Vani FF// The Phoenix (Thread 2 Link in Pg 1) - Page 29

Chapter 59

Bani just watched everyone she had called family engulfed into flames. Veer. Sam. Vanshika. Aishwarya. Amar. Mayank. In a moment, everything that she had was gone. She fell down at the shock of it. Kushal held her.

“Dadu… w..woh….” Bani didn’t know what to say. Everything was up in flames. Kushal held her close to him as tears fell down his eyes. Bani just couldn’t accept that all of them were gone in the flames.

Right as she was watching, all of it was taken up into flames. It was bad as a forest fire. Aditi had already collapsed. Shreya was still in shock. All of her children were gone. She had already lost a son before. Now, her other son and daughter were gone. Tears fell down her face. All she had was intense pain.

Yet, none of them compared to what Bani had felt. The love of her life was gone. The one she had come to love as her own brother was gone. Her sister was gone. Her aunt was gone. Her uncle was gone.

“Dadu…” Kushal just held Bani. She almost tried to get herself free and ran ahead into the fire.

“Nahi, baccha, nahi….” Kushal stopped.

“Dadu, mera toh sabh kuch jal chuka hai. Abh main bhi jal jaau toh kya fark padega?” Bani shouted. Bela didn’t even know what to say. The naagmani could bet taken back once the flames were doused because even that intense heat wouldn’t do anything to naagmani. Yet, here the loss was too much.

“Bani…” Bani turned around to see Tapish, Balwant, Pawan and Ponky.

“Tapish bhai… w…woh Veer….” Bani just broke into tears. Tapish walked to her.

“Jaanta hun, Bani.” He hugged her. Bani broke into tears as he hugged her. He caressed her hair.

“Tapish bhai, please. Mujhe bhi jaane dijiye…” Bani cried.

“Nahi, Bani, nahi… Veer kabhi nahi chahega ki tum aisa kuch karo.” Tapish stopped.

“Veer hi nahi hai toh uski baton ka koi matlab nahi hai.” She complained.

“Chalo…” Tapish started taking her back. Bani kept trying to struggle and get to Veer but Tapish held her tight. All the way back, she just kept crying. All the Singhanias were sad. There was pain and breaking on the inside but the cheel inside them was more accepting to death. The truth of the life that one who has been born has to die someday. That truth is taught to them everyday in the burning grounds. But to Bani? No. That wasn’t how she grew up. Balwant turned around to see her.

He had seen her in such rage that it would shake the grounds itself. He had seen her covered in blood. He had seen her show her power and dominance. He had seen her courage and temper. This Bani wasn’t someone he thought he’d see. She was crying, broken down. That image of flames taking over the place at once wouldn’t wipe out of her eyes.

“Bas, Bani. Stop crying.” Balwant told her.

There were tears earlier as well. When she thought she was losing Veer, she was crying but it wasn’t the same. She still had grace while crying. Now, she had broken down completely. Tapish didn’t say anything but just let Bani cry on his shoulder. She just couldn’t gather herself together. She couldn’t stand as the proud Adi-Naagin. In a flash, all of her pride was wiped away. All the way back to Cheel Mansion, Bani had been crying. She passed out with crying.

Tapish picked her up. Meera had already showed up at the Mansion when Tapish called her. Tapish put Bani in her room.

“Tapish?”

“Meera, Bani ke kapde change kar dogi. Wahan cupboard mein hai.”

Meera nodded. Tapish went out and let Meera change Bani’s clothes.

Balwant, Tapish, Daksh, Ponky and Pawan sat by the dining table. The usually chattering morning was utterly silent now. Both the people who caused most of the noise in the house were gone. The pain and loss were definitely there in their hearts but they knew that it was a truth they had to accept.

“Veeranshu…” Bani came down running. She seemed shaken. Bare feet as she had got off the bed, Bani tried to run off ahead. Tapish was quick to action and stopped Bani. “Tapish bhai, please mujhe jaane dijiye. Nahi… please…” Bani tried to go.

“Bani, bas… kuch nahi hoga. Veer mar chuka hai. Hum mein se koi kuch nahi kar sakta.” Tapish tried to tell her. Bani fell silent at that. Tapish made her sit at the dining table.

“Kuch kha lijiye.” Ramesh kaka put her favourite breakfast before. Ramesh kaka was aware of how the men in Singhania Family worked. They were very different and he had gotten accustomed to how they were. To him, they didn’t give off a human aura. Their behaviour wasn’t majorly human like. Their different understanding and different lifestyle kept giving him a reminder that they weren’t completely human. They only had half human side. He would get a sharp reminder of how he was human. In the years, he had grown to accept him and he had started to be like them as well. Then Bani came into the family and she reminded him that it wasn’t that bad to be human. Then he came across the truth that she wasn’t completely human herself but Ramesh kaka could see her as a human more than the cheels.

“Kha le, Bani.” Meera sat next to Bani. Bani started to eat.

“Good morning, sweetheart.” Veer crashed into the chair next to him. He was in his tracks, west and hoodie jacket. His juice in his bottle.

“Good morning.” She said, with a dissatisfied look on her face. “Aaj ki morning definitely sirf tumhare liye accha hai. Aaj ka breakfast is boring.”

Veer chuckled. “Gharwali, tumhe pata hai na ki tum chaho toh har din apna favourite breakfast banwa sakti ho. Ramesh kaka bana denge.”

“Haan I know but you should have some special days to look up to. Aloo puri mujhe subeh subeh uthne ki wajah deta hai. Kharab breakfast ho toh utne ka man nahi karta. This makes me want to go back to bed.”

“How about I make it interesting?”

“Possibly can’t make it interesting.”

Veer fed her the breakfast with his hands. The way he looked at her would always get Bani to lose the train of her thoughts. She ate from his hands and suddenly the boring breakfast did seem better.

She had just managed to eat a bite and the spoon fell from her hand. She broke into tears. “Bani…” Meera held Bani and rubbed her arm. Bani held on to Meera and cried. She just couldn’t eat.

“Bhabhi, crying isn’t going to bring back Veer bhai. Please stop crying.” Daksh told her.

“Daksh…” Meera tried to get him to shut up.

“Kya? I’m not saying anything wrong. It is the truth. There is no way to bring back someone who is dead.”

“Daksh, sabh gusse mein apna dard nahi express karte. Kuch log roke express karte hai.” Tapish told Daksh. “Agar rone se dard kam hota hai toh rone do.”

“Seriously, Tapish bhai? Rone se dard kam ho jaayega? She’s lost her husband. Hardly dard kam hone waala tha. Honestly kahun toh shayad kabhi nahi hoga. So, rone ka matlab kya hai? Its only cause dehydration.” Daksh commented, slightly angry.

“Daksh, sabh teri tarah ho yeh zaroori nahi hai. Sabhko apni tarah se express karne ka haq hai.” Pawan told him.

“Adi-Naagin…” They turned around to see who the hell was suddenly disturbing them at this hour. At the door was a man. An aghori.

“Kon hai?” Balwant asked irritated.

“Main yahan sirf Adi-Naagin se baat karne aaya tha.”

“Kya chahte ho? Please abhi mujhe akela chod do.”

“Akela chod dun? Tum dard mein ho. Isiliye aaya tha.”

“Mera pati aur mera pariwaar mujhe dur ho gaya hai. Kya expect kar rahe the? Main party karun?”

Her pain was making her rude. Bani took a deep breath to calm down herself.

“Samajh sakta hun.”

“Nahi samajh sakte.”

“Marna zindagi ka sach hai.”

“Mere pati ko wapas laa sakte ho toh phir shayad mera dard kam ho jaayega.”

