A knuckle rapping sound on the door forced me to open my eyes. I was feeling all dizzy and drowsy that for once I thought I was only assuming things. I had no recollections of how I fell asleep, probably only out of boredom. I looked aside with my half opened eyes at Nazira's bedroom door and felt my heart sink finding it still tightly shut. It was too hard to believe that I did not see her for a past complete day. All I wanted was to talk to her and I never could have imagined my genuine question could make her starve. I inhaled sharply, letting my nervousness down and hoping that she was alright.

The knock came louder and faster this time. I narrowed my eyes in suspicion, and then guessing if Nazira had gone outside, I quickly walked upfront and opened the door in a hope to see her.

I shivered involuntarily as a sudden cool breeze hit my skin. Outside was clear and silvery. No Nazira. I wondered what time of the night it was for everything was transformed into a white blanket of radiant lightning. Taking a few more steps ahead, I looked up at the moon- full and shining high above the sky The increased gushing sound of the river struck to me on the chord. It was rather chilly comparatively to that during the day. I quickly buttoned my outer checked shirt to keep the breeze out.

"Mackaaay Haaayden!"

A mellow and singsong quality of a tone grabbed my attention. A woman seemingly in Nazira's height, draped in a golden sparkling saree, her long hands flung open in a shape of a balance, appeared in front of my eyes when she slowly walked towards my direction.

I swallowed, guessing if my next challenge was up, and I wasn't ready for it. Watching her walk closer helped me to study her well, under the shining moon. Her eyes were tied with a white piece of cloth, a crepe bandage. Her lips were silver in color, completely in contrast to the color of her saree, making her look absolutely eerie. Her hands in shape of a balance, swinging aimlessly with the momentum of her walk.

She was getting closer to me, now at an approximate decent distance. But she didn't stop and kept walking. I took a step back expecting her to stop anytime. She didn't. The twigs beneath my feet were making a crunching sound, and I wantedly stepped on a few to let her know that I was standing right here. I understood she was blind, but was she deaf too?!

"Okay, stop! I am right here!" I shouted, fearing if she might push me down the cliff.

"Sooory!" She said, dragging her words too long, and finally coming to "Ready are you?"

"Er," I said, having an odd and uneasy feeling, "Can't it wait until morning?"

"Challenge is in no morning. It's late in the middle of the night," she replied.

I sighed in frustration. I was indecisive about it. My mind was still stuck on Nazira and her condition. But then I forcefully hardened my heart and decided to go with whatever it was, so that I could get back to her quickly.

"Okay," I said, halfheartedly, "What do I have to do?"

"You not alone?" she asked, lifting her hand and turning swiftly around. Her long hand swung around, almost in verge of hitting me. I ducked and saved myself. She turned again back at me, swinging her hands and I had to duck again.

"Watch it!" I cried.

Irritated, I walked far away from her and then I understood what Tula meant when she stated I wasn't alone. Nazira was walking towards me. Her eyes were totally widened, stuck on the weird looking Constellia.

My heartbeat sounded like an echo on watching her after long period of time, almost for a day. I had no idea that I had a strong desire to see her until now.

"Are you okay?" I asked, steeling my resolve to hold her hand.

"Is it about to begin?" she asked me instead, discarding my question.

"Yes," I said, nodding solemnly, "Did you eat?"

She didn't reply. Her silence gave me the answer.

"I'll be back in a while," I said, and tried to make her smile, "Stay here, and watch the show, okay?"

Again, she ignored my question, but locked her concerned eyes with me. I looked at her thoroughly. Charm in her face was now dominated by a profound sadness. It was clearly showing in her face, that she was unhappy about these challenges.

I blinked unwantedly, not getting caught in the beauty of her eyes that glittered tremendously beneath the light of the moon. I knew I was getting lost and I tried my best to stay focused. I had to force myself to walk back to Tula, inhaling deeply and shaking my head.

I was standing at the edge of the cliff, looking obliquely down at the bridge. The chilly humid filled breeze zooming out of the river, moistening my skin. Tula had asked me to stand here, right before the bridge and her indication lent me a slight hint of what my challenge was going to be. I instantly felt a sort of pressure building in my chest.

"What is the challenge?" I asked, tightening my heart.

"Cross the Bridge. Come back. No fall at all. Fall, you repeat," Tula answered and making my heart drop to my knee.

I certainly had an idea that it has something to do with the bridge. I looked further down calculating the height of the hill and the depth of the water. In addition to it, I looked every possible direction, only to make sure that if I fell, I shouldn't atleast get my head knocked to the solid rocks. But then, how in the world was I going to come back up here to repeat?

"Cross the bridge, and come back?" I asked, just to make sure if I understood her right, and finding my own voice trembling increased the pressure.

"Yes," she said, "Balance yourself. Things no same middle of the challenge."

I frowned unable to understand a word she spoke. "What do you mean? Say it again."

"Bridge magical. Swings hard hard. Can force you fall down. Balance main criteria."

