Vani FF// The Phoenix (Thread 2 Link in Pg 1) - Page 12

Chapter 29

When the message reached the Singhania Mansion, Balwant was shocked.

“What the hell!!” He exclaimed.

“Bade papa, Veer bhai ke saath kuch toh bura hone waala hai.” Sam shouted from the top of the stairs.

“Isse bura aur kya ho sakta hai?” Balwant shouted angrily.

“Yeh kya hai?” Daksh asked.

“Cheelon ke Rajkumar ki taajposhi ho rahi hai.” Balwant said angrily.

“What!!? I thought yeh title by birth aata hai.” Bani commented picking up the letter and reading it. “Aur yeh Nikhil Parikshit kon hai?”

“Veer bhai ke bachpan ka dost.” Ponky answered to her.

“Haan. Cheelon ke Rajkumar ka taaj janam se milta hai par Markaat ki iccha par kuch bhi ho sakta hai. Woh Markaat aur cheelon ka Rajkumar ek saat nahi ho sakta hai. Toh woh taaj khali hai jise bharne ke liye Markaat ne ise chuna hai.”Pawan explained to Bani.

“Saare cheel is manenge? I mean Veer toh hai na us sabka ka Rajkumar.” Bani questioned.

“No one is going to risk going against Markaat and dying.”

“Par unmein koi nahi hai jo Veer ka saath de?”

“Bani, ek cheez hoti hai ki hum pehle apne baare mein soche. Koi bhi marna nahi chahega Markaat ke haathon mein. Sabh darte hai Markaat se.”

Bani lookedat the letter of invite.

“Tum sabhko bulaya hai.”

“Haan.Saare cheel ek saath aate hai taajposhi ke liye.”

Balwant noted that instead of wearing her own sweater, Bani was wearing Veer’s jacket over her home kurtis.

“Kaka, zara chai bana dijiye na.” Bani requested the servant. She sat on the table and rubbed her hands over her face. It was a growing headache for her. There was no way to know how to get Markaat out of Veer. Freaking out wasn’t helping her. Even Vanshika had no idea what to do.

“Bhabhi,hum kuch kyu nahi kar rahe hai?” Ponky asked her. Bani looked up at Ponky.

“Woh kya karegi? Musibat hum cheelon ki hai. Adi-Naagin kya hi kar legi? Bani sirf Chandrakala ko takkar de sakti hai. Markaat aur Chandrakala dono ek jaise nahi hai.” Balwant commented irritated with Ponky asking Bani on what to do. “Aur usse kya puch raha hai? Jaise use kuch pata hoga.”

“Pata nahi, bade papa. Agar Veer bhai ke baad kisi se koi hope hai toh woh Bhabhi se hai.” Ponky sighed. Bani gave a sad smile to Ponky.

“Abhi pata nahi, Ponky, par tum na tension mat lo. Main kuch toh rasta nikaal hi lungi. Veeranshu humesha mujhe kehta hai ki har cheez ka koi na koi tod hota hai. Aaj nahi toh kal humare haath aana hi hai us clue ko.” Bani assured Ponky.

“Sam ko lagta hai Veer ke saath kuch bura hone waala hai.” Balwant told Bani. She stood up and raised an eyebrow at Sam.

“Pata nahi kya hoga, Bhabhi, but I feel something is going to go wrong.”

“Nahi. Veer haar nahi sakta. Veeranshu ko lautna hi hai.”

“Bhabhi, aapko sach mein lagta hai hum kisi position mein hai kuch karne ki?”

“Ek kaam karo, tum sabh jaao waha us taajposhi mein.”

“Pagal toh nahi ho gaye ho na, Bhabhi? Hum sabh jaaye us dhokebaaz ki taajposhi pe jo humare Veer bhai ki jagah le raha hai?” Daksh asked severely offended.

“Dimaag se kaam lo, Daksh. Socho. Jab tak hum Veer ke paas nahi pahuchenge, tabh tak hum kaise sabh theek kar paayenge? Markaat toh wahan definitely hoga. Saara samaan bandh ke Markaat ud gaya waha. Don’t act like you’re happy. Waise bewakoofi karni hi nahi hai. Saare cheelon ko jaana zaroori hota hai na? Bas majboor dikho. Let it show. Baaki kya karna hai uske baad hi idea milega. Thoda sa bhi koi hint mile Veer ke baare mein. Yeh jaanna hai. Veeranshu hai hi bohot possessive apni cheezon ko leke. I don’t expect him not to react ki koi uska haq maar raha hai.” Bani explained. The servant brought her the tea. She took it.

“But do you think he wouldn’t understand? How will we even know what is happening with him?” Balwant asked.

Bani drank a sip of the tea. She had to calm down and think like Veer.

“Think like a cheel, Bani, cheelon se deal karna hai toh cheel ki tarah sochna hai. Veer ki tarah sochna hoga. Agar Veer hota toh kya karta.”

“Shayad seedha hamla kar dete aur challenge karte.” Ponky suggested. Bani shook herhead in a no.

“Nahi. Agar Veeranshu hota toh sabse pehle baat ki the ko samjhta ki exactly kya ho raha. Not from just half but from all sides. Ek minute…” Bani ran up to herroom and opened the box that her dadi had given her. She came down.

“Suno. Markaat abhi woh kar raha hai that is typical to how dictatorship works. When you take over a leader of a coup, you remove everyone loyal to the previous leader and place his own loyalist closer. But it is more important to keep enemies closer. He invited you all because he knows that it is important to keep an eye on you all. Mujhe kahin se bhi entry nahi milegi because even Markaat knows agar main khatre mein rahungi toh Veeranshu chala aayega mere paas.” Bani had got an idea.

“Tapish bhai, us din jab main aur Veer bahar gaye the kyuki main pareshaan thi due to the energy signals I was getting from Chandrakala, hum dono wahan shamshaan mein ek aghori se mile the. Aap wahan jaao aur ek baar pucho ki unhe kuch pata hai ya or if he knows how to tackle this. Aghoris know about soul, their energy and possession really well. Main aapka roop leke sabh ke saath jaaungi. Mujhe koi cheel toh pehchaan nahi paayega but I’m sure Veeranshu pehchaan lega. Toh I’m sure I can get some reaction out of him. Markaat will assume that it is because he’s emotionally attached to you.” She suggested.

“Bani, cheelon ke beech akeli naagin? Pagal ho gayi ho?” Balwant asked.

“Daddyji, agar Veeranshu ke liye mujhe paatal tak bhi jaana pade na toh main tayar hun, cheelon ki gufa kya cheez hai?”

“Kisi ko bhanak bhi lagi ki tum naagin ho toh phaad ke rakh denge tumhe.”

Bani chuckled and gave a smile.

“Daddyji, saare cheel, naag-naagin is baat ko itne confidently believe karte the ki Naag mandir mein koi cheel nahi aa sakta par Aakesh ne aake dikha diya. Sabh kehte the ki Naag mandir mein koi Naagon ki jaan nahi le sakta par Aakesh ne kiya. Jab woh aisa impossible kaam kar sakta hai toh main bhi kar sakti hun.”

Balwant, in that moment, felt as if she almost sounded like Aakesh. Determined.

“Use paane ke liye har hadd paar kar sakta hoon main. Meri chahat hai. Aise kaise bhul jaau? Aise kaise chod dun? Use paane ke liye paatal jaana pade toh woh bhi kar jaau, yeh toh bas Naag Mandir mein jaane ki baat hai.”

He remembered what Aakesh had told her. Bani wasn’t anything like Veer or Aakesh. Her anger was predictable. Her reaction was predictable but still she was the most powerful Naagin ever. The strongest one among all the icchadhari naag-naagin. She was a compassionate person regardless of her dangerous nature. She had a strong sense of right and wrong.

“Main phir bhi warn kar raha hun. Safe nahi hai tumhare liye.” Balwant added.

“Phir bhi mujhe yeh karna hai.”

Bani was adamant.

“Okay,then. I’ll go meet the aghori at the shamshaan. You take care of this.” Tapishagreed.

“What if they smell you?” Daksh asked.

“Majorly, Adi-Naag and Adi-Naagin don’t leave their scent but still I’ll take the potion. It will hide any signs of a scent of naagin. They’ll assume it is a cheel’s scent.” Bani assured.

“It would work?”

“Dadi made it so I doubt its failure”

“Just becareful, Bani.” Tapish warned her. She nodded. Bani was preparing herself. She took a deep breath. She took Tapish’s form. The cheels were all ready. Not too eager for this but properly looked the forced part.

“I can’t believe we’re actually going to that traitor’s coronation.” Sam complained all the way in car.

“Samrat,bas chup ho jaao. Hum mein koi bhi excited nahi hai. Jo karna zaroori hai woh zaroori hai.” Bani who was in Tapish’s form shut him up.

“Kahinakele mat nikal jaana. Stay together.” Pawan told Bani. He felt like he was dealing with a young Sam again. The hyper child who’ll start running anywhere in the mall away from the family. They had to end up looking around the whole mall for him. Veer and Sam loved to play like that as children.

“Main bacchi nahi hoon.” Bani pointed out.

“Haan par khatra toh hai. Tumhe bhi aur tumhare chakkar mein humein bhi.”

Bani muttered something to herself about not being treated like Adi-Naagin. One look from Balwant and Bani looked outside the window ignoring his glare. Balwant wouldn’t admit but somewhere he was glad to have Bani in his team for now. She was a powerful ally.

From the outside, it looked like regular uninteresting caves. From the inside, they were made perfectly. They were a series of caves one after the other. Some of them had water bodies in them and stone paths were made as bridges. The Singhanias led Bani inside towards one of the caves. It was decorated with curtains and lamps. Everyone was looking at them as they were passing through cheels. It isn’t every day that someone dethrones the Singhanias. Balwant felt irked.

The Parikshit family banners hung over places.

“Balwant.” Loudly patting on his shoulder, Reyansh said in a mockingly friendly tone.

“Bohot ghamand tha na, Samrat?” Vikram taunted Samrat.

“Isse pehle ki main mera muh tod dun, get lost.” Samrat warned.

“Arrey… pahadon mein jaake shaant hona nahi seekha? Kya, yaar?” Vikram put his arm around Sam. Sam pushed it away.

“Chote bhai, abh jale pe itna bhi namak mat chidhak.” Nikhil showed up. He wore a black assemble.

“Dekhlo, abhi Veer bhai ki jagah kya mil gayi, puri tarah se Veer bhai ko copy hi karne laga. Yeh kya banega Veeranshu Singhania.” Daksh commented. The Singhania boys laughed and gave each other hi-five. “Zindagi bhar yahi kehta rahega aur log kahenge 'Woh dekho Veer Singhania ka copy aa raha hai'.”

“Oyeee…” Vineet grabbed Daksh’s collar. Sam grabbed Vineet. Ajit tried to fight Sam. Ponky punched him on the face. Suhaan punched Ponky. Sam punched Suhaan on the face so hard that he almost toppled over. Nikhil pushed away Sam.

“Ae… hum mein se kisi ne yeh shuru nahi kiya. Tumhare bhai ne ladai shuru ki. Use bol. Woh mere bhai ka collar pakadega toh main chup nahi baithne wala.” Sam told him. Bani pulled the boys away.

“Ek minute. Stop fighting. It is not going to worth.” Bani tried to keep the boys away.

“Sun le apne bhai ki baat. Shayad teri jaan baksh dun.” Nikhil taunted Sam. Sam clenched his fists. His face flashed with anger.

"Tu mujhe bakshega? Itni aukaad nahi hai teri." Sam retorted.

"Sam, bas chup ho jaa." Bani silenced Sam, pushing him back.

“Aur tum, bohot hi smart ho na, tum? Toh bekaar mein ladai shuru karoge toh tumhare hi taajposhi kharab hogi. Bigdi shakal ke saath taaj pehne ka irada hai kya? Agar cheelon ke Rajkumar ban rahe ho toh waise act bhi kar lo.” Bani told him.

“Tu mat sikha, samjha?” Nikhil pushed her.

“Aaee…” All three of the brothers growled, almost ready to start a fight and beat the crap out of the boys. Bani stopped them.

“Dhakka maar ke kya hi kar liya isne? Na toh hume galat prove kar paaya hai aur na hi khud ko Veer se better prove kar paaya hai. Chod.” Bani told them. The Singhanias passed ahead. Loud chattering was filled in the throne room. Bani remembered the painting of Veer sitting on the same throne like chair. The Parikshit Family went up over the elevated stage. Another throne like chair was placed. The crowd parted and Bani saw Veer walking ahead. Bani noted that the way Veer and Markaat both had that habit of walking like they’re gods. That demigod like walk and super confidence.

“Nikhil.” Markaat walked up to the stage. Nikhil hugged him.

“Aap hi ka intezaar kar rahe the, Markaat huzoor.” Reyansh said. Markaat nodded.

“Yeh aapka singhasan, huzoor.” Vineet offered. Markaat walked ahead and sat there. The biggest problem was how Markaat had taken Veer’s body. The face that haunts her dreams and the smile that makes her heart race. He looked like Veer.

“Ek guest hai mera. Jo aane wala hai aaj.” Markaat announced.

“Aur bhi accha hai, huzoor. Aapke guest matlab humare guest.” Reyansh buttered Markaat. Balwant rolled his eyes at that. Daksh was super annoyed. Bani noted that her ring was absent from his finger. Bani was surprised.

“Woh mera sabse khaas aadmi hai. Mera sabse takatwar haityar.” Markaat announced. Everyone turned to look at the entrance. A figure stood at the entrance. He wore a cloak. Balwant recognized it as Aakesh’s cloak. As the light fell on him and he walked ahead, Bani’s heart stopped.

“Yeh kya hai, Shakura?” Markaat asked him as he saw the same face of Aakesh. Shakura grinned.

“Kya karun, yeh shakal kuch zyaada hi pasand aa gayi hai mujhe.” Shakura answered.

“Aakesh ka roop? Theekane pe hai na? Tujhe maine ark bheja tha jisse apna asli roop le sake.” Markaat commented.

“Haan par iss shakal mein kya burai hai? Ya toh tumhe jalan hai ki tumhe yeh roop nahi mila…” Shakura dared to tease Markaat. “Jaise tujhe iss Veeranshu ki body bohot pasand aa gayi hai waise hi mujhe Aakesh ka roop bha gaya.”

Bani felt that anger at Shakura. One way, there was Markaat who had taken Veer’s body and then there was Shakura who copied Aakesh’s form. She barely controlled her temper. Sam grabber her arm.

