A Tale As Old As Time - Page 12

Chapter - 17

“This doesn’t seem too bad,” Mridul checked Ansh’s wound carefully and looked at him, “The question is - how did this happen?” “We were getting late for… Umm…Our chemistry class and Ansh sped up a little…” “Is that so?” “Yes Papa.” Karan gulped a little while Mridul smiled inwardly. “Your curriculum seems to have advanced a lot compared to our time.” “More than youcan imagine Chachu.” Rishi feigned enthusiasm trying to hide his nervousness.

“Definitely, after all, we didn’t have to study chemistry to complete our MBA.” Mridul cocked his eyebrow at the cousins who just realized their bluff. “Haven’t I taught you anything?” He twisted Karan’s ear playfully, “Come up with at least three different responses and say it out loud to ascertain which one sounds more plausible.” He let out a chuckle and sat beside Ansh, “Even Vedashree Bhabhi is better than you guys.”

“Perfect! Keep spoiling them like this,” Mohana entered the room with Chaitali, “What can we expect from them when their father still behaves like a child?” “Oh come on,” He said rolling his eyes, “Our boy just met with an accident. He doesn’t need a twenty pages long lecture on ‘How To Become A Responsible Youngster’.” “We have Vedashree Bhabhi for that.” “See, Chaitali Bhabhi gets it.” Despite their best efforts, Rishi and Karan burst out laughing, annoying Mohana further. “I can’t believe this!” “Relax Mohana, I’m meeting you guys after two weeks. Let’s not make it so serious.”

While Mridul tried to cheer her up, Mohana took a quick glance at Ansh. They decided to hide Ansh’s sudden outburst from Mridul as they didn’t want to worry him unnecessarily. But what exactly happened to her otherwise gentle son? Why did he attack her and why was he behaving in such a strange way?

Ansh on the other hand, kept looking at Mridul in disbelief. When Karan informed him about their father’s arrival, he thought he was talking about Shekhar. Although he had seen a family portrait earlier, his mind still couldn’t register Mridul was alive in this timeline. A sudden pang of heartache overwhelmed him as he recalled his childhood. After their parents’ death, Vedashree and Shekhar took him and Kajal in. They even decided against starting their own family so that neither he nor Kajal ever felt like they were adopted.

Yet, there was a part of him that longed for his birth parents. He grew his hair since Mridul had long hair. While he accepted Shekhar as his father wholeheartedly, he also tried to keep Mridul alive in him in some ways. Now that his father was in front of him, how was he supposed to react? “Ansh?” Mohana’s voice broke his trance, “What’s the matter son?” The genuine concern in her voice didn’t escape his notice. Would it help if he saw her eyes glowing rather than those two pools of love?

He remembered the first time he met Mohana as an adult. When she hugged him, begging him to accept her, he felt torn between her and Vedashree. For a moment there he felt jealous of Kajal who didn’t seek others’ validation and openly expressed her feelings. And then he saw her for who she was. Nothing ever came close to the devastation he felt when he learned about Mohana’s true motives.

Time and again she mocked them for letting her getting away with everything. If only he could tell her that it wasn’t their foolishness but a desire for some sort of a miracle where they could co-exist without hurting each other. Perhaps the child in him was exceptionally delusional to accept the truth. Lucky for him, his adult self was wise enough to hide his true feelings from his so called mother who would waste no opportunity to use his vulnerability against him.

It was a fact that Piya’s rejection made him ponder over his situation. Nonetheless, given the chance, wouldn’t she prefer a world where all of their family members were alive, and more importantly happy? He knew he would, if it was a choice between being the most powerful entity and living a simple life, he would choose his loved ones every time. Too bad his wish always came at the expense of his loved ones, one way or the other. Being with Piya required him to go back as far as needed and remove the glitch in this timeline, thereby restoring the grim world he always wanted to escape. Whereas choosing his family would mean giving up on Piya as well as their kids.

“If I were given a choice, I would choose you all over again, with my eyes closed, in every single lifetime, in every alternate reality. I would choose you because I love you!”

Wasn’t it funny? Of all their shared memories, he held onto that one moment when she promised him of everlasting love. Anyone who’s madly in love would make such a statement. But what if they were given a chance to start over? Wouldn’t she be better off without him?

“Are you still angry with me Papa?”

“No dear, in fact, I’m sorry for lashing at you like that.”

“So… if I ask for something, will you get it for me?”

“What do you want?”

“I want you Papa. I want to spend some quality time with you when no one will disturb us… Can’t you do this much for me?”

“Why would Mohana kidnap Pari?”

“Because she’s your daughter!”

How many times did Adi have to step up when he was clearly faltering at his duty of being a decent father? How many times was Pari’s life endangered just because she was his daughter? His eyes moistened reminiscing their faces. Just before he left their house, he promised them to take them out for a movie. Irrespective of whatever was happening, he knew somewhere in the future his kids were waiting for him. All he wanted was to get back to them and make up for the lost time. Was he being selfish again? Those kids deserved a doting father, not a demon like him who could only give them a life full of misery.

“Ansh?” Mridul’s voice interrupted his thoughts again, “Are you okay son?” “I’m fine.” “I know you hate it when I say this, but are you sure? You zoned out suddenly and…” “I’m sorry about that. It’s just that I’m feeling a little tired, that’s all.” “Alright… I think you should try to get some sleep. If you need anything, your Maa and I’ll be right next door.” “Papa wait!” Without thinking about anything, Ansh hugged Mridul tightly, finally letting go of his guards. Surprised at first, Mridul hugged him back and ruffled his hair lovingly. “Do you want me to stay here with you?” “Will you?” “Anything for my kids.” Mridul broke the hug and smiled to assure him. “Let me get a few things from my room and I’ll be joining you shortly, okay?” As Mridul left with the rest of the family members, Ansh went through his phone and dialed a particular number, “Can I speak with Dr. Dev please?”

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“It’s time.” “Are you sure about this?” “If you have a better idea, I’m all ears.” Saavi remained silent. “Piya is right Saavi. We are running out of time. It’s now or never.” “It’s a forty storied building and Rathods live at the topmost floor. You think it’s safe to climb all the way up when none of us have any powers?” “Well, for that we have a mystical device called elevator. Just because we are Reevavanshi, it doesn’t mean we have to deal with everything magically.” Annoyed, Piya got down from the car. “It’s gonna be fine. Besides, Naman will be with me. Wait here and don’t do anything reckless, can I count on you for that much?” “I…” “Let’s go Naman.”

