Chapter 34 Father and Pledge
The silence after Bhaskar's terrified cries was more oppressive than the noise. Aarav and Arushi moved on autopilot guided by a shared unspoken dread. They guided their father's trembling form from the living room sofa to his bed. His body was a dead weight of shock. Aarav fetched a glass of water Arushi dampened a cloth. As Aarav gently dabbed his father's forehead the cold water did its work.
Bhaskar's eyes flew open. But he did not see the ceiling. He saw something else. He jackknifed upright scrambling back against the headboard hands coming up in a futile guard.
No. I will not tell. I will not tell no matter what you do. The voice was a stranger's rasping stripped raw.
Aarav did not hesitate. He moved into his father's line of sight ignoring the flailing hands and wrapped his arms around the rigid torso. He held on not tightly but with an unshakeable solidity. One hand came up to cradle the back of Bhaskar's head fingers stroking his sweat dampened hair. Papa. It is me. Aarav. Your son. You are safe. You are in your bed in your home. Nothing can touch you here.
Bhaskar's frantic panting hitched. His wild eyes darted from Aarav's face to the familiar dresser the faded calendar on the wall Arushi's tear streaked face hovering nearby. The reality of the room began to pierce the membrane of his panic. The fight drained from his muscles leaving a profound shivering exhaustion. He slumped forward his forehead coming to rest against Aarav's shoulder. His arms came up slowly and closed around his son in a grip that was desperate and clinging.
Aarav held him tighter. Arushi joined them wrapping her arms around both her own silent tears soaking into her father's shirt. For a long minute there was only the sound of shaky breaths and the solid comforting truth of their embrace.
Finally Bhaskar pulled back his eyes clearer but shadowed. His voice was a rough whisper. You are both you are alright.
We are fine Papa Aarav said his own voice thick.
They did not hurt you. Bhaskar's gaze scanned them looking for injuries.
Who Papa. Who did not hurt us.
Bhaskar's jaw worked. The name came out like a curse. Aagya Sangathan (the Aagya organization).
A cold understanding settled in Aarav's gut. So they were the ones who had you. The men in the black car.
A grim nod. They took me. Early morning near the metro station. Rendered me unconscious took me to one of their labs. His eyes lost focus seeing not the room but a sterile terrifying place. They wanted the chip. The one I had procured from their technician Baburao. They knew I had it. They tortured me for it. A shudder wracked his frame. I held out for a while. But their methods they break your mind. Make you lose control. I told them everything.
Aarav's hand found his father's shoulder a steadying anchor. It does not matter Papa. You are here. You are safe. That is all that counts. We will deal with them later.
No beta. Bhaskar's voice gained a sliver of its old steel. This is not just about me. They have played with countless lives. We have to expose them. I will speak to my team the Shakti Rakshak Task Force. We will end this.
Papa just rest first. We will talk strategy when you are stronger.
Arushi who had been listening with growing horror finally found her voice. Papa Aarav what is Aagya Sangathan. And Shakti Rakshak. What are you both talking about.
Aarav and Bhaskar exchanged a look a silent conversation of years of hidden truths. Bhaskar let out a long weary breath. Arushi beti I am part of a team. The full story is for another day. But know this I work with a group that fights against evil. Aagya Sangathan is one face of that evil. They pose as a benign research lab but behind closed doors they conduct illegal monstrous experiments. I infiltrated them to gather evidence. To bring them down.
But Papa Arushi's voice trembled that puts you in danger. It puts us in danger.
Yes it does Bhaskar admitted his gaze unwavering. But our work is to stand between that danger and the innocent. That is the duty we have chosen.
You worry about everyone Papa Arushi shot back fresh tears spilling. But what about us. What about yourself.
Beti I worry about you every second of every day. But a duty is a duty. His tone was gentle but final.
Arushi let out a choked sob turned on her heel and fled the room. Aarav made to follow but Bhaskar's hand suddenly firm closed around his wrist.
Let her be. She needs time. He gestured to the space beside him on the bed. Sit. We need to talk. You and I.
Aarav sank onto the mattress the weight of the upcoming conversation pressing down on him.
Give me your hand Bhaskar said.
Puzzled Aarav extended his arm. His father took it turned it over and pushed back the sleeve of his shirt. His thumb pressed gently against the inside of Aarav's wrist where the skin was pale and the veins traced a blue map. Then his fingers brushed over a patch of skin that to a normal eye would look unremarkable. But under Bhaskar's knowing touch it held the faintest almost silvery sheen the ghost of a pattern visible only when Devanshik energy had recently surged.
Bhaskar looked up his eyes holding not surprise but a deep weary recognition. Are you a Devanshik.
Aarav snatched his hand back as if scalded. He stood up putting distance between them his back to his father as he stared out the window. The sky was bleeding from orange to bruised purple. Papa I
I know son. Bhaskar's voice was calm resonant with a truth long held. I know you are a Devanshik. The power of our lineage runs in your veins.
Aarav's shoulders hunched. The confession dragged into the light felt like a betrayal of the normal life he had tried to cling to. Yes Papa he whispered to the darkening glass. I am.
Behind him Bhaskar did not sound angry or disappointed. A soft almost proud smile was audible in his voice. Then that is a good thing is it not Aarav. Why do you shrink from me.
Aarav spun around his face a mask of torment. A good thing. What good has it brought. If I did not have this this curse those people would not have come for you. This is my fault. All of it.
Bhaskar rose from the bed. He crossed the room and placed a heavy steadying hand on Aarav's head the way he had when Aarav was a child scared of thunderstorms. Listen to me. This is not a curse. It is our legacy. A blessing. It is a tool. His voice hardened with conviction. Do not you see. This is good. With your power we are stronger. Together we can destroy Aagya Sangathan. And we can destroy the Chhayodhbhav (a nightborn entity who drains age) as well.
The word landed in the quiet room like a physical blow. Chhayodhbhav.
The Chhayodhbhav.
Yes Bhaskar's eyes gleamed with a fervent light. The Son of the Chhayagrasini (a witch like entity who drains age and life force). Our intelligence confirms it. He is the one stealing life from this city. He is behind the deaths the withering. He is a plague. He placed both hands on Aarav's shoulders his gaze intense burning with a father's pride and a soldier's zeal. Now with you by my side we will end him. We will purge this city of Aagya Sangathan corruption and the Chhayodhbhav evil. Then everything will be set right. Our lives will be safe again.
He searched Aarav's face his own alight with a zealous hope. Aarav beta. Promise me. Promise you will help me. Promise you will help me end the Chhayodhbhav.
Aarav felt the floor tilt beneath him. The air grew thin. His father's hands on his shoulders were no longer comforting they were the weight of an entire world of an expectation that would shatter the fragile impossible thing growing in the dark corners of his soul. Chhayodhbhav. Kiyan. The names were a collision in his heart leaving a crater of silent anguish.
Bhaskar's grip tightened his voice dropping to a low urgent register. Promise me son.
Aarav looked into his father's eyes. He saw love there fierce and protective. But beneath it etched into the lines of trauma and resolve was the unwavering certainty of a soldier who had classified the world into allies and abominations. There was no room for golden eyed complexities in that worldview.
Slowly mechanically Aarav raised his right hand. It hovered in the space between them pale and trembling violently. It was not yet a pledge. It was a limb caught in a crossfire suspended between a father's desperate hope and the treason of his own heart.
The silence in the room was absolute broken only by the ragged terrified rhythm of his own breathing.
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