“Scales…” He warned her. Bani closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down. She couldn’t risk a mistake. She sighed and opened her eyes again.

“Hum sabh yahan ikhatta hue hai taaki apne cheelon ke rajkumar ke taajposhi kar sake. Humare naye cheelon ke Rajkumar, Nikhil Parikshit.” Markaat announced.

“Yeh dekhte rehna hai hume?” Pawan asked Bani.

“Patience, chachu. Mujhe yeh samajh nahi aa raha ki Shakura kaise bach gaya?” Bani wondered.

“Markaat ne apna jaadu kiya hoga. Woh hai hi mrityu ka devta.” Balwant pointed out.

“Balwant…kya baat hai. Tum bhi yahin ho?” Shakura laughed. He jogged up to Balwant and put his arm around Balwant.

“Haath hata…” Balwant told him.

“Kya, yaar? Itna gussa? Dekho acche se mujhe. Main Aakesh jaisa. Thoda sa toh emotion dikhao.” Shakura teased. Markaat laughed. Bani looked at Balwant. She thought she was having trouble but looking at Balwant, she almost felt his irritation. It was like laughing at his destiny. His satyug’s son Aakesh and kaliyug’s son Veer. The sharp reminder of both of them being used. She could imagine how insulting it felt to him.

“Shakura, bas kar. Itna bhi mat pareshaan kar Balwant ko.” Markaat said.

“Bani ko saath nahi laaye?” Shakura asked him. Sam grabbed him.

“Bhabhi ka naam mat lena. Woh humare Veer bhai ki biwi hai.” Sam warned him.

“Sam.” Bani tried to calm him down.

“Tapish bhai, kaise ho.” Shakura chuckled. Bani looked away. Shakura made her extremely uneasy. He had taken her up in the sky and taken away her powers to become a Naagin. It was the worst nightmare of hers. Bani kept herself calm. She had to react like Tapish.

“Dad ko pareshaan mat karo. Yahan taajposhi ho rahi hai na? Uspe dhyaan do.” Bani told him calmly like Tapish would. Balwant looked at Bani.

He wondered for a moment as to what Bani would be feeling. It was like looking at Aakesh.

Bani rolled her eyes at Shakura mentally. He could try but Shakura could never bewhat Aakesh was.

“Kya,Tapish bhai? Main bilkul Aakesh jaisa dikhta hun toh mujhe laga ki Aakesh aur Veer ko ek saath dekh ke khush ho jaayenge aur tum keh rahe ho ki main unhe pareshaan kar raha hun.” Shakura chuckled.

“Kisi ki tarah dikhne mein aur us person ki tarah banne mein bohot fark hota hai, Shakura.” Bani answered. “It is kind of insulting that you try to mock someone who used to be his son.”

“Shakura…”Markaat grabbed him and pulled him away. “Bas. Ho gaya.”

“Main Bani ko miss kar raha hun. Ghar pe hai kya?” Shakura asked her. Daksh clenched his fists.

“Hogi bhi toh kya kar loge? Tumhari aarti toh nahi utaregi jab uske saamne jaaoge. Jaan se maar degi.” Markaat answered. Shakura rolled his eyes.

Bani could thank Shakura for only one thing, that was bringing Veer close to her. While standing here, it would be impossible that Veer wouldn’t feel her presence. She could be anyone and take any form but he’d always recognize her. Even when shetook someone else’s form once, he recognized her instantly, the moment, she stood in close presence of him.

“Sweetheart, mera dil dhadakta hai jab tum paas hoti ho. Tumhe main apne dil se pehchaanta hun. Nageshwari se Bani ban kar janam liya toh naya roop mila. Aankhen aur dimag bhale hi tumhe pehchaan nahi paaya par meri aatma aur mere dil ne pehchaan liya tha ki tum mera janam janam ka pyaar ho. Tabhi toh mera dil aisa deewana ho gaya tumhara. Main kahin bhi rahu, mujhe kuch bhi hua ho, tumhe toh pehchaan hi lunga. Jo chahe woh roop le lo.”

Bani remembered that Veer had told her once.

“Veer, kuch toh karo. Please. Koi reaction do. Kuch toh karo. Koi ishara toh do ki tum abhi ho wahan” Bani mentally said.

“Taajposhi shuru karo.” Markaat ordered. For a moment, Balwant got scared thinking Markaat had recognized that it wasn’t Tapish but Bani.

“Yeh kya Bani-Bani laga rakha hai? Tum bhi Aakesh ki tarah Nageshwari ke peeche maroge kya? Ek baar Veer se pit kar aaye akal nahi aayi?” Markaat asked him. Shakura laughed.

“Maine sweetheart se wada kiya tha ki main uske saath ek hounga. Wada nahi tod sakta.Tumhe kya fark padega. Tum konse Veer ho jo tumhari jalegi? Veer tumhare kaabu mein hoga aur kuch nahi hoga. Bachi Bani. Bani ko main sambhal lunga.” Shakura tried to tell him.

“Ek hi ladki hai duniya mein?”

“Adi-Naagin toh ek hi hai.”

Markaat took a deep breath to control his temper. He grabbed Shakura’s throat.

“Gussa mat dilao. Nageshwari yahan aas paas nahi aayegi. Use Veer se dur rakhna hai.”Markaat told Shakura.

“Wahi toh kar raha hun. Jab woh mere saath hogi, mere saatve aasmaan ke mehel mein, wahan toh Veer se dur hogi.”

“Shut up. Apni akal jo kaam diya jaaye usmein lagao.”

Shakura rolled his eyes.

Chapter 30

“Kuch pata chala, Bani?” Balwant asked her, pulling aside. The ceremony was going on. They were reading some incantations. Shukla was doing the rituals. Nikhil was grinning from ear to ear.

“Daddyji, kuch toh galat hua hai. Ek toh Veer ne meri woh ring nahi pehni hai -”

“Veer ki jaan par ban aayi hai aur tu ring ki baat kar rahi hai…” Balwant exclaimed,exasperated.

“Daddyji, Veer pagal hai. Kehta hai ki woh ring is baat ka proof hai ki hum dono ek hai. Meri anghoti apne ungli mein pehn li. What I’m trying to say is that he wouldn’t ever take out the ring. See, this is not like general possession. This is taking over someone’s body. Markaat ne specify kiya hai mujhe Veer se dur rakhna chahta hai. Which means that he’s still fighting Veer, kyuki yeh toh obvious hai ki Veer ke saamne agar main aayi toh Veer pagal ho jaayega. Markaat mujhpar hamla nahi kar sakta kyuki Veer aisa karne nahi dega. So, Veer abhi hai wahan andar. Lad raha hai but then yeh kaise hua ki usne Markaat who ring nikalne diya? Aur dusri baat, Veer mujhe pehchaan hi leta ki yeh Tapish bhai nahi main hoon.” Bani explained. She tried to make sense out of it all. Balwant looked irritated with this puzzle game.

“Bani, none of this makes sense.” Balwant commented.

“Ek kaam karte hai. Main -” Bani was about to say something when Markaat called out for him.

“Balwant, yahan aao.”

The two looked at the stage. The rituals seemed to be done. There was crown on a tray and Shukla was carrying the crown.

“Veer ko tumne hi yeh taaj pehenaya tha na? Yahi sahi hoga ki tum hi Nikhil ko bhi taaj pehenao. Aur Nikhil bhi yahi chahta hai.” Markaat told him. Balwant clenched his fists. Bani could imagine how he would be feeling. Her anger and hatred for him was one side but she did empathize with the father in Balwant. Bani could say all she wanted about him but the man loved his son dearly. He’d go to any lengths for his son.

Balwant walked up the stage. Nikhil gave a grin.

“Please. Its an honour.” Nikhil taunted Balwant.

“Main bol raha hun, Sam. Jab Veer bhai wapas aayenge na toh iski shamat aane waali hai. Itna maarenge Veer bhai ise ki bheekh mangega.” Daksh muttered.

“I agree, bhai.” Sam agreed.

Balwant put the crown on Nikhil’s head and then the eagle chain brooch on the cloak. Both of which were Veer’s possession.

“Kuch bologe nahi? Us din toh bohot bole the.” Reyansh commented laughing.

“Kyuki uss din jo tha woh mera Veer tha. Mera beta Veer Singhania, jiska koi muqabla nahi hai. Na tha aur na hoga.” Balwant answered and got off the stage.

“Mujhe yahan se jaldi jaana hai. Jo bhi karna chahti ho jaldi karo.” He told Bani.

“Aap ek kaam kijiye. Gaadi mein jaayiye. Main aa jaaungi.” Bani assured. He nodded and walked out of the caves.

The boys followed Pawan and Balwant. Bani walked to Veer. They were all partying.

“Bani ne kaha hai tumse ki tum yaad rakhna jo usne tumse kaha hai.” Bani said to Veer. Markaat chuckled.

“Veer puch raha hai konsi baat? Use kuch yaad nahi.”

“Jo Bani ne kaha tha tumse us din library mein.” Bani answered. Veer would know what it meant. It is impossible that Veer wouldn’t flash in those eyes when pointed out about the library moment.

Markaat nodded his head.

“Use pata nahi kya keh rahe ho tum.” Markaat answered. It has to be impossible. Veer wouldn’t ever forget what she had told him.

“Veer kabhi Bani ko nahi bhul sakta. 10,000 divya varsh mein bhi nahi bhula toh kuch din kya time hai?” Bani pointed out. Markaat chuckled.

“Haan. Sahi hi. Veer ko Bani acche se yaad hai par possibly use yeh yaad nahi ki tum konsi memory ki baat kar rahe ho. He doesn’t remember the library scene. Use pata hai Bani uski biwi hai, uska pyaar hai par maybe use baaki kuch yaad nahi. Bani ko nahi bhula but yaadein bhula ho sakta hai.” Markaat answered and walked away.

Bani was severely confused. She walked out of the caves towards the car that was waiting for her. She sat in the car.

“Kuch pata chala?” Daksh asked.

“Ek minute….” Bani took a minute to process the stuff. Balwant patted on Pawan’s shoulders to drive the car but looked at Bani.

“Agar Veer ko main yaad hunt oh yeh kya hai ki use baatein yaad nahi humari…” Bani wasconfused.

“Ghuma phira ke mat batao. Seedhe seedhe batao.” Balwant exclaimed. Bani took a deep breath.

“Veer ko time hi nahi lagta yeh pata karne mein ki main Bani hoon. Pehle bhi usne mujhe ek second mein pehchaan liya jab maine apne roop badla tha. Toh main yeh pata karne ki koshish kar rahi thi ki koi reaction mile mujhe Veer se. Maine note kiya tha pehle jab Markaat pehli baar humare ghar aa gaya tha. Tabh Veer react kar raha tha jab maine usse baat ki. Toh abh kaise koi sign nahi dikha ki Veerne mujhe pehchaan liya hai. Doubt hua toh maine usse thoda aur hint diya ki use samajh aaye without making it obvious to Markaat that I’m Bani. Then also there was no reaction. Jo baat maine Veer se kahi thi, woh Veer kabhi nahi bhul sakta hai. It is impossible ki he wouldn’t react at that. But he didn’t. Markaat ne kaha ki Veer ko kuch yaad nahi hai.”

“What!!??”Daksh exclaimed.

“He remembers ki main uski biwi aur uska pyaar hun but those certain specific memories nahiyaad hai. I don’t get it. How is it possible?”

“Unless Markaat ne koi ark piya ho jisse kuch memories wipe out kar sakte hai. Because you’re so strongly in memory, it is impossible ki Veer bhai aapko puri tarah bhul jaayenge but yeh possible hai ki kuch certain memories erase ho rahi ho.” Sam explained.

“But then if it is the case then why did you feel that he’s in danger?” Ponky questioned.

Bani quickly called up Tapish.

“Tapish bhai, aap kahan hai?” Bani asked.

“Shamshaan se nikal hi raha hun. Car kharab ho gayi hai toh bas udke aane waala hun.” Tapish answered.

“Chachu, shamshaan ke paas chalo. Tapish bhai ko pick up kar lete hai. Unki car kharab ho gayi hai.” Bani told Pawan, “Tapish bhai, aapko kuch pata chala?”

“Bani, jo maine suna hai unse, usse toh mujhe kaafi darr lag raha hai Veer ke liye.”

“Tapish bhai, aap mujhe aur bhi dara rahe hai. Isse bura kya ho sakta hai ki Veer ko yaad nahi hai.”

Balwant looked at her with eyebrows scrunched, trying to make sense of the one sided conversation. He signalled Pawan to drive faster.

“Bhaisaab, already 120 par chal rahe hai. Isse zyaada tez chale toh pehle police se nipatna padega.” Pawan commented. Balwant groaned.

“Ud ke jaate hai na phir.” Ponky offered.

“Aur Bani kya karegi? Humare saath woh ud sakti hai?” Pawan asked irritated. They reached after a few moments.

Tapish got into the car.

“Abh jaldi bata.” Balwant asked eagerly. Tapish looked worried.

“Dad, aghori baba ne kaha ki unhe aisa feel ho raha hai ki Veer ladte ladte thak raha hai. I mean fighting Markaat for the control of his own body is a difficult task.The fact that he hasn’t given up yet says a lot on how strong Veer is.” Tapishtold them.

“Thak raha hai matlab?” Balwant asked.

“Remember how we used to watch power rangers as kids? Wahan kaise they fight off the control on the inside. It is something same. To fight Markaat is almost impossible with how strong he is. He is powerful. The potential energy his soul has gathered over the time is almost impossible to fight but if Veer bhai is still fighting, it shows that he’s truly the strongest cheel ever. It shows howstrong his own core is.” Sam explained.

“How do you know all that?” Pawan asked.

“I’ve been affected with that once.” Sam revealed.

“Samrat Singhania, tumse phir se milke accha laga.”

Bani remembered that Markaat greeted him when they first came across Markaat on the island. Pawan screeched the car to a stop. Everyone looked at him.

“What!!??” Balwant exclaimed.

“Jab gharse chala gaya tha. I was in a bad state. Everything was such a mess in my head and taking advantage of that, Markaat controlled me. He tried to use me to get to Veer bhai because he knew how close I was to him. Kyuki main waha tha toh those people realized what was happening and helped me. Main Veer bhai jaisa nahi. I couldn’t fight for long so they sought out a different option.” Sam pulled up sleeve and showed a burn mark. Bani recognized it. It was something similar to Sudarshan chakra’s variant. It isn’t the same but is made of the same sun’s energy. When activated, it burns brightly. They say that the burn of the chakra also burns the soul too. “I wasn’t being able to fight him long enough keep myself in any kind of control. So, they used the chakra. I thought I’d be dead after that but somehow managed to survive.”