“Veeranshu ko wapas nahi laa sakta par uska ansh tumhe de sakta hun. Shayad uss bacche se hi tumhara dard kam ho jaaye.”

Bani looked up at the Aghori

“Main tumhe Virgin Mary banne mein interested lag rahi hun kya? Mujhe mera pati aur mera pariwar chahiye, baccha nahi. Mera pati mujhse dur ho gaya hai. Us hole ko koi baccha pura nahi kar sakta.”

Bani was irritated at the stupid suggestion. She wanted her husband. She wanted him back. Why the hell was he offering her a baby? She didn’t want a stupid baby. She wanted her husband. She wanted her Veeranshu. The love of her life. Her Aakesh. Her Veer.

Bani took a deep breath.

“Aghori baba, I’m really sorry. Par please mujhe akela chod dijiye. Mujhe koi baccha nahi chahiye. Mujhe mera pati chahiye jo mujhe koi nahi de sakta.”

Bani got up and left. She went to her room and closed the door behind her. She saw Veer’s jacket lying there. She took the jacket and hugged. She broke into tears with that. It even smelled like him.

“Mujhe chodke kaise chale gaye, Veer?” She cried. Every moment with him started to flash into her mind.

The way he always loved her. The way he teased her, troubled her. Their dancing.

“Pure time toh pyaar pyaar ke gun gaate rahe. Abh mujhe pyaar hua toh chale gaye.” She complained angrily. Her skin was still burning with her changing her snake skin but it was nothing compared to how much it was burning inside.

“Bani…” Tapish walked inside. He sat down on the floor next to her.

“Tapish bhai, itna bhi kya gussa ki chod ke hi chala gaya mujhe.” Bani complained. Tapish just held her.

“Tujhe kabhi gussa nahi ho sakta hai Veer. Jitna khud se pyaar karta tha usse zyaada tumse pyaar karta hai. Gussa nahi hai, Bani.”

“Usne mujhse kaha tha, Tapish bhai, ki humesha mere saath hi rahega. Phir aise chodke kaise chala gaya? Pyaar karta hai toh kyu mujhe aise rula raha hai.”

“Veer tujhe kabhi hurt nahi karna chahta, Bani. Agar uski kismet mein marna hi likha tha toh koi kya karta?”

“Yeh toh galat hai, Tapish bhai. Abhi abhi toh dheere dheere theek ho raha tha. Mujhe mera Veeranshu wapas mil raha tha aur use mujhse cheen liya. Bas abhi abhi toh pyaar ho raha tha. Aise kyu mujhse meri zindagi cheen li? Meri jaan hai woh.” Bani cried. She shook. “Aisa lagta hai ki shayad saans bhi lena mushkil hai. Har saans mein bas uski yaad aati thi. Meri aankhon ke saamne hi aag mein jal gaya.”

Tapish put her head on his shoulder. He couldn’t tell Bani not to cry. She had lost everything the meant so much to her.

“Aisa lagta hai ki sabh meri galti hai. Mujhe shayad use le jana hi nahi chahiye tha.” She cried.

“Nahi, Bani. Tumhari koi galti nahi hai. Tumhe kaise pata hota ki kya hoga? Veer humesha kehta tha ki tum aur Veer ek team. Toh saathi ko akele mushkil thodi na sehne dete hai.”

“Pagal wahi tha. Mandir mein marne ki baat kar raha tha. Tabhi yeh sabh hua hai. Kisne kaha tha use aisi cheezein kehne ki?”

Tapish looked at her. She was trying to find reasons as to why he had died. She just couldn’t explain to herself why he was killed like that. He rubbed her hair. Balwant knocked at the door. Bani looked up. Tapish stood up.

“Main aata hun.” Tapish went out. Balwant put the tray with food before her.

“Kuch kha lo, Bani. Subeh se shaam ho gayi hai. Kuch khaya hi nahi hai abhi tak tumne.” Balwant told her.

“Bhuk nahi hai.” Bani answered. It didn’t seem like the same Bani that Balwant knew. The Bani he knew was a lit fire match. Could be used to light up an lamp but can also cause an explosion. Her hair was a mess. She was a mess. He sat down next to her. He put the tray in his lap and fed her some food.

“Kha lo. Kabhi kabhi bhuk na ho phir bhi kha lena chahiye.”

“Kisi bhi cheez ka mann nahi hai.”

He made Bani eat some food. After a bit of insistence, Bani ate something and drink some water. Ramesh kaka took away the tray.

If there was anyone who could understand what Bani was going through, it was Balwant. The heartbreak she was feeling was familiar to him. He had seen the blood stained walls of the house. Blood pooled around Ishana. It was impossible to tell difference in the blood that came from her and the blood from the other dead bodies. Stab marks were way too many to be healed. Her yellow coloured kurti was covered in blood. She was long dead when he reached there. He saw the dead body lying there. She was sixteen weeks pregnant by then. Ishana insisted that the baby was a girl and kept telling Veer, Teer and Tapish that they were going to have a baby sister.

He wiped away Bani’s tears and brushed her hair.

“Dard itni jaldi nahi jaayega, Bani, yeh toh sach hai but people have to live on. We can’t break ourselves. People take birth every day and die every day. Today it was Veer, tomorrow it could someone else.”

“Shayad galti meri hai. Mujhe Veer ko apne saath nahi le jana chahiye tha. Tabh shayad Sam bhi nahi aata. Dono nahi marte.”

“Bani, agar marna hota toh tum jo bhi kar lo maut aa hi jaati. Mujhe bhi lagta tha ki agar main sabh kuch sambhal lun toh Ishana ki maut nahi hogi. Par usmein hi aur khatra ho gaya. Pehle bhi attacks hue the. Isi dar se use farmhouse mein rehne ko kaha. Us mein hi galti hui. Bas kuch der ke liye bahar gaya aur aake dekha ki Ishana is dead. Veer, teer, Tapish aur Daksh jungle mein chupe hue the. Chote se ghar mein kahan chupte? Isiliye Tapish unhe bahar jungle leke chala gaya. Abh mujhe batao, main kya kahun khud ko?”

Bani looked at him.

“Sabh kuch theek tha. Phir ek hi pal mein sabh kuch toot gaya.” She cried. “Kuch bhi accha nahi lagta hai abh toh.”

“Veer ki zindagi aisi hi hai, Bani. Ek pal kuch aur dusre pal hi unexpected. He’s always been rash.”

“Agar jaan leni thi toh meri le lete. Use kyu maara?”

“Har kisi ko zindagi mein sabh kuch nahi milta, Bani. Veer beta tha mera. Humesha se hi sabse zyaada pyaar usse kiya hai. Jitna shayad Tapish se bhi nahi tha utna pyaar tha Veer se. Puri zindagi use apni pakad mein rakhne ki koshish ki hai par humesha hi Veer apni manmarzi karta raha. Use koi kaabu nahi kar sakta hai. Har hadd se aage raha hai Veer. Na toh koi bandhish use rokti thi aur na ho koi darr use pareshaan karti thi. Par koi bhi zindagi aur maut ke hadd se aage nahi hota, Bani.”

Balwant brought a photo album. He started to show her the album.

“Yeh… Veer. Use pehli baar jab apne haathon mein pakda tha, bas tabse use sabhse zyaada pyaar kiya hai. Itna chota sa tha.” Balwant showed her a baby photo of Veer. He then showed her another photo. Veer was an year old. “Bachpan se hi tezz raha hai. Baby gates lagate toh use bhi kholna seekh liya tha.” Balwant laughed.

