heard Vikrant and Vish shouting for me to stop. But in that moment I had ears for none. The whole place was burnt out completely. Charred remains of furniture remained and the smoke choked me almost to death. My throat burned from the smoke and my eyes with unshed tears. I went in further, looking for any sign of Mahir but there was none. Only burnt out bits of furniture. I reached what was once my bedroom, where just a few hours ago I had said good bye to Mahir. The bed had been completely burnt. In one corner I found burnt out bits of Mahir's Hulk night dress. I picked up those pieces and hugged them tightly, tears now flowing freely down my cheeks.

I had not heard Juhi, Vish and Vikrant follow me inside but as I stumbled, I felt Vikrant catch me for second time and carry me out. I was dazed. No Mahir could not be... But the evidence suggested otherwise. I let out a wail and threw myself on the ground, hugging the pieces tightly. Nothing anyone said made any difference to me. I was inconsolable. Just then I heard Vikrant let out a roar like a wounded lion and I turned my head to see Sumi and Yuvi grinning evilly at me. Sumitra had apparently obtained the power to show visuals or her memories to others. She projected what had happened after I left the house.

I saw Mahir go to the kitchen and start preparing breakfast for the two of us after I had left. As his back was turned, Sumi attacked him and down he went. She lifted up a heavy kitchen cabinet and placed it on him. Now he was completely trapped. Yuvi poured some kerosene on the wooden cabinet that was pinning Mahir down and the lit it up. They both stood for some time, watching Mahir struggle to get the heavy cabinet off him in vain. Eventually laughing and celebrating, they left the house. The vision cut off. I looked at them with dead eyes.

Seeing Mahir, so hapless in his final moments was a bit too much for me and I fainted once again. Next thing I remember was opening my eyes hours later in Aghori Baba's cave. There were people around me, but their faces blurred in front of my eyes. There was only face which my eyes could clearly see, and that face was which I would never see again. My Mahir. As soon as I opened my eyes, I think it was Vish and Juhi who rushed forward support me. I could no longer cry. Tears had abandoned me just like Mahir had left me for good. I could see ma was worried for me but just then I did not have it in me to comfort her. I was too immersed in my own grief to care about anyone else. Aghori Baba brought out a kadha for me and forced me to drink it. Although the kadha revived me physically, my soul was dead.

I sat there listlessly while around me people discussed ways to bring down Sumitra. I was not interested. Killing her, giving her the most gruesome death would not bring back my Mahir. I listened to them, but not quite. My mind was thinking up its own thoughts. Mahir... His smile... The way his eyes lit up every time he saw me. The way he had always loved me even when I hated him. They say never behave in a manner which will leave you with regrets. I regretted ever hating Mahir. I regretted ever trying to harm him. I wish I could go back in time and tell my older self that Mahir was a nice guy. I should have loved him right from the day one. He deserved all the love. Now I wanted to love him, to tell how much he meant to me, but he was not around. As I sat there, I remembered Chomu and Teddy. I remembered saying

"I am ready to accept Chomu as my own since you love him some much.

I sat up suddenly and rushed out of the cave. No one saw me rushing away as they were all busy in the other side of the cave. As I ran, I tried to remember whether I had seen any charred remains of stuffed toys. But I couldn't remember, I was so intent on finding Mahir at that time. Night had fallen and it was pitch black near the house. I lit up my mobile torch and entered the house and meticulously searched for Chomu and Teddy. I had to find them. Somehow my crazed out mind thought, if I found them, I would find Mahir as well. But try as I might, I could not find any evidence that two stuffed toys had ever existed in this place. One sane and rational bit of my mind told me that the fire that had managed to burn the whole house should have surely burnt those two too. But even then I continued to prowl around. Finally, tired and exhausted, I sat down outside the house.

I had lost all hope. I did not want to live. What was the point of living when my mate was gone? As I lay there, I spotted some hooded figures coming there. Everything about them was sinister. My instincts screamed at me to run away, to save myself, to protect myself but I welcomed them. If they were bringing death with them, then yes I would welcome them whole heartedly. They did not talk with me nor did they even look at me. A couple of them simply dragged me along the road. As I was dragged, I could feel my legs getting scraped and bruised. I welcomed that pain. That pain was nothing compared to what Mahir must have gone through when he burnt. In fact I seemed to have developed a new sensibility to experience the pain.

