A Tale As Old As Time - Page 15

Chapter - 22

“Danish,what are you doing son?” “I’m reading Dad!” The four years old replied enthusiastically. “Look, I learned a new word.” He pointed to his book, “It’s rigrat.” “Regret?” “Yes! What does it mean Dad?” “It means when you do something and after a while feel bad about it?” “How come?” “Hmm, let me see,” Nishant sat beside Danish and took him into his lap, “Remember when I bought you that toy gun and you immediately shot Saavi?” “Yeah,” His face fell, “I didn’t mean to hurt her Dad, I thought it would be fun.” “I know dear,” Nishant ruffled his hair and smiled, “You were only trying to have some fun with your sister. But you didn’t realize that she was gonna get hurt. So the sadness you felt, it was a form of regret – something you did with pure intention and still it ended upbadly.” He hugged the child affectionately, “The good news is now you know the consequence of your action and you will never repeat it, right?” “Right, I’ll never do anything to hurt my sisters. I’ll always protect them.” “That’s like my boy! Now come on, it’s time for dinner.” “Dad do you have any regrets?” “Not that I can think of…” “What if someday you have that?” “Well…I’ll follow your example and never repeat that mistake, sounds good?” “Yeah, one day when I’ll grow up, I’ll become like you – strong and brave. I’ll never hurt anyone Dad. I’ll always protect everyone, like Superman!”

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Nishant flinched recalling the past. Regret! Such a small word but with enough weight that can crush someone beyond repair. On the day he taught Danish its meaning, he was a proud father, a content family man, a valorous Reevavanshi. Months later, he became a shell of what he once used to be. Regret being his only companion that haunted him throughout the day – where did he go wrong? How could he love the person who slaughtered his family with Mohana? And when he found out the truth, why couldn’t he do what a Reevavanshi was supposed to do? Why couldn’t he kill her and avenge his deceased ancestors? Was it because he was still in love with her? If that was so, then why did he push her away? Why did he endanger her and Piya’s lives when he knew Mohana was still out there, waiting for an opportunity to struck their family?

“I know we’ve separated; and I shouldn’t have disturbed you like this. But you’re the only one who can help me. If not for me, for our Gudiya’s sake, please… Please help me!”

“We don’t know how the fire started; we could only retrieve two dead bodies from that building - one of a woman and the other of a girl, that too totally burned.”

It’s ironic how Danish died believing his father was a superhero. If only he knew, his father failed him and his sisters every single time they needed him. He promised his son that he would learn from his mistakes, but did he? Torn between his loyalty toward his ancestors and his wife, he could not do the right thing. Neither could he stop loving her nor could he accept her back in his life. If only he had listened to his heart that day and accept Divya’s heartfelt apology, perhaps she would have been alive, perhaps Piya and Saavi would have a normal childhood. Instead, he did what the last standing son of the Reevavanshis should have done – punishing the offender of his clan, even if it meant to destroy his own little family.

Years passed by, he never truly made up his mind whether he took the right decision or not. He was certain that he was responsible for his family’s destruction. There was no two ways about it. But did he at least fulfill his duties toward his clan? Or there also he faltered? He could have never know. The only thing he could do was stay true to the promise he made to Danish and never repeat that mistake again. Yet, here he was, repeating the same vicious cycle again; he chose to believe in Piya. He let her follow a path filled with uncertainties when he should have begged her to snap out of her madness. So what if Piya would never smile in the absence of Ansh? At least she would be alive. But he bowed before her determination and now his daughter was dying in front of her.

“Bring us the Neel Heem, Naman, hurry!” “Look, the Neel Heem is also turning red, what does this mean?” “I know what I have to do to get back Piya.” “You need to act quickly,” Nishant could hear the words floating. He looked on as Naman and Saavi tried their best to revive Piya. He watched Ansh regaining his consciousness and then going back to save Piya. However, none of it mattered. It was time he accepted the truth – his Gudiya was gone. No power on earth could save her anymore.

“Baba!” Nishant felt as if his heart skipped a beat when he heard the voice. Could it be… “Look at me Baba. I’m back, I’m alright.” Piya wiped Nishant’s tears with a smile. “Gudiya!” Nishant hugged Piya tightly, “I thought I lost you!” “Didn’t I give you my words that I’ll return to you? When have I ever broken my promises?” “Di!” Saavi ran toward their direction and enveloped them both in a bone crushing hug, “Don’t you ever scare me like that!” “I’m sorry Saavi,” She pressed her forehead against Saavi’s, trying to comfort her. “I couldn’t endanger your life for my own selfish reasons. I couldn’t do that...” “But you thought I’d survive without you?” “I...” “It took me a lifetime to accept Mom’s departure. If something happened to you, I won’t be able to live. I love you!” “What did you just say?”

“I love you! Yes, I see the shoch on your face but I don’t care. Enough with living with this fear that whoever I love will leave me someday. I want you to know what you mean to me. You need to understand Jiju is not the only person who’ll be affected by your absence. Dad and Naman are my strength but they are not everything. I love you Di! I really really do. We may not have years of memories. That doesn’t mean my feelings for you is any less than what others feel for their siblings. You got Adi and Pari. I only have you, the last reminder of our mother. Don’t leave me just because I’m elder and stronger. I need you as much as your kids do, perhaps even more. I...”

“You don’t have to say anymore,” Piya hugged Saavi again, “I know that fear, I have lived with that apprehension my entire life to understand its weight. And I’m so sorry that I failed you so badly. I should have known better. I can’t bring back the lost time. But from this moment on, I won’t let you feel that void ever again, I promise.” “I’m glad that at least something good came out of that God awful spell. ” Piya looked back at Naman. “You made her say I love you,” He said smiling while a lone tear escaped his eyes, “I never thought I’d hear Saavi Ji say that in this life.” “Thank you Naman! Thank you for everything; if it weren’t for you, I….” “Where is Ansh?” Nishant and Saavi got confused and looked at Naman’s direction. It took them a moment to realize they got so excited seeing Piya regaining her consciousness that they didn’t notice Ansh was still lying unconscious.

“Oh no!” “It’s okay, don’t panic Saavi, Ansh is okay.” Piya tried to force a smile to reassure everyone. “Please don’t tell me he’s up to something. I’m this close to shoot him with a Patal Ketki laced arrow.” Nishant was about to say something but stopped midway. It had been years since Naman and Ansh mutually decided to bury the hatchet and move forward cordially. He knew Naman no longer viewed Ansh as a threat or harbored no ill intentions. However, given the fact he had witnessed him striking Piya in the dreamland, Nishant understood well from where he was coming. “What’s going on Gudiya?” “A lot of things to be precise, for now, you just need to know one thing – Ansh knows the reality. He’s aware that he created a parallel universe and he hasn’t lost his mind and I’m not gonna leave him for that matter.”

“Okay… then why is he still linked to that world?” “Because I wanted you to ask something,” Piya stopped for a second, giving the Reevavanshis some time to compose themselves, “The moment Ansh wakes up, it severs the connection between the two worlds. Before we proceed with that, I can take you all to the dreamland for one last time. We can say goodbye to our loved ones.” “No!” Nishant replied firmly, “The last time you tried to teleport multiple people it nearly killed you…” “That’s because Ansh was resisting me and I was overwhelmed with everything that was going on there. It’s not the same anymore. I have found peace,”

Piya’s voice had something that touched Saavi. She looked at her sister closely. She wasn’t bluffing. She truly looked content. Did something happen there? “Considering the look on your face, I’m assuming you’re trying to connect the dots. Probably you’ve already deciphered what happened back there.” Piya smiled at Saavi. “But that’s not important, even though it’s not real, an ideal version of our loved ones exist – living the live we always dreamed for them. If you want to say goodbye, now’s the time.”

Naman stood perplexed. After expressing his feelings for Saavi indirectly, if he wanted to go back to see Dilruba one last time, what would that tell about him? How to define what he felt about those two women? One, who was the love of her life, the woman who completed him and gave him their child. And then there was Saavi, the friend who supported him from downward spiralling, the mother who nourished Dafli risking her own life. He respected her, was indebted to her, and more importantly he was in love with her. Then how could he break her heart?

Nishant looked away to hide his tears. All this started because of him. Ansh might have case the spell however, he was the one who longed to reunite with his family. So what if it’s an illusion? An ideal version of world existed where he could love Divya without feeling guilty about it. A home that was filled with his kids’ laughter. Maybe Ayush pursued music there. Who knew how Danish grew up to be? Would it be too wrong if he wanted to hug them all before closing his eyes?

Saavi noticed Nishant and Naman’s expression and hid a sign. She knew her father always prioritized fulfilling a Reevavansh’s duty than giving into his own feelings. At the same time she was aware of his soft, broken heart that yearned for his lost family. She knew given the chance, her father might do the supposed right thing and decline Piya’s proposal. But sooner or later he would regret that choice. And Naman… She knew he loved her. Nonetheless, she couldn’t deny it was Dilruba’s departure that kind of forced their relationship. Otherwise they were perfectly okay with being each other’s friend. Then how could she burden him? He deserved to say goodbye to the woman he loved.

“I want to goback Di,” “But..” “Saavi Ji…” “I want to see Mom one last time. Dad, Naman, let’s stop thinking about our responsibilities for once in our life and give in to our hearts’ desire!” “Hold my hand.” Piya held Ansh’s hand and forwarded her another arm toward Nishant, Saavi and Naman. As she started chanting the spell, one by one, everyone fell asleep, unknown to what was awaiting them…

Chapter - 23

“Di, what is your favorite moment of Mom?” “I don’t understand…” “Whenever you talk about Mom, I see a mix of pride and admiration reflected in your eyes… It’s always about how she prepared you for the worst or her deep knowledge about nature. But…” “But?” “There must be more to it, right? Something more intimate which is only shared between a mother and her child. I’m not sure if I’m making any sense or not but you know…”

While Saavi looked a bit flustered, Piya felt like hugging her sister and tell her that she knew what she meant. Beneath that veil of curiosity laid the restlessness of a child who lost her mother too soon. A strong, fearless Reevavanshi, a loyal friend who got betrayed at the end, a victim of a strained marriage, or a mother separated from her children – Saavi grew up listening to stories that depicted Divya in different shades. To her, Divya was an enigma. As proud as she was of her mother’s bravery, she often wondered how her mother was as an individual. What were the things that brought a smile to her face? Did she also lose the track of time when she found an interesting book and spend hours in their study? Was she also unapologetically authentic? What was the first thought of their mother when she held her in her arms for the first time? Did she pick any nickname for her like Nishant called Piya “Gudiya”? Was it because she missed her so much that she poured all her love into Piya, hoping one day, that love would find its way back to her?