He showed a three year old Veer. Even as a baby, she could easily notice the familiarity. Bani chuckled. The way he stood unimpressed by forced outfit he was made to wear. School uniform. “Ishana bohot hi zyaada khush thi. Uske school ka pehla din. Veer ko kabhi pasand hi nahi aaya school. Kehta tha ki ‘Dad, school bohot boring hai. Saare bacche bas zor zor se awaaz karte rehte hai aur bas rote rehte hai.’ Sabse zyaada use irritate karta tha school uniform.”

So typical of Veer. He refused to let other dictate what he wants. Further ahead was a four year old Veer on a cycle.

“Cycle ki chain loose kardi kyuki use lagta tha ki cycle bohot slow jaa rahi hai.”

There were several other photos of him. She then saw a 6 year old Veer. Stitches on his head but he was still grinning like he won a medal or something. His cast had all kinds of stickers and doodles.

“Pehli baar jab woh uda tha. Bas thode se feet hawa mein uda aur phir neeche gira. Taanke lage aur haath toota par phir bhi. Uss pehle udne ki Khushi itni thi ki chahe hum jitni baar kahe usse ki ‘Veer, abhi mat udd. Abhi abhi haath toota hai.’ Nahi. Use to hudna hota tha. Ek baar udne ka chaska laga phir kabhi utra hi nahi.”

Bani saw the smile on Balwant’s face as he saw the photographs.

“Use kuch nahi rok sakta tha. Jitna bhi use kaho ki gaadi dheere chala, nahi sunta. Kabhi kisi aur ki sunne ki aadat nahi hai uski. Jo use karna hota hai wahi karta hai.”

Chapter 60

96 hours. The place had burned for 96 hrs. Chandrakala was burnt to ashes. The bubble that was cast over Sam, Vanshika, Amar, Aishwarya and Mayank broke finally. It was as if the air cast a bubble over them keeping the flames off them.

Once Bela heard that fire was put out, she came looking for Naagmani. Heaps and heaps of ashes. The ashes came right till Bela’s torso. Like it was swimming pool of ashes. To find Naagmani through the ashes was going to be a task. She saw the five there. Not even an inch of burn on them.

“Suno. Jaldi uthao aur Haveli leke chalo.” Bela told the other naag-naagins. She tried to look for the naagmani in the ashes for hours but couldn’t find it.

“Naagrani, abhi inki nas chal rahi hai.” One of naagins. That shocked.

“Kya?!!” She stopped looking for Naagmani and ran towards them. She felt the pulse.

“Par itne zeher ke baad bache bhi kaise? Upar se itna aag. Thode se bhi jalne ka nishaan nahi hai.” Bela was shocked. She called for an expert. She had the Kashyap Family informed. Shreya, Kushal and Aditi came quickly.

The healer was healing them. After a few hours, they got consciousness. Mayank was first to wake up.

“Mayank…” Shreya went to him.

“Maa.” Mayank turned to look at Sam.

“Kya hua. Aise kyu dekh rahe ho ise?” Shreya asked.

“Iss cheel ne bachaya Aishwarya, mujhe aur Vanshika ko. Aag puri tarah lag chuki thi par isne upar apna jaadu kiya aur aag hum tak pohoch nahi paayi.” Mayank explained.

“Par saanpo ne toh kaat liya tha.”

“Kuch khaas samajh nahi aaya ki kya hua. Bas tez si roshni aayi aur uske baad hosh hi nahi raha. The light was almost burning.”

Soon enough others woke up.

“Veer bhai…” Sam shot up.

“Samrat, suno…” Kushal tried to stop but Sam already shot off. He flew up ahead to find the banks and started shifting all of the ashes.

“Veer bhai….” Sam madly started to take off all the ashes near where he last remembered seeing Veer.

Sam didn’t wait for anyone just flew away. Out of Naaglok and flew to Singhania Mansion. The fact that he was so exhausted made him return to human form and fall down at the gate. Daksh instantly could smell Sam’s scent.

“Samrat….” Shouting loudly, Daksh ran out of his room.

“Daksh, pagal ho gaya hai kya?” Pawan came out but Daksh already ran out. He saw Sam collapsed at the gate.

“Samrat…” Daksh tried to shake him away. “Dad, Tapish bhai, iski pulse chal rahi hai.”

Everyone came down running. They took Sam inside and put him on the sofa.

“Ponky, paani le aa jaldi.” Tapish told him. Ponky ran and returned quickly.

“Sam…” Bani came down running. Tapish sprinkled water and Sam moved. Tapish made Sam drink some water. He was dehydrated with the amount of heat and 24 hrs of being unconscious.

“Veer bhai?!” Sam shouted.

“Veer mar chuka hai, Sam. Tu… tu kaise bacha?” Daksh asked.

“Nahi… Sabh jal raha tha. Veer bhai jal rahe the. Almost burning up. Unhone apni powers use karke mujhe aur Aishwarya ko bachaya. Maine apna jaadu use karke cover kiya tha V, Amar uncle aur Mayank Vrishik ko. Aag se toh bach rahe the but zeher already jal raha. Pata nahi kya hua par Veer bhai se ek tezz si Roshni aayi and it was burning us. Jaise detoxification karte waqt andar se woh burning sensation aati hai waise. That’s when I saw the last vision. Koi toh aaya aur Veer bhai ko wahan se leke gaya.” Sam explained.

“Sam, tujhe pata bhi hai kit u kya bol raha hai?” Balwant asked.

“Bade papa, it was the last thing I saw before I was knocked off unconscious. Acche se yaad hai.” Sam insisted.

“Toh Veeranshu hai kahan?” Bani asked. She suddenly hoped that Veer was actually alive. Bani ran upstairs to her room and opened the box in which she had kept the feather. All left there was ashes.

“Pankh nahi hai. Sirf raakh hai.” Bani showed Sam.

“Mujhe pakka pata hai ki kisi ne Veer bhai ko bachaya hai.” Sam was sure now.

“Par itne aag mein bhi koi na jale, aisa kon ho sakta hai?” Balwant asked.

Bani thought for a moment. Only Garud was known to be that strong to face the fire and not be burnt by it. She had heard the story of how Garud flew through the fire that protected Amrit and came out alive. Amazed by his bravery, courage and determination, Agni had blessed him that the fire wouldn’t burn him.

The only other than Garud should be someone who was purely from Garud’s bloodline. That girl. Veer had once told Bani about her.

“Theek hai. Hum sabh milke Veer ko dhundh lenge. Tu pehle kuch kha aur paani pi.” Tapish told him.

Once Sam had finished eating and felt a bit better, Bani hugged him tightly.

“Tujhe pata bhi nahi hai mujhe kitni Khushi hui tujhe dekh ke.” Bani told him. As much as Bani loved and trusted Tapish, she trusted and loved Sam. The two always felt like her brothers to her. Sam almost made her feel like he was her twin brother.

“Bhabhi, hum Veer bhai ko dhundh lenge.” Sam told her.

“Sam, pagal mat ban. Koi proof nahi hai.” Balwant told him.

“Proof chahiye?” Sam led them down to the basement. He opened the box in which Gandhak Patthar was placed. It was still lit up with the rune. Indicating that it was still active. “Agar Veer bhai mar chuke hote toh abhi tak Gandhak Patthar bhi band ho gaya hota.”

“Par dhundhenge kaise.”

“Balwant saab…” Ramesh kaka shouted. They went up and saw Veer at the gate. Ramesh kaka was helping Veer inside.

“I swear no place like home.” He looked exhausted as he sat on the sofa.

“Veeranshu…” Bani was first to run at him.