“So, can’t we use that? Le aate hai use.” Balwant suggested. Sam nodded a no.

“Three problems. One, the sun’s burn doesn’t affect Veer bhai and two, he’s already tired and this might as well kill Veer bhai. I was prepared to die then assured that he wouldn’t be able to reach Veer bhai after that through me. And afterthey used it on me, I almost couldn’t harness my cheel self. Took me threeyears to gain control on it. I had lost all control on my cheel self. SometimesI wouldn’t be able to change from cheel back to human or if I’m in human form,I can’t shift to my cheel form. Sometime it is so out of control that I haveended up injuring several of the monks. They still took care of me knowing Ididn’t mean it. That’s when I caught up on meditation. It helps me control it. Aaj bhi darr lagta hai kahin wapas aise out of control na ho jaau. Us din jabwahan island se laute, Markaat ke aas paas rehke hi aisa lagta mujhe phir se wahin out of control wali problem ho rahi hai. Tabh Veer bhai theek kar diya.He distracted me from that and I felt better. Veer bhai aise out of control hogaye toh all of us are dead meat. Finally third problem yeh hai, ki it is not some kind of toy jo kahin bhi kaam kar jaaye. They keep it differently away from general population, in a special temple jahan sirf positive energy hoti hai. The chakra works according to the energy around it. If it is surrounded by negative energy, it can kill everyone withing 20 km of its radius. Positive energy ke paas it reacts well and does the job of saving someone. All the monks keep it safe there. Koi bhi random person use haath nahi laga sakta. Chakra is still majorly the weapon of Lord Vishnu. Of course, jo waha hai woh original nahi hai but it is still powerful.”

“Koi toh rasta hoga ise use karne ka aur Veer ko bachane ka. Tu bhi theek hu ana.”

“Daddyji, sabh ek jaise nahi hote hai. Suraj ka tej Veer ko koi chot nahi deta isiliye Markaat ko sirf Veeranshu chahiye tha. Aur koi nahi. Baaki saare cheelon kosuraj jalata hai aur kamzoor kar deta hai.” Bani argued

“Toh kya karein? Aise haarne de Veer ko?” Balwant shouted.

“Aisa kaha kya maine? Main khud Veer ko harne nahi de sakti.”

Bani’s phone rang. She saw it was Vanshika.

“Haan, Vanshika.” Bani answered.

“Bani, listen to me very carefully. Main ek important baat batane jaa rahi hoon. I’m going to read a certain passage.” Vanshika told her.

“Ek minute ruko. Main speaker pe kar rahi hoon.” Bani told her. She put the phone on the speaker. “Haan padho.”

“Sammohan ke 4 tareeke. Tantro mein varnan hai ki kisi ko sammohan karne ke 4 tareeke. Pehla apni shakti se kisi ko aakarshit karke uspar sammohan karna. Isi shaktiyon ka upyog naag-naagin aur mor-morni karte hai. Dusra, sammohan ke zeher ka upyog karke kisi ko vash mein karna. Teesra, sammohan Astron ka upyog karke sammohit karna. Aakhri hai, Chandra ki sammohit karne waali shakti ko tantro ke saath mila kar vash mein karna. Sammohan ka asar tabhi sambhav hai jab jis vyaki ko sammohit kiya jaa raha hu uski mansik takat kam ho. Mansik taur par takatwar vyakti par sammohan ka asar nahi hota hai. Iska kaaran hai unki mansik shakti unhe iss sammohan se bachati hai. Aatma ka sammohan us jeev ke aatma par nirbhar karta. Jiski aatma mein adhik shakti ho use sammohit nahi kiya jaa sakta. Kisi bhi aatma ko sammohit karne ke liya pehle vyakti ko mansik-sharirik aur aatmik taur par kamzor karna aavashyak hai. Jab who vyakti purna roop se toot jaaye tabh uski aatma ko sammohit kiya jaa sakta hai.” Vanshika read the pages.

“Deh ko prakriti ke niyam anusaar hi chalna hota hai. Prakriti niyamit karti hai ki ek deh mein sirf ek hi aatma ka vaas ho sakta hai. Ek deh mein do aatmao ka vaas hanikarak hota hai. Deh kamzor ho jata hai, undo aatmao ke madhya aantarik yudh ke kaaran. Yeh yudh tab tak hota hai jab tak kisi ek aatma ko us deh se bahar na nikala jaaye. Aatmae jivit prakriti mein vaas nahi karti. Kuch kaarano mein yeh sambhav hai ki aatma jivit prakriti mein rahe. Koi adhuri iccha ya aatma ke swayam ki icchashakti se. Mrityu ke pashchaat 5 dino tak yeh sambhav hota hai ki us deh mein punah Jeevan daala jaa sakte. Us deh mein koi aatma vaas kar sakti hai.” She read on.

“Vanshika, dekho, Tapish bhai ko kuch information mili hai Veer Markaat se ladte ladte thak raha hai. Check if uske baare mein kuch likha hai.”

The sound of pages shuffling was heard.

“Yeh book dekho toh, Vanshika.” They heard Meera.

“Meera di?” Bani asked.

“Bani, main aise khali nahi baith sakti. Kuch na kuch toh karna hi hoga na.” Meera answered.

“Meera di, aapko maine kaha tha ki yeh bohot dangerous hai. Aap kyu khud ko danger mein daal rahi ho?” Bani complained.

“Chodo. Use samjha nahi paaogi. Kabhi kabhi uska dimag alag chalta hai.” Tapish commented. All the Singhanias gave him a look. He turned away Ponky’s head.

“Jaise tumhe tumhara bhai pyara hai waise hi mujhe meri behen pyari hai. Tum toh mat hi comment karo.”

“Meera devi. Main cheel hoon. Phir bhi possible hai ki main khud ko bacha lun. Aap normal insaan hai. 4-5 minute mein aap mar sakti hai. Hum phir bhi kamse kam 10 minute tak koshish kar sakte hai.”

“Thank you for reminding me ki tum sabh abnormal ho but if you’re not aware, let me remind you, tum bhi kuch had tak insaan ho.”

“Haan. Thank you. Yaad hi nahi tha mujhe yeh.”

“Dekho, I don’t want to argue on this matter. Tumhe apne bhai ke liye meri help nahi chahiye, well and good but mujhe apni behen ki help karni hai. I’m not as strong as you all are par dimag chalta hai mera. Itni bhi bewakoof nahi hun ki kuch bhi na kar saku.”

“Meera Bhabhi, aap alag hi planet se hai.” Daksh commented. Tapish hit him in the head.

“Meera Bhabhi?”Meera asked.

“He meant Meera and Bhabhi. Bani ki baat kar raha tha.” Tapish covered. Everyone tried to cover their laughter.

“Okay…okay… check this one out. Lover’s spat baad mein karna.” Vanshika stopped them in between. “Ek vyakti ki shakti ke teen roop hote hai. Sharirik, mansik aur aatmik. Mansik aur aatmik shakti dono ek dusre se jude hote hai. Sharirik shakti ko badhane ke liye jeev khaata hai aur vyayam karta hai. Mansik shakti uske sochne aur samajhne ki shakti par nirbhar karti hai. Dhyaan karne se mansik shakti badhti hai. Aatma ki shakti kuch khaas anubhavo se hoti hai. Vyakti ke un anubhavo se jo aatma mein reh jaati. Kuch Anubhav aatma nahi bhulti. Adhiktar smritiyan jo vyakti ko Jeevan kaal mein milte hai who mrityu ke pashchaat us aatma se mita diye jaate hai. Parantu iske kayi udahran hai jahan aatma ko apne purva janam ki smiritiyan hoti hai. Jab koi smriti itni shaktishaal ho ki woh vyakti ke vyaktitv mein gadh gayi ho, woh aatma se judjaati hai. Vyakti par nirbhar hoti hai ki yeh smriti unki shakti banti hai ya kamzori. Naye deh ko smritiyan yaad ho ya na ho, aatma ko yaad hota hai.”

She finished reading.

“Tabhi. It makes sense now. That’s danger I felt.” Sam pointed out.

“Markaat ne koi ark liya hai jisse memories respress ho jaaye. Isiliye Veer is getting weaker.” Bani finished.

“Kuch toh kar sakte hai na, hum?” Tapish hoped. Balwant was about to say something when his phone rang. He looked and saw Reyansh’s call.

“Ab yeh kyu call kar raha hai? Shaanti nahi mili apne bete ki taajposhi mere haath karaka?” Balwant growled. He picked it up. “Kya chahiye?”

“Itni berukhi, Balwant? Zara dekho kisse baat kar rahe ho. Hum Parikshit abh sabse shaktishaali pariwaar hain saare cheelon mein se. Although abhi hum sabse takatwar family hai par phir bhi ek baat maanni padegi. Koi party Singhanias ke tarah nahi de sakta hai. Isiliye hum sabh soch rahe the. Mere bete ke Rajkumar banne ke Khushi mein party tum organize karo. After all Singhanias and Party goes hand in hand.”

“Main Party organizer nahi hoon. Kisi event management company ko bolo.”

“Arrey? Aise kaise? Balwant, dosti ka haath badha raha hun. Isiliye tumse keh raha hun. Accha hota hai sabse takatwar family ke saath friendly rehne mein. Yaad hai kitne acche se Veer ke liye party banayi thi tumne. Waise hi mujhe mere bete ke liye chahiye.”

Balwant clenched his fists. This one was crossing his limits with Balwant. What did he think of himself. Balwant heard Reyansh’s sons laughing in the background. Sam took the phone from Balwant.

“Party toh hum de denge but phir prove ho gaya ki kitne koshish karlo tum mein se koi Singhanias ke takkar mein nahi. Kab chahiye party?”

“Pagal hogaya hai, Sam?” Balwant growled. Sam signalled him to calm down.

“Kal raat.”

“Great. Aisi party denge saare cheel zindagi bhar yaad rakhenge.”

“Accha hai. Koi hai Singhanias mein jo samajhdaar hai aur humari baat sun raha hai.”

Sam chuckled.

“Ponky, tu kya kehta hai Veer bhai ke baare mein?” He asked the boys.

“Do rupay ki pepsi, Veer bhai humare sexy…” The boys said together. Sam grinned.

“Abh humare Veer bhai 2.0 ke liye hum itna toh kar hi sakte hai.” Saying that Sam cut the call.

“Dimag theek hai, hum party denge?” Pawan asked, irritated.

“Main yeh hone hi nahi dunga. Mere bete ki jagah koi lena chahta hai aur main maze karun?” Balwant asked.

“Dimag se kaam lo, guys. Aisa mauka phir se nahi milega hume. Remember what we just found out? Veer bhai kamzor pad rahe hai andar se. He’s fighting but he’s tired. Markaat aas paas nahi aayega toh Veer bhai ko help kaise karenge? Veer bhai jab apni bike se girke chot khaaye the, toh hum sabh unhe ghar le aaye the. Jab Veer bhai out of control ho gaye toh hum sabhne unhe help karne ki koshish ki. Abh agar Veer bhai kamzor ho rahe hai toh phir se unka saath hume hi dena hai.If he doesn’t come near us, we can’t do that.”

“Yeh party help karega Veer ki?”

“Actually I can see where he is going. Vanshika ne bhi us book se padha ki memories soul ko energy deti hai. Aur isiliye Markaat koshish kar raha hai un memories ko mitane ki. Jo cheez unke soul se judi hai use Veer bhai kaise mit jaane denge? Yaad hum dilayenge.”

“Tujhe lagta hai Markaat sunta baithega?”

“Na. Jab kuch aisa saamne ho jisse kisi nazar nahi hategi, toh Markaat kya rokega?” Bani reminded. She looked at Daksh and Sam.

“Toh hume woh karna hai jisse sabh ekdum chauk jaaye but it also does out work of trying to reminding Veer of everything that will help him.” Tapish added.

“Kya karna chahte ho tum sabh?” Pawan asked.

“Dad, aap aur bade papa humara party hall ready karo. Hum neeche khazaane se apni cheezein nikalenge.” Ponky suggested.

The cheels and Bani reached home. Pawan and Balwant sighed and went according to the plan. Tapish went to Teer’s room. There were shelves of art books. Teer used to sketch all the time. It was one of the things that let him feel peace. It was the first time Bani entered Teer’s room.

She saw several photographs of Teer and Veer together. Some sketches of the brothers all together. She saw so many paintings. Paints everywhere. He had painted over the walls. On the ceiling was a painting of birds flying over the mountains. The picture of Veer on his coronation. Veer had put his crown on Teer’s head and laughed. Veer’s laughed reached his eyes. The boyish laugh. Bani looked at Veer in the picture. She felt in that moment how far she had come. From blindly hating him to actually being attracted to him so much.

Bani saw the newspaper cutting of the plane crash that killed her mother. She saw that it highlighted the sentence which said that one of the passengers had supposedly survived. The name and address of all the hospitals that answered to the call of the patients. The hospital that Bani was admitted in was also noted. With that was the information about the orphanage that the hospital closely worked with.

Tapish chuckled at that bunch of stuff. “Tapish ne kisi bacchi ko us airplane crash se bachaya tha. He was really sad that he didn’t get to talk to the girl and comfort her. Tabh Teer ne yeh sabh dundha. He was helping Veer find the girl. Hum hospital bhi gaye par kuch pata hi nahi chala uske baare mein. Veer ke panjo ne use kaafi injure kiya tha aur Veer ko yeh baat pareshaan kar rahi thi. Use laga ki kahin koi severe injury toh nahi hui. Talons have a strong grip which is often used to break the prey’s bones and spine. He was worried that his grip on her would have injured her shoulder bone.”

“Koi lasting injury nahi thi. Taanke lage teen dono side ke kandhe pe but not much injury.” Bani answered. Tapish looked at her confused. She showed an almost faded scar on her shoulder. Tapish was surprised.

“Veer n etumhe bachaya tha?”

“Haan. I don’t remember much from that incident. I was 4 years old. Kuch samajh nahi aaya. Everyone just said that it was a crazy miracle that I survived without much lasting injury. Falling from that height, I should have died. Jab zameen tak pahuchi toh darr gayi thi kya kahan aa gayi. My shoulders were hurting and paining. I was scared of wild animals. That’s why I ran away from the spot to hide somewhere. Uske baad jo investigate kar rahe the plane crash ko, unhe main mili. I was taken to the hospital. Waha Meera di ke father the. Bas mera haath pakada aur le gaye mujhe apne saath. Meera di ne mera bohot khayal rakha.”