Naman looked around again and opened his side of the car’s door. “She’s pissed, isn’t she?” “Yes, not that we can blame her.” “I just wanted to save her life.” “I’m sure Piya understands that. However, given the time and situation we are in, I’d suggest give her some space. She’ll come around.” “But…” “No buts Saavi. If something goes wrong, you won’t be able to run properly. That’s why she asked you to stay in the car, there’s no other reason.” “Naman?” “Coming.” He closed the door and looked at Saavi again, “Listen, it’ll be over soon. We can talk about it later, alright?” She nodded her head and bade them goodbye.

Once inside the elevator, Naman sighed loudly, trying to draw Piya’s attention. “Are you feeling scared?” “Kind of, you?” “Me too.” Piya pressed on the elevator button and faced him, “I know you want to talk about Saavi.” “Piya…” “Go on, I’d rather talk about anything than worrying about what will happen if we fail in this attempt too.” “All the more reason we should avoid this particular topic.” He paused for a moment, “This whole ‘Everything’s Perfect’ act is weighing on you too, isn’t it? That’s why you want to vent.” Piya said nothing and stared at him, “Do you love her?” “What?” “I’m talking about Saavi, when the link was severed, what was your first thought?”

“I thought I screwed up and got Saavi trapped.” “Then you surely have some inkling of how terrified she must have been before she pulled you out.” “I do, which is why I feel so guilty for putting her in that position in the first place.” “And how exactly do you plan to repent?” “Excuse me?” “Ever since you came back, you have barely looked at her, let alone giving her a chance to explain herself. Do you think it’s fair to her?” She shook her head and looked away to hide her tears. “Then snap out of it, talk to her. She’s perishing under the burden of your silence; I can see it’s causing you great pain as well. It’s time you put an end to it.” “Sometimes I forget how perceptive you are.” Piya replied with a faint smile, “I’m glad that you are with her.”

“So, what’s the plan?” Naman tried to divert the topic. “We find Ansh and explain everything to him.” “That’s it?” “What were you expecting?” “I don’t know… Since you packed some of that powder you used in the hospital, I thought…” “I don’t intend to use Stramonium on anyone unless it’s absolutely necessary.” “What about earlier?” “I had no choice. If my condition was half as bad as Baba told me, no doctor in his right mind would release me. I figured by the time you and Saavi would wake up, things would get more complicated. Hence I blessed some Stramonium fruit from my garden and brought them with me since it’s a hallucinogen. Without our powers, that was the only way I could make the doctor sign my discharge paper.”

“Is it toxic?” “Very.” “Is that why you don’t want to use it?” “Yes, I used a very small dose on my doctor. I was hoping he would start showing symptoms by the time we left and other doctors would treat him immediately. Outside a hospital setting, I don’t ever want to use it.” “Do you have anything in your garden that can counteract its effect?” “I guess so, why?” “In that case, I suggest we use it on Ansh right away and take him back with us. Once we’re there, we’ll be able to treat his symptoms easily.”

“That would be too risky. This dream world stemmed from his subconscious. We can force him to accompany us but what if some part of his consciousness gets stuck in between? Or worse, what if his mind is trapped here and body is there in the real world? I can’t take that chance.” “So he has to come with us voluntarily?” “Yes, he’s the only one who can reverse the spell.”

A moment later, the elevator door opened. “We can take the backdoor and wait until everyone falls asleep.” “Or we can take that passageway. It directly leads to your room.” “How do you know about that?” “Remember I was once possessed by Ruby? She used that path to get inside your room.” “Great, let’s go.” It took them another couple of minutes to reach Ansh’s room. Surprised by the change in its decoration, Naman picked a photograph of Ansh with his siblings, “The guy surely knows what he wants.”

Unbeknownst to him, his words sent a shiver down Piya’s spine. Everything Ansh had ever wished for was a reality in this dreamworld. What if he refused to come with her? Could she really blame him when a huge part of herself wanted to stay behind and cherish her long lost family? “Someone is coming.” She pulled Naman away and hid behind a curtain. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” “I’m sure Papa, I’m feeling a lot better now.” “Still, if you need anything…” “You’ll be right next door,” Ansh said smilingly, “Good night Papa!” “Good night!”

Once Mridul left, Ansh closed the door, turned off the lights, and walked towards the center of his room. For some unknown reason, he felt as if the ambience had changed in his absence. How was that possible? Earlier he saw a jar of fireflies was kept on his table. He picked up the jar and noticed the flies were trying to come out of the container. Puzzled, he opened the lid and saw them encircling a particular area, giving it the shape of a girl. “Hi Ansh,” Piya came out of the shadow, “I’ve been waiting for you!”

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“If you’re angry and you know it, clap your hand! If you’re angry and you know it, clap your hand! Good Lord!” Saavi punched on the dashboard and regretted immediately, “Ouch! Damn it!” She cursed her fate. “I see Naman’s weird habits are rubbing off on me.” She glanced at Ansh’s flat again and heaved a sigh. It had been ten minutes since Piya left with Naman. Was it just her or time was moving awfully slow? Suddenly her phone beeped, “We’ve gotten inside……. Naman”

She was about to put her phone away when another SMS flashed on the screen, “I’ve talked to Piya. Everything’s sorted, just talk with her…….Naman” Unknowingly her lips curved into a smile, “I love that guy!” Her face turned red realizing what she just said. Even though they were engaged, she hadn’t yet verbalized her feelings to him. Perhaps when all these would be over, she should take the next step and let him know how she felt?

Just then, she saw Karan and Rishi coming to her way, prompting her to hide under the seat. “What a day!” “At least it ended well. I’m glad that Papa came back exactly when we needed him the most.” “Do you think we should inform Chachu about that girl?” “I was thinking about the same. Although… I’d like to talk with Ansh first. Things with Piya didn’t end well and he’s been acting really weird since then.” “Did you know he contacted that quack?” “Who? Dev?” Rishi nodded his head, “When did that happen?” “I’m not sure, I saw Neha received a call from him and eavesdropped. Apparently Bhai consulted with him and requested him for some medicine.” “This Ansh! What the hell is wrong with him!”