“Uff…. Accha lag raha hai. Bohot accha lag raha hai par mard ko dard hota hai.” Veer answered.

“Veer…” Tapish touched his hand.

“Zinda hun, Tapish bhai. Kya story hai, Tapish bhai.” Veer said.

“Tu theek hai, mere liye isse zyaada important kuch nahi hai, mere bhai.” Tapish said. Veer hugged Tapish. It was enough to tell Veer what all Tapish had gone through.

Sam was next.

“Pagal, tu bhi kud aaya paani mein. Main khud kar raha tha.” Veer hit Sam on the head.

“Kya karta, veer bhai? Aapko aise thodi na chod deta. Woh dhabewala aapko marne nikla tha. Dil kar raha tha ki woh chaaku uske gale ke andar hi daal dun.”

Veer hugged Sam.

“Phirse aisa mat karna. Tujhe pata hai tu mere liye kitna important hai. Tujhe kuch ho jata na toh main kabhi khud ko maaf nahi kar pata ki tu saala mere chakkar mein mara.”

“Aur akele hi hero banne dun? Nah. Aise mauke main nahi chodta hero banne ke.” Sam teased. Veer hugged Sam.

“Bohot smell kar rahe ho. What the hell?” Daksh asked. He refused to hug Veer while he smelled like that.

“Dawai aur raakh.” Veer explained.

Veer went upstairs to their room. Bani helped him. She made him sit while she turned on water in the bathtub.

“Pani ready kar diya hai, tum naha lo.” Bani suggested. Bani held him take off his shirt. Veer sat in the bathtub. Bani was about to leave.

“Sweetheart…” He called her. For some reason, Bani couldn’t stop herself. She had almost given up hope that she’d ever hear him say that again. She walked and hugged him. The way she wrapped her arms around him tightly, he felt how much pain she had been in. Veer pulled her in. She just didn’t want to let go off him. Almost scared that if she let go off him, she’d lose him again.

“Someone seems to have missed me.”

“I don’t ever want to miss you again like that.”

He brushed her hair from her face.

“Haal dekha hai apna? Aankhen laal ho gayi hai.”

“Maine tumhe apne aankhon ke saamn us saag mein dekha…” Her voice broke at that. Veer pressed his forehead against hers. He held the back of her neck.

“Sweetheart, kaha na tumse. Mujhe tumhare alawa koi nahi maar sakta hai. Upar se aise hi likhwa ke aaya hun. Jab itna confidence hai ki meri jaan tumhari hai toh phir kis baat ki fikar hai? So, as long as you don’t want to kill me, I’m safe.”

Bani put her head on his shoulder, almost silently crying. She just didn’t want to let him go. She wiped away her tears and smiled at him.

“Meri jaan ho tum, Veer. Kabhi mujhse dur mat jana. Saans bhi nahi le paati tumhare bina.”

She kissed his forehead and then his both cheeks.

“Uff… itna pyaar…” He winked at her. She smiled and got up to let him take a bath. He caught her by her wrist. She turned to look at him. His eyes had mischief. “Itna kiss kiya par jahan mujhe kiss chahiye, waha hi bas nahi diya…”

“Veeranshu…” She said, trying to get him to behave, but the smile just wouldn’t go away. This was the man she was madly in love with. With the grin he had on his face, he could get away with anything.

“Seriously, aise kiss adhura nahi chodte. Apshagun hota hai…”

She laughed at the way he said it.

“Naha lo. Phir humare paas bohot time hai.”

“We should only make the same mistake once, Bani. Room mein romance karna shuru karenge toh mere kameene bhai beech mein aa jaayenge. Yahan bathroom mein toh nahi aa sakte.”

He tugged her arm and she landed right on top of him in the bathtub. Water splashed over her, drenching her in water. Her pink kurti drenched wet and hugging her figure.

“Tum naha rahe the toh mujhe bhi bhiga diya?” She tried to complain.

“Save water, sweetheart. Dono ek saath naha lete hai.”

“Mujhe nahi nahana tha.”

“Can you please shut up and kiss me? Pati itne din baad ghar lauta hai. Thodi si khatidaari banti hai.”

Veer grabbed the back of her head and pulled her into a kiss. He leaned back against the rim of the tub, pushing her legs behind, making her almost lay on top of him. His kiss was passionate as always. Slightly wild, uncontrolled, passionate and hungry. Bani’s passion matched his. Warm water, passionate kissed and Veer Singhania. A perfect mix to turn on Bani. Bani kissed down his jaw, then at the edge of his jaw and ear and neck. Then trailing it down his jaw. Veer sighed, his breath getting heavier.

The water was up till his neck. Bani dipped her head down as she continued her kisses on his chest. His heartbeat went up quickly with his breathing. Bani was going down further. He threw his head back as the moans came out of him. She came up. Her hair was drenched wet. She put her arms on the rim of the bathtub to keep herself above him. Veer sighed at the sight. Perhaps even apsaras from the heaven wouldn’t look that beautiful. Lesson learnt, don’t pull your naagin into water unless you’re prepared to be really turned on.

When Bani didn’t seem to move ahead to kiss him, Veer moved closer to her. The way he moved it her, it reminded her of his predatory side. The wild side of Veer Singhania. He closed off the distance between like an eagle diving at the prey. He kissed her. She was under him and her arms wrapped around him. He put one of his arms on the bathtub, keeping himself above her and the other hand traced her exposed back. She pushed herself closer to him. Their chest pressed against each other. Bani kissed him back with the same passion. She pulled him further close to him. Her hands finding themselves in his hair.

Veer wanted to continue further but now it had started to get a bit painful on his shoulder. He got up a bit. She looked at him. Looking at him, she realized that maybe he needed a bit rest.

“Veeranshu, ek kaam karo, tum pehle naha lo. I’ll go and get something for you.” Bani wanted to get up but Veer stopped her.

“Ruko na… Accha lag raha hai. Bas 10 minutes ka break lete hai. Then we can continue.” Veer suggested. He leaned back against the bathtub. He pulled her against him. He tucked her beside him with his arm around her.

“Veeranshu, you’re supposed to take a bath.”

“Haan… I am taking a bath. A romantic bath. Bas kuch candles lag gaye hote toh perfect setting hota.”

“Candles aur tum? Kya kaha tha tumne? ‘Main yeh agarbatti mombatti type insaan nahi hun.’ Au kya tha who ‘Mohenjodaro, Indus civilization’.” She laughed. Veer laughed.

“Haan toh time aur setting dekh ke lagane chahiye. Ladko ki party mein candles lagayenge toh kya matlab. Also, aromatic candles are meant to be set mood for bathroom romance.”

Bani started to get up but Veer groaned in complaint.

“Aa rahi hun baba.” She laughed. She got to shampoo and soap. “Tumhare baal na abhi raakh ki tarah smell kar rahe hai.”

“Kya baat hai. I can get used to this VIP treatment.” Veer grinned when she took some shampoo in her hands. She started washing his hair. He pulled her inside the. She just shook her head at his antics. He put his arms on either side of the bathtub and let her shampoo his hair.

“Bas tumhari yeh kurti hi beech mein aa rahi hai.” He commented with a grin.

“Bohot aage udd rahe ho.”

“You can’t expect a cheel to fly slow. They’re fast flying birds.”

“Tumhare saath ka asar mujhpar ho raha hai. Acchi khaasi bholi ladki ko bigaad rahe ho.” She kissed him. She took some soap and rubbed him on his shoulders, then his arms.

“Abh King wali feeling aa rahi hai. Haseena nehlaaye. Bas.”

Bani grabbed his throat.

