My eyes remained stuck on her. 

In pure white plain ethnic wear, having her head down she walked towards me alongside Ira. Watching her after so many days the world seemed to disappear. My aunt was speaking but I was too fixated on her to hear anything. I had been waiting to have a one on one meeting with her, to talk openly about what the incomplete moment actually meant. I couldn't comprehend if she even knew that I was standing there, mentally pleading her to look at me, to give me an opportunity to find solace gazing at those eyes.

"We have to start as soon as possible," Ira said to my aunt and then to me, "Hayden, I will be opening Gates for you. Are Pruthvi and Leena on their way?"

"What?" I asked, finding it difficult to take my eyes off her, "Yeah, they are."

"Great," she said. "We must leave."

They began walking away, my aunt accompanying them. Nazira must have sensed my plea that she did what I wanted her to. She lifted her heavy lashes up and fixed her gaze with mine till we parted ways. My mind reeled the images of best moments we shared spending in the Parallel Universe- keeping each other company, the jokes we cracked, the way she teased me, our dance feeling each other- she was there for me, with me, sometimes morally helping me get through the challenges. But then there was something else in her eyes that it took a moment to perceive. Was I just blaming my aunt, when I myself was keeping a major secret from Pruthvi?

She had already walked away, but my mind still lingered on those eyes of hers. Guilt trickled through me on thinking about Pruthvi and Leena. They had gone through a lot of troubles alone and what have I been doing? Thinking of my ways to make her mine. I thought I was happy with her, staying alone for a month. But I had forgotten that my life wasn't with her in that parallel universe. It was here, in this Authentic universe with Pruthvi and Leena, who were the only two people ready to stick with me through thick and thin.

I walked away swiftly and chose to sit in the verandah for some air, placing my legs over the fencing and deliberating on what my priorities were. If Panchayat accepted me as a King and if there was no way out, would I be able to handle the position well? Will I able to cope up with both the responsibilities of being a Samagraha and the King at the same time? But before all of that, I have to bring Tyrell back. He was struggling, living with a murderer and I have to save him. I was right when I made allegation with myself that Nazira was a distraction to me. Even though I craved to have her in my arms, it was better to I keep my feelings for her aside and do what was more important- to save my friend and to save the people of Paramarashtra from Shashi.

These were my priorities.

Then there was this secret of mine. I didn't know if this was the right time, but if I delayed it further, there wasn't going to be any difference between me and my aunt or Doctor, who prefered keeping secrets rather than facing them. I took a long deep sigh deciding to deal with whatever the consequences break through and went ahead to the guest room in search for them.

The door of the room was unlocked and I doubted if they had left it open unknowingly. I pushed the door slightly but before I walked in, I noticed them engrossed in a serious talk.

"Pruthvi, what's wrong with you?" Leena was asking, sitting down on the floor and placing her hand on his knees, "I haven't seen you so much devastated lately."

"Leena we are about to go to a funeral," said Pruthvi, seated in a chair looking away. "How am I supposed to be?"

"You were acting like this since you met Zarina Khan," she said, "The way you tortured Tyrell, I thought you were going to be polite with him. It was so much unlike you. Please tell me what's going on?"

Pruthvi sighed and looked down at her. His eyebrows down and joined together, reminding me so much of Nazira whenever she got angry.

"Where do you see us in next five years?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" asked Leena, with a whine in her voice.

"I mean," Pruthvi said, "Where do you see our relationship in next few years? What do you actually want from me?"

I took a step inside. Despite standing at the threshold, they neither noticed me nor I guessed they bothered about me listening to them.

"That's a very strange question," she said as if she read my mind. "And this wasn't I..."

"You wanted to know whats running in my mind, so this is it," he said his voice turning vigorous. I have never heard Pruthvi sounding so grave and significant about their relationship before. 

"Just answer me." 

"I don't know," Leena said, standing up, "We are moving here now, aren't we? We'll start doing everything we are supposed to do as a Samagraha."

Pruthvi took a few seconds gap, standing up facing her thoroughly. "And where does that fit me?"

"You are always there with me, you know that. Didn't we decide to do everything together?"

"No, you don't get it," he said and surprisingly I was able to hear his hard breath. "Okay let's try this again. If everything didn't go well, and something happens to me..."

"Don't say that.."

"Just listen to me, alright?" he hedged immediately, "You can't rule out the fact that we all may not survive at all."

"Pruthvi..."

"...because I already died once. It can happen again."

"What is your point?" Leena asked, her voice shaking, "What are you trying to ask?"

