Vani FF// The Phoenix (Thread 2 Link in Pg 1) - Page 16

Chapter 36

Bani as Shukla reached the cheel gufa. This time she was on her own. The Singhanias weren’t there to keep her warned about anything that could occur. They were there to protect her if her secret was out. Before she entered the gufa, Bani said a silent prayer.

“Bholenath, main wahi karne jaa rahi hun jo mujhe sahi lagta hai. Aapne humesha hi mujhe sahi rasta dikhaya hai. Aaj bhi meri madad kijiye ki main sahi kar saku. Aap toh pashupatinath hai. Saare sansaar ke jeev aapke saamne jhukte hai. Yeh Adi-Naagin bhi aapke jhuk ke aapse prarthna kar rahi hai ki mujhe sahi karne ki shakti dena.” Bani prayed.

She then walked into the caves. Daksh had drawn her the whole sketch of the cheel caves. Bani was amazed the intricate design of the caves. They had secret entry and exits everywhere. He had her memorize it so she knows exactly what is where in the caves and Markaat won’t doubt.

“Shukla… bade jaldi aa gaye.” Markaat growled. Bani saw the burnt feathers. Markaat had just wrapped a shawl around since he couldn’t wear a shirt while feathers refused to go back inside. With the feathers damaged, the body itself refused to pull back the wings considering there were chances of injuring the wings.

“Huzoor. Le aaya main ark ke liye samaan.” Bani answered.

“Jaldi banao.” Markaat told him. Balwant had given her a lot of information on Shukla that could be necessary for her to play the part well. Markaat had his own teacher train Shukla so Shukla could become the kul guru of cheels properly. Yet, Bani presumed that Shukla was a waste. He didn’t really know much.

“Huzoor, main abhi kuch der pehle Veeranshu se milke aaya tha. Woh keh raha tha ki aap kamzoor ho jaayenge. Kuch aisa ho raha hai kya?” Baniasked.

“Kamzori toh lag rahi hai, Shukla. Body puri tarah thak chuki. Agar Veer nahi jaata toh shayad jald hi body band padni shuru ho jaati.” Markaat answered.

“Toh aap kya soch rahe hai? Matlab agar Veeranshu ki baat sach hai toh phir aapko koi aur body ki zaroorat padegi na?”

“Woh toh sahi hai, Shukla, par aisa koi aur nahi hai jise Suraj jalaye nahi. Sirf Veeranshu hai.”

“Par agar uski body kamzor ho gayi hai toh kuch toh karna hoga.”

“Pata hai mujhe, Shukla.” Bani gave the potion to Markaat.Markaat drank it. He sighed after that and a moment later Chandrakala walked in. Behind her was Chandni.

“Tum dono?” Markaat asked, an irritated look on his face. Chandni just stared at Markaat. Markaat raised his eyebrow at her. “Aise kya dekh rahi ho?”

“Abh mera chaand mere saamne hai toh dekhungi hi.”

“Main tumhe Chandra lagta hun?”

“Veer. Veer ki body mein ho. Mera chaand toh Veer hai.”

“Main Veeranshu nahi hun.”

“Haan par dikhte toh uski tarah ho. Kuch kuch cheezein bhi tumhari Veer jaisi hai.”

Bani had never known jealousy much but in that moment, the way she said Veer, Bani almost wanted to shut her up. Chandni tried to sit next to Markaat but he pushed her away. She fell on the ground.

“Apni jagah pe raho, Chandni. Na toh mujhe tum mein koi iccha hai aur na hi Veeranshu ko.” Markaat answered. He rubbed his temples.

“Yeh batao ki abhi uss Adi-Naagin ko kaise khatam karna hai?”Chandrakala asked.

“Adi-Naagin bacchi nahi hai. Pehle, Shukla, jaao aur pata karo ki Nageshwari kya karne ki chah mein hai. Aise khaali baitne walo mein se nahi hai woh.” Markaat told Bani. Bani internally scoffed. As if Bani would Shukla know his plans.

“Toh kya karun main? Aise hi baithi rahu intezaar mein ki kisi din woh khud marr jaayegi?” Chandrakala asked Markaat. In a flash, Chandrakala’s throat was in his hands. His eyes pouring out his violent temper. He pushed her up against a pointed stand.

“Jab tum mujhse baat kar rahi ho toh soch samajh ke muh kholo, Chandrakala.” Markaat warned her in a threatening tone. Bani had never heard Veer in that tone before. She could recognize Veer’s voice anywhere butthis side of his voice, she had never come across. Veer had a generally arrogant tone which was his overall personality. His general disregard for anyone is a part of his voice.

Chandrakala tried to push him away but even in the weakened state, it was Markaat. Markaat was no joke. Bani pulled them away from each other.

“Huzoor, aap kyu khud ko takleef de rahe hai?” Bani asked him, making him sit back on his throne. The way that Markaat sat on the throne was almost the way Veer sat on his throne like chair at home. Markaat had opened out his wings and checked the feathers. He pulled out the burnt feather. Bani almost winced. She smelled blood. He had ripped the burnt feathers off the wing and hence there was some amount of blood. Cheels had a very specific scent of their blood. It was something that made Naag-Naagin react. It was the side of their animal nature. Cheel are naturally their enemy. Their blood has the animalistic effect. It would result in awarning hiss and scales flashing but because Bani was Adi-Naagin, she majorly had control her most of the animalistic reflexes. Even with the control on it, she couldn’t deny the way it made her insides twinge at the smell. It is smell of danger to them.

Markaat went further to rip out other burnt feathers. It took a hell lot of self control on Bani’s part not to react. Markaat was in quite some amount of pain. Ripping out feathers is no joke.

“Aaahhh….” He winced. To balance out the number of feathers on each wing, the feather on the exact same location on the opposite wing has to be removed regardless of the fact that it was damaged or not. At the end of the whole things, almost 14 of the flight feathers on each wing were ripped away. Bani could almost feel the pain. Markaat breathed heavily as he was reeling from the intense pain. His talons gripped into his throne, making lasting marks on them. His heartbeat was faster considering how much it was paining.

For a moment, Bani felt she wouldn’t be able to do it. Already the feathers were ripped putting him through crazy pain and now she was expected to make it worse. Bani looked at the pain reeling into him and sh eonly saw Veer in him. Markaat wasn’t acting much like Markaat for her to stop thinking about what it felt like. The shawl fell off the chest while Markaat was writhing in pain. There were a few fading scars of talons.

Ripped jeans, boots, wings sprawled out and bare chested. Markaat exactly sat the way Veer would sit. Lazily, head pushed back and his ankle resting on his other knee. Bani did her best not to stare at the sight. No. She just cannot. Why would Shukla stare at the beauty that was gifted to Veeranshu Singhania. It almost reminded her of the sculpture of devil by Joseph Geefs. The sculpture was asked to be made for a church in Belgium. Though they felt that it was a little too sexy for the devil.

“Stop. Bani. Pagal hai kya? Kuch bhi soch rahi hai. Justshut up.” Bani tried to tell herself.

“Dekho, we can deny it if we want but you’re going lie to yourself and say that isn’t a beautiful sight?” Her heart pressed a dirty question.

“Just shut up.” Bani tried to tell her heart. Bani had to leave. She wasn’t going stand around while someone else in her husband’s body was sitting half naked. A little too inappropriate for her rather ‘sanskari’ upbringing. Bani stole a look but then forced herself to look away from a little too distracting sight. Why was she suddenly so attracted to the sight of Veeranshu Singhania's body. Her heart could ignore that it was presently inhabited by a cruel, evil and unforgivable enemy. Majorly because at this point, Markaat was almost sleeping off the pain.

“I guess this is why the church cast out the original sculpture by Joseph Geefs. It was too distracting and a little too enticing.” Herheart added. “That’s why you’re running from Veer as well. The devil’s pull is strong and seductive.”

“Shut up…” Bani was getting irritated with how her own thought process was going down the gutter. The poor body was deal with intense pain and here she was wrestling her thoughts.

“Oh, come on. Veer ko koi problem nahi hoti agar yeh Veer hi hota. Shayad woh enjoy bhi kar leta.” Her heart commented.

“What is wrong with you?” Bani exclaimed to herself.

“Kya hua, Shukla? Itni gehri soch mein kyu ho?” Markaat asked while wincing in pain.

“Nahi. Bas yeh soch raha tha ki kya kar sakte hai.” Bani answered to cover up. Markaat groaned in pain. She needed some air to gather her thoughts and focus on the work. “Mujhe lag raha hai aap thoda aur kamzor hone waale hai. Pehle hi kamzor ho rahe hai. Upar se yeh pankh theek hone mein waqt lagega.”

“Shukla, Veeranshu kuch toh soch hi raha hai.”

“Veer mujhse toh kuch nahi kehta par woh apne saare planssirf Balwant, Samrat, Daksh aur Tapish se karta hai. Par mujhe aisa lagta hai ki Veeranshu abhi isi soch mein hoga ki chahe kamzor halat mein hi sahi, use apni body wapas chahiye.”