“Perfect coincidence na? Matlab that was first time Veer ever completely became a cheel. Isse pehle takh insaani form mein pankh aa jaate the but he couldn’t completely become a cheel.”

Bani chuckled.

“I don’t know, Tapish bhai. Aisa coincidence teen baar aur hua hai mere saath. Us dina apke company ke floor kharidne ki party ho rahi thi, toh ek tempo nikla tha aapki company ka. Uske peeche main chali gayi worried ki kya ho raha tha. Tabhi blast hua and I fell off the cliff. Us time bhi Veer ne mujhe aise hi cheel banke bachaya tha. Uske panjo ka Nishan pad gaya tha…” Bani touched her shoulder. That mark had faded away due to her healing powers, “Phir ek baar mujhe zeher ke arrow se maarne ki koshish ki tabhi Veer ne mujhe bachaya. Then jab us tilasmi gufa mein Chandrakala mujhe maarne wali thi tabhi bhi Veer wahan aaya mujhe bachane.”

“Yeh koi challenge ho raha hai kya tumhare beech ki kon kisko kitni baar bachega?” Tapish laughed. “Tumne Veer ko do baar bachaya.”

There was a photograph of a 15-year-old Veer. She picked up the photo frame and rubbed her thumb over it.

Tapish looked at her as she stared at the photograph.

“Aapka bhai ajeeb jeev hai, Tapish bhai. Kehta hai ki use hero banne ka koi shauk nahi hai. Phir bhi har baar kuch aisa hota hai ki main khatre mein rahun toh woh aa jaata hai kahin se. Satyug mein bhi ek baar saare giddho ne ek baar mujhpe hamla kar diya tha tabhi Aakesh ne meri madad ki. Jo Aakesh sirf jaan lena jaannta tha usne pehli baar kisi ko bachaya.”

“Answer toh clear hai, Bani. Uska pyaar use kheechta hai tumhare paas. Jaan basti hai uski tummein. Veer pehle bhi khush rehta tha. Live life King size. Use life ka motto tha par jabse tumse mila hai, uski Khushi ka kuch alag level tha. Mujhe samajh hi nahi aaya ki aisa kya ho gaya ki ek moment mein use itna pyaar kaise hua. Dad ne mujhe bataya tha ki Veer Aakesh hai. Jab tum Naagin ho yeh pata chala toh samajh aaya kyu hua. Doubt mujhe pehle bhi tha ki kahin tum Nageshwari toh nahi kyuki agar Veer Aakesh hai toh aise kaise ho sakta hai ki apne ishq ko bhulkar kisi aur se pyaar kar baithe par dad se kabhi kaha nahi kyuki darr gaya tha ki agar that is not the case and you’re just another person toh woh yeh investigate karne se pehle hi maar dete.”

“Tapish bhai, aap itne alag kaise hai apne family se?”

“It’s an odd thing, Bani. Sabhko unke experiences ne change kiya hai. Mom se zyaada close tha. I always wanted to be like her. Par kabhi utna ban hi nahi paaya. Mom ki death ne dad ke andar jo bhi bachi hui insaaniyat thi use jala diya but the same thing made me a little more emotional. Ro nahi paya jab unki death hui par us dard ne hi mujhe alag bana diya sabse. If I can’t be like her, at least I can believe in what she used to believe. Mom ke saath utna nahi raha toh isiliye none of my brother exactly have that touch of emotional side. Maa hi toh hoti hai jisse sabh emotionally attached hote hai. Jiske saamne ro sakte hai aur woh bas apne paas rakh kar she’ll make everything fine. Dad aur Chachu toh hai hi emotionally handicapped.”

“Aapki chachi kyu chali gayi? Why did she leave behind her sons?”

“Chachu ne unse pyaar toh kiya, Bani, par pyaar nibhana nahi seekha. He was always a brother before he even became her husband. Life mein saare relations maintain karne padte hai, Bani. Chachi unke liye unka joda thi but chachu unka joda kabhi nahi ban paaye. True. They were each other’s partner. And maybe they were meant to be but kabhi utna effort hi nahi tha us relationship ko maintain karne mein. Pyaar kiya hai toh important yeh bhi hai use nibhana seekhe. His brother was very important to him, that I could understand but she too had a right to have a part in his life. He became a great brother but he couldn’t become a good husband. He became a decent father but he doesn’t be a decent husband. It takes more than just loving someone to keep a relationship strong. Na toh woh communication that unke beech, na woh emotional space tha. Jisse pyaar kiya usko itni importance di hi nahi ki she could feel that she had a worth in his life. Its not like she didn’t try but even after four kids, if he couldn’t give her the things she expected from him, it isn’t her fault. Kab tak rukti chachi?After a while, she felt caged. Pyaar toh tha par it just didn’t seem enough. Pyaar kiya hai toh uska haath pakad kar use apne saath chalne ko kehna bhi zaroori hai. Relationships are a two way thing, Bani. Bas ek hi person saari mehnat kare aur dusra thoda bhi efforts na de toh it is tiring and depressing. You stop realizing your own worth.”

“But kabhi koshish nahi ki unhone Chachu ko samjhane ki? She was supposed to be his mate. His joda.”

Tapish smiled.

“Bani, supposed I ask you ki tumhe zyaada payara kya hai. Meera ya phir Veer. Jawab de paaogi. Someday, I ask you ki you either hold Meera’s hand as a sister or Veer’s hand as a wife.”

“Tapish bhai, yeh kaise sawaal hai? Both of them are important to me. Kisi ek ka haath pakadne ke liye dusre ka haath chodne ki kya zaroorat hai. Meera di meri behen hai toh Veer bhi mera pati hai.”

“Exactly. The ability to make that thought. To give someone that importance. Agar Chachu ko option dete toh yeh doubt hi nahi aayega ki kyu kisi ek ko hi chunna hai. He’d choose dad in a blink of an eyes. Koi debate nahi. Koi bhi problem nahi. Bani, agar pyaar ek additional accessory ban jaaye kisi ke liye then there’s no importance of it in life. I’d say something very cheesy. Agar woh engagement ki ring bas ek jewellery ban ke reh jaaye toh you shouldn’t be married in the first place. If it doesn’t mean something to you then you shouldn’t even have it. Uska matlab tabh hota hai when it holds an emotional value to you. Woh ajeeb si baat kehte hai na serials mein ki yeh manglsutra koi gehna nahi par mere suhaag ki nishaani hai and all that high voltage dramatic stuff, something like that. Chachu ke liye unka pyaar bas ek additional accessory jaise tha. He was happy with her but he never tried to ask her what could make her happy. Jitna time woh dad ko de sakte the, us mein se agar 5% bhi woh chachi ko dete, she would have stayed. She broke down at mom’s death. Mom was the only that kept her in the marriage for the long while that it existed. She died and Chachi broke down. Instead of trying to comfort someone for their loss, dad and chachu were rather more busy trying to wrestle the case out of the hands of the cops.”

Bani felt bad. Her childhood had the pain of not having her own parents and not knowing her own relatives but here, they were losing whatever relations they had.

“Rokna chahta tha unhe par kaise rokta? She couldn’t bear that Chandrakala was taking place in the family as if it wasn’t a big deal that she was on paper the wife of Balwant Singhania. Mom ki death ko 12 din bhi nahi hue. Chandrakala was living under that roof as Chandrakala Singhania. Dad was more interested in getting Veer’s custody than anything else. Mom knew the condition of the family. Chachi would have been a lovely mother but she had her own part of problems. Mom knew that if she died, Chachi wouldn’t stay long in the family. Dad would never let anyone take away Veer from him. That’s why she gave the custody to Chandrakala thinking she’d be a motherly person to Veer. Toh dad ne papers pe shaadi kar li unse. She was never his wife in anything but just a legal requirement to have veer with him.”

“Tapish bhai, Chandrakala phir apne aap ko Veer ki maa kyu kehti hai?”

“Too many secrets for a day, Bani.”

“Tapish bhai, kitni saari cheezein hai jo ki secret hai is ghar mein. Kisi ko kuch patahi nahi hai except Daddyji and you. The boys don’t even have a wind of the kind of stuff that us buried in these walls. Par aapko toh pata hai.”

“I’ve always been my dad’s secret keeper. Jo kisi se nahi bol paate woh mujhse keh dete hai.”

“Unhe main samajh hi nahi paati. Jitna confusing Veer hai uske pagalpan mein, use zyaada toh daddyji hai. I hate him for the kind of things he does. Itne saare naag-naagino ko unhone torture kiya hai aur maar diya hai par phir Veer ke liye itna pyaar hai unke dil mein ki uske wajah se thodi si hamdardi hoti hai.”

“He’s not a hero na, Bani. He’s not a villain either. He’s not the supporting cast but he isn’t the villain’s right hand either. He lives for himself and those he calls his own. Unki nafrat samajh aati agar bas thodi der aur ruk kar Aakesh ki halat dekhti. He fell through the stone and was impaled on a speak. Spine tooti, haddiyan tooti, khoon paani ki tarah beh raha tha, zeher ne bhi ekdum se use nahi maara for an hour he was alive, impaled on a spear. Giddh aas paas hi ud rahe the. Waiting for him to die so they could eat the corpse. Shukla didn’t let him go retrieve the body because wahan itna commotion tha. After all naagvanshi ki Adi-Naagin mar chuki thi. Mandir gayab ho raha tha. Us time waha jaate toh unhe bhi maar dete. Toh Shukla ne unhe jaane nahi diya. 4 raatein aur 5 din uski body wahin thi. Half way eaten by the time he went to retrieve it. He’s never forgotten that scene. Aaj bhi yaad aata hai toh so nahi paate. Adhi raat ko jaag jaag ke Veer ko dekhne chale jaate the. Veer ka pagalpan unhe samajh nahi aata. Aakesh ka itna pagalpan samajh nahi aata unhe. Aisa kya hai uss pyaar mein, unhe samajh nahi aata. Kabhi utna pyaar unhone kiya hi nahi kisi se ki khud ko tabah karke kisi aur ko jod dein. Itna pyaar kabhi unhone kiya hi nahi ki pyaar mein sabh kuch mit jaaye phir bhi pyaar reh jaaye.”

Bani didn’t know what to say. Veer never told her that. He just told her about remembering breaking his spine. Her hands shook. A bit of tears lining in her eyes.

Tapish smiled at her and hugged her.

“Aap phir mujhse nafrat kaise nahi kar paate, Tapish bhai? Like I can understand daddyji’s hatred for me but how do you not hate me after knowing this?”

“Same sawaal ek baar dad ne mujhse bhi kiya tha." Tapish pulled out a picture of Ishana Singhania, Tapish, Teer and Veer together. Her arms around Tapish. "Mom humesha kehti thi ki pyaar mein baat hi kuch aisi hai. You could spent trying your whole life to force yourself to love someone but when the true love hits, you can't escape yourself. Veer had always been in love with the idea of being insanely in love. Kitni ladkiyan aayi but none of them gave him that Romeo like feel he always looked for. Woh sabh mein tumhe dhundh raha tha isiliye kisi ek se commitment kar hi nahi paaya but jab tum mili toh kisi aur ko dhundne ka sawaal hi nahi aaya."

"Aap toh Veer se itna pyaar karte hai phir kaise mujhpe itna bharosa karte hai?"

"Kyuki Veer ko tum par bharosa hai. Ek baar socho, Bani, ek aadmi pehle itni buri tarah maut ke gale lag ke bhi apne kaatil par itna bharosa karta hai apne pyaar ke khatir toh kuch toh baat hogi. Especially if that person is Veeranshu Singhania. Veer kisi pe bharosa nahi karta. Veer bachpan se apne aap se sabhse zyaada obsessed tha. He was his favourite person. His idol, his own hero and his own faith. Par jitna use khud se pyaar hai. usse kuch 10,000 % zyaada use tumse pyaar hai."

"Yeh toh pagalpan hai. Pyaar kahan hai?"

"Yeh jo pagalpan hai, woh Veer kis zidd hai. Khud ko todke bhi yeh zidd nibhaega. His confidence that ek din toh tum uski banogi. Ek din toh tum use apna maanogi. Ek din toh tum use apna sabh kuch dogi jaise Veer deta hai. Ek din woh tumhare liye sabh kuch ban jaaye. Agar pyaar mein mera bhai khush, toh main bhi use pyaar mein dekhne mein khush. Jab yeh saara mess hat jaaye toh bas ek baar Veer se puchna ki kya uski akal ghaas charne gayi hai ki use woh dard yaad nahi jo use Aakesh ki tarah marte marte mila hai? Ki itna dard mehsoos karke phir se tumse pyaar karne chala aaya." Tapish gave her a gold earring. It was Nageshwari's gold earring. "Uska jawaab mein tumhe mera jawaab bhi mil jaayega."

Awesome update...

Continue soon...

Awesome man so good. Veer is struggling and becoming weak. Bani trying to find how to help. Everyone working together. Loved it. Loved it. So so good.

I've always been fascinated with the kind of love aakesh/veer had for naageshwari/bani..yk the kind that they tried to show but could not, atleast not as well as you've penned it down!!

Very articulate and as usual amazingly written. I'm going to go off the track and just say it, a lot and i mean a lot of people on the forum say that bani's love for veer is not equal..you know not as deep as veer's. But I've never felt that way, I don't know why but even with the shoddy writing and editing in the show, I've felt her love for veer.

So i am very keen to see how you express the other side of this love story because you know to borrow zoya's words for asad, Bani is just "emotionally handicapped".

You've got me hooked, line and sinker!!!

I don't have words to write anything

Mein bas kho gai thi aapke FF mein it's mind blowing dear matlab fabulous

Now I can understand ke itne din baad update kyon kia aapne

The love of Akesh ko jo describe kia na it's totally outstanding and the way you are growing Bani's love for veer is superb

It's not look like rushed it's like what we want to see in serial

Hope Veer ko jaldi wapas le aaein aap and update soon dear bahut eagerly hum log wait karte hai aap ke update ka so please try to update daily 💖💖

Its so damn amazing yr....... Just mind blowing.... Kindly update next asap

The story is becoming soul-touching!❤️❤️❤️ This was the Vani we have been pinning to watch since the start! You are touching on every aspect of the story and weaving it into such a beautiful story! Its unreal! Am truly touched! Never imagined how aakesh would have felt while falling off that cliff! What would be his last thoughts! How his pinning for nageshwari developed into veer's insane and unconditional love for bani! I feel like am experiencing the 2.0 version of the show! Just wayyy more refined and touching!