“Koi haseena nahi. Sirf Bani aa sakti hai yahan.” She told him. Veer laughed, pushed her hand off his throat and kissed her.

“Sweetheart, mere liye tumse zyaada khoobsurat haseena koi aur ho hi nahi sakti. Sapne mein bhi sabse khoobsurat tum hi lagti ho. That’s a different issue that ki tumhari kurti humare beech nahi aati mere sapne mein.”

“Kaafi besharam ho…”

“Excuse me. Agar biwi tumhari tarah hot ho aur phir bhi pati ko intezaar karna pade toh sapne aate hi hai.”

Bani broke into laughter. He just loved the way she laughed. She looked angelic when she laughed.

“Hum dono ko buri tarah sardi lagne waali hai. January ki thandi mein aise bheeg rahe hai.”

“Who cares?”

Without a warning, the lights went off. It was dark. Bani almost couldn’t see anything. Bani felt a little scared. She had never liked complete darkness. It made her uneasy not to be able to see anything.

“Yeh kya hua!!” Bani exclaimed.

“Relax. Current chala gaya hoga.” Veer commented.

“Yeh off time pe kaise power cut hai?” She felt really uneasy as her sense of sight was cut off suddenly. “Veeranshu, mujhe yeh andhera accha nahi lag raha. Please bahar chalte hai. Neeche kisi ke paas torch hoga.”

Veer laughed.

“Cheelon ke ghar mein ho but you’re scared of complete darkness?”

“Abh agar kuch dekh nahi sakte toh darr lagega hi na. Its one of the primary senses. If that goes away, it is natural to panic.”

“Figures ki tumne kabhi college ya school mein seven minutes in the dark nahi try kiya.”

“Kya matlab hai uska. Kisi ajnabee ke saath makeout jise tum dekh bhi nahi sakte.”

“That is the point. They won’t know who you are and you won’t know who the person. You don’t have to think about your identity being revealed.”

“It is the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard. Kisi ke saath itna aage badh jaao aur uske baare mein kuch pata bhi nahi hai. Yeh pagalpan hai. Of course tumne kiya hai. Saare pagalpan waale kaam tumne kar rakhe hai.”

Veer laughed. His laughter made her a little easy. It was just her and Veer. Still, she didn’t know why she started to get odd feeling. An illogical thought that someone’s going to enter and touch her.

“Bani, tumhe serious bohot darr lag raha hai kya? Tumne mera haath kuch zyaada hi zor se pakda hua hai.”

“Hasna mat mujhpe par ajeeb sa darr lag raha hai koi suddenly peeche se aa jaayega aur mujhe touch karega.”

“Sweetheart, kisi aur ka haath aa hi nahi sakta. We both can sense a third person if they enter. Humari senses regular humans se zyaada developed hai. Koi aur aaya na abhi toh main uski jaan le lunga. Chill.”

“Agar darr logical hota toh woh darr nahi kehlata. It would be worry.”

====== [Warning 18+. Please don't proceed if you're not comfortable with mature themes] ======

Bani felt Veer hold her wrist.

“Kya kar rahe ho?” Bani asked. She felt Veer put soap in her hands. He made her rub the soap, put it aside and then put hands over his chest. He sat up. He made her hands travel down till his waist. She heard his heavy breathing. She felt his chest move up and down.

She felt his hands move to her kurti’s zipper. It moved down. Bani felt an unusual feeling in her chest. Her hands gripped Veer's shoulder.

"If you don't want me to go ahead. Keh do." Veer told her.

"Its okay."

Bani soon felt his fingers tracing her spine till the base. His hands went up ahead and pushed the kurti off her shoulder and down her arms. Bani was super conscious about herself. Somewhere she was glad that it was dark and they almost couldn't see anything. She felt the water over her skin. Her heart was beating fast. Veer put his hand at the back of her neck and pulled her to a kiss. A shiver went down her spine when she felt the bare skin against her. She could feel his well built chest against hers. The warmth that came from him almost made her moan. She her breathing had increased.

"Relax, Bani. Its just me." Veer assured. Bani calmed herself down. She wrapped her arms around him, letting him feel her. The feeling of her chest against his was driving his crazy. He felt himself get hard. She was definitely turned on. Veer knew it because the proof of it was against his chest. She kissed him. Veer traced the side of her upper body while pressed up against her. Once, it felt that she was grown a little comfortable with the skin to skin contact. Veer moved his hands on her breasts. Veer sighed, to touch her like that was almost a dream. He'd swear. She was perfection. He was aware that she was severely self-conscious. He wanted her to get used to his touch. The darkness gave her an advantage. She could let her mind free of that self-consciousness and not hide her desires. Secondly, it would stop making her scared. She was heavenly to touch. Nothing compared to way it felt to touch her.

"

"Veer..." She moaned in a whisper. The first touch was enough to tell her that she was going to be addicted to his touch. She didn't know what it was. Was it her own chemicals in her brain or was it the warmth in him or was it his touch. Perhaps, it was the way he touched her. It was crazy. Bani felt him rub the soap over her chest. Almost in a slow motion. Almost like a massage. Sometimes pressing hard then rubbing and easing it. He traced ever inch of her upper body. Then she felt water pouring over her. He washed off the soap. Not even leaving a spot. Cleaning twice.

She soon felt an odd scratchy feeling on her chest. She blushed red when she realized that one of his hands was replaced by his mouth. She moaned. A little louder this time when she felt his lips kiss them. The sucking and then his beard against the sensitive skin around it. Bani felt her thoughts become a mess.

"Veer..." She moaned. Her hands tugged his hair a little hard. He went to the other half and did the same. Bani's mind was a mess of desire cooking up inside. He moved his lips to her lips and his hand travelled down. It stopped at her core.

"Veer..." She moaned as the pleasure built up. His fingers moved inside her. Her nails scratched his shoulders. He continued to kiss her as his finger played with her. It wasn't long before she had her release. Bani was breathing heavy by then. Her whole body had been reeling with the first time ever she had hit that level pleasure.

"Bani, is this seriously your first time?" Veer asked her.

"Hmmm...." Bani just couldn't speak in words.

"Damn it, sweetheart. Pehle hi bata deti." Veer groaned.

"Veeer...." She sighed trying to gather thoughts and form coherent words. "How does that matter?"

Veer sighed and pushed himself back.

"You wouldn't want to lose your virginity like this in a bathroom, sweetheart. Pehle hi bata deti toh I wouldn't have taken this like this in here."

"How does that even make a difference?"

"I thought that it was our first time, so it would be alright but I didn't know you never had sex before. Ek toh khud ko control karna ek issue hone wala hai. I swear you drive me crazy with desire. Mujhe hi nahi pata ki main kaise khud ko control karun and not go all crazy with you. Dusra, abh toh I have to be a little too sure to make it perfect."

"Veer..." Bani was about to say it was going to be fine but she still wasn't in right mind to argue. Veer laughed when he realized that.

"This seems to be your off button to arguing." He teased her. He pulled her over him, almost tucking her next to him. He closed her eyes. It was going to be silly to move now because both of them could fall and seriously injure themselves. Veer felt Bani doze off with her arms holding him. He held her.

Neither of them realized when they fell asleep and the light had returned.

Meera had come upstairs into their room looking for Bani. The Singhanias had assumed that Veer had fallen asleep. Meera saw a mess of blanket on the bed and thought it was Veer, so walked to the bathroom.

"Bani..." She walked in. One second and soon Meera jumped out. Just a flash of Veer and Bani in the bathtub. Not much of exposure was there since they were in water halfway. Only their heads up.

Meera knocked on the door.