“Nahi… Kuch toh aur baat hai. Veeranshu kaafi chalak hai. Usse acche se pata hai ki cheel sirf sabse shaktishaali ki baat sunte hai. Yeh baat abhi kisi ko pata nahi hai ki yeh shareer kamzor ho raha hai isiliye toh abhi meri baat sun rahe hai saare cheel. Warna kab ka khud mein se kisi ko chunliya hota agla cheel Rajkumar.”

Bani had to give it to Markaat, he knew Veer well enough to understand that Veer’s own plans are complex.

“Par use apni body toh chahiye hi hogi na?”

“Socho, Shukla, agar khud kamzor ho raha hai toh khud ko takatwar kaise karega Veeranshu? Kuch toh socha hoga Veeranshu ne khud ko shakti dene ke liye.”

The problem that only Veer knew his plans in complete. That is exactly what set apart Veer from Aakesh. Aakesh was impulsive. He wasn’t much of a man to plan anything but Veer was a true king in that sense. He knew exactly what has to be used when. That’s what made him dangerous and a strong opponent to Markaat. He used his mind more than his hands which said something because Veer was nothing short of violent when he pleased. The way he fought all the vultures alone. Leave a knife in his hands and he can find his way to kill his enemies faster than one can say stop. Markaat called himself the god of death and Veer was his perfect heir.

“Veeranshu kaise sochta hai woh sirf Veeranshu jaanta hai.” Bani answered. Bani was Adi-Naagin yet she didn’t hold the kind of stature that Veer did among cheel. Veer’s confidence enough set him high enough that he didn’t deem it needful to prove himself. He made others bend to his will. That was Veeranshu but Bani wanted her people to follow her out of respect rather than fear. She did have respect of several Naagins but still she never felt like she held the respect of all of Naaglok. She wanted to win the place at the top. She had the powers that Bholenath had gifted her pleased with her devotion to him.

“Shukla, ek kaam karo. Jaao aur Aakesh ke kamre mein jo bhi khaas saman mile use le aao.” Markaat ordered him. Bani was now in a fix. Daksh hadn’t told her about the caves where people stayed. Those were super oldcaves. He had just told her that the royal family used to live in the royal caves.Bani walked out before he could doubt and found some cheel nearby. She used her powers of hypnosis to control them.

“Yeh royal caves kahan hai?” Bani asked him. “Mujhe uss taraf le chalo.”

The cheel took her head and Bani followed. In all of Naagvansh, her hypnosis was the strongest. Not all naag-naagins could hypnotize well but her powers let her hypnotize well. She could hypnotize cheels well enough. She had never tried to hypnotize Veer. That put a point of thought in her mind. She should see if she can hypnotize Veer. Everyone said that Veer’s mind was strong against hypnosis. Yet, her powers of hypnosis didn’t come from other sources. Bholenath himself gave her power so would it falter against Veer?

Bani was finally brought to the caves. She took away the hypnosis and let him leave. The moment she entered the room, an odd sense of feeling hit her. This was Aakesh’s room. There was a large open window. The royal caves were carved out inside hills. There was a beautiful waterfall ahead of the window. It cooled the entire room. There was a throne like chair. Black and red interiors. Several daggers were placed in the room. Scratch marks made with talons around the room.

A funny thought entered her mind. Bani took form of Aakesh and stood before the mirror. She sat on the throne like chair with her feet up the table. Bani jumped up over the bed and opened her arms.

“Zidd chod do Nageshwari… meri ban jaao Nageshwari…” Bani said. The same voice as Aakesh. She laughed at that. She jumped off the bed and proceeded towards the fruit bowl and choose the apple. She played with it like it was ball and then started eating the apple.

Bani returned empty handed to Markaat as Shukla.

“Huzoor, aisa kuch hai hi nahi. Lagta hai kisi ne karma acche se saaf kiya hua hai. Wahan koi reh raha hai kya?” Bani asked.

“Shakura…” Markaat realized. Shakura was so obsessed with taking place as Aakesh since taking that form that he’s try to take in all aspects of Aakesh.

“Haan… bulaya?” Speak of the devil. Shakura staggered into the cave they sat at. He laughed as he saw Markaat.

“Yeh kya haal bana rakha hai?” Shakura asked. Shakura made her uneasy. Making her relive her nightmare of not having her powers anymore. Almost forcefully marrying her. Close to have killed her.

“Aakesh ke kamre ke saari cheezein kahan hai?” Markaat asked.

“Usmein koi bhi zaroori cheezein nahi thi. Kuch landscape paintings thi jo maine phek di. Kitabe thi nahi jo main tumhe de dun. Kuch bhi nahi tha. Saari cheezein pehle hi nikaal li gayi thi. Balwant ne hi kiya hoga, apne Satyug ke bete ka saara saaman le gaya hoga.” Shakura commented carelessly. Bani thought of what could Veer possibly think of? Did he already have a plan ahead?

After a while, Markaat felt weaker as Bani went on with the plan. In small amounts, she mixed mushrooms which gave allergic reaction. Leading to fever and reactions. Markaat felt more and more tired.

“Shakura….” Markaat called him. Shakura went up. Markaat signalled her to leave. Bani wanted to stay but it would be a risk. Bani went out. She texted Veer that Markaat was upto something. She added that she was presuming that he’d be leaving Veer’s body.

As they had planned, Markaat prepared himself to leave Veer’s weakening body and take another body. Bani was just unable to think which other body Markaat would take.

“Shukla, ek kaam karo. Jaise hi main Veer ki body se niklu, use jala do.” Markaat ordered. Burn it? If only Markaat knew it wasn’t Shukla but Bani. Bani wasn’t going to do anything of that manner. Shakura and Markaat shared a look.

Bani was sure they were planning something but exactly what theywere thinking she couldn’t understand. Vanshika and Veer reached the caves. He was more than ready to take back his original body.

“V, tum ready ho?” Veer asked her.

“Hundred percent.” Vanshika nodded. Bani used her magic to cover Vanshika’s scent. The problem with Monil’s body that the day made it weaker. It was around noon. Veer had never felt the weakness of the day until now. His own body never reacted to the sun. The rituals had started. Everything depended on the timing. Veer wouldn’t have much time.

Shakura had started the rituals as well. His servant knew the rituals. The same one who took away Bani’s Naagin powers. Markaat moved out of Veer’s body. Bani heard the heartbeat stop. She couldn’t feel Monil’s heartbeat either. What none of them has assumed was the kind of games they were playing. The soul constantly changing bodies had ended with a large energy blast.

Soul entering and leaving the body took a lot of energy. The energy that dissipated with the exit of the body resulted with a large blast. Both of their souls were strong and the energy that came out was large. Crashing with eachother’s energy and resulting in a blast. Bani instantly covered Veer with her coils. The blast burnt a bit of her scales but she didn’t let it reach Veer. The moment Shakura realized that it wasn’t Shukla but Bani, he turned into an eagle and tried to attack Bani. Bani turned into a snake and hissed at him violently. She refused to move from Veer. Vanshika turned into a her naagin form and attacked Shakura. Shakura’s talons cut through her. She striked Shakura. His talons cutting her and Shakura twisted in the death grip of a Naagin’s coils.

“Vanshika…” Bani shouted as a group of cheel flew at her. When they turned into human, she recognized them as the Parikshit Family. Bani looked at Nikhil. She used her power of hypnosis and made Nikhil fight his own family. Just pushing them away from Vanshika. Bani got worried when she didn’t hear Veer’s heartbeat. Shakura got free of Vanshika’s coils and tried to get Bani’s coils off Veer. Bani hissed violently at Shakura and would have almost bit him if he didn’t move away.

Shakura laughed.

“Kya baat hai, Bani. Tumhari yahi baat sabse acchi lagti. Ekdum ladaku vimaan ban jaati ho.” Shakura teased Bani. She moved forward to strike away but Shakura moved away. Bani couldn’t bite him and kill him with the venom but was managing to push him away from Veer. The Parikshit Family got so scared at the flash red scales of Bani’s snake form that they didn’t dare to go near Veer. The snake hissed violently and attacked anyone who even tried to go near Veer. Some cheel tried to be brave enough and go closer to Veer and attack the unconscious Veer. Bani’s strike was fast. The fangs instantly pouring in the deadly venom. Bani’s red flashy scales showed out danger of her rage and her venom. Most naag-naagins would only have one kind of venom. Either haemotoxic, or cytotoxic or neurotoxic. They all had two venom glands like all regular snakes. Bani’s venom came in all three kinds. Haemotoxins, Cytotoxins and Neurotoxins. It was released at her will. Her snake form had three pairs of venom glad which meant she had more venom than any other snake in the world. Bani could choose when to inject which venom. Her own potent venomous cocktail. She could give enough venom to kill 40 people.