Piya was aware of all of her silent question. She knew Saavi’s desperation stemmed from her wish to soak in their mother’s love. She wished she could tell Saavi that Divya loved her more than she could have ever imagined. However, she also knew it wasn’t her place to assuage that longing. She feared that if she tried too hard, Saavi might think she was making it all up to make her feel better. Hence, she decided to step back, and let Saavi feel Divya’s warmth through her memories.

“You know… Sometimes, Maa used to hum to herself. Like those rare days when she wouldn’t go out to fight some evil entity or when she would be watering the plants, she used to sing… I loved listening to her voice.” “She had a soothing voice!” “Yeah... I vaguely remember, after you were born, one day Maa had gone somewhere and Baba was trying his best to calm you down. But before he could do that, even Danish and I started crying and the rest is history.” “Dad must have had a horrible day.” “He did. Nonetheless, it’s the moment when Maa came that still lingers on my memory – she took you in her arms and you stopped crying immediately. She was singing you a lullaby but all three of us calmed down.” “I remember it now! I used to have this dream where I saw Mom smiling at me and singing. It wasn’t my imagination! It was a memory!”

“Yeah… After we left home, it’s not like we spent a long time together before Mohana trapped Maa. But I do remember her singing your favorite lullabies to the plants that we had at our place at Bandap. Every time I asked her why, she would come up with an excuse and divert my attention. Now when I think about it, I feel it was because she was missing you…”

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As Saavi watched Divya watering the plants on their balcony, she remembered her conversation with Piya. The way Divya was nurturing the plants, brushing her hand gently against their leaves, singing an unknown yet familiar melody – she looked too much like Piya’s mother. Still, the instant connection she felt for her was the most beautiful feeling she had ever experienced. So what if it was a dream world? She finally got the chance to meet her mother under normal circumstances. Perhaps now she could bare her heart before her mother, even if she wasn’t real.

“Saavi,” Divya got surprised seeing Saavi standing at the door, “What’s the matter dear?” “Nothing,” “I find that hard to believe,” She put down the watering can and went toward Saavi’s direction, “You’ve been standing here for entire 30 seconds and haven’t utter a single word. What is it?” “I,” Saavi stopped midway seeing Divya’s expression. It seemed as if she was finding it amusing that Saavi didn’t have any answer for her question. “I wanted to spend some time with you. Is it okay, Mom?”

Divya’s amusement turned into worry. She couldn’t remember when was the last time she spent some quality time with her youngest one. Every time they started a conversation, ultimately it took a different turn, leading to either Saavi storming off the room or her cursing her fate that what did she do to deserve such a rebellious daughter. She couldn’t fathom what caused this sudden change in her daughter’s behavior. “Mom?” “Hmm?” “Do you have some time now?” “Yeah. But let’s get you back to your bed. You shouldn’t put too much strain on your ankle.”

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“I know it’s a last-minute request and I’m extremely sorry for your inconvenience. But try to understand our situation…” Nishant opened his eyes to find himself lying on a couch. “Thank you so much for your cooperation. I have already deposited your payment. Hopefully things will go more smoothly next time…” The familiar voice made his heart flutter. Could it be? “Shoot… Sorry Papa, I didn’t realize you were here.” Ayush said awkwardly. “Ayush!” Nishant hugged his son immediately. “What’s wrong Papa? Why are you crying?” Confused, he hugged his father back to assure him everything was alright. “My son! You’re here!” “Of course I’m here… Where else would I go?”

Nishant broke the hug and smiled looking at him. When he entered the dream world, he had no idea it would feel so real. Who could have said the Ayush standing before him wasn’t real? He saw the same love and care in his eyes. How he wished this was the reality instead of the grim world he left behind temporarily!

“Papa,” Ayush said softly, “Is everything alright?” “Yes,” Nishant finally composed himself. “I didn’t realize when I fell asleep… I... I had a nightmare.” “That’s fine, you’re awake now,” Ayush smiled gently, “You don’t have to worry about me for no good reason.” “What do you mean?” “I don’t have to me a psychic to read your thoughts Papa. The way you hugged me, I can tell you saw something bad happening to me. But it was just a dream. This is the reality, we are here together. Everything is fine.”

“Bhaiya, did you call the caterers or should I… Oh, sorry Dad, should I come back later?” “Danish!” Before Danish could say something, Nishant pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. Puzzled, he looked at his elder brother when Ayush nodded his head in assurance. “What happened Dad? Why did you…” “Can’t a father hug his son?” “Of course he can. But I got worried seeing you like that. Is everything alright?”

Nishant looked at Danish intently. With Ayush, at least he had the privilege to see him as a grown-up. Danish wasn’t even five when Mohana killed him. Had he been alive, maybe he would grow up to be a gentle and thoughtful young man as the boy standing in front of him. Yes, he would be exactly like this. There was no room for any confusion.

Even though Piya was their eldest child, she was very mischievous, always playing prank on Danish. On the contrary, Danish was more sensitive and protective of little Saavi. He vividly remembered how often Piya would trick Danish into thinking Saavi got hurt while playing and when he would run to check up on her, she would surprise him by jumping on him out of nowhere.

Those were the best moments of his life. Nonetheless, it was also a fact that neither he nor Divya could ever be truly happy knowing Ayush was missing everything. And when they finally got him back, he sacrificed his life for Piya again. Why were they punished like that? Why could they never hold both of their twins in their arms, together?

“Not again!” His trance broke at Ayush’s voice. “What’s the matter?” “Her Highness summoned me to her room.” “What?” “He’s talking about Di.” “Seriously Papa, you could have prayed to Devi Maa for identical twins instead of this witch. Why did you have to wish for a “GUDIYA”?” “Because of this only,” Danish tried to suppress his smile and act serious, “She balances out your negative energy. If I had to tolerate another obnoxious brother, I would have lost my sanity a long time ago.” “What did you say?” “You heart me right, you’re the only one in this entire world who has a problem with Di. She might be a witch for you but for us, she’s an angel.” “Why you little…” “Boys,” Nishant cleared his throat to gain their attention, “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m still in the room.” “Sorry Papa!” “Sorry Dad!” They said together.

“Forget it... I was doomed the moment we were born. Perhaps that’s my reward for being the twin brother of a Daivik.” Nishant felt his breath hitching. “What is that supposed to mean?” “You said she’s an angel, right? I read somewhere Daivik in Sanskrit means Divine. Felt like calling her that.” “Better Daivik than Dakini/Pishachini or whatever you decide to call her based on your mood.” Ayush was about to say something when his phone rang again and he scoffed looking at the name of the dialer. “This is not over little one. I’ll get back once I’m done dealing with that witch.” “No problem, I’ll be waiting for you.”

As soon as Ayush left the room, Danish burst out laughing. He almost got tears in his eyes when he noticed Nishant’s tensed face. “Come on Dad, you can’t take his words seriously.” “I really hope you’re right.” “Wait a minute, did something happen or did we really cross our limit this time because Dad, you can’t take his words for real. You know he loves Di the most, right?” “I know, it’s just… Sometimes I feel stressed worrying about what might happen if someone comes between my children and instigate them against each other? I…” Nishant stopped midway seeing Danish’s confused expression,

“I had a bad dream... It was... Too vivid I guess... That’s why I was in a bit of shock and then you guys started and…” “Oh that! Then I seriously apologize. But honestly Dad, you have nothing to worry about someone else coming in between us. Specially between Di and Bhaiya. You and I both know how much he loves her. Which makes it kind of adorable when he tries to fake his annoyance so hard.” He said chuckling.

Nishant looked at Danish in disbelief as the young man started laughing again. Slowly he started feeling at ease when the realization finally dawned upon him, in this world he got what his heart desired – his children, living their lives to their fullest with all the love and care they deserved. So what if it was a figment of someone else’s imagination? He could now rest in peace knowing somewhere out there exists an ideal world where Piya got to grow up with Ayush, where Danish was pampered by both of her siblings and Saavi… Well, she got to be the resilient youngest child of the Sharma family raised by Divya…

“Dad?” “Hmm?” “You still seem shaken. Should I call Mom?” “Maybe later,” He smiled contently, “Why don’t we spend some quality time together, just the two of us?” “Great idea! Did you see the new books that arrived in our college library? They are…” While Danish kept on talking, Nishant looked on, thanking the Goddess for letting him have this moment…

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Piya was looking outside through her window when she heard a footstep near her door, “You’ve gotta be kidding me!” Ayush’s annoyance reached its peak seeing Piya smile. “This is what you classify as an emergency? Sitting idly and wasting other people’s precious time?” “Come, sit with me.” “What!” “I can’t remember when was the last time we actually talked instead of indulging in silly fights. Look outside, it’s a beautiful afternoon. Don’t you want to spend some quality time with me before bidding me a final goodbye?”

A lump formed in Ayush’s throat. Who was he kidding? His sister could read his thoughts like an open book. Ever since the family announced Naman and Piya’s engagement, he had been trying to avoid her. It wasn’t like he disapproved of Naman. He in fact, felt ecstatic knowing Piya was getting married to her childhood sweetheart. However, the thought of parting ways with his little sister was crushing him. They were twins in literal sense – their happiness, dreams, achievements, everything was intertwined. He didn’t know how to survive without Piya’s constant presence around him. Ironically, it seemed like she had it all figured out. What’s worse, she sensed his inhibitions. Which is why he used every opportunity to avoid a direct confrontation. Unfortunately, today when she texted saying she really needed his help, he anticipated the worst and rushed to her aid thinking she might be feeling sick again. Apparently, all she wanted was a proper conversation.

“About that,” He sat on Piya’s bed, “Not everyone has the luxury to sit and chat. Some of us have to work on behalf of others as well.” “So you’re angry at me because Naman and I requested to postpone our engagement?” “Angry! What are you talking about your Highness! I feel grateful that you chose me of all people to clean up your mess. I spent the last five hours calling and apologizing to all of our friends and family members but hey, that’s an honorable job for a peasant like me.”

