"There's no limit to what people can do for their freedom. History has seen them fight wars and shed blood for it and they'll continue to do so for the rest of humanity."

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"So, what do you think?" I asked Mrithun.

We had been pouring over all the data that Mrithun had gathered from his secret sources in our world. The search results for my name and date of birth showed no records of a baby born or registered into the system of any country in the mortal realm. So, either I wasn't registered, or I wasn't born in the human realm at all.

"This is no surprise, you know," Mrithun thrust his diary at me, the black leather-bound notebook that had started this entire chain of events. I pressed the hidden button, and it turned into the glowing digital tablet.

The only thing that made sense to me was my name glinting in bold purple letters on the screen. The rest of it was filled with scribbles in a language I didn't understand.

"What is this language?" I squinted at the screen.

"It's the most ancient language, the language from which all the Vedic scripts descended. The secret codes we use to communicate are in this language," he explained.

"Yes, you used a code when Holika asked," I mused. "Mata...Matari..."

"Matarisvan," Mrithun corrected.

"Yes, what is it?"

"It's the name of an ancient Vedic firebird. Matarisvan is a legend, almost like the phoenix of the western civilization. All the people present here have somehow escaped from death, almost like a phoenix being reborn from the ashes. So that's the code we use," he explained in one breath, his hand still on his forehead and the crease almost a permanent ornament now.

"So, Matarisvan exists?" I asked, my interest perking up.

"Some say it does, others say it's a legend. If Matarisvan exists, it is dangerous and untamed. It'll destroy this little civilization of Pataal Lok."

"So, Matarisvan can't be tamed?" I was surprised.

"No one has ever tried because no one knows where Matarisvan is. Some say it escaped to heaven and stays there in the protection of the Gods now. Some claim it's sleeping peacefully in some underworld volcano lying dormant." He shrugged. "But Matarisvan is the least of our worries right now."

"Oh, right!" I snapped back into reality and my mental images of Matarisvan vanished with a pop. "What were you showing me?"

"The date of your birth according to your earlier palm print, doesn't match the date your parents have informed you," he informed.

"Yes, I'm not surprised," I sighed. "My whole life kind of feels like a lie now. Who am I?"

"That's the answer we need to find," he mumbled. "Mani is trying his best to gather information, but right now with the rebellion and workers refusing to work, it is a big chaos."

"Did they find out that we...you know..." My voice trembled.

"Yes, they have not launched a search for us yet, but they have set up the radars. We should stay out of their eyes."

"So stay in here?"

"Yeah." He avoided looking at me.

"For how long?" I asked the question I've been dreading.

"I don't know." Mrithun's voice was almost a whisper.

In the quest for saving me, even he had given up his freedom. That was a huge sacrifice, and the more I thought about it, the more selfish I felt.

His charcoal eyes were glowing like embers on the edges. The more I looked into his eyes, I saw space—endless stars and the planets and the moon—the universe swirled in that vast space beyond his eyes. In all this, he seemed so human; I had almost forgotten that he is the strongest force in the universe, stronger than life itself, merciless and relentless. It wasn't Mrithun, the human form, he was much more; he was Death. But his eyes didn't frighten me. There was a certain calmness to the fire that glowed behind his irises, a calmness that felt like homesickness for a home that was never mine.

"You know, you could go back there and pretend as if you had gone for your own business. Unless anybody saw you breaking me out, it shouldn't be a problem."

I gazed deeper into his eyes, my fingers reaching out to hold his face. The light stubble tickled my palm. The creases of worry were permanently marring his beautiful features. Without thinking, I kissed the frown between his eyebrows. His eyes shot open, trying to understand what happened. I giggled and put my lips on his, lingering for a second before drawing back. His mouth fell open, his adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed, still speechless.

"What was that about?"

"Just felt like it." I smiled. "But for real, you could go back. It'll be easier for you to carry out the investigations."

"Oh." His shoulders slumped. "Yes, they know about me breaking you out."

He wasn't looking into my eyes while he said that. Something was definitely going on, which he wasn't telling me.

"Is Mani okay?" I asked suddenly.

"I...yeah...what?" He snapped out of whatever he was thinking.

"Mani..." I said slowly, my brain starting to overthink again.

"Oh yes, he's fine," he said crisply.

"Can I talk to him?"

He looked straight at me, but it was as if his eyes were focused on a spot behind me. He wasn't really looking at me. Something was definitely bothering him.

"Of course you can. I'll connect you to him right away." He started fidgeting on his tablet device.

"Are you okay with it?" I whispered.

"I can't keep you away from your friend." He shrugged.

"No, I meant, okay with me having a bit of feelings still for him and him being obsessed with me?"