The cheel that Bani struck fell down and began bleeding profusely. The bleeding didn’t stop. That began to strike fear in the cheels. Bani’s snake form hissed again and flashed the snake fangs, daring another one to be stupid enough to cross her. Another cheel flew at her. She grabbed him, twisting her coils around, another cheel tried to take advantage of that but Bani’s strike was fast. The moment her fangs pierced through the cheel’s skin, it injected venom paralyzing the cheel instantly. She threw the body away like it was nothing. As if the snake just reject the prey after killing it because it didn’t taste good. Nikhil started shaking. The cheel in her coils had fallen limp. As he inhaled, the coils constricted tighter cutting off bloody supply and oxygen. With every breath, it got tighter. Once it fell dead, Bani released him. The Parikshit Family put their hands up in the air, signalling surrender, and moved back. Bani hissed at other cheels. She scared away everyone but Shakura.

If Shakura was assuming that because he looked like Aakesh,B ani was going to fall trap, he was wrong. You don’t mess with an angry snake.

Vanshika just stood there watching Bani, almost in admiration. Naagins had always been fiercer than their male counterparts but Bani was something else. There was no matching the level of Adi-Naagin. She just couldn’t do anything but bow down to the most powerful Naagin ever. The energy blasted off and Bani stood in her human form as a Naagin. The red clothing and gold clothing. Her eyes still red with black slits, daring anyone to cross her. Rage radiating off her. Her scales flashing.

“Aur koi hai jo aaj marna chahta hai?” Bani roared. Shakura tried to go at her and grab her but Bani grabbed his throat. The hold of her hand on the throat wasn’t anything less than the strength in her coils. “Bohot shauk hai na udne ka. Abh udke dikha.” Bani pushed him up in the air while his throat still in her hands. He struggled desperately to get free of her grasp. Cheels tried to help their boss but Bani killed them. She threw Shakura against the wall of the cave and he fell unconscious instantly.

The cheels tried to attack and ended up dead. When the Singhania Family entered the scene, they saw quite a number of cheels lying dead. Some bleeding to death, some already dead and some with their flesh burning away and being destroyed. Bani was in her snake form, her coils covering Veer’s unconscious body. The scene was bloody. Several cheels lying dead around. Balwant tried to move towards Veer but Bani hissed violently at him. He stumbled back at the raw show of aggression.

“Bani, its okay. Calm down.” Tapish stood before her to calm her down. He tried to get her attention to him.

“Tapish bhai, pagal ho gaye ho kya? Bhabhi pure form mein hai aapko bhi das legi.” Ponky shouted at Tapish and tried to make fast movement. The snake instincts made her hiss at the moment, almost biting him.

“Ponky, ruk. Don’t move.” Tapish shouted at his brother. “Dad, stay where you are. Everyone stay where you are.”

He then calmly and slowly approached Bani.

“Bani, relax. Calm down.” Tapish told her. He turned to the Parikshit Family who were scared out of their wits having encountered the rage of Adi-Naagin. “Isse pehle ki marne ka agla number tum mein se kisi ka lage, nikal lo. Dheere dheere peeche hato.”

They decided to take Tapish’s advice and moved back slowly, after crossing some space, they ran away fearing their lives. Slowly, Bani returned to her human form as Naagin. She turned to look at Veer.

“Veeranshu…” Bani kneeled close to him, trying to feel the slightly vibrations of a heartbeat. Her eyebrows scrunched in worry. “Veeranshu…”

Ponky, Daksh, Balwant and Pawan hesitated to get closer to Bani after her show of aggression. Sam and Tapish calmly approached Veer. She turned her head in a quick movement. They gave her a relaxed look.

“Bhabhi, I think hume pehle Veer bhai ko ghar le jaana chahiye.” Sam offered her calmly.

“Wahan kuch sochte hai.”

Bani slowly touched Veer’s face. A moment later, she felt the vibration of a faint heartbeat.

“Veeranshu…” She tried to call him. It was his heartbeat. She held him close to her own heart. His fingers twitched.

“Bani, suno. Ghar le jaate hai Veer ko pehle.” Tapish offered. Bani nodded, once her temper eased down. Sam and Tapish picked up Veer carefully and took him down. Balwant, Pawan, Ponky, Daksh and Bani looked at the bloody scene.

“Yeh sabh aapne kiya hai, Bhabhi?” Ponky asked, stuttering at his words. Bani touched her face and she could smell cheel blood off her. Her facial features twisting in disgust.

“Adi-Naagin.” Vanshika answered. Bani looked at her.

“Vanshika, kya kar rahi ho.” Bani pulled her up to her feet.

“Just intense respect. Humesha aapko behen ki tarah dekha. Aaj Adi-Naagin ko dekha.” Vanshika said. Bani smiled.

“Behen kaha hai mujhe toh bas wahi samajhna.” Bani held her hand.

Ponky still refused to sit anywhere near Bani. Scared out of his wits. The ride back was silent.

Balwant had come across several naagins but Bani, Bani wasn’t like any of them. Balwant had now witness the blatant violence that she was capable of. He knew the violence Veer was capable of but Bani’s violence made him think of the rageful tandav of Shiva.

The ride towards home was silent. Veer's head was in Bani's lap. She didn't leave his sight even for a moment. Her thumb softly caressing his cheek. Bani kissed his forehead.

The way Bani looked at Veer, made him question exactly what was planned in Veer's future. Bani seemed to have lost herself to Veer's love for her. The way she was so aggressive that she refused to let anyone near him and would have almost killed him and Ponky if they didn't back out. She was caring for Veer the way he had never imagined.

Originally posted by: Andetheres

Amazing updates. 👏

Poor veer had to suffer a lot fighting with Markaat inside his body. And his body so weak. 😒

Just like Bani said , sir have his own way of thinking , his own plan. 😆

He left his body with a different plan that no one had thought. Truly impressive Veeranshu. 🤗

But the thought that Veer in Monil’s Body and Vani’s romance. 🤣

Our cheel is so smart. He literally have so much knowledge about cheel and their weakness. 😎

Meditation 🤣

Frustrated Bani .....unable to meditate and also not letting Sam meditate after listening to his advise also 😆 and Tapish had great time enjoying their meditation session 😆

The amount of trust Bani has in her family - Balwant and Tapish

I wanted a break from the show's current Veeranshu. I wanted that old Veer vibe. He gave off that dangerous aura that you don't wanna cross him. Now that aura has gone to Jay. I really wished that they could properly pit Jay against Veer. Like the present Jay and the old Veer would be one hell of a show.

Anyway, humara cheel baby hai ki extra smart. I always think that if someone is on top of their clan, they know the insides and out of their clan. Weaknesses, strengths and loopholes. Especially when the character is grey like Veer. They're dangerous because they can cook up plans with clicking fingers.

Amazing update.

Can't wait for the next chapters

Mind-blowing. The way Bani handled herself and saved veer. The anger which aadi naagin possesses to save her people. It's shown so good. Loved it. Loved it so much. It's awesome.

These days i am more excited for your updates and the bts than the show itself!!

Woohhooo!! Shukla ki pitai..noice. I hope agla number jai ka ho. I don't care much for chandrakala so...kill her or don't, doesn't matter. On this note, why the heck is chandrakala not afraid of markaat, veer ki body hai toh sach mai kahi veeranshu smjh ke bak bak toh nhi kr rhi??😂

I loved loved loved the show of bani's power and i esp. loved that after veeranshu, sam and tapish are the ones who were able to kinda calm her down.

Tapish's and Bani's bonding👏👏.

If veer is the king of the cheel world, then it makes Bani their queen. I hope in upcoming updates we see bani really overcome her insecurities and faults and become the naagin that the world fears. Because although her point is right she wants the respect of naaglok, it is fear that truly rules because at the end of the day its jungle raaj. Their animal counterparts can only be controlled by someone else through fear and power!!

Chapter 37

Everyone had dinner and went to sleep. Bani fell asleep while sitting next to Veer. She didn’t know when the sleep invaded her as she was taking care of Veer. It had been several hours but Veer didn’t wake up. His heart beat and breathing had started to get normal by the late evening which gave Bani a much-required assurance that her husband was fine. Bani woke up alarmed when she heard the sound of glass falling down.

Veer was trying to reach for water.

“Veeranshu…” Bani quickly poured water in glass for him. She helped him drink some water. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. It was going to be adifficult task because until the wings were healed, it wouldn’t go back. Thanks to Markaat, it pained like hell when Veer tried to pull the wings back.

“I know bohot dard ho raha.” Bani placed her hand on his arm. Veer breathed for a while.

“Bani, it is hurting a lot.” He confessed to her. Bani offered him some alcohol. It would require a large amount of alcohol to get Veer drunk. That would supress the pain a bit. Tapish had left five bottles ofvodka in the room. “Waise hua kya tha? Last thing I remember was the blast.”

“Attack hua. Kaafi cheel aa gaye tumhe maarne Markaat ke kehne pe. Aur Bani ne tumhe bachata.” Tapish answered leaning against the door.

“Tapish bhai…” Veer greeted him with a wink. Tapish laughed. His brother was back. Tapish walked and kissed his head.

“Tujhe wapas dekh ke aacha laga, mere bhai.” Tapish said. Tapish brushed Veer’s hair. “Pata hai bohot dard ho raha hoga but heal hone mein time lagega.”

“Uss Markaat ko main chodunga nahi, Tapish bhai. Mere keemti pankh nikal diye.” Veer started kissing his wings and made a sad baby face at the missing feathers. Tapish and Bani looked at each other and laughed.