This is the writing Sharad and Surbhi deserves!

Thank you for making me experience both of them in these characters in this story! Am truly invested in the story!❣️❣️❣️

Please keep up and update soon!

Now a days am looking forward to your update than the show, its that gripping!❣️❣️❣️

Kuddos to you dear! You are an exceptional writer and visualiser!❣️❣️❣️

Chapter 31

Markaat sat on a seat he was given. Parikshit Faamily knew to treat Markaat like a chief guest. Shakura was with him. Balwant was severely irritated by that. One, Shakura mocking him with being like Aakesh. Markaat walking and throwing on his face that Veer was now in his control. Parikshit family almost irritating him with taunts. With all this happening, he had to sit with hands tied and do nothing but just watch.

“Bhaisaab,bas kuch waqt ka sabr hai. Phir sabh theek ho jaayega.” Pawan tried to easeBalwant.

“Kabhi bhi itna helpless feel nahi kiya hai maine.” Balwant expressed.

“Bhaisaab, is waqt ko aisa samjhiye jaise shikaar se pehle cheel aasmaan ne apne shikaar ke aas paas udte hai.” Pawan encouraged him. “Apne saare bacche yahi kar rahe hai. Shikaar karne ke liye jaal bicha rahe hai.”

“Pata nahi Bani karna kya chahti hai.” He exclaimed.

“Jo bhi hai, bhaisaab, mujhe sirf itna lagta hai ki agar koi hai jo Veer ko wapas laa sakta hai toh woh Bani. Agar yeh Veer kismet mein tha ki use Markaat se ladna hai toh iss Adi-Naagin ka bhi Veer ke zindagi mein aane ka matlab hai. Koi toh baat hai na ki abhi takh woh Veer ko bacha rahi thi. Bas yakeen kariye, bhaisaab.”

All the guests were enjoying the party. Most of them weren’t very much happy about Nikhil taking Veer’s place because everyone knew there can’t be any other like Veer. Yet, they tried to look happy, lest they infuriate Markaat and call upon his wrath.

Balwant held Veer’s ring in his hand. The ring that he gave to Veer when he wascoronated as a gift. He never loved anything more than how much he had loved Veer. There was no explaining on how much Veer made him proud. He closed his hand with the ring still there.

‘Veer,jahan bhi hai, bas itna samajhle. Tu mera guroor hai. Tu mera sabh kuch hai.’ Balwant said in his mind.

He remembered how Veer had always been the troublemaking child. Not a day could pass without having to worry about some new mischief he’d want to cook up. Sometimes it was ending up in a fight at school. Sometimes it was getting a stray dog at home. Having his toys all around the house but still getting attracted to new toys when they went to the mall. Rather than walking down the stairs, he’d just fly down the stairs. He had brought up a bird’s nest at home and kept it in his room till the weather outside was safe. Playing pranks on him. Scaring away the guests who annoyed him.

He was the attention seeking child. He had always been like that. He loved to be the center of everyone's attention. He just naturally attracted attention. Everytime Balwant refused to get him ice-cream, Veer would just move ahead to speak to someone as if Balwant was a terrible father. He reminded Balwant of Shinchan. The eternal troublemaking child. What he wants, he wants.

Balwant smiled as he remembered Veer’s childhood.

(Note: Sorry to break the reading in between but a general instruction so you don't get confused. The ones in bold italics is what is being shown on the stage. The ones in normal is what is happening out of the stage.)

The lights went off. Everyone’s attention went to that. The spotlight fell on the stage their had set up. Ponky came up.

“Abh jabh sabka attention hai yahan toh humne sabke entertainment ke liye kuch plan kiya hai. Dance toh humesha hi hote hai toh humne socha ki iss baar kuch naya kare.” Ponky started. “Hum cheel hai kuch alag. Par saare cheelon mein se kuch aise hai jo sabse alag hai. Pesh hai unki kahani jinke jabaazi saari cheelon mein mashoor hai.” Ponky announced as the curtain fell. Tapish and Ponky showed the story about how Markaat become the most powerful one among all the demigods. That pleased him quite a lot. Everyone clapped. Then going on to a few more cheels who were infamous among the lot. Everyone was enjoying the show.

“Kuch cheel aise hote jinhe dushman bhi yaad rakhte hai. Jiska naam aaj bhi dusmano ke dil mein darr bana sakta hai. Jiska naam aaj bhi sabse upar hai cheelon mein. Aakesh.” Daksh announced.

Flying down as a cheel from across the room to the stage in the most dramatically Aakesh fashion. Black clad and that danger pouring out of his aura.

“Raat abhi baaki hai. Tabahi abhi baaki hai. Kabhi rukna nahi hai hume.” Aakesh announced. The cheels roared in agreement.

“Mast malang apni hi dun mein, aasmaan ka raja jise suraj bhi nahi hara sakta tha.” Daksh narrated as Sam continued to be the madness that Aakesh could feel. “Aakesh apni takat aur apni jeetne ke junoon ke chalte sabse aage rehta tha. Na koi uska saamna kar sakta aur nahi use koi hara sakta tha. Koi muqabla hi nahi tha. Koi kamzori nahi aur koi darr nahi. Apni marzi se duniya chalane wale Aakesh ko pata hi kahan tha ki uski khud ki duniya ulatne waali hai.”

Markaat almost felt the worry. Everyone knew what was coming. Most of the cheels here never knew the story so well. All they knew was from what they heard.

The set up changed. The small forest backdrop. A figure was seen on the stage. It was covered in darkness.

“Nageshwari?” Someone whispered. Markaat felt Veer wake up from his tiring fall out. Markaat couldn’t look away or move because this time it was Veer who was watching. The memory so strong that it didn’t let him look away. That name would wake up Aakesh's tired soul.

“Din ke ujale mein Roshni ki ek kiran si. Jiske saamne koi nahi tik paaya, Adi-Naagin. Jiski khoobsurati ka duniya mein koi comparison nahi. Pehli nazar mein aisa jadu hua ki dil kabh uske haath se nikal gaya is baat ki khabar hi nahi hui Aakesh ko.” Daksh narrated. Vanshika majorly managed to act the grace that Nageshwari held. Those eyes, the timid feeling in the beginning which ebbed away quickly as it came. Nageshwari's own powerful could feel Aakesh's danger.

Veer smiled as he saw that. The same red outfit. “Nageshwari…” He said in almost a whisper. Inside there. Markaat tried to get Veer’s attention but his eyes were stuck on the scene. Markaat tried to punch him but Veer caught his fist while still looking at the scene.

The heartbeat went a bit faster. Markaat felt himself slip through the cracks. Veer’s reaction to the scene was reflexive. Markaat couldn’t control it anymore.

“Kon ho tum?” Nageshwari asked. Aakesh just stared at her. He was simply enchanted no words could explain what he felt. Thebackground music playing its own magic to the scene. He slowly walked up toNageshwari.

“Patanahi. Par tumhe pata hai ki tum kitni khoobsurat ho?” Aakesh asked.

“Patanahi. Maine khud ko abhi dekha nahi.” Nageshwari answered. Aakesh pulled outhis perfectly polished dagger and put it before her.

“Yeh…yeh kya kar rahe ho tum?” Nageshwari asked, startled.

“Chaandko aaina dikha raha hun. Dekho…” She looked at her reflection on the blade,“Yeh ho tum, jaadu.”

Theireyes met, staring into each other’s soul intensely.

“Kehte hai pyaar sirf ek hi pal ka khel. Na haar hai na hi jeet hai. Pyaar mein sirf dil ka jahaan hai. Jahan dil hai woh hai jisse dil ko pyaar ho gaya ho. Bas woh ek pal mein hi Aakesh ki kahani badal gayi. Jaise maut ko zindagi ki khoobsurati dikhi.” Daksh narrated.

Bani from the back, looked at Veer. She smiled. She knew it. Veer would never be able to forget that. Everyone was just looking at the whole scene. It was simply magical. Their own Romeo Juliet kind of thing. Bani was hoping on that it would work and help Veer.

The curtain fell and raised again to show a night scene.

Nageshwari was surrounded by vultures. She tried to fight to the best of her ability. Killing a few of them well enough. The more she killed, the more flew towards the scene. A soft thud was heard behind Nageshwari. The vultures stopped at the sight of Aakesh behind Nageshwari.

“Bache rehna chahte ho toh bas abhi nikal jaao warna tumhara shikaar karke, giddhon ko hi khila dunga.” Aakesh threatened them. All of them ran away. Nageshwari was bleeding. She was still learning how to heal herself.

“Tum? Abh unhe bhaga ke tum mujhe maarna chahte ho?” Nageshwari accused. He grabbed a few leaves from around and walked to her. He looked at her as he walked before her. Making her sit, Aakesh bent down before her. “yeh… yeh kya kar rahe ho?” She freed her hand from his grasp. He held her again. This time the grip was a little hard.

“Tumhe chot lagi hai, Nageshwari.” He pointed out. “Waqt rehte theek nahi karogi toh nishaan reh jaayenge. Jaise mere chehre par ho gaye hai.” He pointed to the scars on his face. He had a smile on his face as he looked at her. Holding her hand for the first time.

“Tumhari madad ki zaroorat nahi hai.” She tried to free herself.

“Mujhe toh hai. Tumhe chot lagi hai toh dard mujhe ho raha hai. Saans tum logi toh dil mera dhadkega.”

“Dur hato mujhse.”

“Ho hi nahi paa raha mujhse, Nageshwari. Ankhen band karun toh tum dikhti ho. Aankhen kholun toh tumhe dekhne ka dil karna hai. Jaise zor zor se shor kar raha ho tumhare paas rehne ki. Abh main apna raha hi kahan. Bas tumhara ho gaya.”

Aakesh slowly put the medicine on her wounds, blowing softly over them as she winced.

“Thoda sa jalega par theek ho jaayega.” He assured her, pain on his features. He touched the smaller wounds and healed them. “Un giddhon ko chodunga nahi…” Hegrowled in anger. Taking a deep breath, he looked at her again. “Bohot dard horaha hai?”

Nageshwari was confused with how it the pain was etched on his face when it was her who was injured. Aakesh wasn't familiar to softness but he tried his best to be extremely gentle with her. That was the moment when she felt for the first that she and Aakesh were somewhere related.

“Tumhe kyu batau? Ho kon tum mere ki apna dard ya Khushi tumhare saath baatun? Tum aur main dushman the, hai aur hamesha rahenge.”

He chuckled.

“Main tumhara dushman nahi hun. Bas tumhara hun. Yeh dushman beech mein tum laga rahi ho.”

“Naag aur Cheel humesha se dushman rahe hai.”

“Jaisa bhi tum samjho par kam se kam isi bahane tumhari aankhen mujh par rehti toh hai. Nazar nahi hat rahi hai tumhari mujhse.”

Nageshwari looked at him with mixed feelings. Why did someone who was her natural enemy suddenly being all caring and nice to her? All the cheels attack her.

The curtain fell as the two simply stared into each other’s eyes.

“Bas us ek pal mein Aakesh ke naam ke saath Nageshwari ka naam humesha ke liye jud gaya.” Daksh announced. “Dono ke marne ke baad kya kahani khatam ho jaati?”

Shakura was almost into it as well. The curtain raised.

“Satyug se Kaliyug. Dono hi ek durse ke soch mein rahe. Ek pyaar mein, dusra nafrat mein.” Daksh announced.

The scene changed to when Veer was beating down Jay at Noor’s wedding. Vanshika was this time playing Bani. Ponky was playing Jay.

Veer was shocked when he saw Bani as him. She wore his clothes. The same ones that he wore that day. It was slightly large for her but she managed.

“Bas karo. Roko yeh sabh. Koi itni behrehmi se kisi ko itna marta hai kya?” Bani asked. “Aur tum samjhte kya ho apne aap ko? Ho kon tum?”

“Pata nahi..” Veer answered, lost in her eyes. “Aur tum?”

Jay started hitting Veer

Veer stood up suddenly clenching his fists. Markaat wasn’t being able to control the reaction. He felt Veer pull up his strength. He started to feel Veer getting stronger. Markaat pulled back with all his strength to control Veer.

The curtain fell and raised up again, this time to the scene before the police station.

“Thoda late kya ho gaya, tumne toh rona hi start kar diya. Hug lelo aur maafi dedo.” Veer said

“Tum..” She shoved him behind.. “Tum yahan bhi aa gaye? Mere paas sabut tha tumhari kaali kartooton ka. Jis tarah se tumne Noor ki body ko dafnaya tha. Uska proof tha mere paas jise tumhari police ne mita diya. Par tumhe khush hone ki zaroorat nahi hai.”

“Shhshhh….Relax, calm down. Jhuriyan padh jaayengi umr ke pehle. Ek kaam karte kahin coffee pete peete baat karte hai. Come…”

“Badtameez…” She tried to leave but he blocked.

“Thank you for your close observation. Aur sun sakta hoon main. Time hai mere paas.”

“Zyaada kuch nahi hai. Kyuki jail ki saalakhon aur tumhare beech utna hi distance hai jitna tumhare aur mere beech hai. Ek saboot mitaaya hai na police ne? Main 1000 saboot jutaugi. Aur phir dekhte hai tumhe phaasi ke fande se kon bachata hai.”

“Bande ko fanda? Kon pehnaaega? Tum?” He raised his eyebrow in a challenge, “Waise on the phone you sound way too sweet. Aaj morning tumne mujhe call kiya tha... yaad hai?”

“Maine tumhe koi call -” She realized what it was, “Toh Jay ka phone tumhare paas hai aur tumne mujhse Jay ki awaaz mein baat ki. Mujhe jay ka phone wapas karo. Give it to me.”

He proceeded to give it to her.

“Itne haq se maangogi toh heart, liver, kidney sabh de dunga.”

“Tumhe jitni baatein banani hai hai banalo par mujhe behla nahi paaoge.”

“Toh behlo mat, behek jaao.” He cornered her. “Sweetheart, humare beech bas ek hicheez ho sakti hai. Ya toh tum mere andhere mein chamkoge yaa main tumhare ujaale mein.”

“Chamkoge nahi jaloge. Aur jal jal ke maroge. Aur mere kareeb aane ki koshish kit oh jala dungi.”

"Ufff, sunke kitna accha lag raha hai ki agar main tumhare kareeb aaunga toh tum mujhe jala dogi.

