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Abhay hands over the leadership to Advik while Rehan and Liana are trying to figure out their messed up emotions.
Rehan had no clue where he was headed. He just knew he had to get away from Liana. He could not let her mess with his head anymore. For decades, he had not let the weaker side of him take control. Not since Zaisha had made sure there was nothing left to him, leaving behind an empty shell that knew nothing but hatred. He had turned himself into an amoral beast - a killing machine that never harboured compassion. Then why did it matter to him if Liana confirmed the same? When he had accepted the very fact, why did it hurt when she threw it on his face?
It mattered... because he could never do that. Not to her. He'd rather stab himself to death than hurt her in any way. And he was not sure why he felt that way for her. The last time he'd let his emotions get the better of him, he had lost his everything and now though he had nothing to lose, he could sense something slipping away from the edge of his fingertips again and for reasons unknown to him, he had this strange urge to hold onto it.
Without realising it, he had walked towards the edge of the cliff reaching a dead end. He exhaled a breath he had been holding for long and pushed his hairs behind his face turning it towards the sky that continued to rain incessantly. He closed his eyes trying to push out all the images that were playing in his mind wreaking havoc on him -the wonderful moments he had spent with his mom; the many lonely nights he had stolen for himself, revelling in the fact that he was living a fantasy in the arms of a woman who had used him and later thrown him out unceremoniously out of her life;watching his mother die as the same woman drained her dry; avenging his mom's death by ripping Zaisha's cold dead heart out of her body; his glorious days as an invincible beast, and then... Liana. At the end of it all, the only image that lingered longer than any other was her tear stricken face and though she had berated him over and over again, he could see the naked pain in her eyes for him and he knew he could never be worthy enough to deserve it. Why did he have to feel any of it now? He opened his eyes and with a gut wrenching roar that echoed in the forests of Dehradun, he sank down gripping his head. After a few agonising minutes, he felt a soothing presence in his mind, more like an intrusion by an external force and he instantly knew what or rather who was causing this.
He sighed in defeat, getting up to his feet.
"Why are you here Liana?"
"Don't I wish I knew why?" she remarked dryly.
"That makes two of us," Rehan muttered under his breath and the storm had subsided by now.
Liana came to stand beside him overlooking the sky that was beginning to light up. She had seen his walls crumble down a moment ago and that had given her a new ray of hope. She had seen a glimmer of his long lost humanity and she would try her best to hold onto it.
"Why are you doing this?" and even before she could answer he stopped her. "Don't give me that bull about your everlasting friendship with Alina."
"No I wasn't about to say that and before anything else, we need to make sure you don't catch a cold," and Rehan felt a surging wave of heat creep up his insides warming him up instantly.
"Thanks but that was not necessary. I am immune to mundane human ailments just like you," he retorted.
"At times it feels good to feel mundane and forget all this madness. Don't you think?" Liana asked him.
"Who would want to be a mundane human? They are nothing but weak creatures who let their emotions get the better of them," Rehan said in a tone laced with disgust.
"You're wrong there Rehan. We assume a lot many things about mortals and we think we are the superior race just because we possess powers they deny to believe in but the truth remains that the gift of immortality is nothing but a curse. They get to live their share of happiness and pain and they move on while we are stuck in an eternal hellhole. It's not them but us Rehan. We are the weak ones."
"Did you suffer some serious head trauma during the fight? I am having second thoughts about that," Rehan frowned.
Liana ignored it and continued like she hadn't heard his snide remark.
"The very fact they forgive and forget makes them stronger than us Rehan. They don't destroy themselves over hatred unlike us."
Rehan knew what she was getting at.
"I know what you are trying to say Liana but it's easier said than done," Rehan's voice cracked for a moment but he composed himself.
"There has to be a start Rehan."
"Yeah I get it. Raichand is a changed man now and apparently he wasn't acting of his own accord. Be that as it is but it doesn't change the fact that I lost my mother because of him. I wanted nothing to do with any of this. My mother was a Luna who had been dethroned but yet neither me nor mom wanted anything to do with her clan let alone this world. We were happy leading an anonymous life until Raichand destroyed everything."
"The past cannot be undone but we need to make amends with it," Liana tried reasoning with him while he ran a hand through his hairs in frustration.