“Safe to say, Veeranshu Singhania is back.” Tapish commented. “Accha. Main khana bhijwa deta hun tum dono ke liye. Kha lo aur phir so jaana.”

“Tumne nahi khaya?” Veer asked Bani.

“Tumhare saamne se uthi hi nahi. Ek second ke liye bhi madam ko yahan se hatna nahi tha.” Tapish commented. “Waise, aaj tumhari biwi ne pure gharwalo ko dara diya. Ponky toh abhi aas paas bhi nahi bhatak raha Bani ke.”

Veer raised an eyebrow.

“Aisa kya hua?”

“Jab tujhpe attack hone laga toh fuse udd gaya Bani ka. Markaat ki gufa mein abhi dead bodies padi hai. Kitno ko dasa ka, kitno ki haddiyan tod diye hai…” Tapish commented. Veer looked at Bani.

“Bani… sweetheart, tumne tandav kiya tha kya?”

“I think the right term is ‘rudra tandav’. Maut ka tandav.”Tapish specified.

“Ufff…. Kya, yaar. Action sequence miss kar diya maine.” Veer complained as he continued drinking the vodka.

“Bhai, jab humne enter kiya Dad tere paas aane wale the but Bani ne almost attack kar diya tha dad par. Kuch dhyaan mein hi nahi tha Bani ke ki kon hai bas koi bhi tere aas paas bhi aata toh uski maut pakki thi. Ponky almost ro diya tha.”

“Kya baat hai. Itna care.”

Bani got up and went to gate, embarrassed, “Ramesh kaka, aap plate mein khaana le aaiye…” Bani called out. Tapish and Veer laughed at Bani.

“Sweetheart…” Bani turned around, Veer signalled her to come closer. Tapish got up and left to leave the lovebirds to themselves. Bani sat next to him. He signalled her to give her hand. Bani smiled and put her hand in his. Veer took the ring from her finger and proceeded to wear it himself but Bani stopped him. “Sweetheart, mujhe meri ring chahiye.”

Bani took out the ring and put it on his ring finger. There was a beautiful smile on her face as she did that.

“Shaadi mein biwi apne pati ko ring pehnati hai. Pati khudse nahi pehenta.” Bani answered. Veer was surprised. He knew that Bani was falling in love with him. He could see her showing signs openly but this act of hers almost made it outright to him that she wanted to marry him and be with him. “Tum mere liye kya ho, yeh batana possible hi nahi hai kyuki taaron ke beech ki distance measure kar sakte hai, chaand se dharti tak ki distance measure kar sakte hai but yeh main kaise measure karun ki tum mere liye kya ho…”

Bani entangled her fingers between his. “Mann karta hai ki bas tumhara haath aise pakad ke hi rakhun. You know woh kehte hai na ki uss cheez ki importance tumhare liya kya yeh samajh nahi jabh tak woh tumse cheeni nahi jaati. It’s the same. Mujhe pata tha ki tum mere liye bohot important ho par shayad kyu important ho yeh baat samajh nahi aati agar yeh sabh nahi hota toh.”

“Sweetheart, pata hai mujhe ki main tumhare liye bohot im -”

“Beech mein disturb mat karo. I’m having a moment here.” Bani shushed him. “Mujhe nahi pata Veeranshu ki yeh ‘joda’ wala kya scene hai. I don’t know ki Jay mera joda hai ya nahi. Honestly, I don’t care ki Jay mera joda hai ya nahi. Agar hai bhi toh even then the truth would remain ki main tumhare bina nahi reh sakti. Tumne mujhe pucha tha ki where do you stand in my life aur shayad iska jawaab long overdue hai. Agar tum mujhe ek baar bas yeh kaho ki tumhe meri zaroorat hai toh sabh chodke tumhare paas chali aaungi. Tumhari Khushi se mujhe bhi Khushi mil jaati hai. Tumhare saath jabhi rehti hun toh mehsoos hota hai that I don’t have to prove myself worthy to you. I feel ki.. haan, main iss sabh ki haqdaar hun. I deserve to be what I am and who I am kyuki tum mujhe aise dekhte ho jaise main sabse best ho. Aisa lagta hai ki har mushkil se main lad sakti hun. I feel better about myself. Accha lagta hai. Tumhare saath ajeeb si baat hai. Ek side pe yeh saari crazy feelings hai jo fireworks ki tarah hai but then there is also an odd sort of comfort in being next to you. Tum mere pati ho, mere liye. Meri family ho. Mere dil mein ho. Jitna mere liye saans lena zaroori hai, utna mere liye tum zaroori ho.”

“Uff… mera dil….” Veer exclaimed once she finished. Bani lookedat Veer. He was wearing a gold chain with a locket that he generally always does, his wings open, now tattered with how Markaat pulled out the feather, same ripped denim and he was sitting on the bed, he was wearing the ring, his hair was a bit wet and he sat lazily while holding her hand. “Sweetheart, mujhe pata hai main bohot hot hun aur tum mujhse bohot hi zyaada attracted ho but itni gandi nazaro se mat dekho…” This was her Veeranshu Singhania. Her husband and the man who had captured her heart.

Bani looked away, not wanting to be caught staring him while entertaining herself with such 'un-sanskari' thoughts. Veer wouldn’t be caught dead not noticing his wife's blushing. Bani tried to get up but he pulled her hand and she almost landed over him. Bani could feel her heartbeat going faster. This was Veeranshu Singhania. Completely. On the inside and the outside.

“Excuse me. Mujhe laga tumhe bohot dard ho raha tha.” Bani tried to change the topic.

“Haan, tumhe dekh ke distract ho gaya na… matlab imagine ki tumne sadiyon se kisi ko pyaar kiya hai aur abh jaake yeh chahat puri ho rahi hai toh dard kise yaad rahega? Aaj toh tumne yeh keh bhi diya. Not exactly those three magical words but you know its there.”

Bani and Veer stared into each other’s eyes for a moment. Bani let herself sit on his lap. There was silence but neither of them minded. Veer pushed her hair out of her face and held her face. They were really close to each other. Bani could feel it coming. She almost felt the kiss coming ahead.

“Veer…” Bani jumped off him at the sound of Balwant. Balwant was about to go up to Veer but then he noticed Bani near Veer and stopped in his tracks. That violent temper Bani had showcased earlier didn’t go out of Balwant’s mind. He moved a bit back.

“Its okay. Aap aa sakte hai.” Bani stood up and let him take the chair which Bani was sitting on.

“Tu uth gaya. Mujhe kisi ne bataya kyu nahi? Abh kaisa feel kar raha hai? Tujhe kuch chahiye kya? Main yahan tera khyal rakhne ruk jaau kya?”

“Jo mujhe chahiye tha woh almost mil hi raha tha but aapki teekhi awaaz aa gayi beech mein aur mera chaand mujhse dur chala gaya.” Veer commented. Balwant chuckled.

“Abh lag raha hai na ki mera beta wapas aa gaya hai.” Balwant put up his fist for Veer to give a fist bump. Chuckling, Veer gave a fist bump. Ramesh kaka came with the food.

“Maaf kijiye Bani bitya. Woh khaana thanda ho gaya tha toh garam karne mein waqt lag gaya. Aur kuch le aau?” He asked her.

“Nahi, kaka. Thank you. Theek hai.” Bani nodded taking the tray from him. There were two plates and food dishes in bowls.

“Lagta hai Bani ne sach mein aapko dara diya hai, dad. Warna yeh concept hi nahi hai aapke zindagi mein ki apne bete ke room mein knock karke yaa puch ke andar aaye.” Veer teased Balwant.

“Tu dekhta toh tujhe samajh aata.” Balwant tried to defend himself. "Almost 14-foot-long cobra. Flashy red scales and the violent aggression. Tu bhi darr jata…”

Veer laughed.

“Dad, mujhe apni sweetheart, apni gharwali se darne ki zaroorat nahi hai.”

“Tu behosh tha aur tune dekha nahi isiliye yeh sabh bol raha hai.”

“Accha hai, dad. Aapko darna bhi chahiye. After all meri sweetheart Adi-Naagin koi mamuli sapori nahi hai. Sarvasresth Adi-Naagin.” He winked at Bani.

“Haan, agar tumhara ho gaya ho toh khana khalo.” Bani cut their conversation.

“Tum bhi kha lo…” Veer suggested.

“Dusra plate hai, Veeranshu. Main abhi daal rahi hun usmein.”

“Do plates ki kya zaroorat hai? Ek saath kha sakte hai ek hi plate mein.”

“Tu sach mein iske saath ek hi plate mein khana chahta hai?” Balwant asked Veer in a whisper.

“Dad, the whole concept of snake venom is that they can decide when to inject venom and when not to. Abh sweetheart ko mujhe zeher dene ka chance maine use diya but she presumed it was a terrible idea.” Veer answered with a careless shrug.

“Sochlo. Mujhe gussa aa gaya na toh…” Bani tried to tease Veer. He just laughed.

“Toh kya? Zyada se zyada zehrili kiss milegi. Aur kuch?”