I wanted her to explain clearly, with some sense in her way of speech. But then I made sure to understand everything by myself. If I listened her speak anymore, I doubted I might just kill myself.

Listening the sound the rushing water propelled me towards the anxiety I couldn't afford at this time. Tightening my fist, to calm my nerves, I asked her something didn't forget to. "Any catch?"

"Yes," she said, making my heart sink too low. Wasn't the magical bridge above the ghastly river enough? "I Constellia of a Breaking Samagraha," she continued, "So no Formation commands."

I snapped a look at her. "If I do that, will I not burn the ropes?"

"Right," she said, "All the best. And please, no fall. Win challenge."

I took a long deep shuddering breath, bracing myself to not to get swept away by the gravity already. Before anything done, I hopefully looked back, to see if she was still watching me. And there she was, standing a little distance away, hands folded, her eyes darting to and fro from me to the bridge and then back at me.

Without making further delay, I studied the bridge entirely. The ropes of the bridge were intact with the footrests made of wood. Thanks to the moonlight, I was clearly able to see them. But the only problem was, each of them was far too apart from one another.

I held either sides of the ropes with both of my hands and placed my foot on the nearest wood. I gasped, gripping the ropes tight. As soon as my leg touched the wood the hanging bridge began to swing. I bend over a little, my knees providing me the support I needed. I gazed down and nearly fainted watching the racing water. It was like a massive flood that had the power to tore down the hills, and destroy the whole realm.

I shivered a little as a cold misty breeze felt like needles digging deep into my skin. I lifted myself up to stand properly, holding the ropes as tight as possible. The first few wood logs were at an equal distance. I managed to keep my spirit up and heaved over them one by one, maintaining a unique level of concentration.

It was going well, according to me atleast and I wished to finish it off soon. It was just the matter of keeping my balance in check.

Surprisingly, the next few of the wood logs, to some extent, were attached to one another giving me a freeway and in no time I reached the midpoint of the bridge. My excitation to finish it off increased my speed and that made me a bit careless. As a result of it, the bridge began to wobble tremendously. I gasped, bending down again, sitting on my single knee till the bridge finally came to rest.

Looking upfront, it made me realize that I was actually lucky until now. Fear engulfed my body watching the rest of the bridge completely crooked. Only a few wood logs were visible. Moon light seemed to have suddenly got dimmed. The gush of water a thousand feet beneath me, seemed to be hastening than before.

My heart began to thump heavily, my skin tingled feeling the blood pumping heavily in my veins. I pressed my eyes shut, trying to pile up the strength I needed. Continuous bile forming in throat making me sick. As soon as the bridge came back to stay still, I slowly stood up, not caring the fact that my legs were still shaking. I scrutinized to where the next log was, but I couldn't quite decipher at once.

What it seemed to be a just a guess, I calculated my possible amount of leap I decided to make. Gazing at the wood log that I was just imagining its presence and to instill the confidence, I whispered the countdown.

"Three...two...one!"

I sprung into the air, one leg after the other, pushing my whole body ahead. I would have made it fine, only if I hadn't faltered slightly before jumping. My front leg nicely touched the the log, and I was glad what I imagined was after all real. But my other leg missed to land at the right spot. It slid and pulled my whole body down with it.

I screamed at top of my lungs, turmoil filling up within me. Everything before my eyes blackened. And then my conscience reminded me, that I had one of my hand up, barely gripping the log. I could feel the coldness underneath my hand as my fingers curled up to hold onto the log with all my might.

My entire body was suspended in the air. My upper body strength wasn't enough to hold my weight for much longer time, with all the cool wind and eerie sound of the flowing water enhancing my shiver. My eyes began to fill and my teeth chattered together relentlessly. May be this was the end of my challenge, may be it could be less painful if I just let it go and repeat.

I held my head down in disappointment.

For a whole minute I was hanging right there. To let go and drown into the water seemed to be my only option. But to lean to that idea I had to swallow my pride which I wasn't able to. I didn't know why but suddenly every ounce of my body craved to see Nazira. I knew I couldn't look back nor I could use my stone to see her in my mind, staying in this position. I caught my breath and my chest slightly arched with pressure when all the possibilities to see her were so much in vain.

This frustration was killing me. I shook my head letting all my negative thought disappear. My challenge wasn't over, I haven't declared defeat yet. I had to win this damn thing, go back to see Nazira Khan.

I let the remaining of my energy flow to my hands. I gritted my teeth, tightened my muscles and pulled myself up furiously. I fought all the coldness that was letting me lose my faith in me. I fought all the odds of losing against the one who helped Shashi kill my parents. Placing one of my leg up on the wood, I exerted all my leftover force to stand up on the wood log.

I began breathing heavily. It was getting strenuous to balance myself properly in this position. I slightly moved aside and held the ropes tight with both my hands, till I relaxed my fast beating heart and my throbbing muscles.

I tentatively looked at the next wood log. There were probably three more of them for me to pass. Only then I could finally reach the other side of the bridge. But to my utter shock the wood logs were way more far away from one another

I knitted my brow, batting my eyes. Wait a second! This is a balancing act. Was I doing it wrong all this time?

