Chapter 28
Chandrakala was in the cave’s room when she heard footsteps. Like walking through a door, someone entered the lair. She was shocked to see Veer.
“Veer?!” She exclaimed. She was sitting on the throne. He gave her a look. Markaat wasn’t pleased to see someone else sitting on his throne.
“Tum yahan?” She asked surprised. He walked up to Chandrakala and grabbed her by her throat and threw her away from the throne to the ground.
“Yeh kya tareeka hai?” She asked enraged.
“Shshshhh…Chandrakala, shaant. Awaaz mat uthao apni mere saath.” He told her. He walked up and sat on the throne. His ankle on his other knee. The throne lit up. He clicked his fingers and all the lamps lit up in the room. It was late at night.
“Tumhari himmat bohot bad gayi hai…” Chandrakala was angry.
“Shshhh… ek baar mein baat kaano mein nahi jaati kya, Chandrakala?” He asked her. He tapped his fingers over the skull on the arm of the throne and looked at her with ahead tilt. Right ahead of them Shukla showed up. He kneeled down quickly.
“Abh batao, Shukla. Tumse maine ek kaam karne ko kaha jo tum nahi kar paaye.” He said. Markaat opened the door for him and Shukla walked into the lair. Markaat signalled him to come closer. Shukla did that and kneeled down right before Veer’s foot. His foot rested on Shukla’s shoulder.
“Malik, mujhe maaf kar dijiye. Maine sabh kuch kiya par woh Veeranshu kaabu mein hi nahi aata.” Shukla begged mercy.
“Bewakoof, tumse kya kaha tha? Veeranshu ko kabu nahi kar paaoge isiliye uske aas paas ke cheezon ko kabu karo.” He pressed his foot hard on Shukla’s shoulder. “Kya lagta hai tume, asaani se aa jaayega Veeranshu kaabu mein? Jab bacche bohot hi ziddi ho jaaye toh unhe behla phusla ke kaam karwana padta hai. Dara nahi sakte the, samjha nahi sakte the toh bewakoof bana sakte the na, Shukla?”
Markaat flipped his hand and a small curved small dagger appeared. The same size as his hand. The blade resembled a talon and the handle of the blade resembled a bird feather.
“Maaf kardijiye, Markaat.” Shukla apologized. He put the blade on Shukla’s chin and made him look up into his eyes. Shukla noticed in a moment that Veeranshu and Markaat only had a little difference between them. Both of them were wildly confident about themselves, a hell lot arrogant about who they were, mad in several ways, unpredictable like the sky and extremely dangerous. Both were uncontrolled and difficult to trap. They both did things on their whim. Neither of them gave him any respect.
Chandrakala looked in surprised. Markaat? How did Markaat even become Veer?
“Body Veeranshu ki hai par maine apne aap ke liya istemaal kiya hai.”
“Toh Veer kahan hai?” She asked.
“Yahin hai. Kaafi takat laga raha hai mujhe apne andar se hatane ke liye. Par yeh mere 12,000 divya varshon ki jutai hui takat hai. Itni asaani se nahi nikal sakta mujhe Veeranshu.”
Right inside where the soul resides in the body. Markaat was fighting Veeranshu.
“Haar maanlo, Veeranshu.” Markaat commented. The two of them were tired and sat resting for a while. Markaat had to give it to Veer. He was like no other cheel he had ever come across. Not even Suparns felt that powerful to fend off so well.
Veer laughed.
“VeeranshuSinghania haar maan le? Na. Aisa nahi ho sakta. Kahan na tumse meri sweetheart ne. Mujhe harana itna bhi asaan nahi hai.” Veer replied.
“Veeranshu, bas socho. Tum aur main ek saath bohot kuch kar sakte hai. Puri duniya par hukumat karne ki chahat tumhe bhi hai aur mujhe bhi. Main aur tum ek dusre se alag nahi hai.” Markaat tried to manipulate Veer. “Puri duniya humare pairon par hogi. Na humari takkar ka koi aur na hi hume rokne waala koi.”