“Interesting,” Piya pulled Ayush into a side-hug and ruffled his hair to rile him up further, “You’d rather prefer seeing me dead than postponing a function. Fair enough. I can still call Naman, we can exchange our rings, and I’m pretty sure majority of our relatives can still make it to our house if I spend the next two hours calling them. If that makes you happy, I will do that for you my dear brother.” She got up from the bed and feigned losing balance when Ayush rushed to her direction, “Awww... You do care.” “Have you lost your mind completely? What sort of prank is this?”

“You can’t see me in pain, yet, you won’t spare a couple of minutes for my happiness?” “Had you had requested properly, yes, of course. What you just did is emotional blackmailing in its ugliest form.” “Which I can see is working,” Piya said with a grin, “Please Bhaiya!” “Whoh! Now you decided to call me Bhaiya?” “Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” “Hey Devi Maa! Fine, I’m staying. But only for five minutes.” Both siblings sat by the corner of the bed, incomplete silence. After a few minutes that felt like an eternity, Ayush gave up, “This is insane,” “Please stay here for just a little while!”

“Seriously Piya, I need to go. There are so many things that need to be taken care of and I…” “Thank you Bhaiya…” “What the!” “I’m not sure if I ever told you this but I… I love you Ayush… I love you so much! Whatever time we got to spend together is very precious to me. If I ever hurt you, please know that I never intended to do that and forgive me if it’s possible.” “Piya,” “Take care of everyone once I’m gone. And more importantly, take care of yourself Bhaiya.” She hugged him tightly and finally let her tears flow, “I thought you had it under control,” Ayush tried to lighten the atmosphere but failed miserably, “When did you get so weak?”

“What can I do? We’re twins after all, whether we like it or not, we’re always tied together.” “That’s true, and I hate you for that.” “Why am I not surprised?” She couldn’t help but chuckle. “For what it’s worth, I’m really happy for you.” He wiped her tears gently, “I may have disappointed you at times, but thank you for NOT returning the favor. You’re the best sister anyone could have ever wished for. Always remember, I’ll never leave you alone. Even if you make a wrong choice or go against our family’s wish, I may not support you in your wrongdoing, however, I won’t also let go of your hand. It doesn’t matter what the world says, I’ll always look out for you.”

“I know… Ayush, I…” “Please tell me you’re not thinking of doing anything stupid or that I have to…” “Would you hate me if I said I want to call off my engagement with Naman?” “Do you?” “Do I what?” “Do you want to call off your engagement?” “Yes,” “May I know why?” “I love someone else. I know it sounds absurd but…” “It doesn’t matter,” Ayush looked right into her eyes, “Naman is my friend too, Piya. Just like I can’t see you sad, I don’t want to keep him in the dark and let him be heartbroken either. Have you talked to him?” “Yes. We took this decision mutually.”

“I’m not judging, simply asking, why didn’t you guys tell us that directly? You know none of the elders would force their decision on you, right?” “I know… It’s just that we wanted to make sure…” “Wait a second… Please tell me you’re not in love with that crazy guy in the hospital.” “Actually…” “Devi Maa! What were you thinking?” “I wasn’t thinking Ayush. I wasn’t considering anything. I just fell in love. I know how awfully stupid it sounds but I couldn’t help it. I…” “Are you happy?” “What?” “Do you think he’ll keep his end of the bargain and love you until the end?”

“I know he will.” “How confident are you?” “Confident enough to bet my life on it.” “Then it’s alright. As long as you’re happy, I have no objection. Do you want me to talk to Papa about this?” “I will talk to him myself. I just wanted you to be the first to know.” “Okay, thanks for the heads up.” “Now that everything is sorted, can you sit beside me quietly and enjoy this afternoon?” “Do I have a choice?” “No.” “Then move aside you fat-ass. Let me sit properly.” The twins glared at each other before bursting out in laughter and sat together, with a newfound relief knowing what they meant to each other…

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“All set,” Divya put a cushion under Saavi’s feet and smiled at her, “Now tell me, what is it dear?” Saavi found herself at a loss for words. What was it they she wanted to say first? Was it how much she missed her mother? Or did she simply want to rest her mother’s lap and let the silence speak for itself? How could she express her years of grief and longing in one sentence? “Saavi?” “Hmm?” “What’s the matter kiddo?” Divya inquired softly, “What’s troubling you?” “Can’t a daughter spend some time with her mother without any agenda?” She tried to force a smile to hide the crack in her voice. “Of course, she can. It’s just that you’re not that type of a daughter so I was caught off guard.” “What kind of a daughter I am to you? Annoying? Handful?”

“I won’t say handful… Annoying? Maybe… I don’t want to sound rude but at times you can be infuriatingly impossible. However, if I have to stick to a specific adjective, I’d say – independent?” “Independent?” “Yes, independent and brash. With your brothers and sister, I always felt I was included in their choices, even if we didn’t agree all the time. However, you my little one,” She stroked her hair lovingly, “I admire your courage and intention. But sometime your approach puts me out of my wits. I just wish you were a bit more careful for your own good.”

“I’m sorry Mom! I just wanted to make you proud… I…” “I know that dear. If I have to be honest, sometimes I feel I’ve let you down; and for that, I apologize. Your father may call Piya “Gudiya” but for us… For me, you are our little angel. I guess that made me overprotective of you and you kind of drifted off to your sibling. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I can’t express how grateful I am for the bond you share with your siblings. I know if something happens to me or Nishant, you’ll be well taken care of. It’s just that sometimes it feels lonely. I wish you were as open with me as you are with Gudiya or Danish, even Ayush.”

“I guess I simply never tried to understand your perception. When you were apprehensive regarding my decisions, I mistook your care for your lack of trust in me and went ahead… Not to prove you wrong, but to prove myself, to make you proud.” “Perhaps we’re both right and wrong at the same time.” “Or maybe Di was way too perfect so you were not prepared for a rebellious daughter.” Saavi said laughing, trying to lighten up Divya’s mood, “Yeah, let’s just put all the blame on Gudiya and move forward.” Divya said playfully.

“I know for a fact, Di won’t mind.” “Right, she loves you way too much to hold any grudge against you.” “Isn’t it weird Mom? How one single moment in time can change everything for good?” Seeing Divya’s puzzled expression Saavi pointed to her ankle, “If I hadn’t gotten hurt, probably I would be somewhere else, doing God knows what.” “And I would be busy preparing for tonight’s function if it wasn’t postponed. Huh…Not very thoughtful of me as I’m enjoying a quite afternoon at the cost of Gudiya’s well-being.”

“You never know, maybe it was for the best that Di gets some more time before she heals herself, I mean before she recovers completely.” “Yeah, I was getting worried the way her condition kept getting worse. All hail to Devi Maa that now her condition is stabilized.” “Since Di doesn’t need your immediate attention and we still have some time, can I make another request?” “Sure.” “Can you sing me a lullaby Mom? I want to rest in your lap just like when I was a kid.”

A tear trickled down her eye as she laid her head on Divya’s lap. Surprised at first, Divya started stroking her hair and singing her favorite song. “I love you Mom! I love you so so much! Forgive me for every single argument I started, for every time I stormed off or defied you. I know I can’t compensate for everything but I want you to know, you’re the one I love the most in this world, whether I verbalize it or not.” “I know that dear! I’ve always known that… Even I’m sorry for making you feel I didn’t care enough. It’s the exact opposite. You’re my baby! You don’t ever have to prove anything to me Saavi. I loved you since the moment you were conceived. And I’ll continue loving you even after my death.” “Mom!”

“This might sound crazy. But one day, you’ll have your own kid. That’s when you’ll realize, a mother doesn’t need any reason to love her children. She simply does it…” Divya laid her head over Saavi’s, “Just be true to yourself Saavi. Be kind like your Dad, but also be firm like Gudiya. Remember to have fun like Ayush does, and most importantly try to maintain a balance in your life, whether personally or professionally. I’m sure with time, you’ll learn that from Danish.”

“You’re missing the most important part?” “What?” “Be unapologetically authentic, like you!” Saavi clutched Divya’s hand, “I promise you Mom, I will make you proud. When someone will look at me, they’ll say – look, that’s Divya Sharma’s daughter.” “Just be happy kiddo, that’s all I want from you. Keep smiling, keep thriving, do not let anyone define your limits... Remember one thing, no matter where you are, no matter what you do, I’ll always be with you…” “I love you Mom!’ “I love you too!”

_________________________________________________________________________

The sight of Divya and Saavi together, took Nishant’s breath away. How often did he dream of this exact moment? For years, he continued battling his emotions; torn between his duties as the last standing Reevavanshi and a man who chose to stay silent when he saw the love of his life, crossing the threshold of his home. He knew his ancestors would want him to punish their murderer. What would be a better way of justice then letting Divya getting trapped by Mohana for whom she mercilessly murdered their entire clan. But then he remembered her daughters’ crying faces – Piya looking at him with the hope that he would stop them and Saavi desperately trying to reach out to Divya, not understanding why her mother suddenly turned away from her. There was no clear answer for what he should have done at that moment. The only thing that he was certain of was that their kids were the victims of their conflict. At least he got Piya back. Unfortunately, Saavi never got the chance to be close to Divya. And after all this time, when he saw her finally getting the love she always deserved, he couldn’t decide if he should be happy for their brief reunion or feel devastated knowing the impermanence of their state.

“Maybe you should consider a third option,” Piya’s voice startled him, “It’s her moment so let her savor it.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “How long have you been standing here?” “A while… I didn’t want to miss this moment, neither should you.” “Can you blame me for feeling guilty?” “No, but then again what good would that do to you or Saavi anyway. You spent your entire life repenting for a mistake that wasn’t entirely yours to begin with. Let’s not repeat the same mistake again. Don’t hold yourself back Baba. Tell them how you truly feel before it’s too late…”

“There you are,” Danish walked toward them, “Naman called me, he said you weren’t picking up his call and whoh! What do we have here!” “Cut it out Danish,” Piya ruffled his hair playfully, “It can’t be that unusual.” “Look who’s talking, if it’s really that normal why are you standing here like this as if you’re witnessing the eighth wonder of the world?” “I…” “Piya,” Ayush joined the trio and felt confused seeing their expression. “Why are you guys standing in the middle of the corridor?” “Shhhhh…Lower your voice.” “For what?” Divya turned toward their direction hearing his loud voice and got surprised seeing the flustered faces of her kids. “Damn it Bhaiya!”