The curtain fell. Sam sighed on the mic.

“Aur yeh Veeranshu Singhania aur Bani Sharma. Yeh Silsila kuch aur waqt ke liye chalta raha. Baar baar ek dusre se takrate aur ladte. Ek taraf pyaar ki baarish ho rahi thi aur dusri or gusse ka lava phoot raha tha.” He narrated. “Abh sabko pata hai, Humare Veer bhai hai hi kuch aise ki unse koi nahi bach sakta. So,Very soon, Veer bhai ne badi chalaki se Bani ke saath shaadi kar li and hello hum sabhko unhe Bhabhi bulane ka order mil gaya. Puchna mat kaise hua kyuki na toh Veer bhai hume batane ki koshish karte hai na hi Bhabhi hume batana chahti hai. Anyway. Shaadi ho gayi hum sabh ne photo khicha li.”

“Kuch waqt ke liye toh ladai hoti rahi. Jab do log itne strongly attached ho ek dusre se toh its natural.” Daksh added.

The curtain rose up.

“Teer ko maine nahi maara hai. Dhyaan se dekho iss chaaku ke nishaan ko. Peet pichewaar hua hai. Mujhe toh yahi laga ki jhumar girne se woh mara tha. Same tarah ka chaaku mujhe us gufa se bhi mila jahan tumne Teer ki body ko dafnaya tha.” Bani was telling Veer as all the Singhanias were gathered to kill Jay.

“Yeh sabh chal kya raha hai? Yeh ladki yeh saara natak karne yahan bholi bake aayihai taaki hum iski jaan baksh de par aisa nahi hoga. Ise hum yahi khatam kardenge.” Balwant shouted.

“Koi haat nahi lagaeya ise.” Veer tried to tell them. Daksh still moved forwards to grab Bani. Veer stopped him in his tracks, this time aggressively, he growled, “Bani ko koi haath nahi lagaeya. Nahi toh jaan se maar dunga.”

“Veer…” Balwant shouted.

“Dad, aapko pata hai main kitna sanki hun. Kitna ziddi hun.” Veer warned them. “Aur main nahi chaahta ki aaj humari family ka koi bhi member kam ho jaaye.” Turning to Daksh, with a animalistic growl, “I said back off.”

Daksh backed up. Bani grabbed his jacket and Veer stood confidently before Bani protecting her.

“Tu yeh theek nahi kar raha hai.” Balwant reminded him angrily.

“Dad… I said.. leave….” Veer gave out the final warning. With that all the Singhanias left.

“Aur ek baar phir se, Jay Mathur ki jaan bach gayi jaate jaate.” Daksh announced on thestage as he shook his head.

“You know what. Tum dono na worst tarah ke story tellers ho. Aise kon batata hai?” Veer came up the stage.

Veer almost laughed when he saw that. The same way that he would say it.

Veer sighed and grabbed the mic from Daksh. “Do, Mujhe batane do ki exactly kya hua. Aise confuse kyu kar rahe ho sabko. So, guys hua yeh. I had just figured out ki Jay Mathur, mera hamesha se rival nikla Adi-Naag. Makes me realize why I hate them so much.” He explained. “But meri sweetheart, matlab Bani, meri gharwali ko lagta hai ki iss duniya mein use dhabewale loser ex mangetar se better koi hai hi nahi. I mean look at me.” Veer turned around in a 360 degree circle. “Dekho. Acche se dekho. Kisi bhi angle se anything less than the most amazing person ever? Nahi na? Bas. Yahin baat toh sweetheart nahi samjhti. And frankly speaking, I don’t like that loser dhabewala between me and her. So, maine decide kar liya. Its high time ki main apni territory mark kar lun. Jo mera hai woh sirf mera hai. I don't share.”

The curtain fell. Veer looked at the whole scene going on. Markaat had wiped out most of those memories but every moment he saw Bani as himself playing the same whole scene, he couldn’t help himself at all. Like slowly she reminded him of what he was. Why he had to fight. What they were.

“Tumhe woh itna accha aur main itna bura kyu lagta hun?” Veer asked Bani.

“Kyu tum bure ho. Jabse tumse mili tumhe burai burai hai. Jabki Jay -” She never got to finish the sentence. Veer pushed her against the wall, his hand on her mouth.

“Tumne soch bhi kaise liya ki main thumhe chot pohochauga, tumpar haath uthaunga? Kabhi nahi ho sakta. Ek din tumhari mere liye ray badlegi. Dekh lena…” He declare. He looked at his hand over her mouth, “Mere choone se aitraaz hai na tumhe? Ek din tum khud mujhe choona chahogi, mere kareeb aana chahogi. I will make you want to be with me, Bani.”

“Aisa kabhi nahi hoga.” She got herself free from him and walked ahead.

“Aisa hoga. Aakhir shaadi hui hai humari.”

“Jiske mere liye koi maayne nahi hai.”

Veer laughed.

“Pata tha. Isiliye main mandir se tumhare liye yeh gift le aaya hun.” He showed the small box of sindoor and the mangalsutra. “Yeh sindoor aur mangalsutra.”

Before she knew what happened, Veer had put it over him. He blowed her a kiss. “Wow…much better.”

“Pagal ho gaye ho kya? Have you gone mad? Yeh sabh karke tumhe kya lagta hai? Tum mujhpe apna haq jata paaoge? Main tumhari property ban jaaungi, Veeranshu Singhania?”

“Property ki baat kyu kar rahi ho. Yeh sabh karke mujhe lag raha hai ki tum abh meri ho. Mera adha aang…” He tried to remember the word, then looked at her, “Ardhangini.”

He held her hand, took out the ring she had and wore it on his ring finger.

“Abh main ho gaya tumhara, pura haq se.”

Bani just stared at it. His sudden reaction was something she couldn’t process. She had no idea what to say. What had suddenly started to posses Veer Singhania that he was acting like this?

Veer turned to look at his own finger. The ring was missing from the ring finger. The line on his finger that showed that sometime ago it was on his finger. He touched it and felt it missing. Markaat took control again and making Veer not able to react. Markaat looked at Veer. He was a little too lost in his feeling. Markaat started attacking him but it had no effect on Veer. His eyes stayed on Bani who was playing him.

“Aabh toh maanogi na ki humne iss shaadi mein kitna progress kar liya hai. Bas aisehi ek din zidd chod do.”

“Aisa kabhi nahi hoga.”

“Tumne kitni baar kaha ki tum yeh nahi karogi woh nahi karogi. Jaan nahi bachaogi, shaadi nahi karungi, tumhari shakal nahi dekhungi par tumne sabh kuch kar liya. Aise hi ek din maan jaao aur dil se meri ban jaao.”

Bani couldn’t understand his sudden act. She walked away from the scene.

Bani walked ahead towards Markaat. Shakura sighed at the sight of her. She was still dressed as Veer.

“Ek baat batao, kaise samjhau use? I mean, trust me. Maine sabh kuch try kiya hai. Flowers, romantic dinner, property ke papers tak uske naam karne ke liye tayar tha par use sunna hi nahi hai. Tum hi batao ki main kya karun woh iss baat ko samjhe ki mujhe pyaar hai usse?” He asked, standing up on the bar counter and asked everyone.

“Dance pele jaao.” Someone suggested.

“Jitni baar iss ghar mein party hui hai na, utni baar main Bani ke saath dance kiya but madam ko koi interest nahi hai.”

“Toh choddo na. Mat karo.” Shakura pointed out grabbing her hand.

“Haarna bardaash nahi hai Veeranshu Singhania ko. Aur yeh konsa logic hai ki agar Bani abhi nahi maan rahi toh altogether bhul hi jaau? After all she’s my wife. Kabhi nahi bhul sakta. Mera pyaar hai Bani. Use bhul jaau? Tch tch tch…” She nodded his head. “So, main yeh sabh soch hi raha tha ki mere saamne koi aisa aaya jise lagta hai woh Bani se shaadi kar sakta.” Bani looked at Shakura with a tilted head. Typical Veer fashion.

“Shakura?” Some cheel asked.

“I mean. Please register my shock ki koi cheel aaya hai and suddenly claims that he’s going to marry my wife…” Bani gave a chuckle, characteristic to Veer, and gave a look to Shakura.

Shakura chuckled. He grabbed her hand.

“Bohot zyaada ho raha hai. Veer kabhi nahi bach paayega. Markaat hai yahan. Tumhara Veer nahi.” He tried to pull her close to him.

Veer’s temper flared. No one would dare to touch Bani in his presence. No. The possessiveness Veer had for Bani was so strong that Markaat couldn’t hold him back. Veer elbowed Markaat on his chest and threw him away. As Markaat tried to reel from the pain, Veer took over and punched Shakura on the face.

“Bani ko haath mat lagana. Mera waise bhi dimaag kharab ho rakha. Marne ka bohot shauk hai toh aa jaa, yeh shauk pura kar deta hun.” Veer grabbed him and threw away. His eyes were already golden, warning of turning into a cheel. Shakura tried to attack Veer. Veer grabbed his throat and pushed it over the bar counter. He stabbed the dagger right next to his head.

Nikhil and the Parikshit family jumped away at the show of aggression. The aggression that Shakura contained was nothing compared to the madness Veer possessed. The way this was turning out, everyone ran away scared. Angry Veer was no joke.

“Bani meri biwi hai. Aur kisi ne bhi Bani ko haath bhi lagaya, I swear, I’ll rip you apart.” Veer threatened.

“Veer…” Bani broke out of her character.

Markaat was desperate. He grabbed Veer into a headlock and tried to push him down. Veer fought him with a renewed fire. Veer’s own body couldn’t handle the mess for long. It was stressing it out. The fight was stressing it out. Two powerful souls trying to grab control of it.

“Veer… tu mujhe hara nahi paayega.” Markaat told him.

“Abhi dekha na? Yeh jo saamne khadi hai. Woh koi aam naagin ya aam ladki nahi hai. Nahi. Woh Veeranshu Singhania ki biwi hai. I swear, touch her and I’ll make sure you regret it. Jitna tum mein mujhe control karne ki zidd hai usse zyaada mera Bani ke liye junoon hai. Tum kuch bhi kar lo, Suryash, Bani ko mujhse dur nahi karoge. Mujhe Bani se dur karoge toh Bani khud mere paas aayegi. Tumne ek ek memory mitayi hai hai na mujhe kamzor karne. Abh ek ek memory tumhare saamne Bani mujhe batayegi.” Veer told him.

“Bani tujhe sun bhi nahi sakti hai.” Markaat commented.

The two looked at Bani. Bani looked at Veer. She walked up to the stage.

Bani signalled to Daksh.

“Daksh, I swear abhi abhi Veer ne react kiya. I think this is working.” Bani told him.

Veer and Bani both were in the mountain house. Both of them had face pack over them. The two started throwing water on each other.

“Veer, kya kar rahe ho…” Bani complained.

“Yeh jo cooling pack laga hai use dho raha hun.” Veer teased her. The two played around throwing water on each other. The two laughed and played around like children.

The curtain fell and rose again. This time it was the scene outside the shamshaan.

Bani sat down next to the bike and tears fell down her eyes. Veer was before her.

“You don’t know. You can’t ever understand. To trust someone that much and to know that they have betrayed you. You don’t know that.” She shouted angrily. Tears falling through her eyes. Veer sat down before her. He took her hand and put it on his chest before his heart. The soft sound of his beating heart feeling against her hand.

“You feel that? Every single moment that I have lived is to see you. Haan, zidd hai meri ki tum sirf meri bano. Why shouldn’t I want to make you mine? I am already yours. Every time you’ve felt fear, I have felt it. Every time you have cried, I have felt the heartbreak. Every time you broke down, I felt hurt. Every time you takea nger about me on yourself, I’ve felt the pain. Bani, I don’t know how to explain to you how much I love you. Mujhe fark nahi pada ki tume mujh par yakeen nahi hai par phir bhi meri zidd hai ki main tumhare saath rahu. I know you don’t trust me but I still can’t do anything but love and trust you. You know why I feel so relaxed around you because main jitna tumhara hun, use zyada kisi ka hona possible hi nahi. Main khud ka utna nahi hun jitna main tumhara hun. So, I don’t care what you wish to do with my life. Ab jo bhi hoga, theek hoga because I know it is going to come from you.” He told her.

"Veer, tum aur main ek nahi hai. Yeh jo duri hai tumhare aur mere beech. Woh difference exactly utna hai jitna zameen aur aasmaan mein hai. The sky and the earth only seem to meet at the horizon, Veer, they don't actually meet at the horizon."

"Bani, I don't have an answer to why I can never give up on us because I cannot. Dil jab tak dhadak raha hai tabh tak main ummeed nahi chod sakta. Pyaar hai mujhe tumse, Bani, and for nothing I can give up this feeling. I have never known anything more beautiful. I'm obsessed with it, sweetheart. Chahu tabhi nahi chod sakta hai. Zid hai meri. I just cannot accept defeat and leave it behind. Bani, agar seene se koi dil nikaal le toh zinda nahi reh sakta koi. Hum dono aasmaan aur zameen se jude hai but we're not the sky and the earth itself. Tum kuch bhi keh sakti ho, kuch bhi kar sakti ho phir bhi main tumse pyaar karna nahi chod sakta. Dil mein seek awaaz aati hai ki 'Nahi, Veer, do not give up on us. Do not give up on this love. Mushkil hoga but ek din tum aur Bani ek hoke hi rahoge'. Is duniya mein aisa kuch nahi hai jo mujhe tumse nafrat kara sake. Koi cheez nahi hai jo mere dil mein tumse pyaar cheen sakta hai."

Veer and Markaat both watched it. Markaat had grabbed Veer in a headlock trying to push him down. Veer elbowed him and fought him. Markaat winced and swore at himself for letting his guard down and letting the Parikshit Family drag him into this mess.

“Veeranshu, bas….” Markaat shouted angrily. He grabbed Veer and pushed him down. Using all of his strength.

If Veer was fighting with all his might, then Bani wasn’t going to give up either. She wasn’t going to let her other half give up this easy. Veer looked ahead of him, Bani was right there helping him.

“Yeh dil bohot brittle hota hai, sweetheart. Almost like closed glass filled with wine that never ends. Wine and feelings almost are same. Both in a certain amount are said to be good. Zyaada ho jaaye toh nasha sa lagta hai. They’re meant to be enjoyed. Jama ke rakhogi toh bas pada rahega. You’ll keep wondering of how it would taste. Drink up, sweetheart. Sabh halka lagega. Admitting what we feel with honesty might seem difficult or something that would hurt but that’s the only way to enjoy the feeling.”