"I so wish Abhay had been the monster we thought he was. Would be easier to deal with all of this right now. All I sought was to avenge my mother's death but now I can't settle my scores with him and call this even. The person who killed my mother doesn't exist anymore. Can anything get worse than this?"
Liana placed a hand on his shoulder and turned to face him.
"Your mother wouldn't have wanted you to have murder on your hands either Rehan. It would hurt her more to see you like this. Let go of your pain," she pleaded him.
"For your mother. For... me," she begged him tears streaming down her pale cheeks.
Tentatively he reached out to her and caught a drop of tear in his palm. Along with Liana, his own heart was breaking at the sight of her tears and at that moment he wished he could do something to take away her pain.
"You still didn't answer my question. Why? Why does it matter?" he asked her inching closer towards her and she tried taking a step back but he pulled her to him holding her by the waist while she gasped in reflex.
"Answer me," he told her leaning his forehead against hers cupping her face. He kissed her tears away and slowly brushed his lips against hers making her tremble.
"I don't know... maybe I care for you. More than I am supposed to but I can't help it Rehan. I guess I... not sure... as insane as this sounds maybe I have fallen in love with you," she breathed, her lips quivering in anticipation as he brought his lips closer to hers yet again, capturing it in a slow soft kiss that soon turned into a passionate one, drowning them both in an ecstasy that was unbearable. They clung to each other, like they were the other's lifeline while the sun rose over the horizon heralding a new day taking away the darkness of the night casting a rainbow as the first rays of the sun illuminated the morning sky.
After what seemed like ages, they broke apart and stood there with their hands entwined looking at the sun rise.
"It feels like a dream. Like I am living somebody else's life. But nothing lasts forever and I know better than to believe in them," Rehan said in a thick voice while Liana looked confused.
"I am sorry Liana. Especially after what just happened... but you deserve better than broken goods. I wish I had been the person that I once was but I can't change the past. I can't change what happened and I certainly can't change what I have done or what I have become."
"I don't care Rehan," she replied stubbornly not willing to let go.
"But I do Liana," he replied in a resigned voice.
"Perhaps in another lifetime or a different time and place - when I would deem myself to be worthy enough of your affections, worthy enough to take your hand in mine and dream of a better life together with you! But how can I even think of it when I cannot even promise you a future and I am not sure what my heart truly craves for," Rehan told her clasping her hand begging her to understand. Tears brimmed in her dark brown eyes but she blinked them away. She knew what Rehan was asking for and she also knew before they could even envision their happily ever after he had to come to terms with his past and present and find his inner peace. Taking a deep breath, she nodded her head slowly and let go of his hand. She would do this for him even if it would shatter her heart to a million pieces. Rehan placed a light kiss on her forehead and giving her a last glance he walked away leaving her all alone.
If you loved someone truly then you would let go of them and that is exactly what she did. If they were meant to be, she knew they would be and Rehan would come back to her someday. And she would wait for him, even if it would take the whole of eternity.
*********************************
Pia submerged from her nightmare, drenched in sweat, clutching the blanket around her as though it was a shield against all her fears. Abhay's arms were against her in an instant, pulling her against his chest.
"Shh, shh Pia, I'm here, it's alright." He murmured, as she buried her face into his neck, her heart slowly steadying as she breathed in his familiar scent.
"Just a nightmare, Pia... don't worry... I'm here, I love you." Abhay said, his hand moving soothingly up and down her spine, as he felt her give another involuntary tremble.
"Abhay." Her voice came out muffled and shaky. "I dreamt"I dreamt"you were taken away from me..."
"Pia, no. Look at me." Abhay gently pulled her back, raising her chin to make her eyes meet his.
"See? We are together. No one, absolutely no one can separate us. You're here, and so am I... this is the reality, get it."
Pia cupped his face, feeling relief seep in as she looked into his eyes. She nodded. "Together." She whispered, as if reassuring herself.
Abhay pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Good girl. Now go freshen up, while I prepare something for you."
"No" Pia looked panicky again as he started to get up from the bed. "Don't leave me, Abhay."
Abhay sighed. "Pia, I'll be just downstairs, in the kitchen" he said, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "And as for not leaving you, if I have to follow that, then I have to go with you to the bathroom and there's no saying what'll happen after that."
Pia felt a grin visit her face at his words. She tried to smack him, but he jumped out of her way, smirking at her in that infuriating handsome way.
"Pervert." She said, making a face at him.