Bani threw a look at him.

“Tu kha aur araam kar. Main kal subeh aata hun.” Balwant got up and left the moment Bani walked over to them. Bani and Veer both broke intolaughter at that. Bani started feeding Veer.

“Tum bhi kha lo…” Veer told her as he ate. Bani ate too as she fed Veer.

“Tumhe thand nahi lag rahi kya?” She asked.

“Nahi. Body insulation. Aur agar thandi lagi toh tum paas aa jana.” He winked at her.

“Kabhi serious nahi ho sakte na?”

“Nahi… tumhe dekh ke toh sirf ek hi cheez yaad aati hai…”

Bani looked at Veer. He had possibly gone through so much, how had he still managed to be so unscathed by anything even after all that? First his traumatizing childhood, then his brother's death, Bani going on so many lengths to insult him, Markaat taking over him, the murder attempt and he was still standing here, the same Veeranshu Singhania that she had met. Not even scared a bit.

“Yeh panjo ke nishaan?”

Veer looked at them and touched them. They had almost faded away.

“That’s long ago. I was in a fight. I was still young so I was relatively new to how to heal myself. So, the scars were left. They didn’t go away. They’re almost fading. I thought I’d die that day because there were around 12 vultures and some 10 cheels attacking at once. I was around 11 or 12.I almost thought I’d die.”

“Doesn’t it bother you?”

“Actually, it made me stronger. I had seen death close by, Bani. It didn’t scare me. I had spent a lot of my childhood around shamshaan and aghoris. Spending time around them had taught me several things. One, itshouldn’t bother you what someone, you don’t care about, thinks about you. Death is liberation rather than the end. Three, do what you believe in. Don’t let anyone else’s opinion on it change your mind. Four, to hide what you are is a burden and to let go off that burden is true freedom.”

“You know, I’ve always liked how all the cheels are always under one particular kingship. They all consider themselves from the same line.”

Veer chuckled.

“It is because goddess Vinata had only two sons. Arun and Garud. All the cheels, vultures and baaz come from the same line. When we say cheel, it is inclusive of eagles and kites. Baaz are hawks and falcons. Giddh are just vultures. Because eagles are the largest ones, the king comes from their family. The leader of the all of these comes from someone who has the blood of both the lines. Arun and Garud.”

“So, you and your family descend from both of them?”

“Tapish bhai, Teer bhai and me. Mom belonged from the line of Garud from her mother’s side. The chance of either of the blood line shining in a descendent is as random as the egg receiving an X or a Y chromosome. Completely on nature’s decision. The cheel Rajkumar is the one has both of them expressed equally. Because Garud’s bloodline is expressed in me, the sun doesn’t burn me or weaken me. Garud’s bloodline shining in a cheel is rare because he’s very powerful and someone having the same bloodline as him would end up with severa lof his powers. If someone ends up like Markaat in that situation, it would end in devastation.”

“Markaat ne bhi kaha tha ki cheel sirf sabse shaktishaali ki baat sunte hai.”

“Haan. Tume yeh toh pata hai na ki goddess Vinata had broken Arun’s egg before it was completely formed…”

“Haan.”

“Bas. Isiliye… So, hona yeh tha ki agar Arun’s egg wasn’t broken, woh bhi Garud jitne shaktishaali ban sakte the and he’d be the reining king of birds because he’s the elder brother. Par unki maa ko yeh baat pata hi nahi thi aur jaldi jaldi mein she broke the egg. Puri tarah se form nahi hue aur he couldn’t get his rightful place. Jab Garud ko yeh baat Arun ne batayi ki unhe kaisa laga ki sabh Garud ki tareef karte hai but no one remembers him, Garud ne apne bhai se promise kiya ki jitne bhi un dono ke vanshaj hai unmein se sabse zyaada Arun ke vanshaj honge. Bohot hi kam aise honge jinmein Garud ka khoon dikhega. They'll mostly show Arun's bloodline.”

“Yeh pata nahi tha mujhe…”

“Aisa nahi tha ki Arun ko jalan thi apne bhai se. He was proud of his brother. Bohot zyaada bas woh thoda sa khud ke liye bura lagta tha unhe. Isiliye Surya ne Arun ko yeh vardaan diya ki unka tej Arun ko kuch nahi kar paayega. Jab sampathi ke pankh jal gaye toh Surya dev ko kaafi bura laga ki apne sabse acche dost ke bete ke pankh unke wajah se jal gaye. Toh unhone saare arun aur garud ke vanshajo ko vardaan diya ki suraj ka tej kabhi bother nahi karega unhe but then the whole fiasco with Markaat happened and they got the curse ki Markaat ke saare vanshajo ko suraj jala dega including him.”

“Ek minute, but Daksh said that birth of cheel Rajkumar is completely random and cannot be predicted until he is born.”

“Unhe itna khaas pata hai nahi. They haven’t spent time in gathering information about princes before me. Dad ko bhi iss baat se fark nahi padta tha. Ek tarah se woh sahi bhi hai that it is random because whichever bloodline shines is completely randome but Garud's bloodline shining is rare. Garud’s pure bloodline is extinct, Bani. The one present is which is mixed with Arun’s bloodline. If I’m not wrong, there is only one person who still has the pure bloodline of Garud and she lives somewhere in Himalayas. She doesn’t ever involve herself with cheels, baaz and giddh.”

Bani was surprised. Veer knew a lot for someone who seems to spend all his time philandering around and partying.

“Yeh sab pata kaise kar lete ho tum? Tumhare family mein kisi ko yeh sabh pata nahi hai.”

“Bani, agar main cheel Rajkumar hun toh mujhe cheezein pata honi chahiye na.”

“You just pretend ki tumhe pata nahi hai.”

“It gives you an edge over others. Unhe lagta hai tumhe kuch pata nahi hai. Jaise Shukla. Shukla ko lagta use woh sabh pata hai jo mujhe pata hai aur mujhe jo bhi pata hai woh usne mujhe batayi hai.”

“Who is this jo Garud ke bloodline se hai?”

“Maine ek baar contact karne ki koshish ki thi.” Veer stood up and walked over to his shelf. He clicked his fingers and said some incantation. A box appeared.

“Yeh, kya hai?” Bani was surprised. There was a golden feather with a few letters.

“Yeh uska pankh hai.” Bani touched it. She could swear shehad never come across a feather that soft. Veer opened the letter and showed itto Bani. Veer closed the door and locked it. “Dad ko iski bhanak bhi nahi lagni chahiye.”

Bani saw a beautiful writing in hindi.

Cheelon ke Rajkumar Veeranshu ko mera pranaam. Accha laga tumse sun ke. Kaafi samay baad kisi ki chitthi aayi hai mere paas. Asha hai ki tum meri badhai sweekar karoge. Cheelon ke Rajkumar ho toh itna mujhe vishwaas hai ki tumhe pata hoga ki tum mein Garud ke vansh ka khoon bhi. Garud ke vansh ki garima ka maan rakhna bhi tumhara kaam hai. Tumhare vishay mein bohot suna hai. Ek baat kehni hai ki apne iss taaj ka upyog apni iccha anusaar karo par yeh bhi yaad rakhna ki kabhi apni garima mat khona. Suraj sa tej hai tum mein aur toofano si tezzi hai par yeh sabh tumhe ek kaaran se diya hai. Agar Ishwar ne tumhe chuna hai toh ismein koi vishesh baat hai. Asha karti hun ki tum Garud ke vansh ka maan rakhoge. Main swayam ko cheel, baaz aur giddho ke saath nahi baandthi. Meri sharan bas mere Hari hai. Kabhi milne ka awsar mila toh awashya milungi tumse par tumhari iccha sirf tumhare kehne par nahi kar sakti. Jab tak mujhe mere Hari se yeh aadesh nahi milta main yahan se nahi jaa sakti. Meri shahayta ki aawashyakta pade toh mujhe chitthi bhej dena. Main prayas karungi ki tumhari sahayta kar sakun. Meri shubkamna tumhare saath rahengi.

Alaknanda

“Her name is Alaknanda?” Bani asked. Veer nodded.

“When I received this letter, I had never been more excited, you know. It was a sign that I was right. I had just been crowned as the prince. And she came from that bloodline which was so infamous for their strength. Everyone said ki Garud ki bloodline extinct hai aur koi bhi pureblood eagle from that line isn't alive but after looking through all the records of cheels from that bloodline, I had a doubt that at least one of them should be alive. I proved to be right but I knew that I couldn't let anyone know about it because they'll go disturb her peace or worse try to kill her. Acchi khaasi shaant aur spiritual existence mein hai. Aur phir jo bhi use hurt karta ya use maarne ki koshish karta they're going to risk either Garud or Narayan's wrath. Why bring that upon someone? Isiliye bas apne paas hi yeh information rakhi. If needed I'll contact her.”

“So, you never contacted her again in a casual way?”

“I had told Sam to see if he could find her while he was around the himalayas. I hadn’t gotten a chance to speak to him about it since he came back. I didn’t tell him that I had received a letter from her after I sent her one but I told that I thought there was someone who was purely from Garud’s bloodline.”