“What’s the matter Nishant? Is everything okay?” “Yes, everything is perfect.” He stepped inside wearing his brightestsmile. “I’m assuming my unusually calm demeanor is the reason behind the gathering.” Saavi couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, you could say that.” Piya sat near her beckoned her brothers to join them. “We foresaw it as the calm before the storm and were discussing our future course of actions to avoid it.” “Dear Lord! Why do you have to be so melodramatic all the time.” “Let him be Danish,” Nishant said smilingly, “Perhaps we should normalize being carefree at times but… Tone it down Mr. Sharma. You can enjoylife’s blessings quietly too.” “Aye aye Sir!” He faked a salute earning a glare from Divya.

“Alrighty, before this calm atmosphere actually turns into a tornado, thanks to my sweet tween brother, let me take a picture.” “You could have said that fifteen minutes ago. I just told the photographer today’sfunction has been postponed.” Ayush frowned. “Isn’t it better this way Bhai? We can simply be ourselves now. There’s no pressure about looking good or keeping our faces straight.” “I agree, let’s capture this moment right here, right now.” While Danish rushed to grab his camera, Nishant, Saavi and Piya exchanged a meaningful look and carefully wiped their tears without alerting Divya and Ayush. “I’m back.” Danish came back with his tripod and set the camera. “Say cheese!” After another fifteen minutes of laughter and silly antics, the Sharma siblings excused themselves leaving their parents alone.

“Am I the only one who thinks we are living in a dream world right now?” “What do you mean?” Nishant tried to keep his voice normal. “Don’t you find it weird that suddenly all of our kids decided to behave normally?” “Oh that,” He smiled heaving a sigh of relief, “Technically you’re not wrong but then again, we both know they behave so foolishly only inside this house. Outside, all of them are responsible young adults.” “I know,” Divya smiled awkwardly, “It’s just that… I’m so accustomed to their chaos that peaceful moments like this actually makes me wonder if it’s the calm before the storm.”

“Come on Divya, you can’t be serious about Ayush’s remark. You know he was joking.” “I know. I guess ever since they were born, it has been a wild adventure. And now that the kids are settling into their adulthood, suddenly I’m wondering how would our quiet life turn out to be? I must be a horrible mother to even consider this but I was actually feeling happy that Gudiya’s engagement got postponed. And then Saavi came to me today, said she wanted to spend some time with me – only the two of us, it felt like I got my sweet child back after all these years. I’m not ready to let go off them Nishant!” “Hey come here!”

Nishant immediately pulled her into a hug and wiped her tears, “It doesn’t make you a bad mother to want to spend more time with your kids. To be completely honest, I’m not ready either. However, a seed can’t transform into a mighty tree if it’s under the shadow of another one. They will fall and they will learn. And when they’ll need us, we’ll always be there for them. What matters the most is how we’ve prepared the rocky road ahead and what values we’ve instilled in them.” “You’re right,” Divya tried to force a smile, “They’ll be alright.”

“So will we.” He pressed her hand in assurance, “Who knows, maybe now we get to have our own adventure.” Divya looked at Nishant with surprise and suddenly burst into laughter. “What’s the matter? Did I say something wrong?” “On the contrary, Professor Sahab, you reminded me of our first meeting.” “Oh God,” Nishant remembered how he originally met Divya on a stormy afternoon and inadvertently got into trouble when some passers-by mistook him as a eve teaser. “I thought you were a pervert.” “You made me cursed myself for trying to be a decent human being.” He felt relieved realizing their history hasn’t been changed into this alternate reality.

“But destiny had other plans. The person I felt I should be avoiding turned out to be the love of my life.” “Is that so?” “Would you rather if I said something else?” She rolled her eyes. “Well, it’s not every day your wife compliments you with such beautiful words. Not gonna lie, you took my.” “Breath away?” “Yes... The same way you’ve made me feel weak in my knees every day since the day yousaid you loved me.” His voice choked with emotions, “Nishant! What are you…”

“I love you Divya! I don’t know if I have said this enough or made you feel as precious as I should have but let me say this now, let me make it up for all those days we wasted indulging in silly arguments or the sleepless nights we spent beside our kids, there’s no one I love more in this world than you! If I were given the chance, I would relive the moment I met you for the first time in an infinite loop and tell you,” “I love you!”

Divya embraced him passionately. Overwhelmed, Nishant held onto her tightly, finally letting his years of grief find their way through his tears and thanking the Goddess for giving him this chance to bare his heart before Divya, even if she wasn’t real. “I know we never got to share our lives together Divya,” He thought to himself, “But in this life and beyond, my heart will forever be yours…”

_________________________________________________________________________

“Reach the coffee shop in front of our college at 7:30 pm sharp. I’ll make some excuse and send Dilruba to meet you……. Saavi” Naman checked the text for the millionth time to ensure he got the time and address correct. Anxious, he glanced at his wristwatch again - 7:01 pm. The café was less crowded than usual. Considering the heavy rainfall outside, he was surprised seeing those handful of customers making it there and enjoying their beverages.

“Would she make it?” His heart beat faster in anticipation. He wouldn’t blame a girl for avoiding to meet a mere acquaintance on such an evening just to deliver a couple of parcels. Unfortunately, he was desperate. Every single moment counted, specially when he knew they would have to sever their connection to this world possibly within the next couple of hours. “I really hope Saavi Ji has managed to convince Mrs. Ji.”

The moment he heard his thought in loud, guilt overcame his being. What kind of a person would expect his fiancé to persuade his first wife to meet him? It didn’t matter if Dilruba had died to protect them from Mohana or the fact that Saavi was so unrealistically supportive of him that she risked her life to change the course of natural law just so he had a shot at reunion with his deceased wife again. The truth was he truly loved Dilruba and when he finally moved on, he never intended to treat Saavi as a rebound or simply as Dafli’s adoptive mother. He was tied to both of them and prioritizing either of them on a given occasion felt like betraying to the other.

He had to make everything right. He needed to make his stance clear to Saavi, even if it meant her ending their relationship. But he wouldn’t force her into a relationship where she might always feel as the third wheel or have any doubt regarding her place in Dafli’s life. He loved and more importantly respected her enough to accept her rejection, no matter the consequences.

“Hi! Sorry for being so late, the traffic outside is insane.” Dilruba kept the boxes on the table with a thud, startling Naman. “I hope you were also late so I didn’t waste much of your time.” “Don’t worry about that.” He tried to smile politely, fearful that the girl before him could hear his heart pounding. “You’ve got all wet, let me order some coffee for you.” “Thanks, but I better leave now. It’ll take me at least another two hours to reach home, that too if I’m lucky enough to get a cab or auto right now.” “Don’t worry, I’ll drop you home. I got the car parked out there.” Confused, Dilruba looked outside when Naman clarified, “It’s my friend’s car. I came straight from his office and anticipated you might need a ride. So I borrowed it.” “That’s so generous of him. Kindly say thanks to him on my behalf.” “I will.”

He smiled awkwardly, unsure of what could he say without making her uncomfortable. “It shouldn’t take much time. Have something warm, you might catch a coldotherwise.” Dilruba looked outside again and sighed. Naman was right. She could already feel her throat itching. Although it would be a little late, getting a lift from Naman would be much safer than waiting for a cab in this weather. “Alright, I’ll have a black coffee then.” “Okay,” Naman smiled in relief. As they waited for the waiter, Naman looked at Dilruba earnestly. Those same big eyes! Dark long hair minus that mischievous smile of hers. Unknowingly, he let out a chuckle reminiscing her infamous “Hihihihihihihi!” that drove everyone to nuts.

“Pardon me?” “Oh, I was thinking about…” “Your Mrs. Ji?” “What!” “You were thinking about Piya Di, right?” Naman felt as if someone pierced his heart with a thousand daggers all at once. If only he could tell her that he was already with his Mrs. Ji! Such was the irony that he couldn’t even express his feelings to her. For what it’s worth, at least he got to see her one last time. How many people would have that fortune? “Yes, I was thinking about my Mrs. Ji.” “I’m sorry that your engagement got postponed.” “It’s okay, her well-being is my priority, not some auspicious date or whatsoever.”

“That’s really nice of you. I know a lot of men wouldn’t give a shit about their partner.” Her jawline tightened. “I’m sorry if I…” “Why are you apologizing? It’s not your faultt hat my ex is a douchebag.” An awkward silence lingered as both struggled with words. Lucky for them, the waiter came with their order, diluting the tensed situation a bit. “If you don’t mind, may I say something?” “Sure.” “Don’t let a douchebag hold you from finding happiness, I mean…” “I know what you mean,” She smiled pensively.

“I know it’s difficult to strike a conversation with someone who has just come out of an abusive relationship, specially when you’re getting your happy ending. What makes it weirder is that you want to be supportive and yet somehow come across as an insensitive jerk. It’s like a double-edged sword.” “For someone who has just gotten her heart broken, you are surprisingly perceptive.” “We all have our vices and virtues… Keeping my troubled personal life aside, I am genuinely happy for you and Di. In fact, I was looking forward to the celebration but…” She stopped midway, hesitant of whether she should express her darkest thoughts to her best friend’s future brother-in-law. “But?”

“You know, sometimes when you’re going through a rough patch, you start looking for divine interventions. You see something positive happening in someone else’s life and take that as a sign, motivating yourself for a better future. On the contrary when you see something horrible happening to a loved one, you can’t help but feel it’s your misfortune that’s shadowing their luck as well…” Dilruba looked away quickly, trying to hide her tears. “Hey,” Naman wanted to hold her hand but stopped realizing it might look odd, “If that prick Nikhil couldn’t see the goodness in you, it’s his bad luck, not yours.” “You sound exactly like Saavi.”

“Well, we did grow up together. There’s bound to be some similarities. But honestly, this pain you’re experiencing now, will make you a better partner, a better human being if you let yourself accept it fully. Take it from someone who…” “Aren’t you and Piya Di childhood sweethearts?” Her question reminded Naman of their changed equation in this timeline. “I would say childhood buddies,” He paused for a minute to come up with a narrative that wouldn’t seem fake or completely different from what people perceived about them in this timeline.

“You know, one downside of being childhood friends, specially when you’re from the opposite sex is, you kind of grow up with the idea that you’re going to end up together. You mistake the codependence as love and end up committing to your best friend without even realizing what love feels like. I can speak for myself, growing up, I made tons of mistakes, put Piya through hell because of that misconception.” “What changed then?”