"And an excellent cook, as you'll soon find out" he smartly informed her, his eyes twinkling with relief as he saw her relaxing now. "Come down soon."
He winked at her before going out. Pia smiled, sliding out of bed, feeling the fear of the nightmares slipping away. Abhay was right. They were together and that was the reality.
Downstairs, Abhay had a brooding expression on his face, as he prepared an omelette, one of Pia's breakfast favourites. The decision that he has made in his mind ever since the fight was now at the front of his thoughts, more urgent than ever. This place held danger for him, but it was not himself he was worried about. Pia was in as much danger as he was, if not more. And he'd let hell merge with heaven before he let harm come to her.
A few minutes later, as he laid Pia's breakfast plate ready on the table, Pia walked in, fresh after a bath and smelling of tempting lavender. Abhay stared at her as she walked over at him, momentarily losing train of all thoughts. Her eyes lit up as they fell on the table.
"Abhay! You made me my favourite breakfast." She reached him and gave him a hug, planting a kiss on his chest. "I love you."
Abhay held her tight for a moment, inhaling the scent that was so wonderfully Pia. Then he let go of her, smiling as she sat down, eager to taste his cooking.
"Mmm, this is rather good" she said, as she started eating. "You weren't lying"
"Do I ever lie to you?" he asked, eyebrows raised, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"No but you keep secrets from me." She shot back, raising her eyebrows in a perfect imitation of his.
"You never back down from a fight with me, do you?" he asked, letting out a laugh as she shook her head vigorously. Then his expression turned serious.
"Pia, I have something to discuss with you." Pia looked up immediately, noting the change in his tone. "Pia, I have been thinking" I don't want to be the king of supernaturals anymore."
Pia stared at him for a few seconds, confused. "I" are you sure?" she finally asked.
Abhay nodded. "Very sure." He said, his voice firm. "This is a decision I should have taken long ago. Look at all the things that have happened since I've become king. Look at what I've done."
His eyes filled with remorse as he thought how ruthless he had been.
"Abhay" said Pia, taking hold of his hands in her comforting ones. "That's all behind you. Everyone makes mistakes. What matters now is that you've realized them."
"And I wouldn't have been able to do that without you." He said, glad that he had her love. "So, I've been thinking, I don't want to stay here anymore. This place is too dangerous with enemies lurking all around. And I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you. Besides I was never meant for ruling the supernaturals Pia. All I ever wanted was to be with you." His voice trembled slightly and he pulled her close, holding her tight. "So, let's go somewhere far away where there'll be just you and me."
"Go" away?" Pia said slowly. "Where?"
"Anywhere you want." He told her. "Just" far away from Dehradun."
"Just you and me?" Pia asked.
"Just you and me."
Pia thought about it for some time, then her face broke into a smile. "That'd be great!" Abhay's face started to break into a smile as he saw excitement start to dawn on her face. "I'd love that!"
"Well that's settled then. We'll leave as soon as we can, by this week hopefully." His eyes twinkled with mischief. "Now, it's time I had my breakfast." Before she could say anything, his lips had touched hers, and she forgot everything except him.
"I love that look on your face." He told her, when they finally pulled back, and Pia looked at him dazed, her breathing ragged, just like his.
"You Shameless vampire." Pia whispered, blushing before she hid her face in his chest."
"And all yours," she heard him say, his voice vibrating in his chest.
***********
Alina sat in the college library, her face in her hands. It was Saturday, and the college was closed, but she had come here for some quiet time. After the fight a few days ago, she suddenly felt drained. What Rehan had done was despicable. When she had seen him that day, she had seen in him a shadow of all that had been bad in Jeh, and she did not like to be reminded of those times. In fact, she was tired of all this supernatural madness. She wanted some normalcy in her life. Something, or someone to make her forget all this and help her live a normal life, maybe like a normal girl, though she knew she was far from normal. But she had heard a she wolf if wants can control her transformations and with practice and lots of hard work, she may be able to stop them completely thus leading a normal human life. However, no one has ever been able to do that all thanks to the age old rivalry between the vampires and werewolves. But maybe that war is over now. At least that's what it seemed to her right now.
"Penny for your thoughts?" A familiar voice snapped her out of her thoughts and she looked up to see Kshitij coming towards her, ball in hand, wearing a vest and shorts, with ruffled hair and a sweaty, red face.