Veer closed his eyes. The first thing flashing was the sight of Bani. The first time ever his eyes fell on her. He had no words to say. He forgot who he was in that moment. Her beauty so enchanting to his soul. The memory of circling around Nageshwari as Aakesh when he saw her for the first time. How enchanting her blue naagin eyes were. Her soft lips. The way sunlight reflected off her skin. He had never been so jealous of the sunrays that got to grace her skin. The way her eyes looked at him. He had known her to be the only one who held his heart since the first moment. He’d be willing to die a hundred times just to get that one glimpse of her again. The way Bani laughed. How her breath hitched when he stood close to her. His own heart beat would go faster when she’s stand soclose to her. To touch her felt like salvation. He remembered how he had longed for her accept his touch.
His soul had always known Bani was Nageshwari. His soul, his heart, his mind and body were never in such a sync until he came across Bani at that damned wedding of Noor Baig. He cursed himself for letting something that bad happen to Noor. He never wished death upon her. He just wanted to take revenge for the way she was using his friend for wealth. Ahmad never blamed him for Noor’s death but Bani did.
He had never felt such a strong connection to anyone like he felt when he met Nageshwari as Aakesh. The fire that burned in her soul. Her soul was so untouched by any filth of the outside. It was almost like her soul sang his favourite in the sweetest tone. He was enchanted by it more than songs that the koels used to sing near the temple of Vishnu on the island. They’d sing the praises of the lord in their sweet voices. Aakesh used to be enchanted by it. Perhaps it was the half that came from his mother that he felt so strongly attached to that place. She often visited the temple. Unlike all the other cheels, she was devotee of Vishnu. The beautiful idol of a sleeping Vishnu and the songs the koels sang in his praise always enchanted Aakesh. But what enchanted him more was Nageshwari’s untouched soul. He had never met anyone so pure yet so fiery. Like she was the blazing sun. Fire and burning but it gave life to everything on earth. Softly caressing all the trees, waking up all the birds with its rays, spreading its warmth around the otherwise cold planet. The way she reflected light from her beauty. Like she could enchant the world around her.
“Yeh tumhe kuch waqt pehle mujhse kaha hota toh shayad main maan bhi leta. Main is baat ko importance bhi de deta par jabse use dekha, aankhon mein aur koi khwaab hi nahi raha. Na iss duniya ka aur na hi kisi aur cheez ka.” Veer answered.
“Kya rakha hai usmein, Veeranshu? Dimaag se socho. Yeh pyaar bas bakwaas hai. Hari ki maya hai sabh. Sabh uska khel hai. Tum jaante nahi ki kaise kaise khel khelte hain woh saare bhagwaan. Shiv aur Hari, dono hi aisi maya rachate hai. Sabh maya hai. Sach yahi hai ki na toh Bani ne tumse itna pyaar kiya hai aur na hi Nageshwari ne. Bas use aadat hai tumhari. Aadat todne mein bas 20-70 din lagte hai. Ek baar chodke dekho, woh bhi tumhe bhul jaayegi. Uska toh Naag hai. Chali jaayegi us Naag ke saath. Socho theek se, Veeranshu, kyu aise khwaab bana rahe ho? Koi bhi naagin ek cheel ka joda kaise ho sakti hai? Kabhi suna hai ki ek cheel ek naagin ka joda hai?”
“Nahi pata yeh sabh, yaar, aur na hi janna hai mujhe. Mujhe toh sirf Bani ke pyaar mein rehna hai. Jabse Nageshwari ko dekha hai, uske siwa aur koi sapna dekha hi nahi maine. Bas sirf use pyaar karne ka sapna dekha hai. Usse pyaar kabhi nahi tod sakta main. Iss pyaar mein hi toh meri duniya hai.”
“Veeranshu, jab puri duniya humari hogi toh woh bhi humare haath aa hi jaayegi. Kaha jaa paayegi?”
Veer chuckled.
“Mujhe Bani ka pyaar chahiye. Agar zabardasti uska pyaar mil hi jaata mujhe toh Aakesh banke hi mil jaata na?”
“Bakwaas mat karo, Veeranshu. Meri baat maan lo, hum dono ke liye accha hoga.”
Veer laughed again.