“We grew up. I realized where I went wrong, strived to become a better man. Piya being Piya, didn’t hold onto her grudge and accepted me back into her life when she saw the change in me.” “Do you love her?” “I do. But more importantly, I respect her as a person. And I believe that’s what matters the most. If tomorrow we realize we’re not compatible enough, we may even go our separate ways but I know for sure that won’t taint our friendship.”

“I always wanted that for myself. Not the perfect boyfriend but a man who’s self-aware. Apparently, I was aiming for the impossible.” “You weren’t. This might sound like preaching but I know it in my heart, one day, you’ll find an amazing human being. He may not be the most handsome one out there, or may have a crocked sense of humor,” “Like you?” “You could say that,” He flashed a bright smile to mask his sadness, “You know I’m particularly proud of my comic timing, right? I have to rub it on everywhere…” “Evidently.”

“On a serious note, you’ll experience the extraordinary in that otherwise ordinary fellow and he’ll discover what a gem of a person you are. Together you’ll build a life filled with hope, laughter and love. Then one day you’ll welcome your little angel and realize, all this pain and suffering was worth it.” “Naman, you’re crying!” “I guess I got a bit emotional thinking about my family, I mean, my future family.” “I’m sure you’ll have all of that.” She smiled warmly. “I really hope I get half of what you’re envisioning for yourself.” “You’ll get much more than that… I promise! You’ll be loved and adored to the extent it’ll feel like a dream.” “We’ll see about that.” “Remember me on that day, okay?” “What?”

“When you find the happiness you’re craving for, remember that I prophesized all of it on this surreal evening and smile thinking about me. I believe that affection will reach me somehow.” “Wow, I never expected you to be such a softie,” Dilruba remarked, “No wonder your Mrs. Ji adores you.” She looked outside and realized it had stopped raining. “It’s time to bid farewell my friend.” “Huh?” “It has stopped raining.” “Yeah, right.” Naman said with a heavy heart, realizing their impending separation. “You go to the car, I’m coming right away.” “Thank you for the treat.” “My pleasure!”

As he saw her leaving, a lone tear escaped his eyes. “We didn’t have an eternity Mrs. Ji. Still, we had something that most people would never experience in their lives. This maybe a dream world but I wish you get your heart’s desire! I hope our paths cross again leading to its final destination... For all I can promise, I will find you in my next birth and the one after that, and the one after that... I will build the life you always wanted because… I love you!”

_________________________________________________________________________

“That’s it! You guys have sorted out everything in just one meeting!” Rishi crashed dramatically on the couch. “I guess so…” Ansh looked at Karan with confusion who seemed to be a little annoyed at Rishi’s antics. “Give it a break Rishi,” “But…” “What were you expecting?” “I don’t know… An angry fiancé, a Bollywood style clash between him and Bhai. Then that Piya girl running straight into Bhai’s arms and all that fluffy stuff, you know what I mean right?” “Good grief!” “I’ve already had all of that Rishi,”

Unknowing a smile crept across Ansh’s face recalling the time when he tried to stop Piya’s marriage with Naman and she came running leaving everything behind, not just once but twice! “Huh?” “I mean, in less than a week I received a blow to my head, got into an accident, sneaked into a hospital and created a good enough scene, was diagnosed with Schizophrenia and assaulted a psychiatrist to realize he misdiagnosed only for my loving brothers to arrange a secret meeting for me with the girl I thought didn’t exist. Do we really need more drama?”

“Nope, still it feels so anticlimactic! After all that suspense you just sortedeverything out! How does that even work?” “Everything works out when you find the right person Rishi.” Karan said with a smile. “I’m not gonna lie, I felt a little freaked out earlier… Guess it had something to do with the weather and how Piya came out of nowhere like a mystical being! But I’m glad you guys sorted everything out. So what’s next?” “I know she has already talked with her fiancé and called off her engagement. For now, they’re saying it has got postponed. She’s going to talk to her parents about us tonight.”

“Wow! You guys are damn fast!” Rishi said with a mischievous grin. “At this rate, I might be playing with your kid by next year.” “Maybe you will,” Ansh winked at him, “But I need to talk to Papa first. Enough with all the drama and adrenaline rush. We want our family’s blessings when we start our life.” “Sounds like a proper plan. Who knows, maybe you and I will get married on the same mandap. Wouldn’t that be nice?” “Yeah!”

Ansh felt a lump forming in his throat. When he first came to know about Karan’s existence, he felt guilty for enjoying the life his brother never got to experience. He truly wanted Karan to have his happy ending even if it came at his own expense. He wished Adi and Krish to grow up together so they could relive their lost childhood through their kids. Unfortunately, Mohana played her games there too. Knowing this world didn’t have a place for magic or evil entities, a part of him felt satisfied that somewhere in an alternate version, Karan will get to live the life he always deserved!

“Ansh?” Karan’s voice snapped him back to reality, “What happened?” “Nothing,” Suddenly he gave him a bone crushing hug, “I love you brother!” “Hey, what’s wrong?” “I don’t know… Just felt like hugging you. These last few days were nothing short of a nightmare. I don’t think I would have survived if it hadn’t been for you.” “What the! What about me!” “Come here you idiot!” Both Ansh and Karan pulled Rishi into their group hug, “That’s more like it!” “Seriously guys, without you I’m nothing. We often forget to express our feelings thinking we have all the time. But I don’t want to make that mistake. I love you guys!” “As we love you!”

“On a serious note, it doesn’t matter if I’m an idiot…” “Well… It kind of does…” Karan tried to pull Rishi’s leg, “Let him finish Karan.” “Thank you! As I was saying, it doesn’t matter if I’m an idiot or you are a schizophrenia patient indeed. While it does make things a bit difficult occasionally with Karan Bhai’s 24/7 serious demeanor and Neha’s over analyzing brain, we are siblings. We stick together no matter what…” “You’re right,” They broke the hug, “Although I prefer the hyperactive Rishi over this emotional one.” “Yeah, I feel like I’m talking to an imposter when you talk so much sense.” The brothers cracked up when Visheshentered the room, “Good, all of you are here. Maa is calling you for dinner.”

“Come here kiddo!” Ansh hugged the little boy gently and smiled at him. “What’s the matter Bhaiya?” “Nothing,” He said caressing his face, “It seems like yesterday when we brought you home, and look at you now! All grown up!” “Nice try,” The kid rolled his eyes, “Butter me up as much as you want but that won’t stop me from nagging until you finish writing the comic books as you promised.” “Wow! This little guy for sure will be a strict boss.” “He should… Don’t worry little brother, I have it all figured out. I’ll finish it shortly.” “Cool!” Vishesh left the room excitedly.

“Aren’t you coming?” “Give me a couple of minutes, I will join you guys downstairs.” “Get a hint Bhai, our Intense Kumar needs some lone with his lady love.” “Why you little...” Rishi rushed out of the room before Ansh could get a hold of him. “See you later.” Karan too, left the room smilingly. Once he was left alone, Ansh walked toward his desk and waved his hand. As he saw their story taking its shape in his illustrations, he felt sad that he had to leave this family for once and all. Nonetheless, he also felt content in the notion that a parallel universe will coexist with their world, where all of their loved ones will have their happy endings…

With the ending of their tale where the Daivik reunites with the Daavansh, Ansh closed his notebook and texted the others, “It’s time…”

Chapter - 24

The idea of coexistence always flummoxed a young Saavi. If no one could eradicate evil, what was the point of being a Reevavanshi? If one had to experience sorrow ultimately, why would they even want to elude themselves through moments of happiness? Wasn’t it futile? To fight continuously whether it’s an internal battle or an external one, knowing you have no control over anything? Albeit perturbed, Nishant always felt guilty whenever Saavi asked him those questions because he knew the little girl standing before him wasn’t a Reevavanshi but a lonely, motherless child who was lost and desperately trying to make some sense of LIFE - a fascinatingly complex but cruel idea that kept her agitated. He hoped for a miracle that someday, something extraordinary might happen that would mend her broken heart and help her find her answers…

As Saavi opened her eyes to the crimson hue of early morning, her heart ached knowing she would never see Divya’s face again. Nonetheless, she felt a strange peace that transcended her understanding. For the first time, saying goodbye to someone she loved didn’t seem like a punishment. Rather, it felt like a promise that one day she would join her mother again. And when that day came, she knew Divya would embrace her with the brightest smile…

“Remember one thing, no matter where you are, no matter what you do, I’ll always be with you…I love you!”

“Perhaps this is why pain exists. If I hadn’t lost you, I would have never fully grasped what you mean to me Mom.” She wiped her tears and got off the couch. “Don’t worry Mom, I won’t waste this gift called LIFE. I will live my life to the fullest and experience everything it has to offer so when I meet you again, I can tell you what distance I have crossed to rest in your lap again.” Suddenly she heard a child cooing. “Could it be?” She walked to the adjacent room and found Dafli playing in her cot. “Hi there sweetheart!” She bent down to lift the child. “Did you miss me?”

“She surely did.” “Guru Maa! I’m sorry if I woke you…” “It’s okay dear, I was already awake.” The old lady rose from the bed and came to their direction. “Did you find what you were looking for?” “I think I did. I finally got the closure I needed but…” “It still doesn’t make it any less painful to say goodbye to the person you love the most, even when it comes with the assurance of a reunion.” She traced her fingers across Saavi’s face, wiping her tears.

“I wish I could take your pain away like Divya would have… I wish you didn’t have to find your closure in an alternate reality. However, I can vouch for one thing - the affection you felt over there was probably one tenth of how much your mother truly loved you. I know you never got to be with her. Even when she returned, she chose the greater good over you. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t love you. She did love you, with such intensity that I can’t express it. And I’m glad that even if it was for a brief moment, you could experience a version of it.” “Thank you Guru Maa!” Saavi hugged her tightly, “How did you know I needed to hear these exact words right now!” “You sound so much like Piya,” She replied with a smile while stroking Saavi’s hair, “She would often ask me how I could sense when she was crying or feeling lonely.” “I wouldn’t blame her for that. Sometimes it freaks me out how perceptive you are.” “Amazed would be a better word but I’ll take it.” The old lady said, smiling.