“That means she’s a direct descendent of his. Like I directly come from Sheshnaag’s vansh.”

“Haan.”

"Toh use kuch toh pata hoga ki hum kaise Markaat ko khatam kare."

"Markaat ko khatam karna aasaan nahi hai. Use maarne ke liye woh kawach todna padega jo uski dhaal hai. Narayan kawach. Jo use bohot pehle Narayan ne diya tha."

"He said that Narayan ne Bholenath se khud request kiya ki woh Markaat ki jaan baksh de. That isn't normal. The Gods don't usually interfere with the other's decision. Narayan aur Bholenath kabhi ek durse ke decision ko question nahi karte hai. It is impossible. Both of them have immense respect and love for each other."

"Narayan ne Bholenath se Suryash ko baksh dene ki request ki."

"Suryash?"

"Markaat's birth name. They say that when he was born, he had the golden aura like the sun. You know there is this ritual when they have a baby naming ceremony where they let the baby choose out of several items and then decide his future with whatever item the baby takes first. At least cheelon mein hai. Mujhe nahi pata aaj kitne log yeh ritual follow karte hai but mere liye toh yeh ritual hua tha. Hum sabh ke liye hua tha. So, Markaat crawled up ahead and directly chose the idol of Narayan. Nothing else would capture his fancy. Toh Narayan ne khud use yeh naam diya tha. Suryash. He had grown up in the temple of Narayan almost all his life. He had watched Suryash grow up. After his mother died when he was young, Narayan had often cared for him like his own son. Suryash ke pita ne phir Narayan se yeh request ki last tak woh Markaat ki raksha kare. Narayan agree kiya but there was some condition that he had placed. After which he cannot protect Suryash any longer. I don't know what that condition is. Suryash ke pita ki request and his own affection for Suryash led Narayan to go to Bholenath. Tumhare Shiv ji sanghaar par utar aate toh bas itni dardnaak maut mil jaati ki pucho mat. Already unhe bohot gussa tha Markaat par but he couldn't put away Narayan's request. Bas...."

Bani was amazed at how prepared Veer was with his enemy. It made her wonder about Chandrakala. She was to face Chandrakala and yet to find out a lot about her.

Chapter 38

“I always wished that it could be the way you all have. Like everyone stays together as one whole clan. Unlike in Naagvansh. All the vansh have different opinions and they don’t come together.”

“Bani, when you can’t bring all of them together, you’ve got to bring their leaders to one point.”

“Like a council? Haan. But to choose the head of the council will be a task.”

“Kyu? Tum lead karo sabhko.”

“Main? Yahin se toh problem start hoti hai. It is difficult to get other vansh's naag-naagins to accept someone from one clan as their council leader. Main responsibility le sakti hun iski but I belong from Sheshnaag clan and it becomes a point ki baaki vansh ke naag-naagin kyu mujhe apne leader maane. Aisa ho jaayega ki, they'll think Bela and I are teaming to make Sheshnaag vansh the greatest one and not think of other's development. Yeh toh sirf starting hai problems ki. Hazaaron issue hai. Ek vansh ke naag-naagin dusre vansh ke traditions and all accept nahi karte easily. They're all very progressive with women being at the top and all about their empowerment but this traditional mindset and their own version of rules which the others do not accept.”

“Haan but toh Sarvasresth Adi-Naagin ho. Sabhko yeh baat toh pata hai ki Shiv ne khud tumhe tumhari shaktiyaan di hai, woh bhi apni iccha se. Saare naag naagino ko 100 varsho ke tapasya ke baad yeh vardaan milta hai ki woh icchadhari ban sake. They’ve all done their part to receive this gift. Par tumne unse yeh maanga nahi tha. He gave it to you. Unhone apni marzi se diya hai tumhe yeh vardaan. He deemed you worthy of it. Iss baat ki validity se you can take the throne as the head of the council. Naagrani toh already hai. Aur jaisa tum bol rahi ho. Waise, har vansh ki apni naagrani ya naagraj hoga. Once you get all of them under one council, to regulate them is easier. To bring them together when there’s a difficult situation is easier. No one is going to dare and question your Bholenath's decision for you to be Adi-Naagin”

“I don't know, Veer. Mujhe khud apne hi vansh ke logo ke man mein apne liye respect dekhni hai. I want them to all accept me as their Adi-Naagin out of respect rather than fear.”

"Bani, yeh koi insaani parliament nahi hai jahan tum vote maangke neta bano. Aaj kal toh human society mein bhi neta dara dhamka ke vote maangte hai. Tum kaha jee rahi ho? Abhi bhi dimaag satyug mein chodke aayi ho kya? Here things are different, baby. We all have a part that is animal. We're not entirely human ki pyaar, respect aur uss sabh se baat maan le. Not everyone will accept you out of respect. Even if they respect you, it doesn't gurantee that they'll follow you. You can't train a wild animal with love and respect. Na, baby, na. They're only reigned by fear. Advice lo uss person se jo already uss point pe hai," Veer pointed to himself, "Agar yeh pyaar respect aur kori bakwaas se main apne pariwaar ko control karun toh ghanta yeh log kaam karenge. I can't expect Sam and Tapish bhai to do it with just saying but dad... na, dad ko main yeh pyaar and stuff se nahi apne control mein laa sakta hun. Unhe bhi dara ke samjhana padta hai ki he's crossing a line with me and he's forgetting I'm not just his son but also the king."

"Mujhe pata hai, Veer, par kya yeh zaroori hai ki sabko dara ke rakhu. It only makes way for dicatorship. There wouldn't be anyone who'll give you honest advice when you're actually going wrong. I don't want that. Agar main kabhi honestly galat hun toh koi toh ho jo mujhe yeh batane ki himmat rakhe ki I'm doing wrong. I know our animal counterparts are reigned by fear but we also have human counterpart right? What about that? I want them to trust me and I want to be able to trust them."

"Okay... You have a certain kind of idea in your mind. Your decision. Main bas yahi kehna chahta hun ki don't let yourself think you can't do something. You can. Tum Adi-Naagin ho."

"Hmm... Yeh toh lag hi raha hai. Abh toh tumhare dad bhi mera saath de rahe hai."

Veer took a deep breathe and held her by her arms.

“Bani, ek baat hai. Don’t be fooled by dad trying to help you and being very cooperative with you. Yeh baat abhi hai ki Markaat kisi bhi waqt dad ko apne side kar sakte hai. Dad abhi tak uske khilaf hai kyuki he thinks that Markaat wants to kill me. Markaat ne dad se yeh kaha ki woh mujhe marna nahi chahte but is willing to put me on the same level as himself, dad maan jaayege. Main dad ko nahi marne wala even if sides with Markaat. Yeh baat toh hogi ki main unse phir kabhi bhi honestly yakeen nahi kar paaunga ya unhe apna nahi maan sakta but I can't kill him either. Naagon ka sabse bada khazaana naagmani hai. The moment Markaat utters Naagmani, dad will side with him. Main unhe rok toh sakta hun but I can’t change his mind. I don’t give two shits about your naagmani but its not the same with everyone. Markaat agar khula hai toh naagmani bohot safe nahi hai.”

“Markaat naaglok mein nahi aa sakta. Garud bhi khud naaglok mein nahi aa sakte aur Naagmani toh naaglok mein hai.”

“Chandrakala Naagin bhi hai. Uski entry ban hai kya naaglok mein?”

Veer raised and eyebrow. The moment he said that Bani hit a realization. He put an arm on her shoulder.

“Ek toh abh mujhe lag raha hai I should send out a warning. Chandrakala agar naaglok jaa sakti hai then I don’t know how to deal with that situation. Par abhi Markaat ne kya socha hoga? Agar uske paas tumhari body nahi hai toh aisa kon hai jismein woh reh sakta hai and suraj se bhi bacha rahe?”

“Suparn. Suparn ko suraj nahi jalata. As such toh its rareto find a surparn around these days. If I’m not wrong, by now Markaat nealready kisi suparn ki body occupy kar liya hoga.”

“But agar Suparn ki body occupy kar sakta tha then why take yours?”

“Cheel, Giddh aur Baaz kisi suparn ko apna raja accept nahi karenge. It had to be one of them. Suparn are not from Garud or Arun’s vansh.They’re like sphynix. A separate species of their own. Garud and Arun were the first suparns. But they weren’t the only one of their kind. Consider it something like dragons from Game of Thrones. Rare and almost extinct. Mushkil se kuch bache honge. Our clan won’t accept Suparns as their king. If Markaat had my body, he could make all the cheels hail him as their god.”

“Matlab, tum bol rahe ho ki Markaat ne ek suparn ki body leli. Aur that has made him even more dangerous. Paani uski kamzori nahi hai. Toh how the hell are we supposed to fight them?”

“Gharwali, zeher abhi unhe maar sakta hai.” Veer pointed to her.

"Ohh.... But ek baat toh abhi hai. Naagmani ka Markaat kya karega. Naagmani will only bring back someone almost dying but it can't make them immortal. Itna risk kyu le ki Chandrakala ko Naagmani churane bheje. To plan it out is a large task."