"Hello, Kshitij" Alina whispered, surprised at how her tired heart gave a leap as though it had recognized someone welcome at this time. "You here?"
"I came here to practice. The college court is the biggest and practice helps me get my mind off things." He shrugged. "But what are you doing here? Surely not studying?" he asked, disbelief coating his last words, as he sat down in front of her.
"No, I just wanted some" quiet time." Alina was surprised at how easy it was to be truthful to him.
"Oh." Said Kshitij, and then his face broke into an almost boyish smile. "No worries, everyone needs quietness sometimes." He looked around. "Well, then, let me not annoy you any longer" he said good naturedly. "See you around."
He turned to go, and many thoughts ran in Alina's mind at that very instant. Kshitij reminded her so much of her own former self. With his unconditional one-sided love for her, he no longer seemed to be the careless brat she first had thought him to be. No he was a nice, caring guy. A guy who would be around when you need him, but give you all the space you want if you so want it, without asking anything in return. Hadn't she herself been like this once? She never knew what prompted her to say the next word. "Stay."
Kshitij turned around, looking surprised at her request, and then he gave her a soft smile, sliding again into the seat he had just vacated. "Are you all right?" he asked after a while, his voice more tender than she had heard. She looked up to see him looking at her, his eyes intent, concerned. She felt a lump rise in her throat. And once again, her loneliness hit her hard, and she wished, badly wished, that she could let go of all her obligations and responsibilities and just be normal.
She opened her mouth to answer that she was fine, but it was hard to lie to him. "No" she said, looking down at her fingers entwined on the table. "I am not all right."
She said nothing more, and nor did Kshitij ask. He sat there, giving her his company, and silent comfort. Alina looked up at him gratefully. He was different than anyone she had ever met. He didn't push her to say or do things she wasn't ready to, he was there with her without expectations, by her side yet giving her space. What wouldn't a girl do to get a guy like her? The thought almost made her laugh a bit shocking Kshitij who had never seen her even smile.
"You sure you are ok? I have never seen you laugh before." Kshitij asked in shock.
"Yeah, I was just laughing at my own stupid thoughts. I was wrong about you earlier. I thought you were some young careless, spoilt brat, but you turned out to be a really nice and caring guy who knows how to love someone unconditionally. Girls of early 21st century would not have wasted any time and would have done all they could to trap a guy like you." Alina laughed again at her own thoughts.
"Early 21st century, how do you know about that time?" Kshitij asked surprised.
"Well that was the time when I was actually able to come out of my shell and live confidently with the help of a few friends. Before that I was always kept locked in my own house by my own mother." Alina replied bitterly as the memories of her past flickered by.
"What, how.. I mean how old are you?" Kshitij asked in a complete shock.
"150!" Alina replied and laughed at Kshitij's shocked expressions. "What, do you have any problem having such an old girlfriend?" She asked while laughing, not realizing when these words slipped by.
"No.. I mean.. What.. What did you just say.. Girlfriend?? You mean..." Kshitij did not know how to react and what to say. Alina went quiet as the realization hit her, but after a few minutes of silence, she seemed to have made up her mind.
"Errmm.. Kshitij.. actually I have been thinking about this, about you.. about us.. See I don't know where it would lead us, and I certainly cannot promise you a future at this point, but somehow the way you have been with me, made me feel special for the first time. No one had ever cared for me like this before without expecting something in return and somewhere deep down, I always used to feel that maybe I am not good enough to be loved by anyone. After all, I am a freak of the nature. But.. But for the first time, you made me feel that I too can be accepted the way I am, I too can be loved the way I am without having to give some favour in return. And so, Kshitij, I really want to give us a chance."
"I don't want your Pity Alina." Kshitij told her, his voice calm.
"No, you're not understanding" Alina said, her voice growing desperate. "I'm not good with words, I never have been. But I, I do want to be loved, be normal, forget that I- that I am a werewolf." She took a deep breath. "And I want you to help me. I have had too much of this supernatural madness Kshitij. I want to live, grow old and die like a normal human now. And I want you to help me. I am not sure if it can happen, but I want to try. For myself, for you, for us. I cannot promise, but I really do hope to have a happy future with you Kshitij. Will you.. will you give us a chance?" Alina spoke in a shaky voice, her eyes on the brim of spilling the tears she had been holding on for long.