“Tumhe khona nahi chahti, Veer.” The tone with which Bani said that worried Veer. He wanted to hear her say this for a long time but the way her voice broke, he felt a bit worried.

“Bani, you’ll never lose me.”

Bani put her arms on his shoulder, her hands holding the back of his neck and she rested her forehead against his. All of her worries pouring. She let herself admit that he made a lot of difference to her. Confessing to herself that the thought of someone hurting him made her scared. She tried to erase that memory of seeing hatred and despise for her in his eyes. She knew it was not Veer but Markaat. Yet, she felt like she would be heartbroken if she was going to find Veer despising her. She let herself open her heart to him. Veer softly put his hands on her arms and let her feel him. She wrapped her arms around him and let her heart head his own heartbeat from a little closer. It was the kind of comfort she had never felt before. All her worried poured out. It was the unexplainable comfort of being in his arm that set her tears.

“Bani,sweetheart, kya hua?” He pulled away and wiped away her tears. “Arrey, itna emotional kyu ho rahi ho? Bas itna kehne ke liye itna soch rahi ho aur abh ro rahi ho?”

He laughed.

“Please, Veeranshu, mazak nahi hai.”

“Sweetheart, tum aise suddenly ro dogi bina kisi wajah ke toh hasi aayegi hi na.”

“Kisi din cheel ud jaaye aur wapas hi na aaye toh dard hoga hi na.”

Veer looked at Bani who was there reminding him of her most vulnerable emotion.

“Gharwali, cheel udte hai but unka saathi ek hi hota hai. Ghosla bhi usi ke saath banate hai. Udte hai par laut ke wapas vahin aate hai jahan uska joda hota hai. Mere toh ragh ragh mein tum ho. Aur yeh kya cryptic baatein kar rahi ho? Stupid Sam aur uske yeh adventure plans ke chakkar mein dimag kharab ho gaya hai tumhara.”

He stood up and offered her his hand. She looked at him offering his hand for her to take it. Slowly, Bani took it. Veer wiped away her tears and kissed her forehead.

The curtain fell down. Markaat knew if he didn’t get out of the place now, Veer would possibly manage to get control. He got up and walked out fast.

“Veeranshu…” Markaat tried to keep walking ahead. She ran behind him. Quickly running up ahead of him and blocking his way. Veer’s eyes froze at the sight of her. She looked like his angel. She wore a white floral dress with frills. Her hair half in a bun and half let down. Wearing the same earring that he had gifted her.

“Nageshwari, aakhri baar keh raha hun. Hat jaao.” Markaat growled at her. He was already on the edge with Veer making it so bloody difficult. Bani offered Veer the ring that Markaat had removed.

“Tum toh ho na mere, Veer? Pure, haq se.” Bani reminded him. “Toh yahan akele chod ke chal de rahe ho. Agar main yeh kahun ki tumhari sabse zyaada zaroorat hai mujhe, tabhi chale jaaoge? Tumne kaha tha ki meri aakhri saans tak tum mere saath rahoge. Bas thoda sa waqt kya laga mujhe tumse milne mein, tum itni badi saza doge mujhe?”

Bani could only play the emotional card. There was nothing else to do. Chandrakala showed up from the behind and stabbed her in the back.

“Aahh…” She exclaimed loudly.

“Bani….” Veer shouted. Bani turned into a half naagin and pushed Chandrakala away while healing herself.

“Abhi tumse deal karne ka time nahi hai…” Bani warned Chandrakala. “Dafa ho jaao yahan se warna aaj teri shamat hai.” Temper flaring up in her eyes.

She was already in a mess if Chandrakala wanted to fight now, Bani was going beat the crap out of her. Violence and rules be damned. Chandrakala tried to choke her. Bani turned into a large snake and hissed violently. Bani was a force of nature. The patterns on her scales had started to turned blue-black, specific to Adi-Sheshnaag. Bani coursing every inch of her divinity was blaring out now. Emotions were a point of force for Bani. She was stronger when her emotions coursed her.

The snake furiously attacked Chandrakala. Chandrakala turned into a snake herself. Defending against Bani and attacking. The rage of Bani couldn’t be missed.

Chapter 32

Chandrakala was this time prepared.

“Mujhe pata hai Veeranshu ki kamzori kya hai.” Chandrakala told Markaat in a way that Veer couldn’t hear her. Markaat looked at her confused. “Mere saath aao. Bani aur Veer ko ek saath hara sakte hai.”

Chandrakala started towards a certain cave. Bani, in her temper, followed Chandrakala. Markaat flew behind them into the cave. It was where Chandrakala hid for a while.

“Bani ke baad agar kuch hai jisse Veeranshu pyaar karta hai toh woh uski maa hai. Ishana.” Chandrakala told Bani.

She had laid a trap. The moment, Bani stepped there, she realized the trap. It was similar to that rudraksh ka mayajaal that Veer had set up earlier at the reception party to catch Jay. Bani had barely escaped it. Only, this time, there was a slight difference.

“Veer…” The voice stopped Veer in his tracks.

“Veeranshu, nahi…” Bani shouted loudly.

The image of Veer’s mother showed up from the trap. Bani knew what this was. She wasn’t actually there but Chandrakala created an imaginary scene to entice Veer’s soul.

“Veer…” Ishana smiled at his sight. It was like a doorway to the other side. Like he could see here there happy in her after life.

“Veeranshu, nahi, yeh sabh sach nahi hai…” Bani desperately tried to tell Veer but the emotion attached to his mother was so strong.

“Mom…” Veer muttered. The sight of her was so soothing to him. Her beautiful smile and her soft peach kurti.

“Lagta hai tum bohot pareshaan ho.” She said.

Bani was desperate. She didn’t know what to do. The trap so well laid that Veer wouldn’t be able to see her. Veer was just as strongly attached to his mother as he was to Bani. After all, Ishana was the first woman in his life who held such an importance. The mother who he loved so immensely. The unconditional love that came from his mother was impossible to beat.

Bani called up Balwant.

“Bani, kahan hai? Veer kaha hai? Sam ko lag raha hai ki Veer khatre mein hai.” Balwant shot questions.

“Daddyji, mujhe pata hai I’m hitting a hard spot but I need to you tell me something about Ishana Singhania.” Bani requested.

“Bani…” Balwant warned her.

“Daddyji, aap samajh nahi rahe hai. Chandrakala ne yaha jaal bichaya hai. Veer ko lagta hai woh apni mom ko dekh raha hai. I know it isn’t his mother. It just a trap to pull Veer out of his control. If I’m making him stronger by asking him to fight, Chandrakala is using the image of her to make him weaker. Kuch toh aisa hoga jisse sunke Veer ko aisa lage ki use haarna nahi hai. I cannot cut the pull his mother has on him with my memories with him. Nothing can possibly compare to the love he has for his mother. How can anything compare to the motherly love that she gave him.”

“Bani, tu kahan hai abhi? Main waha aata hun.” Balwant told her. Bani sighed but nonetheless sent him the location.

“Veeranshu, please ruko…” Bani tried to hold him back. Veer turned around and looked at Bani.

“Bani, mom hai wahan…” Veer told her.

“Veer, tumhari na bohot yaad aati hai. Yahan sabh hai but tum nahi ho…” Ishana said. Bani’s hands shook. The image of Ishana Singhania was so beautiful. So motherly to Veer that it possibly couldn’t match up toanything. She had a small scarf in her hands. The scout scarf. She chuckled.

“Yeh scarf aa jaati thi tumhe, abh toh itne bade ho gaye ho…” She chuckled. Her voice so soft. There was ‘Veer’ written on it with golden embroidery. Veer chuckled.

“22 years na, mom.” Veer answered. Veer wasn’t fighting now. Markaat stopped too. He couldn’t fight Veeranshu while he was looking at his mother. Markaat just watched Veer looking at his mother’s image. Markaat knew it was a trap but for a moment, just moment, he felt the same loss. He knew what it was to miss a mother’s soft embrace. Markaat had at least received some kind of warmth from the God he gave his devotion to. Veer didn't have that. He had Chandrakala who betrayed him so badly. She was a stab in the name of motherhood.

“Emotional ho rahe ho kya? Bhul gaye kya chahte ho tum?” Chandrakala asked Markaat. Markaat looked at Chandrakala. He wondered for a moment as to what kind of mother she was.

“Tum alag hi ho, Chandrakala. Ishana Singhania woh aurat hai jisne Veeranshu ko janam diya hai. Yeh kuch zyaada nahi hai ki tum uska istemaal kar rahi ho Veeranshu ko kamzor karne ke liye? Aur khud ko uski maa kehti ho.” Markaat questioned her morality.

“Oohh… Mahaan Markaat ko abhi bura lag raha hai? Maa ke baare mein tabh toh nahi socha jab tumne hazaaro naag-naagino ko maara tha.” Chandrakala taunted.

“Chup. Maine unhe maara hai ladai mein. Tumhari tarah aise kisi ki maa ka istemaal nahi kiya kisi ko kamzor karne ke liye.” Markaat defended his character. He looked up at the sky, then at Chandrakala and backat the sky. “Kya banaya is aurat ko aapne, Hari? Iss aurat ko yahan khula chodke mujhe bandhi bana ke chale gaye?”

“Veeranshu, ek baar meri baat suno. Please….” Bani requested.

“Bani, wahan mom hai.” Veer reasoned with her.

“Veeranshu, woh tumhari maa nahi hai. Bas ek jaal hai.” Banitried to tell him.

“Nahi, Bani, mujhe acche se pata hai. Woh mom hi hai. I can feel it.” Veer told her.

“Nahi, Veeranshu…” Bani almost started to cry.

“Veer, yahan sabh kuch hai. Koi dard nahi hai. Koi darr nahi. Kisi cheez ki kami nahi hai. Main hoon, Teer hai, Tanya hai, aur sirf khushiyan hai. Na koi dushman hai na hi koi pareshaan karne wala hai. Woh harcheez hai yaha jo tum chahoge. Chaho toh yahan Bani bhi sirf tumhari ho saktihai.” Ishana offered him.

"Tanya?"

"Haan. Tumhari choti behen."

The image of a small girl peaking from behind her mother. Veer smiled at how much she resembled his mother. The same eyes, same nose and same smile. She almost looked like a baby version of his mother.

“Veer…” Balwant came in shouting.

“Daddyji, please rokiye Veer ko.” Bani felt panic. Balwant realized how powerful the trap was.

“Main tujhse aakhri baar keh raha hun. Mere bete ko chod.” Balwant threatened Chandrakala.

“Ismein main kuch nahi kar rahi, Balwant. Sabh kuch Ishana hi kar rahi hai.” Chandrakala laughed. Bani grabbed her and crushed her against the wall.

“Abhi band karo is jaal ko warna soch le…” Bani tried to threaten her.

“Kya karegi? Wahan dekh. Tera Veer toh jaa raha hai apni maa ke paas.” Chandrakala laughed. Bani ran and pulled Veer back.

“Veer, nahi. Ek baar socho, kya sach mein tumhari mom yeh kahegi tumse ki tum apni ladai chhod ke uske paas chale aao? Ek baar socho.Konsi maa chahegi ki uska bete ko mrityu le jaaye? Maa toh puri zindagi bhar apne baccho ko aur jeete dekhna chahti hai. Socho. Maa Kadru ne bhi sirf apne baccho ke liye amrit maanga tha. Amrit ki ek boond bhi sirf apne liye nahi maanga. Maut unke aas paas bhi na aaye, iss asha se apne baccho ke liye amrit maanga tha. Unhe koi matlab nahi tha isse ki amrit milne ke baad naag kya karenge par bas amrit chahti thi apne baccho ke liye. Unhone bhi bohot galat kiya hai par ek maa hone ka har farz bohot hi sacchi tarah se nibhaya hai.” Bani tried to tell Veer. Veer looked at Bani. “Jab woh itna pyaar kar sakti hai toh yeh tumhari maa hai. Tumhe apne paas aise kaise bulaegi?”

“Bani, mom mujhe bohot miss kar rahi hai.” Veer argued. The two looked at Ishana. There were tears in her eyes.

“Veer, tumhe toh pata hai. Maine sabse zyaada bas apne baccho se pyaar kiya hai. Tapish, Teer, tum, Daksh aur Samrat. Usse zyaada mujhe kuch nahi chahiye.” Ishana said. She extended her hand, urging Veer to take it.

“Shut up….” Balwant shouted. “Tum mere bete ko kahin nahi le jaaogi. Veer mera beta hai. Aur use mujhse koi nahi cheen sakta.” He tried to wipe out the image but it wasn’t a real person so it was of no effect. Chandrakala laughed at Balwant’s mad attempt.

“Mom…” Veer smiled at her. It was such a beautiful smile that it broke down Bani into tears.

“Veeranshu, please…” She almost requested Veer. Veer started towards the image of Ishana, his hand extended to take her hand. Bani fell to her knees. “Bholenath, kuch toh kijiye. Aapko toh pata hai. Yeh galat hai. Agar mujhse koi galti hui hai aur yeh uski saza hai toh aap mujhe saza dijiye. Yeh konsa nyay hai ki us sabh ko bhi saza mile jinhone Veer se sirf pyaar kiya hai. Kya galti hai Tapish bhai ki? Unke ek bhai toh pehle hi mar chuke hai. Kya galti ki hai unhone ki unke durse bhai ko bhi aise unse cheen rahe hai.”

Veer turned around and saw her crying. For a moment it stopped his heart. He couldn’t bear tears in her eyes. He turned to look at his mother too. Even she was in tears. Veer's attachment to both of them so strong that he couldn't understand whom to choose.

“Aakesh, tumne kaha tha mujhse ki tumhe fark nahi padta ki tumse koi bhi wada toot jaye par marke bhi mujhse kiya hua wada nibhaoge.” Bani tried to remind him. She showed him the ring. “Tumne mujhe kaha tha ki tum mere ho, haq se. Toh bas uski haq se tumhe maang rahi hun. Please mat jaao…”

The tears fell from her eyes, she stood up and offered him the ring. This time, Bani stood in her white dress rather than in her human form as a naagin. She stood there and Bani Singhania. Veeranshu Singhania's better half. His wife. His ardhangini.