"Actually, itna bhi nahi hai. Markaat will just entice Chandrakala to think of what all Naagmani can do for her. Naagmani of course uske Naagin side ko aur bhi takatwar bana degi. Naagmani will bring naag-naagin under their control. He'll get Chandrakala to steal Naagmani and then take it away from her. Chandrakala se Naagmani lena konsa mushkil kaam hoga Markaat ke liye. He's already demanded Naagmani once from Naagraj Vasuki. Why wouldn't he want it again?"

“Aur main yeh kyu maan lun ki tumhe kabhi naagmani ka greed nahi hoga?” Bani gave him a teasing look. Veer grinned at her and held her hands.

“Arrey yaar, mere paas mera personal custom made naagmani hai. Jo chalta phirta hai. Jis par se mera dil hi nahi uthta. Uski chahat toh hai mujhe. Agar isli naagmani se mujhe yeh naagmani mil sakti hai, toh sure. I'll try to get it too. But agar usse nahi milegi phir its just a shiny stone for me. Not much important.”

Veer pushed her against the cupboard. Bani suddenly became a little too aware that he was shirtless and how close they were to each other. He folded his wings a bit. His hands on her waist. Bani could feel the heat offhim. His scent had begun to fill her olfactory senses. He pushed himself closer to her. She heard his heartbeat going faster. His eyes focused on her own. He moved closer. His legs blocking her wayso she couldn’t escape. His arms holding her. Bani’s mind flooded with the all the senses sending signals of Veer’s closeness to her, messing out all the thoughts and blocking them. Her eyes couldn’t leave the sight of him. His scent already blocking any other smells. Her skin could already feel the warmth of his skin through her kurti. She could almost taste the lusty haze between them. The sound of his kicking heartbeat. As if it was reflex, her hands reached his shoulder.

As if a waves crashing over her, her skin flashed her scales. A sign of everything everything Veer made her feel. The only time when naagins cannot control their scales flashing is during their anger, the sound of the been and with their mate. Veer was confused as to why she was flashing her scales, was it because he was cheel and she was a naagin and the closenesswas causing the scales. He had no idea on how a naagin would react to her mate because that side he had never known. He knew naagins flashed their scales when they felt danger. Like how a cobra stretched its hood, making itself larger.The moment, Bani’s face exhibited that blushing redness, he grinned. He realized that perhaps it was the reaction to his actions. Veer noted her erratic breathing. She was breathing heavy.

Veer put his hands on her shoulders and slowly traced them down her arms, interlacing his fingers in between hers. The scales flashed inthe same path that his hands traced, making it clear to him that it was a reaction to his touch. He rested his forehead against hers, he sighed as he inhaled her scent. Her scent was one of his favourite scents. She smelled exactly as he remembered Nageshwari. The earthy scent with a rosy perfume. He would die a hundred times over to just have this one moment with her. He closed his eyes sighing, a proof of how long he had wanted to kiss her. From the first moment he had seen her. That dance at Jay’s restaurant was the first time he had properly smelled her scent. It was so familiar and enchanting to him, it was like pushing him to a part where he had never felt before. He almost lost himself in that feeling that it made him feel. Feeling her raging heartbeat against his chest.

“Kya k.. kar rahe h…ho?” Bani stuttered. He just lingered there not even kissing it, it was messing with her mind.

“Tume feel kar raha hun.” He answered in a breathy tone. Bani wrapped her arms around his neck, letting herself be a little closer to him. He had no way to explain what it made him feel. His heartbeat went so erratic at the small action of her. His fingertips traced her spine slowly, with his other arm, he pulled her against him roughly. He stared into her eyes, really closed her that she could almost taste the tension in the air. Bani felt slightly agitated at how he was playing with her. Not kissing but not even moving back, the anticipation of a lingering kiss. She’s always been the impatient one between them. Bani tried to move ahead and try to kiss him but he moved back a bit. Just enough to let her feel that he wasn’t kissing her right now but making her feel that it was coming. Bani hissed softly. It wasn’t an aggressive kind but a reaction of her irritation. Veer chuckled at her agitation.

“Jaao.” She got angry and pushed him away. She tried to leave but Veer chuckled and caught her wrist. “Abh kya hai??”

He pulled her back and she crashed against him. Her back against his chest. The backless kurti left her skin touching his chest. She felt the warmth of his chest against her back. He was warm. A natural weakness to her. His arms around her waist, locking her against him. She would anytime fall weak to how warm he was. She could feel his heartbeat against her skin. Her snake side made her skin sensitive to vibrations.

“Tumhara gussa na ekdum gubbare ki tarah phool jaata hai.” He whispered against her ear in a husky tone. His beard against her skin. She couldn’t contain the sigh that escaped at that.

“Veer, please… Tang mat karo na….”

“Main tumhe pareshaan nahi karun toh mera dil nahi manta, sweetheart.” He whispered in a teasing tone. Veer noted that she called him Veer but decided not to dwell on it. He let his beard tease her neck, softly sighing against her skin. A wave of scales flashed. Bani flushed a shade darker on her cheeks. He started kissing her neck. She had never felt so hazy. She almost sighed in pleasure. She held his wrists. She arched neck, giving him a little more access to her neck. Breathing heavy as he rained soft kisses at neck. As he reached the nape of his neck, she fell back against him, almost weak in the knees. It was driving her crazy.

Can’t he stop playing with her? He kissed her for one moment and then he’d stop randomly. It irritated her, picking on her impatient half. Bani turned around and grabbed his throat. Her eyes flashed the red eyes. He chuckled.“Ek baat toh clear kar do, Veeranshu Singhania. Karna kya chahte ho?” She hissed at him. He grinned. It made her even more irritated that he had the audacity to grin her at while toying away with her. He grabbed her by her waist and roughly pulled her against him. The soft feature of her feminine form brushing against him.

“Woh kya hai, sweetheart, ki maine isse zyaada intezaar kiya hai tumhare itne kareeb aane ka. Tum toh bas itni si der mein gussa ho gayi. Merasocho. 10,032 years.”

“32? Woh kaise?”

“Haan. Toh chote baccho ko aise kiss karne ki chahat nahihoti. They’re quite innocent. 12 saal tak toh saare ladke seedhe hi hote hai….”

She gave an irritated sound. He was irritating her now. He laughed at her. He was enjoying how much she was getting annoyed. He took her hand away from his throat and pushed it behind her back. He pushed her against the cupboard and leaned closer to her. This time, he kissed her. Bani put arms around his neck and pulled him closer. The kiss wasn’t wild but passionate. The one he had waited so long for. That first kiss. It wasn't his first kiss but it was their first kiss. Almost holy to him. She was his greatest desire. His greatest and the only love. Nothing could compare to her. She's his sun, his moon and his sky. His one hand held face and other hand around on her waist. Bani was breathing heavy. He started kissed down on her shoulder. She had never felt a kiss drive her so crazy. Every single rational thought was out of her mind already. She was supposed to be careful after his injured wings but she just couldn’t concentrate with all the pleasure flooding her. He was so warm, his kiss was passionate andhe looked at a little too attractive to concentrate properly. She should have been better but he distracted her well enough. She wanted him. She just didn't want him to stop.

“Veer…” She sighed, her breathing going heavy. She had no idea when she had been breathing normally. She pulled him up and kissed his lips as she pulled him closer to her. Pressing his chest against hers. They pulled away to breathe. They were about to pull in for another kiss when the door was knocked on. Veer almost cursed. He opened the door and saw Ponky.

“Veer bhai…. Aap uth gaye…” Ponky exclaimed excitedly.

“Haan. Aur thoda sa busy tha but aapki meherbani abhi free ho gaya.” Veer taunted.

“Main tray neeche rakh ke aati hun.” Bani said to excuse herself.

“Sweetheart…” Veer tried to stop her but she walked away. Veer sighed. Ponky instantly moved away from Bani’s path.

“Itna hi darr lag raha hai Bani se toh yeh aadi raat ko yahan tak kyu chale aaye?” Veer asked him.

“Woh… main kuch khane ke liye utha toh Ramesh kaka ne bataya kia ap uth gaye hai. Toh bas excitement mein chala aaya. Bhabhi gussa hai kya?”

“Of course. Abhi das leti. Isiliye toh neeche chali gayi taaki tu zinda rahe.”

“Veer bhai… kyu dara rahe ho? Bhabhi se kehna ki I didn’t mean to disturb her. Jaisi hi Bhabhi aa jaaye, aap continue kar lena…”

“Abh kya… Mood ki laga di already tumne. Beeche mein disturbkar chuka hai.”

“Sorry, Veer bhai….” Ponky bit his tongue. Then he grinned. “Waise congratulations. Finally aapki aur Bhabhi ki suhagraat puri hone wali hai…” He teased Veer. Veer laughed.

“Oh, hello. Itne lambe sapne main bhi nahi dekha, chote bhai. Take it slow. Jaldi kise hai. Bani yahan hai mere saath. Main yahan hun Bani ke saath.”

“Kyu? I mean, aapko dekh ke saari ladkiyan flat ho jaati hai.”

