A Tale As Old As Time - Page 9

Chapter - 13

“Wait… This isn’t the way to Ansh’s house,” Piya looked around hurriedly as their cab took a different direction. “We are going to the hospital Di.” “Saavi…” “Do you seriously think our parents won’t raise any questions if we return home without a medical prescription? Besides, in case you haven’t noticed, I have a sprained ankle. I won’t be of any use until I can stand on my feet and do my part.” Saavi paused for a moment, giving Piyasome time to ponder over their current situation, “Don’t worry Di, we’ll get to Jiju as soon as we are done with the doctor, alright?” 

Piya nodded her head and looked outside. A strange fear occupied her mind but she couldn’t exactly verbalize what was bothering her. After what happened during lunch, she was no longer sure whether bringing Saavi and Naman along was a good idea or not. Saavi as usual was focused on the mission and she couldn’t be more thankful that her little sister kept her from falling apart. However, no matter how hard Saavi tried to mask her feelings, Piya could see through her pretense and understand her state of mind and Naman… 

She couldn’t even dare to comprehend how he must be feeling after meeting Sanam. And yet, she was lost in Ansh’s thoughts… Since when had she become so selfish? Or was she always like that? An insensitive prick who used her deceased family members as an excuse to run away from her responsibilities? 

“I can’t get out of here but you can. Please go, save yourself Mumma!”

“What did you say?”

“I know you are my mother. Please go! Papa and Pari needs you.”

“A mother never leaves her child.”

“But you left me before, right?”

Suddenly Adi’s face flashed before her eyes. Her little boy! Who she abandoned simply because she could not take Ansh’s rejection. She grew up without a family, longing for her mother; wasn’t it ironic that she put her child through the same pain? For six long years, she held Ansh accountable for their separation; every time Pari asked her about her father she blamed him for depriving their daughter of a complete family. But when it came to addressing Adi’s suffering, how conveniently she dumped his responsibility on the Rathods! If it weren’t for the current situation, would she ever really take her sweet time out and retrospect? 

“Oh God no!” Saavi’s voice broke Piya’s trance. She didn’t realize when her nosebleed started again. “Hold on Di, we’re almost there.” Panic-struck, Saavi tilted Piya’s head backward to stop the bleeding. “I’m fine Saavi. It’s just a little blood.” She tried to smile to assure her sister but in vain. This time a throbbing headache accompanied the pain in her shoulder, almost exceeding the limit of her tolerance. 

“What I’m about to do… Do you think I’m making the right choice?”

“You don’t need to worry about what’s right and what’s wrong Piya. Because everything will happen per Mata’s planning. You just have to have faith…”

“Maa?” Torn between her past and the present, Piya shut her eyes while Saavi frantically kept calling her name. 

“Promise me I’ll see you both again.” 

“You have my word Baba, I won’t let anything happen to Saavi.” 

She opened her eyes gasping, “No! I’m not gonna break another promise! I’m not gonna endanger my sister’s life for my selfish reasons.”  She was aware Saavi would never return to their world without her. Unfortunately, she was the teather holding both the worlds together and if anything were to happen to her, Saavi and Naman might get trapped here forever. She could not take that risk. She had to gain control over her emotions. She had to be strong her them. “Di!” Saavi cried out, “Please talk to me! I beg you!” “I’m fine Saavi,” She muttered with the utmost difficulty, “Let’s get this over with.” 

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“You are nothing like I pictured.” While Dev smiled politely, Ansh shot a death glare at him. He spent the majority of his adulthood fighting evil entities. None of them had the power to rile him up to the extent that he wanted to rip their throat out. However, Dev was an exception. “Neha, why don’t you escort us to your brother’s room? I want to talk to Ansh alone.” Anshclenched his fists to control his temper. No, he did not need another distraction from meeting Piya. However, Dev’s presence cleared his confusion regarding his surroundings. 

Of course, it would be Dev. He with his mind-controlling power was a master of manipulation. Besides, being an associate of Kalashree, Dev knew all about their family dynamics. Given the appropriate tools, only he could alter their past like this. But how did he get here? Didn’t Piya petrify him already?  

“Pardon us Sir,” Karan intervened, “Ansh needs to accompany us somewhere and it can’t wait.”  “But Bhai…” “If you don’t mind can we discuss this in my room?” Ansh finally opened his mouth, “As you can see, we are kind of busy right now. But I don’t want to disrespect a guest who has come all the way specially for meeting me. Karan, please take the car out. I’ll be joining you guys shortly.” “Sure, come on Rishi.”

“I’ve gotta admit, that was a smart move.” Dev took out one of Ansh’s sketchbooks and turned a few pages over.  “Cut the crap Dev; what do you want?” “What any counselor wants - I want to help you.” “The biggest help for me would be if you left from here without creating a scene. Just because I have been civil until now doesn’t mean I will keep quiet if you dare to harm my family.” “Delusional and violent, not a good sign.” Dev thought to himself, “It’s okay. I was leaving anyway.” He put the book on the table again.

“I went through some of your works, you have a brilliant mind. Just remember, just like a writer needs to feel his characters, he should also know where to draw the line between reality and fantasy. Have a good day Ansh.” “What the hell he was talking about?” Confused, Ansh opened the same book as Dev and received the shock of his life. “No! It can’t be!” He turned over another page and found a drawing of him and Piya at the lantern festival followed by a violent image of Mohana with her open braid.

Just then he received a call from Karan,  “Hello!” “I just saw the psychiatrist leaving, what are you still doing at home?” “I…” “Listen Ansh, we need to hurry. Rishi’s informant just called and,” Karan stopped midway, unsure of whether he should deliver the message over the phone or not. “What happened?”Ansh could feel his heart skipping a beat, “Is everything alright? Piya? Is she okay?” “She has been rushed into a hospital Ansh. You need to hurry if you want to...” Before Karan could finish his sentence, Ansh dropped his phone and rushed outside. 

“If you are adamant about leaving, I won’t let you go alone Ansh. I’ll come with you; your Piya will accompany you; we’ll be together forever.”

Was he too late? Did Dev finally succeed in separating them? He knew Dev stood no chance against Piya in her full senses. Is that why he harmed her indirectly when she had no idea of who she was?  “Finally!” “Follow that car.” “Wait, what?” “Just do as I’m saying.” Karan exchanged a glance with Rishi and started the car. Meanwhile, Ansh looked forward, desperately trying to catch up with Dev, “Don’t worry Piya, your Ansh won’t let anything happen to you… I promise!”