"I am asking," said Pruthvi and again he paused most likely to stuck on finding a proper word, "If I die, will you ever fall in love again?"

I knitted my brow, unable to comprehend why he was asking her such a ridiculous question. Pruthvi had never doubted their relationship before. They were a perfect example of a couple. Then why such a confusion? Why now, right after Doctor's death?

"If anything happens to you, Pruthvi," said Leena, stubbornness radiating out of her, "And by fate, if I survive even after watching you die, I may never fall in love again. It's been you, it's always been you. I can't see myself with anyone else."

"Do you mean it?"

"Of course I mean it."

"Do you promise to stay alone, all your life?"

What type of question is that? How can he even ask her that?

I didn't know if I must be reacting now. He was doing a good job ticking me off. I was finding it hard to resist walking inside and punch Pruthvi hard on his jaw.

"I promise!" Leena said, making me drop my mouth. My heart prickled, realizing how much they meant to each other to make such a promise.

Pruthvi slightly nodded and said, "Leena, we have to break up."

I pulled back sharply, mentally stumbling upon my own feet. This was impossible. I suspected if it was even the Pruthvi I knew to utter these words to Leena.

"What!" she gasped, "B...But why? What did I do?"

"It's not about what you did," Pruthvi said, "It's about who you are."

"What do you mean?"

"Leena, think," he said, his voice quivering, "You are the Maiden of Paramarashtra, the Maiden with special traits passed down to you. You are the replica of the person who once dedicated her life to the people, saving them from the deadly disease... "

"So?" she asked, raising her voice.

Pruthvi paused again. He sniffed pulling his glasses down. "I know we were meant to stay together for rest of our life. And I imagined us getting married, start a family of our own and grow old together...believe me, I really do want that life with you."

"Then what is the problem? Why are you pushing me away?"

"I don't want you to feel guilty and blame our relationship, sometime in the future. I don't want you to regret losing your ability. Because it did happen before."

I closed my eyes, Pruthvi's each and every word piercing my heart.

"Do you mean if we stay together, I might lose my tag of being a Maiden and my abilities?"

"Yes."

"Oh Pruthvi," she said, taking a step forward and keeping her hands around his face. "I get it why you are doing this. This is just an ability that is passed on to me. It has nothing to do with you and me..."

"Do you really want to risk it?" said Pruthvi slowly drawing her hands out of his face, "Do you really want people to die only because of our selfish desires."

"We can sort things out...may be Doctor can help us."

"Doctor is dead," Pruthvi said harshly, and folding his hand, "We need to get used to living without him. He is dead, he's gone. Ashwant is way too amateurish to help us out, and King Aghastya... he even tried to give a hint about us staying together is not a good idea."

"It was my grandfather who filled you up with this, didn't he?"

"And I think he is right."

"How can you be so sure?" she demanded, "He might not be in favour of our relationship, because he is all about the Clan of Rajya. But Pruthvi, I don't care, you know that."

"Whatever it is, Leena," said Pruthvi, pulling his folded hands and wiping his face, "I don't want to take any chances. Hayden is right, we have to honour Doctor and his beliefs. We are Samagraha first. People of Paramarashtra should be our priority."

I cringed, my eyes glistening with pain feeling blamed. This wasn't I intended to mean, Pruthvi.

"So you are really breaking up with me," Leena said, "You want to forget all the beautiful moments we had in past six years."

"I don't want to, I have to. We have to. I am sorry Leena, but you can't have love in your life. And if you can't, I don't want to be a fan of it either. This is how it is supposed to be. We both have to make this sacrifice, for the sake of our people."

Leena cupped her mouth and burst out crying. I stood there motionless finding myself too stunned to hear them make this decision. I wanted to go inside and talk to them but I didn't find it be in my best behaviour interrupt in their personal matter.

"Fine," she said, her voice trailing, "We are going to stop seeing each other for the sake of our people if that's what you want."

Pruthvi walked aside unable to face her anymore.

Leena then dashed away from him, running towards the door where I was standing at. I stepped back trying to hide but she opened the door completely and spotted me watching her with my pitiful eyes. She cried harder seeing me. I wanted to give her sympathy and I extended my hands for it but she rejected, running past me and wailing all down the corridor.

I pushed the door open and watched Pruthvi- his head bent and hands folded. Even though I was standing at a distance I clearly saw his eyes filling. He was blinked furiously, letting his tears run down. He removed his glasses to quickly wipe them away and in the process he noticed me watching him over.

"What the hell, dude?" I muttered darkly, in a voice full of sympathy.

"Hayden, it's over," he said, "There's no Pruthvi and Leena anymore."

-x-