“You see Saavi, we may not realize, but we are more alike our loved ones than we think we are. You and Piya have always been polar opposites but even then, ask anyone and they’ll recognize you as her little sister. You can’t put a finger on it; you simply know it. In the same way, you don’t have to prove your worth to be acknowledged as Divya’s daughter. She was and will always be alive in you… Anyway, we can continue this discussion later dear. Considering you’re awake, I suppose everyone will also be waking up. We should check up on them and see if they need any help.”

By the next couple of hours, Naman and Nishant woke up followed by Piya and Ansh. Everyone had a similar reaction as they were welcomed by Saavi and Guru Maa. They looked happy and sad at the same time but could not decide how to express themselves or whether they should talk about it at all. Sensing the awkwardness in everyone, Saavi decided to break the ice, “So, what now?” “We need to destroy the scrolls immediately.” “Are you sure Sir Ji? What if we need it someday?”

“We can’t take that risk Naman. Saavi and I had already discussed it when I first found the scrolls. We’ve had our reservations regarding how a change in history, even if it’s made in favor of the Reevavanshis, might alter our current timeline. But after what happened to Ansh, I’m convinced that we should not take any chance. We need to destroy every single trace of those scrolls before anyone gets to know that such a spell even existed.”

“I’m so sorry Papa.” Remorseful, Ansh looked down to avoid everyone’s gazes. “I had no idea I would end up creating a dream world just by touching the Kohrayan Talwar. I still don’t know how or why that happened, I…” “It’s okay Jiju, we know you’re not at fault here,” Saavi paused for a moment before finishing her sentence, “It was an accident.” “Then why did you hesitate?” “I’m sorry?” “You paused before finishing your sentence. Which means I contributed more to this mess than I already think I have.”

“You did nothing Ansh, at least not intentionally. It’s just that you were present at the wrong place at the wrong time. You shouldn’t blame yourself for that. None of us could have predicted that something like this might happen.” “Isn’t that the most pressing issue?” Naman said hesitantly. “No one tried to cast the spell in the first spell. Saavi was brewing a regular potion which contained some of the essential herbs required for the spell and all Ansh did was touch the sword. Still, an alternate reality was created. Not to mention Piya nearly died while trying to reverse the spell,” He stopped midway, unsure of how to address his concern without accusing Ansh.

“You can go ahead Naman. I know you are not attacking me for old time’s sake.” “Thank you Ansh. What I’m trying to say is… We need to look deeper than simply destroying everything related to the spell. Technically you may be immortal, however, that doesn’t mean you are freed of other human constraints. There will be times when you’ll feel overwhelmed and who knows? You might end up triggering something worse. As long as Piya is there, we know she’ll find a way to make everything right. But…” “What will happen after my death? Is that what you’re implying?” Piya asked nonchalantly. “I…”

“You really need to let go of your inhibitions, Naman. As a Reevavanshi, it’s our duty to address these questions even if they make us uncomfortable. As for your question, I have something important to share with all of you.” She turned toward Ansh, “How are you feeling Ansh?” “What?” “I asked, how are you feeling, physically? When you absorbed the energy from Sanatan Agni, you told me you felt like you were invincible. Now that we have untethered the dream world from ours, how do you feel?”

“I feel… Light! I mean… I still feel powerful but it’s just how I used to feel when I was only a Daavansh. Wait a second, why are you asking me this?” “I’d say, you just answered all of our questions.” “Di what’s going on?” “You guys are aware that I created an identical parallel dream world first and then merged it with Ansh’s so I could have full control over it...” “I beg your pardon?” “I thought you knew about it.” “That’s not relevant anymore Naman. Let Di speak.”

“Thank you Saavi. As I was saying, I was sure you would try to stop me. You and Naman connected with Daayan Vriksh before, I knew it was a matter of time before you would try that again and bring me back. That’s why I didn’t rely on the sleeping potion alone. This time, I created an additional energy barrier around Daayan Vriksh to prevent you from connecting to it so you can’t enter the dream world.” “I thought I was faltering under pressure…”

“You didn’t. I felt your presence every time you tried to breach the barrier. I have fought a lot of Kaalishaktis over the years, so trust me when I say this, you were good. You were really really good. At one point, you almost overpowered me. But I guess Devi Maa listened to my prayers. I still had some energy left to stop you.” “No wonder it took a toll on you. With so many things going on simultaneously, I’m surprised you made it back.” “Actually, I didn’t.” “What do you mean?”

“By the time Ansh got back, my soul had reached the Paatal Lok. You weren’t there and Ansh didn’t know what other possible alternatives he had. So he did the one thing he could think of - splitting his life force to revive me.” “He did what!” “Yes Saavi, he tapped on the power of Sanatan Agni and let the energy flow through me until he got me back. However, in his attempt to resurrect me, Ansh lost his immortality. He still has his Daavansh powers intact but the additional energy no longer exists.”

“I’m mortal now?” The ecstasy in his voice surprised everyone. “Yes.” “I can’t express how relieved I’m feeling right now.” “You must be the first person in this universe who’s happy to be a mortal. But Gudiya, are you certain about this? Do you really think Ansh doesn’t have any residual powers left?” “Piya is right Nishant Ji.” Pandit Ji entered the room, “It’s written in his kundli.” “Namaste Pandit Ji! When did you come?” “I called him when you were still asleep.” Guru Maa replied, “Once you all entered the dream world, we discovered something in Ansh’s kundli and thought we should inform you about it.”

“If you can remember, during Pralay Yudh, Vedashree Ji asked me to check Ansh’s kundli and I found something puzzling - he had Mrityu Yog and still there was more to it. When he sacrificed his life to save Piya, that’s when I realized his death was essential so he can be reborn as the supreme entity who’ll end Mohana’s reign. Nevertheless, it was contradictory to natural order - since the beginning of the universe, no one has ever attained immortality, except for the Gods. Then how could Ansh break that rule without facing any consequences?”

“That’s when we discovered, shortly after his battle with Mohana, something extraordinary was supposed to happen that would transform him into a mortal again and restore the natural balance. We couldn’t figure out how it would happen but going by Piya’s narration, we think this is it.” “I too agree with Guru Maa. It can’t be a coincidence that I was brewing that particular potion on the day when Dad discovered the time travelling spell. Not to mention Jiju entered the room and touched Kohrayan Talwar right before we got back to destroy the scrolls. Everything happened as per course. It’s just that we didn’t realize what was happening until now.”

“I have a question though, what was the need to create a parallel world? If Piya’s life was in danger, Ansh would risk everything in this world too. Then why did it take place in a dream world?” “I think I know why, if I unleashed my energy in its pure, unadulterated form, the flow of energy would be so great that it would destroy everything in its vicinity. But when I created the dream world, it absorbed a significant amount of energy from me as its driving force. So when I used Sanatan Agni, the intensity decreased significantly and no one was harmed.”

“Considering it was a dream world, even if things went downhill and a disaster befell, it would still be contained within the boundaries of the dream world. No one in the real world would face any consequences, right?” “Right. Also, call me crazy but after everything we have been through these last couple of days, I feel it was just another way of Devi Maa to remind us of what truly matters. I genuinely consider it as a reward that we got to spend some time with our loved ones, even if it was an illusion.”

The certainty in Piya’s voice didn’t escape Ansh’s notice. He could swear the tranquility he saw in Piya’s eyes had deeper meaning. Nonetheless, he decided to keep quiet and let Piya reveal everything when she felt was the right time.

“Dad, what’s wrong?” “Nothing, I think… I believe what Gudiya just said is right. Unfortunately, old habits die hard. I wish we had a definitive way of knowing if our hypothesis is right.” “For now, this should suffice.” Pandit Ji showed Nishant the vessel where they preserved a flame of Sanatan Agni before. “Is that…” “Yes Saavi, remember how you weren’t able to douse the fire until now? When Guru Maa and I were contemplating whether this mishap with the time travelling spell could be the event prophesized in Ansh’s kundli, we realized it started to flicker; and it died down just when Piya was revived. Based on everything we have observed so far, I think it’s safe to assume Ansh is mortal now.”

“Can I request something?” Everyone turned toward Ansh. “I understand your skepticism. In fact, I agree with every single point Naman has raised so far; with my uncontrollable power, I pose more threat to the magical world than any other entity. We must come up with a plan to ascertain the extent of my power before another such catastrophe ensues. But before we move forward with that, can I meet my kids once?” “I was going to ask the same thing Baba. I know it has only been a couple of days but each one of us has gone through a lot. We can destroy the scrolls now to thwart any imminent danger. But the rest of the proceedings, can it wait until tomorrow?”

“I don’t think that should be a problem. Even I want to spend some time with Dafli before we proceed.” “Fine by me. Dad, what do you say?” “I think you are right. There’s no point in rushing into something so complicated like this without having a proper plan. As much as I’d like to deny it, even I want a break from all of this.” “Besides, Vedashree Ji has been very anxious since they haven’t heard anything from Anshfor the last few days. I think it’ll be better if he joins his family for now and assuages their worry.” “The kids are also missing them, specially Adi. Yesterday when I dropped them off, he seemed to be very worried about Piya.” “Adi,” Piya’s breath hitched as she recalled her last conversation with her boy.

“I love you Adi…Always remember, whenever I’ll close my eyes, you’ll be my last thought.”

“I don’t want to be your last thought, I want you with me, always and forever!”

Here she was, surrounded by her loved ones, with a renewed hope for their future. And there her son was dealing with the repercussions of her decisions. She knew she couldn’t be blamed for preparing the child for the worst. After all, what could be more painful than waiting in uncertainty? If she couldn’t be there for him, the least she could do was to let him know how much she loved him. But would that ever truly compensate for her absence?

As someone who spent the majority of her life longing for her mother, Piya was well-aware of Adi's feelings. Even though he wasn’t old enough to grasp the intensity of his emotions yet, Piya understood at times when Adi complained about Pari being her favorite, it wasn’t typical sibling rivalry. Unknowingly he channeled his frustration that stemmed from his deep-rooted pain of abandonment. The empathetic child who could recognize his mother’s shortcomings and had it in him to forgive her, also struggled with a persistent fear of losing her for whatever reason. That’s why consciously and subconsciously he became a lot more tenacious of her than Pari ever was.