“I don’t know Bhai. I don’t trust that Dev guy one bit. Also…” He stopped midway, unsure of whether he should finish his sentence or not, “What is it?” “When he hit Dev, I saw a momentary flicker in his eyes, as if… His eyes were glowing.” “Are you sure?” “50/50. It happened really fast and I know it sounds crazy but I feel there’s some truth in Bhai’s narration. If he had been schizophrenic, wouldn’t we have noticed at least some symptoms before?” “I agree with you. I don’t give a damn about Dev’s explanation either. I saw the way Ansh was looking at Piya in the hospital. No one can develop such strong feelings overnight just by writing a book. There’s more to it.”

“What are we gonna do now?” “For now, let’s give Ansh some time. Rest, I’ll talk to Papa tomorrow and maybe he can convince Piya’s parents or whatsoever.” The cousins left discussing while Saavi felt her heart skipping several beats. The last time their paths crossed, Dev created a rift among all of them and nearly overpowered Piya. If he was conjured again, Piya would stand no chance against him, specially in a world where every single thing was designed to rip her apart from Ansh’s life. She grabbed her phone and frantically dialled Piya’s number, “Come on, pick it up Di!”

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“Ansh?” Piya walked towards him, “What’s the matter?” Ansh felt his heart racing. It was almost midnight. How on earth Piya managed to come at this hour? Until a few hours ago her condition was so serious that the doctors weren’t allowing anyone in her cabin. There was no way she would come all the way to meet him, that too after turning down his proposal. He must be hallucinating. Yes, that was it - his mind was repeating its cruel games with him again.

“Stay away from me!” He pushed her away violently, “This is not real, this can’t be!” Piya, who wasn’t expecting Ansh to react that way tripped and crashed on the table causing it to shatter. “Piya!” Naman came outrunning, “Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” Still dazed, she wiped off the blood from her forehead and turned to Ansh who was shaking like a leaf.

“Ansh…” “Please leave me alone!” He cried out, “I don’t want to hurt you.” “Why would you hurt me?” She approached him again and gently touched his face, “It’s me - your Piya.” “No, you’re not. You said you didn’t want me in your life…” “That wasn’t me, I can explain…” “Ansh?” Piya froze hearing Mohana’s voice. “Is everything alright?” “Everything’s fine Maa.” “Are you sure?” “Yes, go back to your sleep.”

With bated breath, Piya waited until she heard Mohana’s footstep disappearing. Ansh on the other hand, kept staring at her in disbelief. “Well that was close,” Naman peaked through the window to see if anyone else was coming. “Listen Ansh…” “What do you want?” “I’m sorry?” “What brings you two here?” “You - we’re here to get you back. This world is an illusion Ansh. You haven’t simply travelled to the past. You have created a dream world where everything is perfect.” “You are lying.” “No…”

“You told me you were happy with your life. Then we met again and you said you would always find your way back to me. But when I tried to hold your hand, you pushed me away. You said you would never accept me in your life. Then why are you doing this drama now?” “It’s no drama Ansh, I came here just for you. What happened to my Ansh who went through time and space to revive me? I know all of this is very confusing. Give me some time and I’ll explain everything to you. Don’t you trust me” “I…” He stopped midway. What she just told, reminded him of the life he had known forever. Was she telling the truth? Or was it his subconscious trying to override his senses again as Dev had warned him?

“It is not wrong to love someone. However, you should value your partner for who she is, not because she fulfills the criteria you set up based on a fictional character.”

“How can I be sure you are not lying? You have read my book; you know what I think of you, don’t you?”

“I do, which is exactly why I’m not forcing my methods on you. You are yet to understand the full potential of your subconscious mind. I have a feeling you’ve started experiencing it. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have sought my help, would you Ansh?”

“Just tell me what you want me to do. I’m tired of your mind games.”

“You love this girl, right? Then do the right thing for her. Observe your surroundings, analyze your situation, slowly you’ll realize what’s possible and what’s your imagination. Be the ideal man your girl deserves, not some imaginary supernatural entity who thrives on others’ misery and tries to romanticize it.”

Tears blurred his vision as reality hit him - it was his wishful thinking. In the real world, no one would accompany his fiancé so she could profess her love for a complete stranger. He was clearly hallucinating, again.

“You of all people should know how time-travelling works. Does anything in this world remotely follow any natural laws? Look around - everything is perfect! Everyone we ever loved are alive! That’s not how the real world works Ansh. You can’t find happiness without accepting your share of sorrow. Light would lose its allure if there was no darkness. I know I hurt you a lot through my words. But believe me, I meant none of those things. You are my greatest happiness Ansh. This perfect world means nothing to me. All I need is you!”

How he wished he could hold her hand and tell her he felt all those things too! Conscious or deluded, she was the only woman he had ever loved. Too bad their union would always pose a threat to her existence. No matter which version of reality he believed in, a schizophrenic writer or the King of Darkness – she deserved better, and he was gonna make sure of that.

“Ansh please look at me! Talk to me! I’m begging you, say something for God’s sake!” “Don’t you get it? I don’t want to do anything with you.” “Ansh!” Piya felt like her entire world crumbled around her. “People chase their dreams, they don’t dwell in nightmares. You are a figment of my imagination, nothing more. Henceforth I refuse to accept you.” Turning away from her, he opened his drawer and took out some tablets Dev prescribed him.

“Oh no!” Naman identified the medicine immediately. “Stop!” He snatched the container from Ansh’s hand and threw it out of the window. “Are you out of your mind!” “You tell me Oh Wise One, if we were a part of your worst nightmare, how come you haven’t woken up yet?” “I…” Ansh looked confounded. “And what the hell were you doing with those tablets? Have you forgotten? Mohana almost lost her powers upon ingesting them.” “Why do you even care?” “What do you mean why do you care?” “Did Dev give you those medicines?” “Piya what are you…” Naman stopped as soon as he spotted the prescription in her hand. “How do you know about him?” “Doesn’t matter, is Dev here?” “My God! You resurrected him too!”

“Ansh!” Piya hugged him immediately, catching him off his guard, “Why are you doing this?” Her voice chocked, “I gave you my everything, wasn’t that enough?” “Get away from me!” He jerked her off. “Why won’t you give us another chance?” “Because it’s not worth it! Even if this is a dream world, I would rather spend the rest of my life here than returning to your wretched world where I’m continuously looked down upon by the greatest Daivik of all time.” “Ansh listen…” “You want me to remember our life together? Well guess what? I want to erase everything that bears any sign of your existence. You were tired of being tied to me, right? I’m setting you free now. Go away and never come back.”

