Chapter 19 Wrath and Blessing
Aarav's eyes flew open as if some inner storm had ripped them apart. Kiyan.
His body jerked upright from the bed. The name tore out of his chest and caught in his throat like a trapped scream. Arushi was at his side immediately. She grabbed his shoulders. Aarav. Aarav. Are you okay brother.
Aarav looked around. His father and his sister. Both of them were standing right beside him. Bhaskar's face was completely normal now. His color had returned. His eyes held their shine. The moment Aarav saw this every wall inside him shattered. He lunged forward and clung to his father. A cry broke loose from somewhere so deep in his soul it felt like it had been buried there forever.
Papa. Papa are you really okay. Papa you are healed. His voice was drowning in sobs.
Bhaskar wrapped his arms tightly around his son. Yes. I am fine Aarav.
Arushi collapsed against them both. The three of them held on to each other weeping without stopping. Tears of relief. Tears of the joy of being reunited. But Aarav's tears were telling a different story altogether.
When they finally pulled apart Bhaskar and Arushi sat beside him on the bed. Aarav could not stop crying. He kept shaking his head as if trying to push away some terrible nightmare. Arushi hugged him again.
Aarav. Stop crying now. Papa is fine. Stop crying. It is time to be happy now. You saved Papa.
Aarav buried his face into Arushi's shoulder and broke down completely. Didi. Kiyan. Kiyan is gone. Didi Kiyan is gone forever. He left me.
Arushi pulled back and looked at his face. What. Kiyan. Where did he go. Aarav what happened.
Aarav struggled to speak through his sobs his body jerking with every hiccup. Kiyan. He is gone forever Didi. He left me. He gave his own life to save Papa. I could not save him Didi. I could not save him.
Tears welled up in Arushi's eyes too. She held onto him. He promised me he would protect you. And he kept his promise. He saved you with his own life.
Aarav kept sobbing. His body trembled with the shock. Bhaskar came closer and placed a hand on his head. His voice was heavy and broken.
Because of me. Because of me Kiyan is not here today. Forgive me son. Forgive me. I misunderstood him so badly. I thought the son of evil must be evil himself. Forgive me son. Please forgive me.
Aarav said nothing. He just kept crying repeating the same words in a broken whisper. I could not save Kiyan Didi. I could not save Kiyan. And then crushed under that same pain and exhaustion he lost consciousness again. One last tear rolled down his cheek and stopped there frozen.
Arushi screamed. Aarav.
Bhaskar caught him and steadied him. He needs time. Arushi he cannot bear the shock of losing Kiyan. If he stays unconscious at least for a little while he will feel some peace.
Arushi wiped her tears away. Papa. Aarav went alone to find the Neelmukhi flower to save your life. Kiyan went after him. He promised me he would protect Aarav. And he kept his promise. Papa but. Kiyan gave his life to save yours and Aarav's.
Then without warning a shadow shot into the room with the speed of lightning and shattered the front door to pieces. Arushi and Bhaskar spun around.
A woman was hovering in the air. Her long braid of hair whipped around her like a living thing. Her golden eyes blazed. Her nails were long and black. Her feet were twisted backward. She flew forward and seized Bhaskar by the throat lifting him off the ground.
Because of you I have lost my son today. Her voice was a ragged shriek filled with hundreds of years of pain and rage. I will not leave you alive.
She hurled Bhaskar through the air. He slammed into the wall and crashed to the floor. Blood began pouring from his head.
Arushi's legs froze in terror. The Chhayagrasini (a witch like entity who drains age and life force) glanced at her own braid and from that braid a dark whip of black energy lashed out. It wrapped around Arushi and lifted her into the air spinning her in circles. Arushi screamed. Aarav. Aarav. Help.
But Aarav lay unconscious.
Blood was still streaming from Bhaskar's head. Groaning in pain he forced himself up and grabbed the vessel of Mandar Jal (sacred water) that sat nearby. He looked at the Chhayagrasini and flung the sacred water straight at her.
Hiiiisssss. The Chhayagrasini shrieked. Wherever the drops touched her body smoke rose. Her skin burned. She hurled Arushi to the ground and howled with fresh rage.
Bhaskar ran to Arushi and pulled her up. Get out of here. He shoved her toward the door then turned back toward Aarav.
But the Chhayagrasini's braid shot forward again and coiled around Bhaskar's throat. She dragged him toward her. A life for a life. She screamed and lifted him into the air. She opened her mouth. A dark terrifying void. She was about to drain Bhaskar's age. His life force doing umr choosna (age draining).
Then a voice echoed through the room. Cold and steady. Like wind striking a frozen cliff. Stop.
The Chhayagrasini turned to look.
Her lips moved. No sound came out. Only a whisper that dissolved into the air.
You.
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