Chapter 3 Promises and Pain
I do not want to talk to you.
Kiyan's words hung in the air like frozen daggers. He shoved Aarav with a sharp merciless push and walked away without a backward glance.
Aarav stumbled. Lost his balance. His head slammed into the sharp edge of the canteen's heavy iron gate. A resonant metallic thud drowned out every sound around them.
A beat of dead silence.
Then warm liquid erupted from the back of his neck. A crimson stream flowed down soaking his white shirt staining it deep pink then red.
AARAV Nayan's scream tore through the silence. He sprinted over trying to lift him. Aarav are you okay. Get up.
Aarav reached back and touched his head. His fingers came away warm and sticky. He stared at his hand in shock fresh blood glistened on his palm.
Kiyan turned.
His eyes locked onto Aarav's blood soaked neck his stunned face. His fists clenched so hard his nails pierced his own palms. A sharp pain shot from his hands to his wrists. Blood dripped from them too his own blood.
Aarav saw it. He opened his mouth to speak maybe Kiyan or what the but before he could Kiyan whirled around and dissolved into the crowd as if running was his only option.
Nayan dragged Aarav toward the classroom. Karishma limped behind them. Together they wrapped a makeshift bandage around Aarav's head pressing a handkerchief against the wound to stop the bleeding.
Aarav Karishma said softly her voice thick with concern and confusion. Did something happen between you two. Kiyan never acts like this. He seems off today. Did you say something to him.
Aarav looked at her genuine bewilderment in his eyes. Karishma I did not say anything to upset him. I do not know what has gotten into him.
Nayan sat beside Aarav anger simmering in his voice. Whatever it is Kiyan had no right to push you like that. Look at you you are hurt. Did he even ask if you were okay. He should not have done this.
Aarav just stared at Nayan silently. Karishma placed a hand on Nayan's shoulder signaling him to calm down. Nayan stormed off in frustration.
Karishma sat beside Aarav. Aarav she said gently whatever happened between you two you have to fix it. Otherwise this friendship will turn into something ugly. She touched his shoulder. You understand what I am saying.
Aarav nodded.
Karishma left too.
Aarav sat alone. Questions stormed through his mind. Kiyan what happened to you. Why are you acting like this. Did you really not feel anything when I got hurt. Does it mean nothing to you.
He grabbed his bag and walked out. Nayan and Karishma sat at a table outside. Aarav approached Nayan.
Bro I will talk to him. Do not worry. Hmm we should go now. No more periods today. Yeah let us head home.
Karishma looked at Nayan. Let us go Nayan.
Nayan nodded stood up took Karishma's hand and walked her out of college. He helped her onto her scooter. Go carefully.
Aarav added You two too.
Nayan revved the scooter and drove off Karishma behind him. Aarav started his bike and headed home. On the way he caught his reflection in the side mirror the handkerchief still tied around his head the edges stained brown with dried blood.
What happened to you Kiyan. You did not even look back once. Have you really changed.
Meanwhile Kiyan ran through the forest at breakneck speed. His breaths came ragged and uneven. His feet bruised and bloodied from tripping over tree roots barely registered the pain. He stopped near a massive tree (Akshay Vriksh immortal banyan tree) and slammed his still clenched fists against its thick trunk.
Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.
Each impact sent waves of pain through his palms but he did not stop. The memories clawed at him pushing Aarav. Aarav's head bleeding. Aarav's shocked wounded eyes staring back at him.
Why. Why he screamed pounding harder. Why did you do it Aarav. Why.
Blood now flowed freely from his hands the rough bark had torn his skin open. Crimson streams ran down his wrists and dripped onto the forest floor staining the fallen leaves red.
Nishi the Chhayagrasini (a witch like entity who drains age and life force) heard his screams and rushed like lightning. She grabbed her son wrapping both arms around him stopping his hands mid swing.
What are you doing Kiyan.
She seized his hands and dragged him back to the Tamogahan (a dark cave dwelling of dark practitioners). Inside she examined his wounded palms.
What have you done to yourself Kiyan. Your hands are bleeding. For what. For that Devansh (a divine being one of the god like entities) the one you claim to hate. For him.
Kiyan turned away. No Ma I was just angry at myself for trusting that Devansh so blindly.
The Chhayagrasini gripped his shoulders and forced him to face her. Forget him. You have no connection with him not friendship not enmity. What he did was his choice his betrayal. And what you are doing now that is his victory. You are hurting yourself because of him. That is exactly what he wanted. Now forget him. Come. Sit here.
Nishi the Chhayagrasini placed his wounded hands over hers and whispered a Naad Sutra (a sacred vibrational chant or mantra) healing his injuries. The wounds slowly closed.
Do not torture yourself son. Not over that Devansh. That way he wins and you lose. Forget him and move on my child. I do not want to lose you.
Kiyan hugged his mother. Neither do I Ma.
Nishi smiled. Come sit. I made kheer for you. Come sit and tell me how did it turn out.
Kiyan sat beside her and began eating the kheer. Nishi kept asking How is it. Tell me.
Ma it is delicious. Here you have some too. And he began feeding her with his own hands.
The Chhayagrasini's eyes softened. After so many years we have sat together in peace and eaten kheer like this. It feels so good today sitting with you sharing this.
Kiyan smiled too. For me too Ma. They fed each other both repeating we will stay together forever. They laughed sitting side by side lost in the moment.
The Chhayagrasini rose. I will be right back beta. She walked out of the cave.
Yeh lo baby Chapter 3 corrected.