“This isn’t you! This can’t be!” “You should be grateful to me Piya. I’m saving us both from a lifetime of misery.” “You fool!” Naman rushed to support a devastated Piya, “You have no idea who you are hurting in your ignorance.” “What about our kids?” She mumbled in an almost inaudible tone, “What am I gonna say to Adi and Pari?” “After abandoning him for your false pride, now you are worried about his well-being?” “That’s enough!” “Any child would be better off without a mother like you. Don’t worry about disappointing them again Piya; you won’t ever have to face them again for they won’t be born to you.” “Please stop!” She broke down completely.

“I’m done Piya.” Ansh muttered with utmost difficulty as the sight before him broke his heart, “It’s time you accepted the truth.” “Wait,” She tried to hold his hand as a last ditched effort but he pushed her hand away, “I said leave me alone!” His eyes lit up all of a sudden when Piya was thrown across the room on his command. “No!” Naman ran towards her direction, “What did you do!” Horrified, Ansh couldn’t move a single muscle in his body. If he didn’t possess any power, how did that happen? “Piya hey, open your eyes!” Naman kept trying to wake her up but no one answered to his pleas…

Chapter - 18

“All that trouble and for what!” “To be reminded of how helpless you are in front of your child.” Nishant’s reply took Naman by surprise. Usually, whenever he got fed up and vented, Nishant calmed him down no matter how frustrated he himself might be. This was the first time when he didn’t try to reason with him or come up with an alternative solution. “You have a daughter now, I hope you never have to go through this.” The complete resignation in his voice broke Naman’s heart. Being a single father, he could very well identify with Nishant’s pain. That man had already lost too much. If anything happened to Piya…

Naman shook himself from the thought. No, there had to be another way. “Can’t believe I’m saying this, I wish it were Mohana or some other Kaalishakti instead of Ansh.” He let out a sigh, “He’s the only one she can never win against.” “That’s because she doesn’t want to, we don’t any such obligation. If only we could put some sense into Ansh’s thick skull…” “How do you suggest we do that?” “Well, for starters, we can take you there and you can give him two tight slaps for misbehaving with her.” “Don’t tempt me.” “I’m serious…” “So am I, I beat the crap out of Ansh once, for this exact same reason,” His jawline stiffened recalling the incident. “What did he do to earn your wrath?” “He hurt her, or at least that’s what I thought at that time.” “Did he?” “No, in fact, he was trying to save her life,” He paused for a moment.

“You see, that’s the issue here, I can’t deny Ansh has broken Piya’s heart several times over the years, sometimes unintentionally, sometimes out of helplessness and sometimes because… Well… Simply because he’s Ansh. When he felt Piya would be better off without him, he truly believed that. Believe me, I want to go to this dreamland and drag him out of there as much as you do. However, I’m also aware of how much that idiot loves my daughter. I can’t risk his safety, Piya would never recover if something happened to Ansh. I can protect her from anything but this. She will willingly destroy herself for him and unfortunately, I can’t stop her from doing that.”

“This is insane! There must be another way.” “Is it?” Naman got startled seeing Guru Maa standing at the door. “I’m sorry Amma. Did we wake you up?” “It’s okay,” The elder lady stepped inside and went near Piya, “I was waiting for Piya.” She caressed her face and turned around, “Do you remember how Piya was a child?” “Happy, inquisitive… Always ready to help others.” “And her longing for her mother?” “I could barely pick up on that. When she first came to stay with us, she was too timid. I thought was she was taking her time for settling down.” “That’s how she has always been, she would endure everything silently without letting others know what’s going inside her, everyone except Ansh.” “Ansh?”

“Yes Naman, it was destiny that a Daivik would take birth for a Daavansh, nonetheless, Piya’s feelings for Ansh were independent of their shared fate. He was the only person who saw her for who she was. Her joy, her sorrow, her longing for Divya - Ansh could sense it all. It’s not like Piya bared her heart before him, he just knew. And that’s the reason Piya feels so connected to him. With Ansh she can be herself, be heard even when she’s not talking. They became one long before either of them realized it.” “That is exactly why it’s so difficult for her when it comes to Ansh. We don’t know what happened between them that things escalated this far. Still, you’ve gotta give him some benefit of the doubt, if not for him then for Gudiya. Otherwise she’ll completely shatter.”

“How I wish things were so simple!” Naman thought to himself. It was one thing being aware of facts and another to witness its consequences. Intentionally or unintentionally, the abuse Ansh hurled at Piya, could she ever recover from that?

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“Pari, what’s the matter dear?”

“Mumma, why can’t we stay with Papa?”

“Didn’t I tell you sweetheart? Papa lives far away. That’s why we can’t go to him.”

“But what about my brother? Why doesn’t he visit me during Raksha Bandhan?”

“Tell me son, what were you doing here alone? Don’t you have any elder with you?”

“I was going to meet my mother.”

“Any child would be better off without a mother like you. Don’t worry about disappointing them again Piya; you won’t ever have to face them again for they won’t be born to you.”

“No!” Piya woke up screaming. “Piya,” Naman came running, “It’s okay, don’t be afraid.” Looking at her state, he couldn’t be sure whether any of his words reached her. “My kids…” “They are safe and sound as they should be.” “They haven’t…” “No,” He pressed her hand firmly to reassure her, “It was just a bad dream. Welcome home.” It took her a while to compose herself and when Naman finally felt she was okay, Piya burst out crying. “Hey, it’s alright…” “I need to see them.” “It’s 5 am in the morning.” “I don’t care. I have to…” “Piya, calm down.” Guru Maa held her hand, “You are not in a state to interact with anyone. Do you want to frighten those poor kids?” “You don’t understand, they need me…” “No one’s stopping you from meeting them,” Nishant came and hugged her tightly to calm her down, “Just take a deep breath first, alright?” “Baba…” “Shhhhh... It’s okay, I’m here, we’re all here with you. You are not alone!”

It took all three of them another couple of hours before Piya got a grip on herself. While Naman couldn’t decide whether he should bring out the topic of Ansh’s sudden demonstration of power or not, Piya told Nishant about it and requested them to bring Saavi back. The damage was already done. There was no need for her to babysit their doppelgangers and waste her energy. Meanwhile, Piya wanted to spend some time with Adi and Pari to which Guru Maa readily agreed.