"Bani...." Meera tried to wake them up. After she knocked a few times and called out Bani's name. The couple woke up.

Bani realized the electricity was back and that she was almost half naked. The memory of everything that had happened. Bani was almost blushing pink.

"Meera di...." Bani panicked. She quickly put back her kurti.

"Bani, relax. We're not having an affairs. Its alright." Veer chuckled at how she was reacting. Bani looked at herself. Drenched in water. Had Meera seen her lying almost half naked over Veer?

"Utho..." Bani told him. He sighed and got up. Wrapping the towel around his waist.

"Main tumhare aur Bani ke kapde pass kar rahi hun." Meera offered. She picked out whatever came to her hands from the shelf and gave it to the two. Veer took it. He found it seriously amusing on the reaction of the siblings.

"Thank you..." Veer muttered and passed Bani her clothes. They changed their clothes and walked out of the bathroom.

Chapter 59 was heartbreaking but chapter 60..it was worth all the wait..if this is the trailer..I can't imagine what level of fire its going to be when the ultimate romance comes🔥😍..I swear no one writes vani like u do..it was AMAZING..take a bow..and can't wait for the next chapters and more vani romance😜🙈.

Wow mind-blowing. Felt Bani pain. Was scared in the start when we didn't know where veer was. Thank god he is fine soon. Both are madly deeply in love with each other.

Eager to know how veer saved. I guess garuda helped him. Waiting to know what happens.

And vani moments ❤️❤️❤️

Thank you for these.

Loved it

Excellent...

Mind blowing update...

Veer is back....

Continue soon...

Loved the updates 🤗 your way of building suspense, creating tension, expressing emotions is so very authentic, the way you expressed bani's breakdown after veer's death was phenomenol, i could literally play the whole scene in my mind. Youre amazing 👏

Chapter 59 is mind blowing...Chapter 60 toh is smoking hot!!

But I felt little out of the place here (No Complains on romance part, as it was smoking hot)!! Dont know why!! Please don't mind If I sounded negative!!

Who saved Veer and how was he able to do magic?

Alaknanda ki entry ho rahi kyaa?

Suspense element is still intact ..Curious to know what will happen next!!

Writer madam..badly need your daily update dosage to come out of the mess which happened today..

Please do post your update!!

Chapter 61

Veer waved her hand to Meera once he walked out of the bathroom. He put his perfume on himself and walked down. While going out, he winked at Bani. She blushed at that. Now, she faced Meera who had a teasing smile on her face.

“Woh… Meera di, main…” Bani didn’t know what to say.

“Haan… toh main kahan kuch bol rahi hun?” Meera answered teasingly. “Neeche chal. Sabh dinner ke liye wait kar rahe hai.”

“Haan. Meera di, aap jaaiye. Main aati hun.” Bani told her. Bani looked at herself in the mirror and blushed slightly. She gathered her thoughts quickly and went down.

“Great. Abh Bani bhi aa chuki hai. So, lets start.” Pawan declared. Bani noticed the dinner put up and she was surprised. It was almost a whole feast. Chicken and some other non-veg dishes. The other side had veg dishes. Bottle of champagne and red wine.

“I’ll take red wine.” Veer took the bottle and poured himself a glass of wine. Sam, Daksh and Tapish followed with the wine. Ponky, Pawan and Balwant went with champagne. Bani and Meera settled for water.

The Singhanias, except Bani, had went on with their drinks. enjoying their family dinner. After one too many drinks, rest of them were all off drunk. Bani was still yet to talk to Veer about what happened. Bani and Meera both came across Tapish and Veer sitting in the balcony.

"Veer, yeh sabh celebrations toh theek hai. Tu yeh bata ki exactly hua kya tha." Tapish told Veer. Veer fished something out of his pocket and gave it to Bani. Naagmani.

"This is how I managed to survive."

"Naagmani?"

"Jay aur main ek dusre se lad rahe the when the fire broke out. It was like a blast that engulfed us all. Toh usi waqt mere haathon pe woh rune bhi tha. The sky rune. Jay aur maine dono ne naagmani us waqt pakdi hui thi. Both of us were trying to get it. Generally sky run would react over the sky. But I guess naagmani bhi runes ke saath react karti hai. While mera element is sky, Naagmani ka element earth aur water hai. Toh it created a kind of a dome over them. Sam ne apna jaadu use kiya baaki sabh ko cover karne ke liye. Agar Sam ko nahi bachata toh shayad woh unhe cover nahi kar paata. So, while my rune was creating a cover over them, naagmani ne use power kiya tha to keep off the fire from burning the dome. Naagmani ek side pe mere khud ke burns heal kar rahi thi aur dusre side pe zeher ka kuch effect ho raha tha. It wasn't killing me but it was burning up."

"Nahi maar paata kyuki maine khud tumhe pehle zeher diya tha naagfani ka zeher kaatne ke liye."

"I don't know exactly kya ho raha tha in that moment. Ek taraf tumhara zeher tha mere body mein, dusri taraf unn saanpo ka zeher that. My body was a mess. Naagpash ka zeher toh tha. But then my own bloodline has two sharp parts. Ek taraf Garud who's immune to all kinds of venom. Dusri taraf Arun. Last mein Markaat's own energy kyuki meri cheel ki shaktiya usse aati hai. All three of them had begun to clash. So, while the poison was burning inside, bahar se aag jala raha tha. If I actually understand what has happened, then the whole accident turned out to be a good thing. Ek Bani ka khud ka zeher tha, Naagpash ke saanpo se nikla zeher tha aur aag. All three of them together worked like some detoxification action. Every single last remains of Markaat in my body was burnt away. Bacha hua jo hai that's remainds of Garud and Arun ki bloodline."

"Matlab, you're not related to Markaat like we all are?"

"Na..." Veer grinned. He moved back and pulled out his wings. His eyes were a rather more animalistic golden. They seemed more like a golden eagle's eyes. The proof that any cheel belonging to Markaat's legacy are some dark blue feathers. Eagles have various contours on the wing plummage. Those dark blue feathers were now replaced by black feathers with golden edges. Some more golden hued feathers were present on his wings.

"Matlab tu..."

"Yaad hai, maine kaha tha ki woh pankh Markaat ki cheeni hui shakti nahi lauta sakta? Since I didn't have Markaat's blood anymore, the feather accepted your wish. Let's say ki it took burning in fire to finally rise free from Markaat's connection."

"Yeh toh bohot acchi baat hai."

"Jitna accha hai utna bura bhi hai kyuki now Markaat is going to be hell bent after me. Uske liye isse better body nahi mil sakti. And Markaat ko abhi tak yeh baat pata chal chuki hai ki main abhi uske control mei nahi raha. But, uske paas abhi bhi shakti hai kisi ko cheel banne ki takat dene ka."

"But tujhe aag se nikala kisne?"

"Yaad hai I told you about that one cheel girl jo purely Garud ke bloodline se hai?"

"Haan..." Tapish and Bani nodded together.

"Usne mujhe wahan se nikaala tha. Body heal karne ke liye humne naagmani ka istemaal kiya tha."

"Toh where is she right now?"

"Mujhe woh island pe jo Narayan ka mandir hai waha leke gayi thi. That's where I was all the while. Uske baad Markaat bhi wahin hai toh mujhe use wahan chodna sahi nahi laga. Isiliye I asked her to stay at our mountain house for the while. Abhi toh wahin hai."

Next morning, Bani got ready. Bani took the Naagmani with her to place it back in Naaglok.

“Bani…” Bani turned around to look at Balwant. He was sitting at the breakfast table, reading some paper.