“Tabhi tujhe koi ladki nahi milti. Attraction ek cheez hoti hai but pyaar alag hota hai. Sweetheart ko abhi abhi pyaar ho raha hai. Let her enjoy it before we throw up stuff on her. Although Bani pyaar karti hai, she’s yet to completely admit it.”

Ponky was confused. What was his brother even planning?

“Mujhe aap samajh hi nahi aa rahe, Veer bhai. Jabse aap Bhabhi se mile, aapne unhe itna chaha hai. Itna wait toh aapne kiya hai. Abh itni dur aake aur kyu wait kar rahe ho?”

“Kyuki main Bani se bohot pyaar karta hun. Itne waqt tak nafrat karne ke baad, abhi she’s dwelling on the thought of love. Although Bani ko pyaar hai, ek part mein abhi doubt hai ki hum dono ek saath exactly kyu hai. I want her to clear her doubts. Dil mein koi shaq rakh ke agar yeh relationship ko aage badhaye toh it is not going to stand well. Iss pure control fiasco se yahi seekha hai. Its quite dangerous to push someone into something they need some time with. Ek baar jaldi karne ki galti ki aur yeh saara kaand ho gaya. Abh wahi galti phir se nahi karni.”

Ponky looked at Veer.

“Mujhe lagta tha ki pyaar mein sabh puppy ban jaate hai but aap toh abhi apna dimaag laga rahe ho…”

“Yeh sabh chod. Tu mere liye ek kaam kar. Yeh pata kar ki abhi recently mein kitne suparn mare hai. Mujhe un sabhki puri detail chahiye.”

“Suparn? Thoda difficult hai, bhai. Mere contacts suparn mein nahi hai.”

“Ponky, main mazak ke mood mein nahi hun. I want to know who the hell died in the last 14 hours. Specifically among suparns.” Veer made it clear that it wasn’t a request from a brother but an order as the cheel Rajkumar. Ponky nodded his head. “Good. Jitni jaldi mile utna accha hai. Neeche Shukla kahaal kisi ne check kiya?”

“Nahi. Sabh busy ho gaye the. Last toh Ramesh kaka gaye the unhe khana dene.”

Veer jogged down the stairs. Bani saw him going down the basement and quickly joined him.

“Kya hua?” Bani asked. In the same room that Balwant had imprisoned Chandrakala earlier, they had kept Shukla.

“Check karne jaa raha hun ki abhi woh takla waha hai yaa nahi.” Veer answered as he walked down the stairs to the basement. He opened the lock to the room. Shukla was there. He was sleeping. Veer had made sure to set a network jammer in the room which was on all the time.

“Yahin hai…” Bani pointed out.

“Yeh batao, ki tum yaha kaise aayi? Like jab Chandrakala ko yahan mili toh andar kaise aayi?”

“Wahan. Pipeline se. Monil ke room ke bathroom se aata hai.”

Veer went and checked the hole. Bani noted he was thinking of something.

“Do you think any of the naag-naagin can break through the brick block?”

“Depends on the strength of their naag form.”

“So, guesses that it needs to be stronger than regular bricks.”

“You think someone will try to free Shukla? Why take such pains? Who will bother? I mean Chandrakala or Markaat don’t care much for Shukla or require him much.”

“Tumhara naag abhi khul ghum raha hai. Tumhe yakeen karna hai us par, all well and fine. Do as you please but main raddi bhar yakeen nahi karta uss par.”

“Jay? Jay ko Shukla se kya kaam hoga?”

“Sweetheart, Shakura ke pehle episode mein main gayab tha ismein aapke Naag ki meherbani thi. Shukla khud apne aap mein itna bada risk nahi lega Shakura ke saath deal karne mein. Shakura Markaat ka left hand man hai. Mujhe Jay ne pinjare mein band kiya aur woh Shakura yahan aa gaya.”

“Shakura ke saath Shukla toh involved tha hi Mayuri ke saath.”

“Jitna maine pata lagaya hai Shakura ke baare mein, use chain kiya gaya tha pahadi pe. He was involved with Markaat in the attack toh use naaglok ke jaadu se kaid kiya tha wahan. Aur naagon ka jaadu todne ka tareeka saare cheel, baaz aur giddhon mein se sirf mujhe pata hai jo cheelon ke Rajkumar ko pass down kiya jaata hai. Toh bacha kon jisne use toda hoga? Mr Chepu Do-takke Dhabewala.”

“But abhi tak yeh baat samajh nahi aayi ki usne tumhe kyu kaid kiya? I mean main uss time bohot zyaada toh tumhare saath nahi thi. I mean we lived together but we weren’t a team back then.”

“Sweetheart, abh mujhe itna offend mat karo…”

“Kya?”

“Tum literally meri jaan ho, gharwali. Woh do takke ka dhabewala kabhi tumhe chu bhi nahi sakta mere hote hue. Yeh baat use bhi pata hai.”

Veer got a bit offended that Bani didn’t understand that. Bani felt a bit bad and bit her tongue.

She wrapped her arms around him and put her chin on his shoulder.

“Acha, sorry…”

“I don’t want your sorry…” He pushed her away. “Tum jaao. Itna sab karne ke baad bhi tum yeh nahi samjhi ki main humesha tumhari dhaal banke khada hun.”

He walked out and clicked his fingers, signalling her to come out. She did so. He locked the room and started walking back up. Bani followed him.

“Suno toh, Veeranshu…” Bani jogged up ahead and blocked his way. She gave a soft push but Veer almost stumbled behind him. “Veeranshu…” Bani caught him before he could fall down. “Yeh kya tha? I’m so sorry. Aise…”

The way worry fell on her face, Veer sighed.

“Kuch nahi, Bani, bas abhi bhi thoda sa kamzor hun toh bas tumhari Naagin shakti ke wajah se dhakka lag gaya.” Veer assured her.

“Veeranshu, mujhe sach mein dar lag raha hai. Pehle toh tum yeh batao ki abh is kamzori ko theek kaise karoge?”

Veer continued walking ahead towards Monil’s room.

“Sun bhi rahe ho, tum?” Bani asked, her hands on her hips.

“First things first, sweetheart.”

He opened the bathroom and looked at the sink.

“Waise agar dono side se block kar de toh chance hi nahi hai yeh rasta use hone ka.” Bani suggested.

“Ek idea hai…” Veer got excited. He went to the basement again. In the other side of the basement, he found a jarred wire. Veer twisted it properly to make it like a porcupine ball. He took shoe glue and fixed it at the both sides of the pipeline. Bani looked at him.

“Why the hell do you have jarred wire at home?” Bani asked completely dumbfounded at that. Veer just grinned.

“Bachpan mein jab I used to get out of control rebellious toh dad ek pinjara le aaye the. Like a large one. It could fit me even now. He’d surround it with jarred wire so I won't be able to break out of it. I still was a little too ziddi so, I’d try to melt it. He had to keep buying new wires for that purpose.”

Bani blinked several times to get that into her head.

“Ghar tha ya jail? Yeh konsa tareeka hai baccho ko sambhalne ka?”

“Tapish bhai used to say the same thing but dad’s a control freak if you haven’t noticed.”

“Jiski dhajjiya udane mein tum zara bhi time nahi lagate…”

Veer laughed.

“Naagin sweetheart, I was born a rebel. I don’t play by people’s rules. I play with my own rules. Kings don’t follow rules, they make their own rules.”

Bani rolled her eyes but chuckled. It was so typical of Veeranshu Singhania.

“But isn’t this jarred wire a little too much?”

“My rebellious pre-teenage phase was a little too rebellious. I was more rebellious during that time than now. Abhi thoda kam hua hai. Yeh pinjare wala tareeka dad ne kiya after the attack that left these scars. Main toh darne walon mein se tha nahi but dad bohot darte the. He couldn’t leave the house with an assurance that I’d stay put inside the house. So, his control freak nature would kick up and that would challenge me further to be rebellious.”

“Matlab bachpan se hi badtameez the tum…”

Veer shrugged his shoulders.

“Somewhere dad had always fuelled this habit of mine. He’d go around saying all the time ‘Yeh hai mera sher beta, Veer Singhania. Sabse best’ and all that. Abh kisi bacche ko utna praise doge toh aadat lag hi jaayegi. Bachpan se hi main dad ka hero tha. Jo bhi main karun he’d praise me. Chahe school mein ladai ho ya phir kuch aur. After a while, it came and bit back at him kyuki iss badtameezi ko unhone hi badhawa diya hai toh un par bhi aa hi jaata hai.”

Mind-blowing the way they talked about their clans and veer explained Bani. It was so good.

And the kiss wow. ❤️❤️

The way u portrayed emotions it's awesome. Loved it

Finally the first kiss...😘😘😘 omg its so amazing update yr Great and amazing story i can't explain in words though

This is amazing..so detailed..I could see the scenes play out in front of my eyes..

And the romance❤🔥 .no words..this is what I wanted to see in the show ..the passion intensity everything is PERFECT.

Take a bow👏👏👏👏.

And pls update the next parts sooner..looking forward to them especially vani romance 😍.