“You think she’ll be okay?” “No. But it’ll give her respite.” “Besides, it’s been two days. The kids were already missing them.” “What about our mission?” “You heard her, she hasn’t forgotten anything.” Nishant faced Naman, “She clearly remembers Ansh used his powers on her. Apparently we were wrong in our earlier hypothesis. That’s why she wants Saavi to join us so we can find a solution together.” “I got that, it’s just that… I don’t know how to explain myself but the way Ansh behaved with her there, it felt as if years of his penned-up frustration came out all of a sudden and it was way more than she could bear. He literally declared Piya to be a deadbeat mom. You saw how agitated she was when she woke up, right? It’s because of that. I’m worried about her reaction when she meets her kids. I hope it doesn’t overwhelm her.” “That point is long gone Naman. Right now she needs some time to think everything through and we should let her be.” “I hope you are right.”

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“What do you think Mumma and Papa are up to these days?” Pari asked Adi while coloring her sketchbook. “Nanu Papa said they are on an important mission,” Adi replied with a frown, “I wish I was a bit older to accompany them.” “I miss them!” “Yeah, me too. What’s the use of vacation when all we are doing is sitting at home and watching cartoon?” “Even Dada-Dadi are busy with Pandit Ji.” “At least we get to play with Dafli.” “Yeah!” Pari said enthusiastically, “Isn’t she the cutest?” “Papa said he was going to take us out for the newest Avengers movie…”

“Us or you?” Pari cocked her eyebrow, “I don’t get what’s so interesting about those gigantic weirdos when we have fought with more powerful demons.” “You are too little to understand that little sister,” He threw a soft toy at her playfully, “You keep coloring those boring pots while I’ll get to enjoy a peaceful evening.” “Let Mumma come, I’ll tell her what you said.” “How convenient…” Adi threw another toy at Pari’s direction. This time, the younger one protested by throwing her colors at him. “Why you little…” He started chasing her while she giggled running away from him.

As their gleeful laughter filled the air, Piya looked at her kids with an inexplicable heartache. How often did history repeat itself? She remembered she had a similar aspiration as her kids when she was a little girl. Whenever Divya or Nishant returned home after defeating a Kaalishakti, she and Danish would badger their parents to tell them all about their adventure. Saavi was too little to understand anything. She would just crawl her way to their lap and look at their faces with wonder. Who would have ever thought one accident would lead to their family’s destruction?

She loved her parents; despite growing us as an orphan she never held any grudge against them for abandoning her. Perhaps it was Divya’s upbringing that she learned sacrifice and loss were an inseparable part of a Reevavanshi’s life. Yet, the day Adi was born, she promised herself that she would never let her boy suffer an ounce of what she went through. Ironic that all it took was Ansh’s rejection for her to leave Adi behind. After all these years, when she thought she had left her past behind, their kids were finally thriving in the assurance of a complete, happy family - her one unmeant remark threatened to uproot them from that safe haven once again.

“Mumma!” Pari came running and hugged her, “When did you come?” “A few minutes ago.” “Where’s Papa?” “He’ll be back, he has some pending work.” “Mum look what I’ve made,” The little girl pulled her mother inside, “Aren’t these pretty?” “Very.” “Show off,” “Adi…” “What? She has asked the same question to ten different people since the morning. Look what she has done to my clothes.” “And what about the soft toys? Did they fly on their own to her direction?” “Umm...” “Go on, tell her the truth future Mr. Reevavanshi.” “Pari,” Piya knelt beside her kids, “You shouldn’t tease your brother so much.” “That’s what I keep saying,” Adi’s face lit up, “She doesn’t even call me Bhaiya.” “That doesn’t mean you get to pull her leg all the time.” She said ruffling his hair, “She’s your little sister, if not you, who else will protect her?”

“Fine,” He crossed his arms in annoyance, “Tell her to stop making fun of MCU.” “In your dreams.” She stuck her tongue out annoying him further, “See, that’s what she keeps doing when you are out.” “Fine, I give up,” Piya raised her hands, “You guys enjoy your fight. I can discard these tickets or give them to someone else.” “No wait,” Adi stopped her immediately, “Please take me out. I’ve been dying to watch that movie.” “Only you?” “Who else then? Her Highness doesn’t want to accompany us.” “Why would I? Those movies are insufferable.” “Hmm… Good question, here I thought you might be interested in going to that home-craft festival near the mall but I guess I’ll have to...” “I’ll be right back!” Pari ran out to get ready, “Wait for me!” Adi ran behind her.

Piya spent the entire day with her children. While she tried her best to keep her mind unoccupied, Ansh’s words kept ringing in her ears. Naman’s constant messaging didn’t help either as it only reminded her of how little time they had on their hands. Not that she could blame him, he was there with her when all hell broke loose. It was a miracle that they let her leave Sharma House after this morning. Unknowingly her lips curved into a smile. She realized what she had to do to reverse everything. Trouble was, it would require every bit of her powers to accomplish that seemingly impossible task, which again was okay. She was at peace knowing she could choose all of her loved ones without being selfish.

“Mumma?” Piya opened her eyes. “Yes Adi?” “Are you okay?” “I’m fine dear.” “Are you sure? You seem a bit lost and…” He stopped midway, trying to think of the most appropriate word to express his thoughts. “And?” “In pain?” “Come here,” Piya beckoned him to sit beside her, “You know what makes you so special?” “My powers!” The boy said with utmost enthusiasm. “Well…” Piya chuckled seeing his fervor, “Having immense power is definitely exciting but there’s more,” She put her hand on his chest, “That’s what makes you so special - your pure heart, your perception.” She pulled him in a side hug and continued, “When you were little, your Papa would often take you in his arms and rejoice saying you are his as you looked exactly like him.” She smiled recalling the past.

“Then one day we realized you are telepathetically connected to me and Ansh’s face was worth watching.” “Isn’t that cool? The way you and I can communicate without talking? Remember when we defeated Prathmayan?” “How can I ever forget that? You were so brave!” “I want to become even braver Mumma, like you and Papa, I want to become the greatest Reevavanshi of all time!” “I’m certain you will be. But first, you need to be self-aware. And more importantly, you need to love yourself. Once you truly accept every part of you - good and bad, no one will be able to defeat you.” “I don’t understand.”

“You are a lot like your Papa - kind, perceptive, protective of the people you love… which makes me wonder whether he passed his constant need for validation onto you as well or not.” “What does validation mean?” “It means you want other people to approve your actions. For example, you got me a plant last week...” “Which died the very next day due to overwatering.” He said with a long face, “I was such an idiot!” “No, you were not. It was an honest mistake for a seven years old boy. What matters is your thoughtfulness. You heard me talking to your Maasi and got me one of my favorite flower plants.” “Are you trying to make me feel better?”