“Haan?” She asked.

“Kuch kha ke jaao.” He told her not looking up from the papers. Bani was surprised at his suggestion. It wasn’t an offer. He sounded exactly as she remembered her papa telling her to go out after having breakfast. Bani sat down and started to eat the sandwiches that Ramesh kaka had prepared. She finished eating quickly and started to leave.

“Dhyaan rakhna.” He didn’t even look at her as he said that. A smile came to her lips. Well… well… well… the growling cold hearted control freak bear seemed to be melting.

“I’ll be safe.” She assured and left for Naaglok. She met up with Bela.

“Naagmani…” Bela commented. Bani showed her the Naagmani.

“Kaise?”

“Veer ne use Jay ke haathon se nikaal liya tha.”

“Uske liye koi aisi jagah dhundhni padegi jo usse bhi zyaada safe ho.”

“Bela, I’m thinking, this time it should only be two of us who know where the Naagmani is.”

“I agree.”

“Sorry. Meri dadi ke wajah se tumhe sabke sawaal sunne pade.”

“Aap sorry mat boliye. Its okay. It wasn’t your fault.”

Bani’s scales flashes indicating that her old skin had finally worn off.

“Bela, meri taraf se saare Naagvansh ke leaders ko ek invite bhejogi? I think its high time we set everyone straight. Naagvansh pehle hi bohot chaotic ho chuka hai. Na toh koi kisi ki baat sunta hai aur na kisi ko kuch samajh aata hai.”

Bela smiled at the sight of this new Bani. Her old skin had come off and now she was renewed. She’s been broken, betrayed, fooled, trapped and tried to be pushed down. Her scales were now a littler sharper and more grooved. Bani was now imprinted a Queen. She grew into someone who was going to sit at the top. Bani always gave a powerful aura but now, it was a notch higher. Even Bela herself couldn’t help but bow down to the aura that she gave off.

Nageshwari was a soft princess. Someone who was loved by her people. She loved that her people loved her. She was fierce to her enemies and soft to her own clan. They smiled in front of her face and stabbed her in the back. She was naïve that the ones at the top don’t have friends below. She wanted to be a leader of her people.

Old Bani wore the same skin as Nageshwari. The hopes of being the ideal Adi-Naagin. She tried to be more human than a snake. Her people were more disloyal than the enemies. At least her enemies had the guts to say it to her face. Betrayed by someone she believed was her counterpart, tried to be pushed down by her own people, underestimated by her family, fooled by people she thought were her own people. They tried to break her and take away everything from her. She beared all of it with a hope that someday they’ll understand.

The old skin had shed off and the new Bani was born. This Bani was a Queen. She was The Adi-Naagin. She needed no damned counterpart. No. She was enough to reign over the snake pit. She didn’t need Adi-Naag to be in her team. Nope. She was her own team. As Bani walked out of Bela’s house, her red scales flashed.

Soon enough, almost all of the leaders of Naagvansh had gathered. All of them had gathered at one of the clearing in the forest behind the Nageshwar Shiv Mandir. They were all majorly confused as to why everyone had been gathered.

Bani was sitting on a chair. A wooden chair. There wasn’t anything special on the chair but the way Bani sat on it, it gave off the aura of a throne. Majority of naags recognized that Bani had changed her snake skin and that this Bani was different. Some others didn’t.

“Good. Abh jab sabh yahan aa chuke hai. Kuch cheezein ke baare mein batana zaroori ho chuka hai.” Bani stood up. “Main pure naagvansh ki Adi-Naagin hun. Sirf Sheshnaag vansh ki nahi. Goes without saying ki sabhke liye yeh apply karta hai ki jo main kahungi wahi hoga.”

“Adi-Naagin ke saath Adi-Naag ka hona bhi zaroori hai. Aisa hi banaya gaya hai.” One of the naags tried to tell her. Bani turned to give him a look. A few snakes coiled up on her arm and her shoulder.

“Aapko kisne yeh keh diya? Bholenath ne?” The tone was almost mocking the naag. “Mujhe kisi Adi-Naag ya kisi bhi Naag ki zaroorat nahi hai apni jagah banane ke liye. Meri jagah mere Bholenath se bani hai. So, as long as he’s our lord, main Adi-Naagin hun aur rahungi. Better hoga ki tum iss baat ko accept karlo.”

“Toh kya Adi-Naag ko hum sabh chod de?”

“Chodna ya na chodna decision tumhara hai. Chod doge toh accha hoga tumhare liye, nahi chod paaye toh phir se mere saamne mat dikhna kyuki aaj ke baad jo bhi mujhe Jay Mathur ke saath dikha use naagvansh ka dushman maan liya jaayega. Or at least main use apna dushman maanne wali hun. Yeh baat toh bohot hi normal hai ki ek naagin apne dushmano ke saath kaisa behave karti hai.”

“Adi-Naag ke bina hum Adi-Naagin ko rani nahi maanenge. Adi-Naag aur Adi-Naagin ek saath honge toh hi maanenge.” He raised his voice with her. All the snakes coiled around Bani hissed at him violently. Some of them lunging to bite. He stumbled back. Bani was quite relaxed. She sat down on the chair back.

“Aapke maanne na maanne se mujhe fark nahi padta. Nahi kar sakte toh please, bahar ka rasta nikal lo. Get out.”

The way she said it made him surprised. They were Bani for a little lamb. She was no lamb. She was a freaking snake.

“Adi-Naagin, aap aise baat nahi kar sakti mujhse.”

“Wow. Aap mujhse unchi awaaz mein baat kar sakte hai par main aapko jaane ko nahi keh sakti. Aap shayad sapne dekh rahe hai.”

Jay may have forgotten his oath that he took in the temple of Narayan but Bani remembered it well. She was going to remind Jay what he forgot. She’s still the reigning queen. And no naag can take her throne.

“Adi-Naagin, aapko pata hai ki main humesha hi aapke saath hi khada hun.” Rudra made his loyalty clear.

“Main bhi aapke saath humesha hun.” Bela too declared her loyalty.

“Abh dusri baat. Abhi tak bacchi bacchi kehke bohot kuch sun chuki hun main. Yeh baat toh main clear kar hi deti hun that I’m quite well aware of what I do. Mujhe pura hosh rehta hai ki main kya kar rahi hun aur kyu kar rahi hun. Mere decisions ko phir se koi question na kare. Agar koi hai jo mera judgement kar sakta hai toh woh Bholenath aur Narayan hai. Jab tak unhe mere decisions par yakeen hai, main wahi karne wali hun jo mujhe sahi lagta hai. Sabh apni raay dene ke liye free hai. Suggestions are always welcomed but better hoga ki mere taraf se mere liye decisions na le.” Bani declared.

Mayank looked at Bani. He was clear that half of it was directed to him. He wasn’t against Bani but he had seen her as a child. As old as Vanshika. Bani made it clear to him that he could consider her his daughter but she was Adi-Naagin. She wasn’t letting anyone walk over her decisions as Adi-Naagin.

“Abh aahri baat par aate hai. Jise bhi Jay ke baare mein kuch pata chalta hai. Mujhe woh information chahiye.” Bani told them.

They nodded. Bani had made it clear that she wasn’t taking kindly to having her orders cut down. Once the meeting was done, Bani walked over to meet her family. She hugged Vanshika tightly.

“I’m so glad you’re safe. Mujhe laga ki maine almost tujhe kho diya.” Bani said hugging her. Vanshika hugged her back.

“Main bhi khush hun.” Vanshika answered with a smile. “And welcome back. Kya comeback kiya hai. Sabke hosh uda diye.”