If only she could end his fear once and for all! How she wished she had a way of expressing what he truly meant to her! She might have spent more time with Pari but it was Adi who made her a mother. She was afar but never apart. While Pari attracted a lot more attention from everyone, it was mostly because of her mischievousness and the natural bond shared between a mother and her daughter. But the type of love she had for Adi, nothing could ever come close to that. He wasn’t merely an extension of her; he was the embodiment of her heart - the joy, the pain, and the purity within. He was her, Ansh, and much more.

Unfortunately, no amount of power or assurance could prepare someone for facing the void left by their mother. While her assurance could ease his pain a bit and help him move forward without feeling guilty, why should Adi be put in such a position in the first place? He deserved both of his parents’ presence and affection in his life. And with the second chance she was given, Piya vowed to herself that she would make sure that Adi grew up to be a confident young man, without any fear or insecurity.

“Adi… Is he okay?” “He’s alright. I told him you guys were fine. But you know, he shares a psychic connection with Piya. Perhaps he sensed some discomfort when her life was in peril.” “All the more reason we should get back to them immediately, can we?”

Nishant nodded his head and got inside to bring the scrolls. Once he came back, Piya and Ansh combined their powers to burn them to ashes and Pandit Ji collected it. It was decided that he would divide the ashes into different portions and give them to his disciples so they can discard it in different parts of the world. That way even the Reevavanshis and Ansh will never know about its whereabouts and won’t be able to cast the spell ever again. Once everything was done, Piya, Ansh and Pandit Ji left for their home.

“Even we should leave now. I’ll see you guys later. Come Amma.” After Naman had left with Guru Maa, Saavi looked at Nishant and let out a tired smile. “I guess it’s just the two of us again.” “As always…” “You know you can talk to me, right?” “I know.” Nishant said affectionately, “I also know you have a tendency to run away from your feelings.” “What is that supposed to mean?” “We just said goodbye to the people we love the most. And by we, I mean Naman as well.” “So?” “A conversation about our family might help lighten my mood but what about you? Don’t tell me now it didn’t affect you when you saw him with Dilruba.”

“You do realize I set up his meeting with Dilruba so he can say goodbye?” “I do. That doesn’t mean it can’t stir up any insecurity in you.” Saavi hid a sigh. She was hoping Nishant wouldn’t notice her discomfort but apparently, she underestimated her father. “All I’m saying is, talk to him, clear your confusion before it’s too late. As for me, I’ll be okay. Just give me some time. Although I won’t mind if you want to share your feelings with me.” “How do I share my dilemma when I don’t even know what exactly I’m feeling? Maybe you’re right, we just need some time to clear our heads.” “Alright, I’ll be in my room. If you change your mind,” “I’ll come find you.”

She forced a smile. As Nishant went upstairs, Saavi remained hesitant, unsure of how to approach Naman and express her hesitation about the next phase of their relationship…

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“I can’t believe I got so late today! I better finish allthe arrangements before,” “Good morning, Chaitali!” Vedashree greeted Chaitali with a smile. “Don’t worry about the arrangements, we still have enough time.” She placed the thali before Chaitali so she can take blessings. “You look surprisingly relaxed, what happened?” “Ansh called earlier this morning. He’s heading home now.” “That would explain the smile on your face.” She said smilingly, “Finally I can stop walking on eggshells around you.” “Was I that bad?” “Ask Bhai Saheb, you have been a nightmare since Ansh left last week.”

“I can’t help it, Chaitali. You know why I worry so much,don’t you?” “I know Bhabhi. But everything is alright now. Mohana is dead and Ansh and Piya are also settling into their normal lives. I think it’s time you relaxed a bit.” “You’re right. Let Ansh return with Piya. Once we are done with the havan, we can take a small break and visit Neha and Kajal.” “That’s a great idea. In fact, we can visit Rishi too on our way home. After all, why should only Ansh suffer from our smothering.” “Anything interesting I missed?” Ansh entered the temple with Piya. “Depends, would you like to know how we’re gonna torture your siblings?”

“Forget them, you come here first.” Vedashree twisted Ansh’s ear playfully, “Couldn’t you call me at least once? Do you know how worried I was?” “I’m sorry Maa. It will never happen again.” He hugged her emotionally. “Ansh, what’s the matter dear?” Vedashree sensed something off as her son held on her tightly. “Nothing Maa,” Ansh wiped his tears carefully and broke the hug, forcing a smile, “I missed you, that’s all.” “And here I was complaining about Bhabhi being overly dramatic.” “Let it be Chachi, it’s better to express your emotions than bottling up everything inside. Besides, we only realize the value of our loved ones when we’re forced to be apart.”

“You guys have started to scare me now. What’s this all about?” “Don’t worry Chachi, everything is fine. All I can say is, these last couple of days have been an eye opener for us.” “It felt as if our entire life flashed before our eyes, making us realize what truly matters.” “Hence got a bit emotional.” “Where are the kids Maa? I hope they didn’t trouble you much.” “Not at all.” “I think I saw them sleeping when I was passing by their room.” “That’s okay. We’ll wake them up and bring them downstairs. Come Piya.” Once Piya and Ansh left the temple, Vedashree and Chaitali exchanged glances.

“Am I the only one who thinks they were acting a little strange?” “No, I noticed it too.” “Then why didn’t you say anything?” “Because I also saw tranquility in their eyes that was missing for quite some time now.” “Do you have any idea what that was about?” “No, I’m thinking about what Piya just said.” “That they got to relive their past?” “Yes. I don’t know if she meant it literally or figuratively. However, if those kids got to reminisce at least one quarter of what they have been through together in some ways, that should be enough for them to bury the hatchet and move forward.”

“I hope you’re right Bhabhi. It’s no secret they were facing some issues and it was taking a toll on their relationship. I just hope they can sort everything out between them before it becomes a bigger problem.” “Something tells me they already did.” “What?” “When they were going upstairs, I saw how they were looking at each other. Exhausted, yet happiness was evident on both of their faces.” “Yeah, I noticed it too.” “Let’s just pray they always remain happy and face everything together, being each other’s shields.”

Vedashree and Chaitali offered their prayer again seeking blessing for their children’s happiness and got busy in the preparation of conducting a havan.

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“Amma?” “Yes.” “Would it be okay if I go back to Sir Ji’s house now? Can you look after Dafli until I come back?” “When I could take care of her for the last few days what difference will a couple of hours make?” “Yeah, right. But then I was stuck in the dream world. Now that I’m here…” “You don’t have to come up with a justification Naman. I know you want to talk to Saavi, and you should. Don’t worry about Dafli. I’m more than happy to spend time with my granddaughter.” “Thank you Amma! I’ll come back right away.” Before Guru Maa could say another word, Naman rushed out, slamming the door behind him. “Finally, the idiot is becoming sensible.” She smiled to herself and hoped that everything would be sorted out between Naman and Saavi.

_________________________________________________________________________

“Rise and shine Sleepyheads!” “Papa!” Both Pari and Adi sprung from their bed and hugged Ansh, causing him to lose his balance and fall on the floor. “Easy there, kids,” He pulled them closer and engulfed them in a bear hug, “What if you got hurt?” “Nah, that’s not gonna happen. We knew you’d catch us anyway.” Adi said smiling. “Is that so?” “Yes. Besides, we were missing you.” “I missed you too!” Ansh broke the hug and caressed his children’s faces, unaware that a tear trickled down his cheek. “What happened Papa? Why are you crying? Did you get hurt?” “I’ve never been better dear. It’s just that… You know Papa went on a mission, right?” The kids nodded their heads.

“At some point, it got quite difficult and I was about to give up when I remembered we were supposed to watch Avengers: Endgame together and that motivated me to fight back.” “See, everyone except you gets how cool it is!” Adi exclaimed excitedly. “That’s not fair! You come home after so many days and that weird movie is all you can think about?” “Stop being a drama queen little sister. It hasn’t been even a week. Besides, Papa knows what matters the most, right Papa?” “Let Mumma come, she’ll decide.” “So now you remember her, when you need her support?” The boy rolled his eyes.

“At least someone here remembers good old mum,” Piya entered the room, “Otherwise, everyone else was busy hugging and planning their outings without me.” “That’s not true,” Adi ran towards her direction and hugged her, “There are people who do not believe in showing off their affection.” He stuck his tongue out at Pari and held on to Piya tightly. “Yeah yeah, go ahead Mumma’s boy. As if you were the only one who missed her.” “Pari, please! Is it necessary to always antagonize your brother? Why can’t you two simply greet us without turning it into a competition?” Piya beckoned Pari to join her in the group hug and the little girl jumped into her lap.

“Adi started it.” “Well, I’m ending it.” Ansh ruffled her hair and hugged them all. “Does it really take so much effort to enjoy a family moment?” “No.” Pari replied giggling. “Now come along, brush your teeth and have some light breakfast. We’re going out.” “Please tell me we’re not going for that stupid Avenger movie?” “We are. After that, we’ll go to that park you like and any other place you guys want to visit.” “Alright!” Pari rushed to the washroom to get ready. “What happened Adi? Don’t you want to compete with Pari now?” Piya asked playfully. “No,” “Huh? That’s anticlimactic.” “Actually Papa, I wanted to talk to Mumma first,” The seriousness in his voice surprised both of his parents. “Are you alright Mumma?” “I’m fine sweetheart. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know… Yesterday, I felt something odd, like a strange pulling, as if you were calling out my name. I know it doesn’t make any sense but for a moment there, I felt like I was losing you. Then I remembered your words about the inevitability of death and it terrified me even more. This morning, when Papa arrived, I was glad because I knew you must have helped him in his mission. But my heart sank at the same time when I couldn’t find you in the room. I thought you…” “You thought something terrible had happened to me?” “Yes.”

“Well guess what? You were right about everything. There was this one moment when I fell weak; I wondered if it was worth fighting at all. Do you know what changed my mind?” “What?” “Your face. I remembered my beautiful little boy was waiting for my return and that helped me fight my battles.” “Really!” “Yes. You recalled my advice but not my promise? Didn’t I give you my word that I’ll never give up on you? Then how could you think I won’t return to you?” “Sorry Mumma, I shouldn’t have…”

“Adi, what did I tell you dear? Never shy away from asking the right questions. If you’re not going to express your doubts, how will I clear your confusion? Although, there’s one thing I’m aware of that you have never verbalized and I hope I can provide you with the assurance you need…” “What’s that?” “You still struggle with the thought of me leaving you, don’t you? You still think I chose Pari over you all those years ago?”