Kshitij looked up at her, and Alina almost staggered seeing the love in his eyes. Love for her? Real love? In spite of the past, her heart gave a tiny flutter of hope. "I love you for what you are, who you are. I don't really care you change or not, but yes, I'll help you. I'll help you whenever you need it. And I am sure, we will make this work." He smiled, reaching hesitantly for her hands, and she didn't pull away, as his warm fingers enclosed her delicate ones. It felt warm. It felt right and Alina found herself smiling back, and there was nothing forced about it.
*******
Pia sat comfortably in front of the TV, a smile on her face as she recalled how Abhay had almost shooed her away from the kitchen because he wanted to cook lunch for her. They had decided that they would travel light first, see the world, maybe, and then settle down, as far away from Dehradun as possible. The programme she was seeing was an old one, which she had managed to collect from the college video library. It featured amazing facts, and the one she was currently seeing had a woman as the central character, who had hidden her husband away after he had died, and preserved him with blocks and blocks of ice for almost forty years, so that he would not decompose. As the cameras zoomed in towards the corpse lying in astonishingly well shape beneath the ice, Pia froze. The biscuit she was having fell from her nerveless hands, as she felt a weird sense of dj vu coming over her. Pain shot through her head, and she gave a groan, as the pain intensified, feeling as though knives were twisting in her skull. She clutched her head, eyes closing, feeling nauseous. But there were images coming in her head now. The image of the corpse beneath the ice seemed to be zooming towards her, zooming with speed, and suddenly the face changed. It was Abhay's face beneath the ice, and she was in the forest, shifting the leaves from the frozen ground, looking at him from above. She scrunched up her eyes, as her head reached bursting point and she gave a scream before she fell to the ground, unconscious.
*****
Abhay had felt the growing discomfort through the bond and he instantly knew that something was wrong upstairs. He rushed upstairs at once, his panic boundless as he heard her scream. Even his vampire speed seemed slow as he rushed from the door to the ground, catching her just before she hit the floor. Her eyes were scrunched shut, and he could see tears begin to leak out from under her eyes.
"Pia" He shook her. "Pia!"
He laid her gently on the ground, fetching the water bottle, and sprinkling it on her face. She did not stir.
"Wake up, Pia!" He shook her and she swayed to and fro lifelessly. Fear as he had never known gripped her. If something had happened to her" not now" please"no"
"Wake up!" he almost screamed, unaware that his own tears were falling like red rivers down his cheeks. "What's the matter with you? You were fine a minute ago"Pia"please"you're scaring me""
He closed his eyes, unable to take in the sight of her looking so lifeless. He could hear the beat of her heart, but why was she not opening her eyes?
And then he felt soft hands on his cheeks, rubbing away the tears. Faster than light, his eyes snapped open. Pia looked back at him, a smile coming on her face.
"Are you all right?" He asked catching hold of her hand on her cheeks. "What happened? I am going to call a doctor..." He made to get up, still not letting her go, but she held him back, her face still calm.
"I saw you" she said, her voice quiet. "I saw you beneath the ice. You took my memories away, I couldn't remember you... but I was pulled to you.. where she froze you... I wanted to open your eyes..." more tears continued to slide down her cheeks, but she looked calm, gazing at him with love.
Abhay looked at her, not comprehending. What was she saying? "What?" he asked.
"I always had suspicions on you, didn't I? I was always wrong about you, thinking you were the monster, when actually, it was Maithili, or Siddharth, or Jeh..."
Comprehension dawned on Abhay's face. "You"you remember? You got your memories back?" his voice held disbelief. Pia hugged him now, crying openly with joy, and Abhay laughed.
"You remember."
"I do, Abhay, I do" her voice was full of joy as she looked back at him, her eyes sparkling. "I remember us"I remember every detail of our story"how we were"how we loved""
She hugged him again, unable to rein in her joy, her relief. Her mind felt light, her heart was singing. He hugged her back, as the happy truth started to sink in.
"No one could separate us, could they? Even when they did, I came back to you." and he heard pride in her voice, pride for the bond they shared.
"And no one ever will" he told her, and as he spoke it he knew it was true. The fact that they had emerged through all that had happened, together and stronger, proved the fact. There was no force on earth or beyond who could separate them. And then Pia spoke, words she had spoken almost seventy years ago, words that would always be true, "As long as the night belongs to the stars, No one will ever separate us. We are"forever.."
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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