There was a suffocating pause. Mrithun didn't answer as he kept scrolling on his tablet.

"And you are with me now and I love you," he said with an air of finality.

Somehow it felt good, him admitting his feelings and acknowledging that we are together now. A lot of dilemmas about our feelings were getting cleared in my head.

"Connecting to Mani," Mrithun announced.

Mani's beautiful face lit up on the screen like a gentle blue lotus. Those piercing cobalt eyes grew wider on seeing me. Naturally, he wasn't expecting me on the other end.

"Hi," I said awkwardly.

He blinked, his dark lashes fluttering like curtains in the wind.

I waved my hands in front of the screen for emphasis.

"Oh, I wasn't expecting you, Tora," he mumbled, lowering his gaze.

"Did we come to this stage now that even the friendship is awkward now, Mani?" I raised my voice. I felt a sudden twinge of guilt for my impulsive reaction, but I couldn't help it.

"I don't want to think about all those now if I can help it, Tora." His voice was smooth, cold even. The nervousness was gone, replaced by a steely determination.

"I just wanted to make sure you are okay," I whispered.

"Mrithun could relay the news to you, Tora. Nothing will happen to me. You're the one who is in danger." Mani shook his head.

I just handed the tablet to Mrithun, without saying another word. Amidst all the tension, I really wasn't in a condition to deal with Mani's hurt feelings.

"You should have given me a warning," he chided to Mrithun.

"I'm sorry okay," Mrithun shrugged. "Now tell me important news. How is the search going?"

"Ours or theirs?" Mani asked crisply.

"Ours."

Mani pressed his lips together. "You know it'd be so much easier to find answers and deactivate the system if you were here."

"I know, but you know too..." Mrithun's voice trailed off.

"You really have to choose between two difficult options, Mrithun," Mani sighed from the other end.

"What," I interrupted, "What options?"

Mrithun shot him a warning glance.

"To choose between coming back and staying with you," Mani said, looking straight at me.

"But, he is a fugitive too," I protested.

"Are those the lies that he fed you?" Mani raised an eyebrow.

I whipped my neck at Mrithun who was frowning.

"So, I was right. Nobody suspects you," I said icily. "Yet you are here."

"I was helpless." Mrithun threw his hands up in the air. "I really can't risk you staying anywhere in the underworld without me."

"But then you're punishing yourself to a life of voluntary isolation," I argued.

"Staying with you is not punishment, Tora," he said firmly.

"At the cost of your freedom?" I argued.

"That's a small price to pay for your safety. We can hide away for decades in this place."

"And suffer every day? I can't let you do that, Mrithun. Besides, you being out there can help us find answers and maybe even you could go to Maya and things might be clearer," I insisted.

"I can't leave you," Mrithun growled.

"If you don't go and seize your freedom, I will walk out and give myself over to them." I looked straight at him.

"Are you out of your mind, Tora?" Mani screamed from the other end. "You are not doing anything rash and impulsive. Killing that boyfriend of yours was a big enough damage already."

"You are suicidal." Mrithun's voice was seething lava boiling just under the surface. A hundred different emotions flashed through his eyes, each deadlier than the other. And finally, it settled on anger. "After everything we did, you are throwing it all into the fire, all our efforts."

"I was suicidal since the time you found me," I bit back. "Now I'm just emotional."

"We need to use our brains here rather than work with our heart."

"Then listen to your brain rather than your heart too, Mrithun," I said slowly. "Your brain knows what's right to do. It's this human heart that makes you want to protect me. I will be fine."

"No, you won't..."

"Mark me with your mark then," I blurted. "let them know whom I belong to."

It took every ounce of my strength to utter those words. It meant I was surrendering myself to him, to a life of being his, as long as I lived. It was a commitment for life, and I was throwing it away at something so simple. But I was running out of ways to make him seize his freedom. For someone like him, who was omnipresent, sitting with his hands on his lap was nothing short of torture. Hiding away and doing nothing was making him loathe himself every second. He wouldn't agree, but my heart knew and my heart didn't lie.

"You're not ready for that level of commitment yet, Tora." He gave a small smile.

"But..."

"You don't have to convince me anymore. I will go," he sighed.

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Author's Note : Mani is hurt and Mrithun was lying to protect Tora, things people do for love. What do you think of this chapter and what do you think happens next?

Mythology Reference

Mātariśvan in the Rigveda (One of the four great books of the Aryans) is a name of Agni (Lord of Fire), or of a divine being closely associated with Agni. Often personified like a bird with a human face, or just a bird, Matarisvan is thought to have brought fire to the human civilisation for the first time.