Adi looked down to avoid Piya’s gaze. This was a feeling he tried to suppress ever since Piya came back. After all, life hadn’t been easy for his mother either and he didn’t want her to feel unwelcomed or unwanted in any way. Then how did his mother realize it?

“I’m your mother, Adi. I can feel your pain even when you try to put on a brave face. Unfortunately, sometimes we mothers try too hard to protect our children and end up hurting them even more in our illogical, relentless pursuit, as I realize I have done the same. When I told you not to hold yourself responsible in case something ever happens to me, I wasn’t trying to say goodbye or desert you again. I only wanted you to save you from a lifetime of misery that I had gone through. At that moment I didn’t anticipate it would stir up your abandonment issue all over again.” She looked away to hide her tears.

“I can’t change what happened in the past. And I know no amount of apology is enough for the pain I’ve caused you. The only thing I can do is spend the rest of my life assuring you that no matter what happens, I will never leave you again. I just hope my actions reflect my intention well enough so you can finally be free from that burden.” “I think you have already done it.” “Have I now?” “Yes. Let’s be completely honest with each other, you almost died in the battle, didn’t you? Because I felt like something had devoured from within until that feeling subsided and I heard your voice. That can’t be normal, right?”

“No, you’re right. I almost died out there. The only reason I survived was my willingness to reunite with you was still more powerful than the pain I was enduring. And you know what? It was worth it. If it gives you the assurance you need to move forward and live an amazing life, I will go through all that trouble infinite times over again.” “You don’t need to prove your affection to me Mumma, just stay here with me, that’s all I need.” Adi hugged Piya again and cried out loudly. “Hey, it’s okay… Mumma is not leaving you ever again.” She kept stroking his hair to comfort him.

“Come here Adi,” Ansh made Adi sit in his lap, “I am assuming you had a heart-to-heart conversation with your Mumma in my absence. Now let Papa tell you something, your mother is the strongest person I’ve ever met. And when I say strongest, it’s not about her divine powers, but her inner strength. Do you know where that strength stems from?” Adi shook her head.

“It stems from an ever-encompassing love… Love that she has for you, for Pari and for the rest of our family. So as long as you preserve that same love and purity within you, your mother will always be with you. Not just in spirit, but in physical form also because your love will protect her, the same way her love has forever been my shield.” “You could have just said you love Mumma. There was no need for such a complicated sentence.” “Why you little,” Before Ansh could hold him, Adi ran out of the room laughing.

“Are you okay?” “I will be,” She let out a dry smile, “We have a lot to rebuild Ansh. It’s not just about ourselves anymore. We need to make sure our children do not suffer the same way as we did.” “We surely will,” He pulled her into a side hug, “I have spent so much time trying to rationalize how someone like me could find love, regardless of my lineage. In the process, I have hurt you tremendously. It’s time I corrected the error of my ways and provided our family the love and happiness they have always deserved.”

“As much as I would love for you to take all the blame, I have my fair share in this mess as well. How about we strike a deal? From this moment on, there won’t be any self-victimization nor will anyone play the martyr. We will face everything as a team – the good, the bad, everything. Deal?” “Deal. Now come on, before those devils catch us romancing, we need to get ready for our outing.”

_________________________________________________________________________

“Can you come downstairs? I’m waiting for you in the garden……. Naman”

“It hasn’t been even an hour since he left with Gur Maa. I hope everything is alright.” Tensed, Saavi pressed on the elevator button. She wasn’t exactly known for her patience. However, for the first time in her life, she wished the elevator worked slowly. With every passing moment, she grew more anxious anticipating what might Naman say to her. Was she expecting him to choose her over Dilruba? Or did she want him to end their relationship, absolving her of her guilt? Would either of those options make her happy? She felt frustrated by her own contradictory thoughts. “I wish you were here Mom! I wish you could tell me what to do!” Outside, she found Naman talking to a tree, as if he was practicing a speech.

“Hey!” “Hi! I’m sorry for disturbing you at this hour. How are you?” “It’s 8:32 am Naman.” “So?” “You left around 30 - 40 minutes ago. What could possibly happen to me within such a short period of time?” “Anything is possible. A parallel world could be created, a portal to the past might be opened, or you could have been kidnapped by a Kaalishakti, you know… So I thought I should ask you about your whereabouts.” “What!” “Yup, I’m losing it.” He mumbled to himself. “Listen Naman, I know we have been through an emotional rollercoaster and that is bound to create some confusion. I think you should take some rest and we can talk later when it’s…”

“I love you Saavi!” The sudden declaration caught Saavi off guard. “I know it might seem like I’m trying to do some damage control because of what happened in the dream world but trust me, I’m not here out of any obligation. I wanted to tell you how I truly feel so you can decide for yourself.” He took a deep breath and continued, “I still love my Mrs. Ji, Saavi. No matter what happens, she will always be a part of my being. She transformed me into a responsible person, made me a better Reevavanshi, she gave me the greatest joy of my life - our Dafli. If I have to let go off her memories, I will also have to leave everything behind that essentially makes me Naman the Kancha Reevavanshi. I can’t do that Saavi, I won’t. But that doesn’t mean what I feel for you is any less precious…”

“We have had our ups and downs and yet, you stayed with me when no one else did. You were my partner, my frenemy, my true confidante. And I have loved you all along, albeit platonically, but in a way that mattered. Then Dafli came into my life; you accepted her as your own, and our mutual trust and admiration grew even stronger. It felt so natural that I never even realized when I fell in love with you.” “Naman…”

“Please, let me finish this one instance. I know the way I just described my emotions right now, you must be thinking I want you as the caretaker of my child. But that’s not true. I want Dafli to know you for the person you are. I did not fall in love with you out of gratitude. We practically evolved together. We became each other’s support when we were at our absolute worst and faced every hurdle together. I honestly don’t know what could be more beautiful than that. When I think of my life, I always imagine you by my side - scolding me for my stupid ideas, rolling your eyes at my jokes, and yet, defending me on every occasion without ever being asked for it. You’re not a part of my life anymore, you are my life! And I’ll be honored if you give me the chance to walk by your side as your husband.”

“Are you done?” “I think so...” “You think so?” “I mean, I can elaborate more if you…” “For what? To make it even more confusing?” “I don’t know!” Naman raised his voice in frustration. “I don’t know how else I can express my feelings without hurting you. Although you shouldn’t be surprised, I’m not exactly known for articulating my thoughts. I just… I don’t want to hurt you Saavi. But I can’t lie to you either, that won’t be fair to you, to us. I wish things were simpler. I wish I could tell you, you’re the only woman I have ever truly loved. Ironically, I can’t do that. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. Which is why I can’t be selfish with you.” He knelt before her and smiled awkwardly.

“Saavi Sharma, this is typically how men propose. I thought about at least five different ways of asking for your hand without making it weird. I guess there’s no point worrying about that anymore because I’ve already done that but,” He held her hands and looked into her eyes, “Take my hand if you feel the same way as I do. Otherwise, you should move forward and choose your happiness. We’ll always be friends and I promise you, I’ll never cross my limits.” “So you’re saying, I can go out with any potential suitor and you’re not gonna sabotage my meetings with them, am I correct?"

“Yes. Considering my track record, I’m also giving you my word - I’m not gonna plan any attack on your future husband at any point of time or create havoc on the day of your wedding. Crap, this reminds me I have never formally apologized to Ansh or Piya for troubling them.” “Yeah, you should probably do that. For now, let’s keep the focus on ourselves, shall we?” Saavi got down on her knees, surprising Naman, “Dear Lord! I never thought I would do something so stupid like this but here I am…” She smiled nervously.

“Naman, I’ve spent my entire life trying to do the RIGHT thing, only to realize now that nothing in life is so straight forward. When you’re too focused on the black and white, you tend to miss the other colors life has to offer. Just because I have made that mistake before doesn’t mean I have to keep repeating the same mistake. I love you Naman! There, I’ve said it, I love you! I can’t think of a life where you won’t be present to annoy me, or a day without your silly commentary regarding every Kaalishakti we come across. I don’t want to miss those precious moments when you notice my discomfort hidden behind my strength and take care of me in your own stupid way…” A lone tear escaped her eyes.

“I grew up watching Dad spending his entire life in Mom’s memory. I’ve seen Di going through literal hell just so she can be with Jiju. Who wouldn’t want such a love as consuming as theirs? Who wouldn’t want the assurance of being the first and last choice of their partner? That doesn’t mean I would trade what we share for a fairy tale like love story. It’s true that I felt jealous when I saw you with Dilruba. Despite knowing everything, a part of me felt broken. I guess, at the end of the day I’m just an ordinary girl who wants to be cherished.” “Saavi, I…”

“If we met in an alternate universe, under normal circumstances, perhaps our story would be different. We may or may not end up together, and that’s okay. So what if I wasn’t your first choice? It’s not like I’ve pined for you my whole life.” “Now that sounds like the Saavi I know.” He gently wiped her tears. “Of course, I have a limited capacity for showing myemotional side.” She tried feigning seriousness but ended up chuckling.

“On a serious note, I can’t accept you without acknowledging Dilruba’s influence on your life. I never imagined I would say this but she truly changed my perception of what makes someone honorable. How do I hold it against anyone for loving her when I respect her so much? I know she was the love of your life. But can I be the last? Can you give me your heart without any strings attached?” “I already have.” “Then that’s all that matters to me.” Saavi hugged Naman finally.

“I don’t want to waste my life wondering about what could have happened when I could live in this moment. I don’t know what will happen in another lifetime but I promise, I’ll never try to erase Dilruba’s existence nor will I try to take her place in your or Dafli’s life. Just… Let me create my own place, okay? And who knows? Maybe in another lifetime, things will work out perfectly and all three of us will end up where we belong.” “Maybe,” Naman nodded his head and hugged her back. “Unfortunately, in this one, you’re stuck with me till death do us apart.” “Don’t make me regret my decision Naman.” “It’s too late for that now.”

Naman lifted Saavi in his arms and started twirling. As their laughter filled the air, both felt relieved having the weight lifted off of their chests. Finally, the agony hidden deep within their souls found their way through the tears of joy, unspoken words of doubts were heard as they began to untangle the delicate strings of their relationship. A new beginning arrived in the truest sense as they decided to savor the memory of their loved ones by honoring their sacrifice and letting go of the heartache…