“Not at all, I genuinely loved your surprise. That being said, let’s assume someone told you the gift wasn’t good enough and you took his/her words seriously, making it a point that he/she agrees with your idea of a perfect gift, that would mean you want that person to approve or validate your choice.” “Why would I do that? They don’t know me or you.” “Exactly.” “Does Papa do that? I mean seeking validation or whatever?” “Not always, however, he does want to please everyone, sometimes at his own expense. Do you know why?” “Why?” “Because for the longest time, he could not accept his identity. It didn’t matter how much your Dada-Dadi loved him or how many times he used his power to save me and the supernatural world. He made it up in his mind that he was a threat to everyone as he possessed dark powers.” “I’m feeling bad for Papa. It must have been awfully difficult for him.”

“It has been. That is why I want you to understand, your vices and virtues - together they complete you. Being a good person doesn’t mean you can’t have any bad qualities. Rather it’s about the choices you make along the way.” “You are making it sound like an exam.” “Only it lasts your entire life.” “Now that’s reassuring.” Adi said rolling his eyes, “I never realized the concept could be so complex.” “You are right. I’m sorry for making this unnecessarily complicated. Let me try it differently, do you think I am a bad person?” “What? No!” “In that case, you should ask your Maasi or Naman Uncle about me for they know all about my quirks - the good, the bad and the ugly. Yet here I am, giving you valuable life lessons from my very own version of “Daivik Rahasya”.” Adi started laughing seeing her expression, “You are funny.”

“I try my best,” She tilted her head in a bow, making him laugh louder, “Although I gotta admit, Naman’s sense of humor gives me a serious complex. But seriously Adi, life is so interesting because of its ups and downs. Light would lose its allure if there was no darkness. If you want to celebrate the good days, you’ll have to accept the difficult days also. There’s no middle ground. You must accept your flaws before you want others to accept and love you. Otherwise, your self-doubt would become the biggest reason of their agony.”

“Has Papa ever hurt you?” “What! Why?” “You said he had trouble accepting himself, and that people with low self-esteem hurt their loved ones. By that logic you must have suffered too.” Piya stared at Adi for a few seconds and then burst out laughing. “What? What’s so funny?” “Your analysis, it’s mind blowing.” She could hardly finish her sentence and started laughing again. “For what it’s worth, you are not entirely wrong. When we first met, I had a hard time convincing him I liked him.” “When did he realize you were telling the truth?” “After I was almost burned to death.” “What!” “Relax, it was a long time ago. Besides, I’m a Daivik and he’s a Daavansh. Naturally, our tale consisted of a lot more theatrics than normal people.”

“Mumma!” “Hmm?” “What do you think my worst quality is?” “What?” “My worst quality. I get we can’t be prepared for everything life throws at us. Still, I’d like to know about my shortcomings so I can work on them.” “Fair enough, to be completely honest, I don’t think I can put my finger on any of your traits that can be considered as bad, let alone worst. However, you tend to hide your feelings to please others. That’s not an entirely good thing dear. I am not saying you should be frivolous like Pari. But one must know where to draw the line. It’s better to be emotionally independent than relying on others. You should have the courage, to ask all the right questions, and to fight for what’s right, no matter who is in front of you. Just because you are younger, doesn’t mean you can’t call the elders out on their wrong deeds, we too make mistakes, you know.” “Like not telling Pari to shut up more often?” He remarked with a mischievous grin. “Adi…” “Sorry, you were saying?”

“Remember one thing, loving someone doesn’t necessarily mean you have to forgive their atrocities. You can be devoted to people without being their puppet. Devotion isn’t synonymous with being oblivious. It means you love them to the extent where you’ll do everything in your power to protect them even if that requires you to oppose them in certain instances. It’s easy to stand up to your enemies. Only a few possess the strength to go against their loved ones when they are wrong. So never mistake resistance for a sign of ungratefulness.” “Have you ever said this to Pari? Because that would explain why she has made it her life’s goal to contradict me on every possible occasion.” He said jokingly.

“When you say it like this, I can’t help but wonder.” “Guess I’ll have to learn something from her after all.” He feigned a sigh amusing Piya. “Before you do that, I want to impart one last pearl of wisdom, perhaps the most precious of them all.” “Oh yeah? What’s that?” “One day you’ll grow up and find love, don’t you ever consider it to be pity. Love is an extremely powerful emotion Adi. It’s not so trivial that people give it away for nothing. When you are loved, know that you have earned that and treasure it, don’t let it become a burden.”

“I didn’t get you.” “You will, in time.” She gazed at Pari who was busy playing with other kids. “Can I ask you something?” “Sure.” “You never asked me why I left you with your Papa. Why is that? Didn’t you feel angry?” “What’s gotten into you today? Why are you asking all these weird questions?” “No specific reason, just felt like asking it.” Piya cut short her reply. Adi sat in silence for a while and then opened his mouth, “I used to feel very lonely, and a tad bit of angry, not gonna lie, when I saw other kids with their mothers.” “Yet, you accepted me when I returned.”

“Well… You had already told us that Pari and I were too young to understand your side of the story. I thought maybe I should wait until I became older. Besides, with your return, I got the one thing I always wished for - my mother! What else could I ask for?” “An explanation perhaps, I don’t know…” “Honestly, I never gave it much of a thought. When you were not here, I used to ask everyone about you, like how did you look or who did I take after, you or Papa? No one ever gave me any clear answer. Dadi once told me I got your eyes. That made me really happy as I always considered my eyes to be the best part of my face. If I got them from you, that must mean you were incredibly beautiful!”

“Is that so?” “Yes, I often tried to picture you in my head. Sometimes I saw you in my dreams, like a blurry image. It always felt so nice.” While Adi expressed his feelings smilingly, Piya felt as if someone ripped open her heart. “You remember the day we met near the temple?” She nodded her head. “I felt extremely jealous of Pari. When you came running and hugged her, I wondered where my mother was! Why couldn’t she hug me like that? And more importantly, how come her mother looked more beautiful than my mother because… Well… You were prettier than my imagination.”

“Adi…” “I was ecstatic when Pari handed me our family photograph. The thought of having an affectionate mother as hers sent me on cloud nine.” “I’m so sorry!” Piya hugged him immediately and cried out, “I never should have left you behind.” “It’s okay,” He hugged his mother back, “You came back to me, that’s more important.” “But…” “Earlier I had no idea. Now that I have faced a few Kaalishaktis myself, I understand what you and Papa must do to protect others. I’m sure you did the same thing back then also, to protect me from some sort of evil.” Piya’s grip on the little boy grew tighter. Her little boy! The one who suffered for no reason but her pride. How could he forgive her so easily!