Aishwarya and Amar hugged Bani too. She almost didn’t want to let go off Aishwarya. Aishwarya realized that she was almost scared that she had lost a mother. Aishwarya kissed Bani’s forehead and hugged her tightly.

“Main toh humesha tumhare saath hi hun, Bani. Maa apne baccho ke Khushi ke liye kuch bhi kar sakti hai.” She told Bani.

“Itne waqt baad toh aisa laga hi mere paas maa hai. Aapko khone se darr toh lagta hi hai.”

“Meri jaan, tum jabhi khud mein dekhogi toh tumhari himmat mein main humesha hi rahungi.”

Bani just stayed and hugged her.

“Bas. Phir bhi, kabhi aisa kuch mat karna.” Bani told her. Almost tears in her eyes. Aishwarya wiped it away.

Shreya just stayed silent.

“Aapko kuch nahi kehna, maa?” Aishwarya asked.

“Main kya kahun? Bani ne toh yeh clear kar diya hai ki use kisi ki zaroorat nahi hai.” Shreya commented. Bani laughed.

“Dadi, aap agar Naagrani banke Adi-Naagin ko sawaal karengi toh jawaab bhi waise hi milega. Dadi banke Bani se baat karengi toh main bhi aapki poti banke hi jawaab dungi. Aap mujhe bacchi samajh ke sabh mere liye decide karna chahti hai. Jab Naagrani ka taaj aapne Bela ko de hi diya hai wapas toh kyu uske decisions le rahi hai. Just breathe and believe others. Itna toh yakeen mujhpe kar hi sakti hai ki main galat decisions nahi lungi. Umar aapse choti hai par samajh kam nahi hai. Aapki izzat toh bohot hai par har step par aise sawaal khade karenge toh mujhe aisa lagta hai ki aapko yakeen hi nahi hai ki main Adi-Naagin ban sakti hun. Bas kyuki mera pyaar cheel hai isiliye aap mujhe bholi samajh rahi hai. Yeh bholapan nahi hai. Pyaar hai, dadi. Mujhe pata hai ki kehte hai pyaar andha hota hai par mere paas woh har ek reason hai Veer par yakeen karne ka. Mujhe meri dadi ki zaroorat hai. Jo actually mujhe support kare aur iss baat par yakeen kare ki main sahi hun.”

“Shreya, tumhe sach mein break lena chahiye. Let them do their job. Stop trying to be Naagrani. Saans lo. Apna taaj aur kursi de di hai toh jise diya hai use decide karne do. Jab result galat niklega tabh kehna.”

“Maa…” Mayank came up.

“Mayank.” Shreya smiled at him.

“Woh main ghar wapas jaa raha tha toh socha aapse milke chala jaau.”

“Jaldi aaye aur jaldi jaa rahe ho. Thode din ruk jaaoge toh accha hota.”

Mayank looked Aishwarya who refused to even acknowledge his presence and went on talking to Amar. Amar noticed Aishwarya ignoring Mayank on purpose.

“I don’t know. Rukne ka koi matlab nahi yahan. Aapko bekaar mein pareshaan nahi karna chahta.”

“Bete apni maa ke liye pareshaani nahi hote, Mayank.”

Mayank laughed.

“Yahan kuch log hai jinke liye pareshaani hai.”

“Aishwarya…” Shreya tried to tell her daughter.

“Kya? Chahte kya ho mujhse? Aarti utaar ke kahun ‘Mere aadarniya patidev, aapke yahan rehne se mujh khushnaseeb patni ko bhagwaan ki daya mil jaayegi.’ Aise invitation du? Uski marzi hai. Rukna hai ruke. Jana hai jaaye. Who am I to dictate anything? Isse interest hai control karne ka. Mujhe nahi. He can do as he pleases.” Aishwarya commented. Amar almost wanted to laugh.

“Cool, behena. Cool. Saara zeher aa raha hai.” Amar teased her. She threw an apple at her brother.

“Chup raho.”

“Well, things seem like they’re going back to normal. Bua and dad are back to being their teasing self. Bani di bhi comeback kar chuki hai. Mom ne subeh hi humare kamre ke baare mein hume lecture de diya hai. Humne apna naya prank material bana liya hai. Dadi is also back to being dadi. Dadu is out with his beloved plants. V bhi theek ho gayi hai.” Rishi put the ticks on the check list. They were skating around the house in roller skates.

“Mujhe seriously aapse koi problem nahi hai.” Bani told him sighing.

“Lagta nahi hai.”

“Yahi toh problem hai. Aap yaa toh Adi-Naagin dekhte hai ya Bani. Dono mein se bas ek ko dekhna chahte hai. But sach toh yahi hai ki main dono hun. Adi-Naagin banke apne decisions lena jaanti hun par beti banke pyaar dena bhi jaanti hun.”

“Mere liye yeh concept mushkil hai samajhna.”

“Of course….” Aishwarya commented.

“Aish, chill.” Amar told her.

“Samajhna mushkil hai but impossible nahi hai. Samajhne ki koshish karoge toh samajh aa jaayega. Jaise bua maa bhi hai, beti hai, behen hai, bua bhi aur patni bhi. Sabse alag roles hai, alag requirements hote hai. Har rishte mein uski zaroorat ke hisaab se dhalna hota hai. Adi-Naagin banke sabhko yeh yaad dilana zaroori hai ki mujhe pata hai main kya kar rahi huu isiliye beech mein na aaye. Waise hi beti banke pyaar dena bhi aata hai. Bas use naag banke nahi, dad banke lenge toh samajh aa jaayega.” Bani told him smiling.

“Meri taraf se uss cheel ladke ko thanks bol dena.” Mayank told Bani. Bani laughed at the look on his face.

“Aapke saamne saamne Vanshika ko uda le gaya… Use aap thanks bolna chahte hai?” Bani teased.

“Isiliye tumse keh raha hun kyuki jab woh mere saamne aayega tabh toh iss cheez ki baat main kar hi lunga.”

Bani laughed.

=======

Sorry, guys. Aaj ek hi update kar paa rahi hun. Thodi si busy thi toh I couldn't post two chapters today

Ye harr 1-2 updates ke baad thodi thodi vani romance doses...me likes!! 😳

Esp. after the recent drama..but I've already ranted a lott about it as you know!!

Bani's breakdown was beautifully written but scenes that shined to me were of balwant and bani!! Him feeding her food and trying to console her..so beautiful!!

Bani's constant feeling and need to be near veer is really beautiful to see. She wants to be with him even if it's in death. Growth from "hazaar maut dungi" to "mjjhe jaane dijiye uske paas", beautiful!!!❤️❤️

I'm really confused by that aghori offering baby to bani. Another mystery eh??!!😆

Baaki veer ka asar pura hai bani pr,

“Main tumhe Virgin Mary banne mein interested lag rahi hun kya?"

Lol🤣

Did mayank really thought that if push came to shove, sam will/would kill him?? So astounded that sam protected him and the others!!

Mayank, he's going to be your son in law!! Of course he's gotta save you!!😆

Hmmm so till now it seems dhaabevala has gone faraar with the naag mani huh..koi na bani and veeranshu will find you, you literal aasteen ka saanp!!

Garud himself came to save veeranshu???😮

How deep is veer's connection with Narayan eh??

I loved vani's bathroom scene!! To fully get the effect of physical intimacy to the viewer, it is necessary that characters have some emotional depth towards eachother.

Meera, bathroom main aise nhi ghuste😂

Lg gya na shock tumhe!!🤣

This seems to be my shortest ever comment on your ff!! I'm learning to control myself!!🤣