“Apne acche ke baare mein kabka sochna bhul gaya, Suryash. Agar kisi ke baare mein sabse zyaada socha hai toh woh meri Bani hai.”
“Veeranshu…” He shouted angrily. It was a waste trying to explain it to him. He was a lost cause in Markaat's eyes.
“Shshhh…calm down. Cheekho mat. Koi faayda nahi hai iska. Tumhe bhi pata hai ki main aise cheekhne se darunga nahi. Use darao isse jo dar jaaye jaise Shukla. Kasam se keh raha hun, Bani se milne se pehle main bhi tumhare jaisa hi tha. Na toh kisi ki fikar thi aur na hi kisi ka khayal tha. Dil malang jahan chaha wahan ud jaaye par jabse usse mila hun, sirf uska sapna dekha hai.”
“Pagal ho gaye ho. Aise lapeta Hari ki maya ne sacchai dekh bhi nahi rahe ho. Naagin. Ek naagin tumhe apna saathi maan legi?”
“Uske manne ya na manne se kya fark padta hai. Maine toh use apni zindagi maan liya hai.”
Markaat attacked Veer and he retaliated. Dodging the attack and cracking the jaw.
Veer and Markaat kept fighting. Veer pinned him down, his knee over Markaat’s chest. Markaat threw him behind. Veer quickly flapped open his wings and balanced himself, diving at Markaat. Markaat flew up. The two started fighting in the air. Kicking away each other. It resembled two eagles viciously fighting over a hunt. Flying up and down, dodging and attacking. Veer kicked him and Markaat crashed behind. He got up angrily.
“Aaargghh….” He dived at Veer. He ducked and jumped up in the air, quickly attacking Markaat and jumping back. Markaat tried to punch Veer but he jumped over quickly flying up and diving. Veer grabbed his throat and pinned him down. Markaat threw him away. Veer crashed behind.
The fight took a lot of energy. It was like bursts of energy. The animalistic way they fought took a lot of toll on the physical body of Veer.
“Yeh saala kya abhi apne beton ki maut ka maatam mana raha hai? Jo aise phoot phoot ke ro raha hai?” Veer asked as he looked at Shukla. Markaat laughed.
“Mujhe yahan lag raha tha ki Aakesh-Veeranshu puri tarah se sudhar gaya aur us Naagin ki tarah ban gaya. Pyaar mein deewana cheel banna bhul gaya.” Markaat taunted Veer. Veer laughed.
“Arrey, aise kaise bhul jaata? Paida agar cheel hua hoon, bhulunga kaise. Badtameez toh main pehle bhi tha aur aaj bhi hoon bas thodi si sharafat seekh gaya hun. Woh kya hai ki meri sweetheart ko kabhi kabhi gussa zyaada hi aata hai.”
Veer was aware of what Markaat was making him do. To wrestle it out of his control wasn’t going easy.
A group of cheels showed up at the gufa. Around 6 cheels.
“Markaat huzoor, aapne hume yaad kiya?” They bowed down before Markaat. Nikhil, one of Veer’s childhood friends. He was a cheel too. Nikhil and his family showed up at the cave. The stopped before the sculpture. Reyansh, Nikhil’s father. Vikram, Vineet, Ajit and Sahaan, Nikhil’s brothers. They all showed up.
Markaat had called up the cheels who would back him in the fight that the Singhanias were going to put up. Markaat knew that Balwant wasn’t going let Markaat wreck up the reign that Veer had over all the cheels. Every single cheel used to bow down to Veer. Because Veer gave a lot of weight to his father, Balwant had a lot of control on cheels too. Every cheel knew that Veer wasn’t someone to mess with and hence fell in line. Since childhood, Nikhil was jealous of the power Veer enjoyed. Veer was always the one who lived at the top. He lived life King size. Not an inch less. The spoilt prince. Veer’s inner insolence would reflect up. It came from his inner animalistic tendency. The part that makes sure to dominate the aeiry. His crazy would make sure everyone knew not to mess with him. Only one he even saw close to his level were his brother who he was really close to.
