"Family isn't always about blood. it's about a sense of belonging. Home isn't just four walls, home is the people that make you feel safe."

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"I'll restore Death's job," Yama nodded at Mrithun. "Atropos can't play with things beyond her control. Everything isn't meant to be modernised."

I had expected Mrithun to at least offer a smile, but he just responded in silence, his eyes showing gratefulness. Maybe that's how it was. Nobody ever smiled for anything. It was constantly cold, always bleak. The underworld suddenly seemed so distant and emotionless. Yama took out a tablet of his own and fiercely typed in something.

"All set. Lachesis, go back and deactivate all the machinery," he paused, smacking his lips, "if they haven't been destroyed by the mob yet." Lachesis nodded like an obedient child.

"You knew all of this was happening." Maya gave him a frosty nosed look.

I was still looking at his eyes, the way they caught the light and turned caramel. I still could not fathom why his eyes looked so familiar.

"And you of all people know I don't track each of your moves, to give you all privacy in your job. I could've done everything myself. Why did I delegate work to you all then? I'm not your teacher. I'm the ruler, a facilitator." Yama said coolly, tugging at the buttons to loosen his shirt and relaxed his shoulders.

His wine glass appeared again. A strong, oily liquid swirled in the crystal cut glass. I spotted my refection on it. I could see the haunted look, the eyes which showed how defeated I felt inside. Everything would finally settle itself in the underworld. Only I wouldn't be there anymore.

Did I regret my decision?

No. Mrithun getting back his job was one more reason for things to continue as they were before I came...peaceful and in order.

A pair of chocolate eyes stared back at me from my reflection as the ice clinked against the sides of the glass. It was as if someone had poured a bucket of ice on me. I shivered.

"So, you wouldn't have let them do whatever they wanted to do to me." I spoke up suddenly.

Three pairs of frightened eyes shot up at me. Only Maya seemed unbothered.

"Excuse me?" Yama frowned.

"Me, why did you curse me into a life I never chose?" I blurted. I knew those eyes, because I had seen them in the mirror.

"What are you saying, Tora?" Mrithun hissed. I held up my hand.

"You were always watching me, weren't you?" I mumbled, looking into his eyes.

He seized my gaze for a while before taking in another swig from his glass.

A champagne flute appeared in front of me.

"I don't drink," I bit back. "Drowning out worries with alcohol is for cowards."

Even Maya gasped. Nobody must have ever called the Lord of the Underworld a coward.

Yama looked at me as if he had seen a ghost.

"It's no use trying to deny," I began, "I felt you first when you pushed me to safety somehow," I shot a quick glance at Mrithun, "I felt you at a place where we were unreachable by heaven, hell or earth."

Only Maya seemed to be clueless. The rest three were in on the plot.

"I see everywhere young lady," he guffawed.

"And you were watching me and guiding me when the Pisachas attacked me. Then I felt that presence again. Maya refused to divulge a name, but she seemed to be afraid and then I realised, there must be someone who is truly powerful, trying to protect me. Your eyes..." I blinked.

"What are you trying to say, Tora?" Mani whispered.

"That this guy is a jerk who couldn't keep his hands off a human woman, being fully aware that immortals and mortals don't mix," I hissed, knowing very well I was treading on dangerous ground, but I wasn't afraid anymore. I had chosen Death and I would be freed, anyway. I just had to know the truth.

"Well, you couldn't keep your hands off an immortal either, young lady," he said casually, unbothered by all the scene I was creating.

"I..." I stuttered. I didn't know what to say.

"Yes, you fell in love." He completed my sentence, looking at Mrithun. "This silly young man did too." Mrithun lowered his eyes slowly, not speaking a word. His lips were shaking silently.

"But..."

"I fell in love too. And we didn't perceive then what could happen. We got close in the heat of the moment. And immortal blooded children have special protection against being aborted. We tried, tried everything..." he trailed off.

"Tried to keep it quiet you mean?"

"Tried to save her. Even Maya tried her charms."

"So you let her die and then decided that as per her wish, you had to ruin my life with this immortality too, not to mention all the lies around my birth," I cried out loud. At that moment I couldn't care less if he incinerated me on spot, all that mattered was the truth.