Changes:
· Devansh → Devanshik (divine being)
· Tamogahan → Andhkaar Guha (dark cave)
· Baki table ke according
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Chapter 3 Promises and Pain
I do not want to talk to you.
Kiyan's words hung in the air like frozen daggers. He shoved Aarav with a sharp merciless push and walked away without a backward glance.
Aarav stumbled. Lost his balance. His head slammed into the sharp edge of the canteen's heavy iron gate. A resonant metallic thud drowned out every sound around them.
A beat of dead silence.
Then warm liquid erupted from the back of his neck. A crimson stream flowed down soaking his white shirt staining it deep pink then red.
AARAV Nayan's scream tore through the silence. He sprinted over trying to lift him. Aarav are you okay. Get up.
Aarav reached back and touched his head. His fingers came away warm and sticky. He stared at his hand in shock fresh blood glistened on his palm.
Kiyan turned.
His eyes locked onto Aarav's blood soaked neck his stunned face. His fists clenched so hard his nails pierced his own palms. A sharp pain shot from his hands to his wrists. Blood dripped from them too his own blood.
Aarav saw it. He opened his mouth to speak maybe Kiyan or what the but before he could Kiyan whirled around and dissolved into the crowd as if running was his only option.
Nayan dragged Aarav toward the classroom. Karishma limped behind them. Together they wrapped a makeshift bandage around Aarav's head pressing a handkerchief against the wound to stop the bleeding.
Aarav Karishma said softly her voice thick with concern and confusion. Did something happen between you two. Kiyan never acts like this. He seems off today. Did you say something to him.
Aarav looked at her genuine bewilderment in his eyes. Karishma I did not say anything to upset him. I do not know what has gotten into him.
Nayan sat beside Aarav anger simmering in his voice. Whatever it is Kiyan had no right to push you like that. Look at you you are hurt. Did he even ask if you were okay. He should not have done this.
Aarav just stared at Nayan silently. Karishma placed a hand on Nayan's shoulder signaling him to calm down. Nayan stormed off in frustration.
Karishma sat beside Aarav. Aarav she said gently whatever happened between you two you have to fix it. Otherwise this friendship will turn into something ugly. She touched his shoulder. You understand what I am saying.
Aarav nodded.
Karishma left too.
Aarav sat alone. Questions stormed through his mind. Kiyan what happened to you. Why are you acting like this. Did you really not feel anything when I got hurt. Does it mean nothing to you.
He grabbed his bag and walked out. Nayan and Karishma sat at a table outside. Aarav approached Nayan.
Bro I will talk to him. Do not worry. Hmm we should go now. No more periods today. Yeah let us head home.
Karishma looked at Nayan. Let us go Nayan.
Nayan nodded stood up took Karishma's hand and walked her out of college. He helped her onto her scooter. Go carefully.
Aarav added You two too.
Nayan revved the scooter and drove off Karishma behind him. Aarav started his bike and headed home. On the way he caught his reflection in the side mirror the handkerchief still tied around his head the edges stained brown with dried blood.
What happened to you Kiyan. You did not even look back once. Have you really changed.
Meanwhile Kiyan ran through the forest at breakneck speed. His breaths came ragged and uneven. His feet bruised and bloodied from tripping over tree roots barely registered the pain. He stopped near a massive tree (Akshay Vriksh immortal banyan tree) and slammed his still clenched fists against its thick trunk.
Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.
Each impact sent waves of pain through his palms but he did not stop. The memories clawed at him pushing Aarav. Aarav's head bleeding. Aarav's shocked wounded eyes staring back at him.
Why. Why he screamed pounding harder. Why did you do it Aarav. Why.
Blood now flowed freely from his hands the rough bark had torn his skin open. Crimson streams ran down his wrists and dripped onto the forest floor staining the fallen leaves red.
Nishi the Chhayagrasini (a witch like entity who drains age and life force) heard his screams and rushed like lightning. She grabbed her son wrapping both arms around him stopping his hands mid swing.
What are you doing Kiyan.
She seized his hands and dragged him back to the Andhkaar Guha (dark cave). Inside she examined his wounded palms.
What have you done to yourself Kiyan. Your hands are bleeding. For what. For that Devanshik (a divinely blessed one who wields divine power) the one you claim to hate. For him.
Kiyan turned away. No Ma I was just angry at myself for trusting that Devanshik so blindly.
The Chhayagrasini gripped his shoulders and forced him to face her. Forget him. You have no connection with him not friendship not enmity. What he did was his choice his betrayal. And what you are doing now that is his victory. You are hurting yourself because of him. That is exactly what he wanted. Now forget him. Come. Sit here.
Nishi the Chhayagrasini placed his wounded hands over hers and whispered a Naad Sutra (a sacred vibrational chant or mantra) healing his injuries. The wounds slowly closed.
Do not torture yourself son. Not over that Devanshik. That way he wins and you lose. Forget him and move on my child. I do not want to lose you.
Kiyan hugged his mother. Neither do I Ma.
Nishi smiled. Come sit. I made kheer for you. Come sit and tell me how did it turn out.
Kiyan sat beside her and began eating the kheer. Nishi kept asking How is it. Tell me.
Ma it is delicious. Here you have some too. And he began feeding her with his own hands.
The Chhayagrasini's eyes softened. After so many years we have sat together in peace and eaten kheer like this. It feels so good today sitting with you sharing this.
Kiyan smiled too. For me too Ma. They fed each other both repeating we will stay together forever. They laughed sitting side by side lost in the moment.
The Chhayagrasini rose. I will be right back beta. She walked out of the Andhkaar Guha.
Kiyan continued eating. Then he heard a scream.
He bolted outside and froze.
Ma.
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