Nikhil Parikshit and his family were among those who were loyal to Markaat. Nikhil joined Markaat against Veer when he had reached 18, being extremely jealous of Veer. Veer got everything that Nikhil had wanted. Nikhil would pretend that he was friends with Veer to make sure they didn’t get into trouble until Markaat would take charge.
“Nikhil, tumne bohot acche se mere kaam kiye hai.” He stepped down and patted on Nikhil’s shoulder. “Kyuki abh maine apni jagah li hai toh Veeranshu ki jagah khali hai. Cheelon ke Rajkumar banne ke kaabil lagte ho tum.”
Nikhil smiled.
“Sabh aapki wajah se, Markaat huzoor. Mera vada hai ki main saare cheelon ko aapke saamne jhukaunga phir se.” Nikhil promised.
“Yahi umeed thi tumse. Saare cheelon ko yeh baat pahucha do ki kal Cheelon ke Rajkumar ki taajposhi hai.” He told Nikhil and his family.
“Nikhil Parikshit ab hoga cheelon ka Rajkumar. Sabko cheel gufa mein bulao.” Markaat threw the order.
Inside Veer, both Veer and Markaat were kind of tired. The energy draining quickly. Veer was no easy prey to tackle, Markaat was finding it troublesome to control and push down Veer. Yet, considering how difficult it was in Singhania Mansion, it was easier here since Bani wasn’t here to fuel Veer’s with his crazy. Markaat never thought there was anyone who matched his own crazy but he had to admit that Veer’s crazy gave a tough match.
Veer was worried but didn’t let it show. He was growing tired. He needed energy. With no idea on how to possible energize the soul. Veer knew that emotions played onthe soul making it stronger or weaker. But Markaat wasn’t going to make the mistake of going near Bani.
“Shukla, kuch aur toh nahi kar paaye. Itna karo ki Nageshwari yaha kahin, aas paas bhi na aa paaye. Cheel gufaon se dur rakho us Adi-Naagin ko. Taajposhi mein woh Singhanias bhi aayenge. Nageshwari ki parchaayi bhi mujhe nahi chahiye yahan.” Markaat told Shukla.
“Ji, Markaat huzoor. Main yeh kar dunga.” He nodded.
“Bani ko main sambhal lungi.” Chandrakala offered.
“Maari jaaogi, bewakoof. Tum kuch na hi karo toh theek hoga. Pichli baar pit ke bhaag gayi thi. Itna ghamand par apni chaal kaamyab nahi kar paayi. Lagta toh yahi hai ki woh Adi-Naagin tumse zyaada takatwar hai.”
“Main maar dungi use.”
“Nahi… tum use nahi maarogi. Mujhe Nageshwari zinda chahiye.” Markaat pointed to himself. “Veeranshu ko rakhna hai toh mujhe Nageshwari chahiye. Pata chala Veeranshu ka pagalpan badh jaaye aur khud ko jala le.”
“Tum use vash mein nahi kar paa rahe kya?” She laughed at him. He walked out of the lair and showed up before her.
“Lagta hai, Chandrakala tum bhul gayi ho toh main zara yaad dila dun. Tum sirf aadhi cheel ho. Baaki toh naagin ho. Koi ek bhi theek se nahi ban paayi ho. Veeranshu jo hai woh sabse takatwar cheel hai. Puchna kabhi koi suparn mile toh Aakesh ke baare mein. Unhe bhi iss naam se darr na laga toh main apni jagah tumhe de dunga. Tumhari tarah main bewakoof nahi hun jo apne dushman ko kamzoor samjhu aur muhki khaau. Iss puri duniya mein aisa koi nahi hai jo Veeranshu ko puri tarah kaabu kar le. Main jitna kar paa raha hun, utna toh tum apne sapno mein bhi nahi kar paaogi. Naagfani ka zeher bhi use puri taraah vash mein nahi kar paaya. Naagfani toh naagon se aati hai. Sabse khatarnaak saanpo ke zeher se banta hai Naagfani. Insaan ko pagal kar deta ki woh apne aape se bahar ho jaaye. Saamne jo bhi aa jaata hai uski maut likhi hoti hai. Naagon ka toh hatiyaar hai hi sammohan. Woh bhi nahi kar paya Veeranshu ko apne vash mein.”