"Immortality was a gift your Maa wanted for you. I won't tolerate this behaviour in my court," he warned.

"Immortality is a curse. I don't want it." I raised my voice.

"You're just like your maa. Strong, bold, fierce. You don't mince words." The fatherly affection in his tone stumped me. "I was wondering why Death himself got interested in my daughter." He added ruefully. "Now I know."

Mrithun's forehead creased. All this back story about my birth was definitely giving him a headache.

"So, she's an immortal because you messed up the system." Lachesis stared at me in awe.

"Because the soul of my dead lover asked this as a last wish from me."

"Sorry to interrupt a family reunion, but she resurrected a mortal and then murdered him in this realm. And the other three here aided her escape. They have an impending trial when they go back. What can you do about it?" Maya asked, direct as ever. No beating around the bush. My heart sank. In all this, I had forgotten about the pieces of evidence against my friends.

"I could have killed him with my bare hands. He deserves to die many more times," Mrithun seethed.

"That, unfortunately, is out of my hand, Maya," Yama sighed, ignoring Mrithun. "If I consider revoking their trials, there might be numerous instances later. I should be a just and fair ruler. Rules are for everyone."

Mani held his head.

Lachesis stiffed.

Mrithun gave no expression whatsoever.

"Oh, really?" I mocked.

"You are out of line young lady." Yama's face flushed with anger.

"Then, justice should be served to you too, sir," I bit back. He looked a bit shocked.

"You messed up the system for your personal gain. Who is going to try you?"

"I..." his face turned red.

"You covered it up easily. But all of us know the truth. You can silence us obviously, but you can't defeat the order of the universe. You're playing a dangerous game. Maya aided you, too. The creation knows."

Maya visibly blanched.

"What did you do in the human world, Tora?" she asked suddenly.

"She studied law before quitting her job because of that bastard of a boyfriend," Yama hissed. It was my turn to get surprised. He had tracked me everywhere. Somehow or the other, he still had a soft spot.

"Sir," I whispered. I was looking straight at him, hoping he would feel the genuineness in my words. "I am not here to blame you. I came to know the truth. We can end this matter here if you revoke the trial for my friends and in return well, I won't reveal anything either."

"And let you go scot-free in the human world to babble?" he bellowed.

"I'm not a chatterbox," I protested. Yama had gone silent. He drummed his fingers incessantly against his knees.

"There is only one way to save all your allies," he said finally. Everyone sat up straighter.

"I will do anything." I looked into his eyes, making sure my determination shone through.

"You'll return to the human world without a memory of who you are. You'll start your life afresh and meanwhile, we'll try to fit you into the system."

I gasped. Forget everything? Mani, Lachesis, the Underworld, every single thing. How could I forget Mrithun? How does love get erased? But then I got reminded of my promise to Mrithun. I knew very well I wasn't going back to the human realm. My home is here and will always be here. This brought a new sense of determination to me.

"If that's what it takes for you to let my friends off the hook, then so be it." I breathed.

"I'll give you twenty-four hours to say your goodbyes to this realm and then, you won't remember a thing." He waved his hands in a sign of dismissal before getting up abruptly. "Now if you all will excuse me."

"Baba," I whispered. He turned back, an unknown emotion shining in them. "I'll miss you," I admitted. "I had never felt like I belonged in the human world and now I know why."

"What did you call me?" he laughed suddenly.

"Baba," I blushed.

"You are beautiful like your mother." He gave a small smile, his face lighting up. "I would always remember the day I held you for the first time. But I knew you were human, and it wasn't safe here. Sometimes loving someone means having to let them go, for their own safety."

I sniffed, tears falling freely from my eyes. All the emotions I had held back came rushing back. The anxiety of separation, the sense of loss, the fear of death, all blended themselves into one concoction of emotions.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. Mani. He gripped my shoulder tightly in a show of solidarity.

"Baba loves you, Tora. Always remember that." He gave a slight nod before vanishing with another crack of lightning.

I stood dumbfounded, trying to fathom the extraordinary events that just unfolded before my eyes.

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Author's Note : Finally the mystery of Tora's identity solved. What do you think of the direction in which this story went? Was Tora, right in taking up the offer?