“Mum you are hugging me too tight.” “Sorry!” She let him go immediately. “What’s the matter?” He asked her with concern. “Nothing, I just need a moment, that’s all.” She wiped her tears, “I didn’t…” “It’s not your fault dear. Mumma should be the one apologizing.” She took a moment to compose herself and faced Adi again. “Now this… This is one of the bad habits you inherited from me.” “What is it?” “Trying to look for positivity in everything.” “That’s a bad thing?” “It is when you focus too much on shielding your heart that you lose sight of others’ suffering.” “What are you talking about?”

“Do you know what happened to your Nani?” “Yes, Nanu Papa said she fought bravely against Kaalishaktis during Pralay Yudh and sacrificed her life to protect you all.” “That’s right, she is the bravest person I’ve ever known.” “Is?” “Yes, she may be dead for this world but she is still alive in my heart.” “Do you miss her?” “All the time!” “I wish I got to meet her!” “You did, you met her when you were very young. She loved you dearly.” “More than Pari?” Piya couldn’t help but laugh, “What is it with you two always competing?” “Tell me Mumma, did she love me more?” “Technically speaking, yes. She died before Pari was born.” “I’m sorry!” “It’s okay, I know you didn’t mean to hurt me or disrespect her.” She forced a smile to assure him.

“Earlier you asked me why I was asking you these heavy questions today.” “Yes” “When I came home this morning and heard your conversation with Pari, it reminded me of my childhood. I too, used to eagerly wait for my parents so I could bombard them with questions and know all about their adventures.” “That sounds fun.” “It was until one day, Maa left me in Guru Maa’s care, promising me that she’ll be back but never returned.” She turned away from Adi to hide her tears, “Mum…”

“For years, I held onto this belief that one day she would be back. Night after night, I cried until I fell asleep, blaming myself for not stopping her that day.” “Could you?” “Could I what?” “Could you stop Nani from going out that day?” “I don’t think so. That’s the thing Adi… Being an adult and more importantly as a Reevavanshi, now I understand why she did what she did. Unfortunately, a six years old kid did not have that clarity. Decades have passed, so many things have changed, I have my own family now. But that little girl still resides in some corner of my heart. I don’t want you or Pari to go through that pain. When I said too much positivity has the potential to become a toxic trait, I actually meant the effort we put to ignore the obvious.” “Can you explain it elaborately? I’m getting confused.”

“When I lost your Nani, I built a wall around my heart to protect myself. I held onto the one positive thing I could think of – her promise, and kept moving forward. It saved me from a lot of heartache, yes, unfortunately I can’t say the same about my loved ones.” “What do you mean?” “I’m not the only one who lost Maa, Saavi lost her too. Maybe as a kid, I didn’t have much authority. However, once I grew up and came to Mumbai, no one stopped me from meeting her. It was my own choice. Just like my mother’s last words were my only solace, my father’s desertion served as a vortex of despondence. Amidst my hopeless quest for reuniting with my mother, I didn’t want an added source of negativity. So I shut him out of my life, and in doing so, I ignored my little sister. That was wrong. I should have been there for Saavi even if she felt she didn’t need me.”

“How can you be there for someone when they don’t need you?” “You tell me, why were you cycling behind Pari when she asked Ansh to teach her how to ride a cycle?” “Because I knew she was gonna fall sooner or later.” “There’s your answer. I know she can be a little difficult…” “Little?” Adi rolled his eyes. “Alright… A lot... She overestimates her powers and unwittingly irritates you. Despite all that, you are the first one to run to her aid every time she faces any difficulty, whether she realizes it or not.” She smiled in appreciation, “What? Did you really think I was unaware of your affection?” “Whatever…” He shrugged his shoulder to avoid the topic. “Silly boy,” Piya ruffled his hair affectionately.

“Saavi is my baby sister. She was like our delicate little toy whom we wanted to protect from the harsh world and she worshipped the ground Danish and I walked on. I can’t even imagine her state when she learned of our death and was raised alone by Baba.” Her voice choked, “My sister was all alone when I wallowed in self-pity. So what if I was a kid? Had I requested Guru Maa and come back for her, it’s not like I’d be doing her a favor. I know she would have healed my broken heart too. I did not avoid conflict Adi, I lost a part of my soul and so did she.” Piya closed her eyes and took a long breath.

“My eyes aren’t the only thing you got for me, you inherited my coping mechanisms as well. You could have confronted me when I returned. Instead, you made it up in your mind that whatever I did was for your protection. You highlighted your mother’s sacrifice over her selfishness.” “Did you have my betterment in your mind or not?” “That’s not important.” “It is to me. Tell me Mumma, did you not care about me or not?” “I did…” “Then that’s all that matters to me. I don’t need to know every single detail of your life.” “Perhaps not today.” “What is that supposed to mean?”

“When you start to solve a mathematical problem, you can’t stop until both the side of the equation balances them out. The never ending battle between good and evil follows a similar trend. We may have defeated Mohana and shifted the balance to our side, that doesn’t mean the power balance won’t ever shift again. It’s a part of the grand scheme of the universe, sometimes the good will win and sometimes the evil will terrorize the earth. That’s the ultimate truth.” “Okay…” “You and Pari are way too accustomed to winning. You think no matter how powerful the enemy is, your Papa and I are strong enough to defeat them. Sadly, there’s something even we can’t win against.”

“What’s that?” “Inevitability. There might come a day when we will lose and won’t be able to return to you. On that day, I want both of my kids to stay strong. Promise me Adi, if something horrible ever happens to me, you won’t blame yourself.” “No!” “Listen to me…” “No!” “It’s not like I’m dying today…” “Then stop talking about this.” “I can’t… As parents, we want to protect our kids from everything. However, we often forget to prepare them for what’s to come. We think there’s ample time and keep stalling until one day reality hits us.” “Please stop!”