I looked here and there, in search of something that I could hold onto and pass the bridge rather easily. Tula has mentioned that this challenge was meant to be in the night, probably the challenge was set up to hide the thing that might help me complete the challenge.

I bend a little low. Only a few things I was able to see, were the wood logs, the ropes and slightly broad foot rails.

The foot rails...

That's it. I need to balance myself over the foot rail and easily pass through the bridge. Man! What the hell was I thinking.

I unfocused my mind from hearing the eerie sound of the water. Taking a long breath, I put one of my feet on the foot rail, and held the rope tight with my fists. I pushed myself on it, selectively landing my second leg. Thankfully, it wasn't either slippery nor it was too narrow for my feet to slid off it. I began moving slowly and carefully, balancing myself with the space provided. It took me more than twenty minutes to reach the next wood log, but however time it took I managed to reach it.

I didn't want rush it like the last time when I made the whole bridge deliberately swing with my eagerness to finish it. I was calm and composed, luckily there wasn't any time constraint.

Two more logs and I should be done. I resumed again, this time I was getting to the stage of being a pro and found myself moving a little bit faster, yet being careful at the same time. Watching the other hill so close, was making me feel exhilarated. This was going to be over....finally.

Feeling contented I jumped, landing on the hill. A broad smile spread on my face. I turned around. Standing too far away over the other hill, made me capable to see only Tula's profile. Nazira wasn't anywhere around. I frowned. Wasn't she watching me perform this circus act?

"Oh, Darn it!"

I cried as soon as my mind reminded me of it. Challenge wasn't over. I was still supposed to go back to actually get this thing really done. I looked down at my palms, felt them a bit swollen. Going back now, seemed rather exhausting. I kicked the stones beneath my feet to let the frustration out.

But there wasn't any other choice. I had to do it. Calming my vexation and my nerves down I stepped upfront.

"What the..."

I gasped as I looked at the bridge, now understanding why Tula had called it a magical bridge. There were only few logs on my way to reach this hill, but now, suddenly out of nowhere, continuous logs were attached to one another which actually might make my journey rather easy.

I had my doubts and cautiously stepped on one of them. As I have been expecting, the log my leg was on, creaked and got itself detached from the rope, plummeting down the hill to drown and got swept away by the running river.

My breath caught in my throat. How in the world was I going to reach the other side if the logs kept falling? My mind raced, developing a quick idea. There was only one way to do it and it was nothing but complete suicidal.

I inhaled deeply, gearing up for it. I rolled my sleeves up, now that I didn't care about the chilliness anymore. Saying the countdown once again, I jetted myself towards my destinations, pushing my arms back and forth. One by one every log that my foot touched began to tumble down. I just have to be faster than them. I pumped my legs as fast as I could. I didn't dare to look down, that might only make my momentum slow. I balanced my mind with my body to keep pushing myself towards the destination. May be that was what this challenge was all about.

My heart began to drum, my breathe turning heavier, yet I didn't slow down. I zoomed towards the other side of the hill just like an eagle on a mission. I found Tula walking away from the bridge, wanting to provide me with some space. There were only final two logs to go, I didn't mind taking a long wide jump, strong and high. I did it and finally held on tight to land back on the hill...safe and sound.

My stomach growled. I slipped and fell on my knees, breathing so heavily that every cell in my body hurt. One hand on my stomach and another on the ground, I pressed my eyes shut, trying my best to make my breath even. My mouth was getting dry and I had to swallow continuously to moisten it. As I slowly opened my eyes, I found Tula walking towards me, her hands swinging rather swiftly.

"Congraaaats Mackaaaay Haaayden!" she said excitedly, and this time I smiled at her tone, "You win."

Shaking intensely, I stood up watching the lights appearing beside Tula and she, just like Kanya, placed her hands amidst it.

"Thank you," I said, inhaling a long breathe, "I ll go and get Nazira."

I walked past Tula, looking here and there for her. I reached the end of the bushes and pushed it away. I sighed finally finding her sitting near the threshold of the hut with her head down between her rounded arms upon her knees hugged tight.

I bent down and touched her palm to make her aware of me. At once she gasped, lifting her head up in aghast.

"It's me," I said, quickly to calm her down, "Just me."

Her eyes were filled and her forehead was shining with beaded sweat even in this chilliness. She stood up watching me closely as if I was a complete stranger.

"It's done!" I whispered, "We have to go."

I was expecting her to congratulate me or atleast ask me if I was hurt like the last time, but her reaction was totally unexpected.

She lifted her hand, holding something that I needed the most at the moment.

A bagel.

I bit my tongue, controlling my laughter. Only two days of living alone under the same roof and she has come to know very well about my appetite. Respecting her caring gesture towards me, I silently took it from her and ate it in silence for a few minutes.

Swallowing the last bite, feeling a little better, I repeated my words. "Gates are already opened. Let's go."

I turned around and took a step. But then what I heard in my mind, stopped me right at the spot.

"I am not coming with you."

-x-