“Bani, main mom aur tum mein se kisi ek ko kaise chun sakta hun. Tumse janam janam ka pyaar but mom se bhi kam pyaar nahi hai. She’s my mother, Bani. The woman who gave birth to me. Aaj tak mom ki koi baat nahi taali hai. Aaj kaise taal dun? Unhone mujhse kabhi kuch nahi maanga. Aaj jab woh mujhse mera saath maang rahi hai toh kaise mana kar dun?” Veer’s dilemma made her realize the pain he was in. He was 5 years old when he lost his mother. Inside him was still there a child who would cry for his mother’s embrace. The boy who never got to shed tears at his mother's death.

“Veer, please mat jaa. Tu mera bhai hai. Teer ko pehle hi kho chuka hun main. Use nahi bacha paaya. Tujhse bhi nahi kho sakta, yaar.” Tapish tried to stop him. Behind him were Daksh, Sam and Ponky. Ponky had never ever met Ishana. She was already dead when he was born.

“Veer bhai, yeh sabh jhoot hai. All of this is nonsense. Sabh jaal hai.” Daksh being the crass person said it as he thought.

Bani wiped out her tears. She smiled at Veer. “Acha, okay. Fine. Jo tumhe sahi lage wahi karna but ek baat toh jaan lo, Veeranshu. Yaha main khadi hun. Jo tumhe sahi lage wahi karo.” Bani wiped the tears that were falling from her eyes.

“Bani, kya kar rahi ho?” Balwant shouted at her angrily. He was expecting to force Veer to come back to her. Here, she was letting Veer make the decision in such an emotional state.

Bani looked at Veer. If she was Mrs Veeranshu Singhania, she would handle it like that. She brushed her hair and wiped the tears and smiled a sweet smile at Veer. She extended her hand offering him the ring that was on her finger. The ring that Veer would wear as a proof that he was Bani's.

“Abh toh manoge na ki humne iss shaadi mein kitna progress kar liya hai? Matlab yeh mangalsutra aur sindoor. Humari asli shaadi ho gayi hai. Aise hi ek din tum mujhse pyaar kar baithogi. Mere liye tumhare dil mein jo nafrat hai woh khatam ho jaayegi. Theek aise hi ek din tum maan jaao aur dil se meri ban jaao.” Bani repeated his words. She wiped away the tears with a smile.

“Abh toh main yahin khadi hun, Veer. Pichli baar tumne apni manmaani kar ke ring pehni. Iss baar main apni marzi se de rahi hun. Agar ek pal ke liye bhi aisa lage ki tumhe yahan rehna hai mere saath, toh itna karo ki yeh ring mere haath se le lo. Mujhe koi jawaab nahi chahiye. Chahe toh kuch bhi mat kaho. Bas yeh ring le lo. Main samajh jaaungi ki abhi tum mujhe chahte ho. Mera wada hai tumse. Jis second tum yeh ring mujhse loge na, tabh se leke meri aakhri saans tak tumhare saath rahungi. Aur main apna har wada nibhati hun, yeh tumhe bhi pata hai.” She offered him extending her hand for him to take the ring from her finger.

Markaat didn’t do anything this time. True, if Veer left with the fake image of his mother, his work would be done but it would prove his inability to win again. It would prove his Hari right again. He’d be proved right that Markaat can’t defeat Veer. Only way to defeat him is when he willingly gives up. It would be a mark on him that he couldn’t defeat Veer. No one would dare say anything but every moment he would stand before the idol of Narayan hoping to prove him wrong, it would be Markaat who would be proved wrong.

“Suryash, yeh bas tum soch rahe ho. Na toh tum Aakesh ko hara paate aur na hi Veeranshu ko hara sakte ho. Aur agar tum safal hue toh yeh iss kaaran hoga ki Veeranshu ne khud apni swa-iccha se tumhe jeet di hai. Yeh toh usi vardaan ki tarah hai jo tumhe tumhari pooja ke baad milti hai. Usi suraksha ke tarah hai jo tumhe mili hai Mahadev se mere kehne se.” Markaat remembered Narayan’s words. Markaat always wanted to be his golden boy. To prove to the world that the one who is greatest is Suryash. And because Suryash is great, his lord is the greatest. He wanted to be Narayan's only one. He didn't want anyone else to be anything like him. The idea of Sheshnaag taking birth with him to be his help irritated Markaat. He wanted to be everything to his lord. He wanted to be everything to this world. The strongest. The most powerful and the greatest.

Markaat didn’t know what he wanted to do. He didn’t know if he should stop Veer or let him go. He looked at Bani. He chuckled. No wonder she was Adi-Naagin. She was like the nature. How quickly the earth pulls herself together after heavy rains. She was grace in the way she offered Veer to stay with him. Bani was emotional. She knew well how to gather them up. Nageshwari was emotional. Her strongest point were her emotions. Bani was built by Nageshwari's failures and hence she made herself emotionally stoic to fit the title of Adi-Naagin. Her failures scared. She never wanted to lose. She couldn't admit her defeat.

Veer just looked at the ring on her finger.

“Veer, mom bhi toh kehti thi na, ki agar zindagi mein koi aisa mile jisse tum itna pyaar karo ki uske liye duniya se ladne ki himmat hai toh chahe jo ho, uska saath dena.” Tapish reminded him.

“Veeranshu, abh koi sawaal nahi hai tumse. Tumhara jo bhi faisla hai, mujhe manzoor hai. Main usse accept karungi. I know tum apni mom se sabse zyaada pyaar karte ho and I know that is the right thing to do. Mujhe koi complain nahi hai. Jisse tumhe khushi mile woh karna. Tumne mere liye 10,000 divya varsho ka intezaar kiya hai, main yahan tumhare liye intezaar kar sakti hun jab tak tum khud na aana chaho.” Bani answered with a smile. The tears fell from her face but she didn’t lose the smile. Her hand still outstretched forhim to take the ring.

The tears were proof how much Veer meant to her. She was crying but it wasn't the desperate crying and bawling into violent tears. It was just soft tears falling down her eyes. A grace that only someone of her stature could manage. She was a wife. She was the Adi-Naagin. She was a daughter. She was a lover. To fit in all the titles in one person. Only a woman of her nature could do with such grace.

Balwant was badly hoping Veer would choose Bani. He had never wished for Veer’s craziness for Bani to play out ever as much as he wished for it to work now.

“Bade papa, aapko actually lagta hai Veer bhai Bhabhi ke liye wapas aayenge? Apni mom ko chodke?” Ponky asked.

“Veer, yahan bhi wahi mil sakta hai. Yahan toh tumhare aur Bani ke beech koi nahi hoga. Na toh Jay hoga, na Hriday. Sirf tum, main, Teer, Tanya aur Bani. Sab accha hi hoga. Hamesha ke liye ek saath reh sakte hai.” Ishana tried to entice him with the offer.

“Baat toh sahi hai, Veeranshu, yahan rehna chahoge mere saath toh bohot saari problems ho sakti. We’re not going be the smoothest flight but all I know is that I’ll be there with you. Main, Tapish bhai, Meera di, Daksh, Samrat, Ponky, Vanshika, Daddyji aur Chachu. I know ki tumhari mom aur Teer nahi honge. Unki kami puri nahi kar sakte par itna pata hai ki khushiyan absent bhi nahi hogi. Pyaar agar asaan hota toh problem hi kya thi?” Bani pointed out.

“Bani, hume negatives point out nahi karna hai.” Balwant chided her.

“Ek minute, dad, thoda shaant rahiye.” Tapish told him to stay put.

“Bade papa, Bhabhi kuch toh kar rahi hai. Best we leave it to her.” Daksh too agreed.

Veer turned to his mother. He walked to her. Bani pulled herself together not to break down. The first thing about faith is to stay until the last moment. She looked up at the sky. She was hoping her faith would be true. From nowhere, suddenly a peacock feather fell on her hand, right on top of the ring. Bani looked confused.

“Mom, aapse toh bohot pyaar hai. Shayad sabse zyaada because aapse toh maine janam liya. I know main kaafi badtameez hun aur humesha apni manmaani karta tha par woh bhi isiliye tha kyuki aapne mujhe humesha itna pyaar diya hai ki kabhi aisa laga hi nahi ki kisi cheez ki kami hai. Aapke pyaar mein toh sab kuch hai. The peace I couldn’t ever feel from anyone else. Par…” Veer took a deep breath. “Bani ke liye toh maine janam liya hai. Aapko toh pata hai. I can’t hurt her. I know main chala gaya toh she’ll be hurt. Khud ko chot pohocha ke bhi main Bani ko khush dekhna chahta hun. Please aisa mat sochna ki maine aapke aur Bani ke beech Bani ko chuna hai but bas baat itna samajh lo ki yeh bhi meri zidd hai. Aapne toh humesha meri zidd puri ki hai. Hazaron khilaune the ghar pe phir bhi jab naye khilaune pasand aate the toh aapne mujhe laake deti thi. Even if it annoyed dad so much and the legos would injure him, you’d still buy me more legos. Har zidd puri ki hai aapne. Tapish bhai ke khilaune pasand aa jaate the, toh aap unhe samjha ke mujhe dene ko keh deti thi. Yeh toh mera dil hai, mom. Bani mera dil hai. Bani mera pyaar bhi hai aur meri zid bhi.”

Veer started walking back and just looked at her from that distance.

Veer turned around. Markaat saw the peacock feather in Bani’s hands. He noticed the golden flickers that came from it that no one else noticed. He realized it was a sign. Suddenly, like a blast, the trap burst out into flames almost engulfing the whole cave. Everyone ran outside.

Veer grabbed Bani’s hand and ran ahead. Everyone had escaped out of the cave but the rocks fell at the entrance locking Bani, Veer and Markaat inside.

“Nahi… Nahi…” Markaat shouted. He took control of Veer’s physical body and tried to break through the cave. “Naahhhii….” Markaat shouted angrily.

“Stop it. Just stop it…” Bani shouted at him angrily. “Samajh nahi aa raha kya? Phas gaye hai yahan hum sabh. Nahi nikal sakte.”

“Toh kya karun, Nageshwari? Tumhari tarah haath mein haath rakh ke baith jaau?” Markaat shouted back at her.

“Just shut up.” Bani hissed at him. She closed her eyes and tried to control her temper. She cannot attack him. She’d just end up injuring Veer which she didn’t want to.

“Main nahi marna chahta.” Markaat complained. He looked up at the roof of the cave. “Toh yeh hai aapka great plan? Maarna hi tha toh khud aake maarte. Yeh kya tareeka hai? Yahan hum teeno ko khatam kar denge aur saari mushkil hal?” He accused.

“Tum chup rahoge?” Bani asked him. It enraged her as to how he was accusing the lord about this. “Tumhari tarah nahi hai woh ki jab matlab khatam ho gaya toh akela chod aaye apni sharan mein aane wale ko. Tum cheelon maar dete ho apna matlab khatam hote hi. Woh aisa nahi karte. Tume maarna chahte toh kabka maar diya hota. Bachne ka sawaal hi nahi uttha.”

“There’s a reason why they call him chhaliya.” Markaat commented. Bani’s temper flared. You just do not insult him infront of anyone from Sheshnaag vansh. Bani grabbed his throat. Markaat’s anger came out too. Bani's eyes raged in a temper.

“Apna muh band rakho toh accha hoga.” Bani warned him.

“Sahi hai. Sheshnaag ke vansh se ho. Bhul gaya tha. Wahi same situation hai jo mere parivaar ke logo ki hai. Unhe defend karne kizaroorat nahi hai. Na toh unhe apni ninda se koi fark padta hai aur nahi zyaada tareef se. Jo dil se bulaye toh chale aaye. Jo ghamand mein bulaye toh 12,000 divya varsho tak bhi na dikhe. Satyug se Kaliyug tak waqt beet jaaye par unki parchaayi bhi nahi dikhti.” Markaat answered. He pushed her away. He kept trying to break the rocks. Who knew better than Markaat as to how cruel the lord could be when he wanted to be. For 12,000 years, he poured out everything. Crying. Shouting. Accusing. Insulting. Begging. Desperate attempts. Nothing made him come and have at least one look at him. Markaat would hear about Narayan taking various forms on earth. The fish. The tortoise. The boar. The half-man half-lion. The dwarf. The warrior sage. The human king. The flute playing mastermind. The saint. The last one everyone prophesized that he would come as.

Markaat wished at least once. At least once, in whatever form he would come to see him. But he didn't.

The fire started to spread towards them.

“Yeh sabh isiliye hai taaki mujhse mera wada tudwa paaye.” He complained. Bani looked at him confused.

“Kya matlab?”

“Jab kaid se nikla toh bol aaya unhe ki aaj ke baad unhe kabhi muskil mein yaad nahi karunga. Lag gayi hogi dil pe baat. Tabhi aisi maya bana rakhi hai.”

“Yeh kehne ke baad bhi din 10 baar toh naam le hi lete ho unka.”

“Naam nahi lunga yeh nahi kaha hai. Mujhe bhi pata hai ki yeh impossible hai. Aadat si hai meri. Aadat jo chutegi nahi. Yeh kaha ki abh kabhi unki pooja nahi karunga.”

Bani couldn’t believe she was stuck with this kind of idiot.

“Veeranshu, please kuch socho. Iss irritating cheel ke paas kuch nahi hai. Apna time kisi aur dosh dene mein laga rakha hai.” Bani requested Veer.

Veer looked up at the sky. There was just a small opening. He could fly through but his wings would catch fire. Veer grabbed Bani’s hand and opened his wings.

“Veer, pagal ho? Pankho mein aag lag jaayegi. Jal jaayenge dono.” Markaat reminded Veer.

“Veeranshu, nahi…” Bani tried to warn Veer. He simply grabbed her and flew up. Flying through the fire. The small space that was there allowed him to get Bani out unscathed. His wings caught fire and burnt his arm a bit. “Veeranshu…” Bani screamed.

The fire was burning him. Markaat winced loudly. The same feeling of burning.

“AAAaaargh…” He roared in pain. The two crashed landed downsince the flying was a bit unstable at the flames taking over the wings. Veer shook in pain. The burning pain.

“Veer….” Balwant shouted. Bani had fallen on the other side. She quickly got up and ran towards Veer. Veer looked up at the sky. The pain surging through him. Veer looked up at the sky. As if the sky understood his order, it started to rain. The rain put out the fire in the wings. The downside was that now all the cheels were wet and can’t turn into eagles for a while. Water is their weakness. It doesn’t allow them to fly.

Even with the rain putting out the fire, his feathers were still burnt. No way to repair them. Bani's own magic wouldn't work. The flight feathers were burnt to half. The muscles burning a but. The internal feathers were still alive. The most important feathers, flight feathers were burnt to half.