“I love you Adi!” She cupped his face, “You don’t need to come up with a made-up justification every time you feel conflicted. Here’s the truth, if you could sum up the entire world’s love, multiply it with ‘n’ and then add another couple of thousands to it, even that would fall short to how much I love you and Pari. So don’t you ever feel lonely or unwanted, okay? Always remember, whenever I’ll close my eyes, you’ll be my last thought.” “I don’t want to be your last thought,” The boy cried out, “I want you with me, always and forever!” “What did I just tell you?” She wiped his tears, “I’ll never leave you alone. Even if I’m gone, I’ll be with you in spirit.” “That’s not fair. I already lost you once, I can’t lose you again.” “You won’t. I’ll fight till my last breath so I can return to you.” “Then it’s sorted. You never go back on your words. Since you’ve promised me of your return, you’ll have to come back for me, as simple as that.”

“I wish I could tell you that!” Piya broke down before him, “I don’t want to give you false hope. I don’t want you to suffer the way I did. Whether we like it or not, death is a part of life. One day you’ll have to let me go. I just… I just want to prepare you for that day. I want you to know you are not responsible for my choices. I want you to grieve, I want you to embrace your vulnerability rather than bottling your emotions inside. Don’t become eccentric like me, don’t repeat my mistakes. Be there for Pari and everyone you love. Never leave anyone behind trying to prioritize the others. It may seem impossible at times but it’s not for love is the only thing that increases the more people you share it with.”

“How about we make a deal? Promise me you will never give up on us, not even for a second. And in return, I’ll remember these words and grow up to be the person you want me to be.” “Deal.” “That’s wonderful because now you won’t be able to leave again even if you want to. After all, that goes against the most basic nature of yours.” Seeing his innocent smile, a lump formed in Piya’s throat. The boy truly got the best of them - Ansh’s purity and her resilience. Even when he was in pain, he tried to lift up her spirit. What good had she done to deserve such a young, thoughtful boy.

“Come here,” She engulfed him in a bone-crushing hug, “Mum, easy…” “I love you!” “I love you too!” He broke the hug and wiped his mother’s tears. “On a side note, does our agreement include me taking care of your little brat?” “Adi!” “I’m kidding,” He said laughing, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Pari. Although, it would be deeply appreciated if you could impart some of your knowledge to her too.” “Oh well… It would take more than a conversation to convince her. As you know, she’s a different species altogether,” Piya said jokingly.

“Indeed, Ghanghor Ajeeb Praani!” “What did you say?” “Ghanghor Ajeeb Praani, that’s what you call Papa when you get pissed off, right?” “Yeah, but your father kind of owns the copyright of that title. You’ll have to come up with something different, something more innovative.” “How about Junior GAP or… I’ve got it! Ghanghor Ghamandi Praani!” “Perfect! I mean… It’s a bit rude, don’t you think?” “You agree with me, don’t you?” “I don’t disagree…” “I can see your lips curving Mumma, you can’t lie to me.” “I’m not, all I’m saying is she’s too young to earn such a nickname, cut her some slack..” “Tell that to your darling daughter. She’s the one who thinks she’s the best.” “Maybe some other time,” She smiled at the boy, “Now come on, it’s almost 6 pm. We better start for home.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

“It’s getting late.” Saavi said anxiously. “Relax, it’s just 8:30 pm.” “Saavi is right Sir Ji, Piya said she was on her way…” “Which was five minutes ago.” “You two are not helping.” Nishant got a little annoyed, “Your anxiety is stressing Dafli out too. Take a breath or do whatever it is you need to calm down. ” “Sorry I’m late.” “Di!” Saavi rushed to the entrance and hugged her, “I thought…” “You need to stop worrying too much. It’s not good for your health.” Piya stroked her hair affectionately, “I’m glad you’re safe.” She broke the hug and turned toward Naman, “Thank you Naman!” “For what?” “Everything...” “You got us all worried dear.” “I know, I’m sorry Guru Maa.” “Di, there is something we need to tell you. We think…” “Ansh has some residual powers? Yeah, I think so too.” “How about we all sit down and have a proper discussion?”

“Since we all agree Jiju has his powers, what are we waiting for?” “I second her opinion Piya. I told you this before, we should have forced him to return with us when we had the chance.” “It’s not too late. We can still do that Gudiya. We woke you up from this side, we can do the same for him.” “I agree with your suggestion except, it won’t be that easy with him,” Piya replied calmly, “You have no idea how painful it was when the link was severed. I felt like my head would explode any moment. Ansh’s subconscious mind is the root of this dreamland. None of us have any control over there. We can try waking him up but it might have disastrous effects. Which is why I’m gonna create a parallel dream world.”

“Come again?” Naman couldn’t believe his ears. “Are you out of your mind Di!” “Listen to me first, there are spells that can’t be cast alone irrespective of how powerful you are. When we wanted to sacrifice our powers, both of us had to perform the ritual since Daavansh and Daivik’s energies are complimentary. I’m taking a cue from that. I’m gonna create an identical parallel world and merge it with Ansh’s. Only then I’ll gain full control over it.” “How are you going to do that?” “With Daayan Vrikhsh’s help. I have seen through Ansh’s eyes before. This time I’m gonna use his memories to shape up my world.” “No.” “No?” “Of course not. Even if you succeed, your mind will surely perish under so much burden. I’m not gonna let you do that.”

“I knew you were gonna say this.” Piya held Nishant’s hand to comfort him, “Forgive me for disobeying you this time.” Before anyone could say a word, she opened a vial containing a powerful sleeping potion and saw her family members losing their consciousness one by one. Once they all fell asleep, she destroyed each item that had been used previously to connect them to Ansh’s world. Later she prepared a new potion, based on the instructions of the original ancient scroll, and invoked Daayan Vriksh, “Show me what’s inside his mind.”

She made an incision on her shoulder, right on her Daivik Mark, and brought a piece of Ansh’s feathers from their inventory which Nishant had stored for such an instance. After offering her blood and the feather in the potion, she held Ansh’s hand and commanded Daayan Vriksh to lay out its roots in the potion and insert it inside their flesh, binding their hands in an unbreakable bond. “God that hurt!” She greeted her teeth to control her pain. She continued chanting while more roots came out of the tree and covered their bodies. Once the connection between their physical bodies was established, she closed her eyes and focused on building an identical but parallel dream world.

In the meantime, Daayan Vriksh grew two separate branches that touched the back of their heads. In her mind, Piya saw a tree forming. It was symmetrical but separated at its stem. Her grip on Ansh’s hand grew tighter as she kept chanting until the two branches fused and metamorphosed into a complete tree representing the merging of the parallel worlds. “It is done,” She closed her eyes to reconnect with her doppelganger’s body, “Let’s end this once and for all…”