Markaat knew that what he had to do was gather allies in a fight. What fuelled him was his drive for winning and his drive to control everything. What fuelled Veer was his crazy. Touch what belongs to him and he goes crazy. Veer didn’t care much for the title. He was more arrogant about his powers. Anyone hurt his family or went nearby Bani, he’d go mad crazy. Like he did earlier when Markaat pushed Bani angrily and she got thrown away. In that moment, Veer overpowered Markaat. Only Markaat knew how he wrestled it back from Veer.
Bani’s memories fuelled Veer. To repress them was a large task.
“Shukla, mujhe kuch cheezein chahiye. Woh leke aao.” Markaat threw a list to Shukla. He nodded and left to do the job.
Markaat’s strongest lieutenant was Shakura. After Markaat was held captive, Shakura was captured too. Chained. Markaat had used Jay through Shukla to get Shakura free. Shakura was badly injured after the fight with Veer. Then, Shakura disappeared and escaped. Markaat had told Shukla to suggest Shakura to Jay. Only Jay would be able to get to key that opened the chains holding Shakura. Shakura was no less. He wrestled the key from Jay without finishing Jay’s work. But the idiot decided to try and marry Bani. That fuelled Veer’s obsessive side and Veer brutally injured Shakura. He would have almost died if Shakura hadn’t reached Markaat’s cave at the right time. Even now, he was in a difficult state. Markaat knew that even this wasn’t the extent of what Veer could do. He had just scratched the surface of his crazy with Shakura.
“Veer, jaldi aana, main tumhara wait kar rahi hun.”
Everytime Veer remembered it, it would fill him with a new surge of energy. Markaat knew he had remove the parts of Veer’s memory to make him weaker. Yet, he knew that Veer wouldn’t forget her completely. It was impossible. She was like a tattoo inked on his soul that cannot be covered.
“Main tumhe jeetne nahi de sakta, Veeranshu. Tumhari jeet ka matlab hoga ki mujhe haarna hoga jo mujhe manzoor nahi.” Markaat said.
“Haar kise Manzoor hoti hai, Suryash. Na toh tumhe Manzoor hai na hi mujhe. Tumne hi kaha na ki tum aur main ek jaise hai toh basically toh it is going to be same. I can’t let you win, you can’t let me win. Yeh baat tumhe acche se pata hai ki Bani mere liye zaroor aayegi. Maine sirf Bani ke liye janam liya hai.”
“Aur Nageshwari ne Jay ke liye.”
Markaat knew it was the weak point. Veer opened his arms. It was characteristic of Aakesh’s behavior. The craze for Nageshwari that defined Aakesh. It was so infamous that even the suparns wouldn’t forget to write her name next to his in the tapestry. No one had ever taken Nageshwari’s name without remembering Aakesh with it or has spoken about Aakesh without Nageshwari in the next sentence.
“Maine toh sirf uske liye janam liya hai. Pyaar mein fanaa ho jaau toh bhi sahi hai. The point remains that I won’t let you win and destroy her.”
Markaat was beginning to feel angry. Veer was testing his limits.
Shukla arrived with the ingredients that Markaat ordered.
“Abh dekhlo, Veer. Jo cheez tumhe shakti deti hai, use hi main barbaad kar dunga. Tumhe Nageshwari ki yaadein prerna deti hai na? Jab un yaadon ko hi hata dun toh kya karoge?”
Markaat pressed on Veer’s fatal point.
“Nahii….”Veer shouted angrily. Markaat laughed.
“Shukla, banao ark jisse Veeranshu ki yaadon ko main mita sakun.” Markaat ordered Shukla.
“Aee…!!Nahi….” Veer shouted at Shukla but it didn’t stop him.
Markaat attacked Veer and punched him. Veer was thrown away. He got up and attacked Markaat. Markaat fended the attack. It went so crazy that on the outside, the body stumbled and fell down. Spinning like it was having a mental break down. Shukla seemed really scared but followed Markaat’s orders. Veer attacked Markaat with his talons. He dodged the attack, barely escaping.
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