I could feel each and every scrape, each and every cut. I could feel soil and stones rubbing against my raw skin. Still they continued to drag me. Finally we reached an under construction building. They dragged me over the stairs and to a place where more hooded figures stood. I was thrown at the feet of what looked like their leader. Someone grabbed me roughly and asked me the whereabouts of the Naagmani. I laughed a humourless laugh. No one would ever be able to find the Naagmani now. I had done my duty of protecting it. After me, Juhi would be crowned as the Naagrani. I knew my sister would protect it with her life if necessary. Once I was dead, only Juhi, the next Naagrani would be able to access the Mani in the underwater temple. As long as the Mani was there, no one could steal it.

I was still laughing. Someone slapped me and the sound of my laughter cut off abruptly. I tasted blood on my tongue. I was once again asked to reveal the whereabouts of the Mani if I wanted to live. If I wanted live? What a joke? I didn't want to live. I wanted to die. I wanted to reach Mahir as soon as possible. I felt someone kick me and I fell down, still smiling. No matter what they did, I refused to say a word. With each blow I could feel, death coming closer to me. I welcomed her. With each new blow I was going closer to Mahir. Finally they knew that I was not going to say a word. They decided to get the information out of the next Naagrani. Fear gripped my heart as I thought of Juhi in my place, being kicked around. I sent a final prayer to Bholenath to protect my sister.

I was lying, face down in the pool of my own blood, when they began to drag me to a corner. Once there they began to build a wall around me. I was given one last chance to tell them what they wanted. I laughed in their faces. The wall was built and I was fully trapped. I had no means of finding out what was happening. Suddenly I smelt kerosene and then smoke after sometime. A startled laugh escaped my lips. What a cruel thing fate is! I was going to go the same way as my husband. I sat down and waited for death to find me.

As I sat there the walls around me became hotter and hotter. I was trying to remember Mahir and his face for the last time when a memory flashed before my eyes. And then another... And another... And another...

The walls that were feeling uncomfortably hot just a few minutes ago were actually feeling quite warm now. As soon as I found my ears, I heard a voice speaking urgently

"Never question my instincts. My instincts are never wrong. Doctor, will she be okay? It seems she was beaten up badly and then she was left to die in that enclosed space. That fire was intentional. If I hadn't reached there on time... Well, doctor while you are at it please check if... I mean check if she has been sexually abused. And let me know once she wakes up. I will wait outside.

I knew there and then that I had reached heaven as the voice was Mahir's.

Originally posted by: The.Wanderer

Okay, first and foremost, thank you, everyone, for your appreciation. I am currently unable to type out replies to your comments but I will reply soon. Till then enjoy this new part, and do let me know your thoughts on the same. As usual,I got carried away and hence there is another part coming. But that will take some time. I will update maybe in the next week.

@Nuomi, Mafaaza, Pranu, Claire, Mahi, Asif, Rehan, Preeti I know you all are waiting for the next flashback of Hate You Like I Love You, but I am so sorry to say that it is still under construction. It will take some more time. I am working on it but the words don't seem right. I keep on deleting all that i have typed out. So please, have patience. I will get back to that one soon enough.

@Claire, can youplease stop stalking my FFs and give me the reviewsthat Iwas promised?😆

Originally posted by: The.Wanderer

Okay, first and foremost, thank you, everyone, for your appreciation. I am currently unable to type out replies to your comments but I will reply soon. Till then enjoy this new part, and do let me know your thoughts on the same. As usual,I got carried away and hence there is another part coming. But that will take some time. I will update maybe in the next week.

@Nuomi, Mafaaza, Pranu, Claire, Mahi, Asif, Rehan, Preeti I know you all are waiting for the next flashback of Hate You Like I Love You, but I am so sorry to say that it is still under construction. It will take some more time. I am working on it but the words don't seem right. I keep on deleting all that i have typed out. So please, have patience. I will get back to that one soon enough.

@Claire, can youplease stop stalking my FFs and give me the reviewsthat Iwas promised?😆