"My brother..."

     Adrika's soft voice was enough to show the gravity of that word. Her brother. Krishn. He was here. In her home. No diplomacy in between. Krishn's smiling face brightened up more as his sister called him her brother instead of taking his name as introduction. He looked over to one surprised face to another. Adrika was crying with a big smile on her face. Leo was just surprised with his wand slightly raised as if to attack immediately if any kind of threat presented. Sam's eyes were big and mouth slightly open as he was looking at him. Dean was skeptical, the horrors the man went through in his life, little skepticism was well expected from him. Emma looked at him with a smirk on her face, for heaven knows what reason. Mads was giving him a pointed look. Krishn gave him a mock glare with a smile. Then his eyes went to the young man who was standing rooted to spot with an unreadable expression on his face. Krishn's eyes softened. He loved both his nephews equally. But Abhimanyu was an obedient little student, while Adhrith always challenged him with his knowledge. He spoke his mind and really didn't care for much. Krishn always find this boy intriguing. Seeing him here in this completely different atmosphere made him question his own decisions. Was it worth it?

        But before he could contemplate on that very question he was distracted by his sister's voice.

"You are here!"

"Finally! My time has come Adrike. Honestly I was getting really tired watching everything from the sideline. But before that I feel there are some questions. That needed to be answered."

"A lot of them. You can start with how Aadi is here?" Adrika asked immediately. Despite of everything going around her, her son's safety was her biggest concern.

"Well... I.. How do you know I did something?" Krishn asked desperately trying to change the topic. He was well aware of his sister's wrath.

"He gave me a device that can turn back time. Both forward and backwards." Aadi said innocently avoiding the obvious signs from Krishn to shut his mouth.

"You gave my son a time turner to leave his life behind and follow me?" Adrika yelled at her brother.

"He is actually Mamashree Krishn?" Aadi asked not sure if he trust this fact.

"Shut up Aadi." Adrika said silencing her son.

"Well aren't you looking beautiful?" Krishn again tried to change the topic.

"I'm not in mood right now. Tell me why on the heaven's sake you gave my son a time turner. I died so he could live. And you send him here." Adrika said irritated.

"Because he made himself and everyone around him miserable with his research about paradox theory. What I was supposed to do?" Krishn said in a defensive voice. For the first time Aadi saw both his mother and uncle as equals. They always felt like a power duo but the control was always in his uncle's hand. Before. But now they were just similar.

"You were supposed to tell him to drop it. His mother is dead for good. Let her stay dead. He doesn't belong here." Adrika said in same pitch of voice.

"Neither do you. Why do you think he started at the first place? Because he knew you were not dead." Krishn argued back.

"Yes.. I never felt your soul.. Never felt like you are watching over us. I light the lamp for few years but it just felt empty, because you never joined the soul stream. I never felt you actually left. So I thought your soul is stuck somewhere. Lord Ashwatthama was a devine warrior. I thought he might have trap your soul somewhere. I started digging. Then I realized everything. How you were so different. How you never fit in. So my soul theory shifted to time jump theory." Aadi said defending his uncle.

"Who else knows? Does Nakul.. Knew?" Adrika asked suppressing a sob.

        Even after her death, even after in a different universe Adrika was worried that her truth would have hurt her husband. That was their love. Who understood it more than Krishn, who felt it more than Adhrith?

"He doesn't. No one does. I didn't tell it to anyone but Mamashree." Aadi said.

"Thank you!" Adrika said falling down on a couch. She sighed. "Send him back." She looked up to her brother "send him back now"

"And how I am supposed to do that?" Krishn said.

"What do you mean?"

"This is your world. It started from you. I didn't created it. I'm just a character in here. From your memories." It confused everyone.

"So you are saying you can't send him back? Or you won't send him back." Adrika asked irritated.

"I can't. He need to do his job. Here. In this world." Krishn said in same indifferent voice. As if he was talking to a child not a force of nature.

"Then I will find a way to send him. He doesn't belong here. He need to go home." Adrika said.

"He doesn't need to. He will go back to his time when he fulfilled his motive here." Krishn said.

"What motive?"

"The motive he started the journey in the first place. Saving his mother. He will go back when he is ready. Are you ready yet Son?" Krishn suddenly looked at Aadi.

"Absolutely not." Aadi said stubbornly.

"Brat..!" Mads muttered under his breathe. Of course everyone heard it. It made both Aadi and Krishn laugh.

"I hope you called our Kid here Brat.. Not me my old friend!" Krishn said in an amused tone.

"For now." Mads said in a neutral tone. Krishn laughed and walked up to him to give him a big hug. It was awkward because Mads didn't return the favor.

"What are you still angry at me for brother? The oath is completed. You fulfilled my condition. Your time has started. If only you should thank me for forgiving you for the act you pulled to make her remember."

         Krishn said reminding Mads and everyone that he was still Krishn. They should treat him as such. Mads took Krishn's right hand and held it in his both.

"I'm happy to finally have you with us Brother."

"So do I my brother.... So do I!" Krishn said then looked at everyone else. "Well there is an enormous amount of talk is in row but I know what kind of day all of you had. And I know two people really need time alone with each other. Seems like my sister and old friend here can't catch a break all day long. So.. Dinner's almost ready. Why don't you take your time have some rest and we will talk over food."

      But everyone just stood there looking at him dumbfounded. Then he make a slight gesture with his hand to shoo them away. All of them scrambled to different direction leaving only Mads and Adrika with him. She was looking at him with a tensed look on her face. As if she was waiting for something to happen. Waiting for him to disappear on her again. Krishn being himself sensed it.

"I'm here to Stay Adrike. Go. I'll be here when you are back." He said.

   Adrika was still in some pain from earlier. Mads immediately went to her when he started standing up. Adrika didn't said anything. She accepted his help silently and they went to her room. Adrika stood in the middle of the room backfacing Mads. One hand on her slender waist and another holding the bridge of her nose.

"Wow... I didn't choose the right moment to come out.. I mean so many things has happened that our meeting was pushed into background. I don't blame anything just didn't expect this meeting after ages would be so...... " He stopped by Adrika's arms flung around his neck....

"Lame...!!! Wow.. This is nice... I don't mean by physically of course.. No I do mean.. This is warm. And.. And.. Loving.." He didn't realised he was rambling.

"Will you Shuttt... Uup..!" Adrika said still on her tip toes and arms around his neck.

"Ok.. I will now.." He said and picked her up so that she wasn't on tip toes anymore.

      After some time remaining silent in each others arms they separated. Looking at each others eyes Adrika felt her old friend was leaning towards her as his eyes flicker to her lips she knew why. But as instinctively she took a step back and immediately knew she hurt the man. Arguably she wasn't in fault yet she said

"I'm sorry.. I.."

"No.. No... I get it. Too soon."Mads said

" Yah.. Too soon." Adrika said with a smile. No doubt Mads knew her better than most people.

"A part of me died the moment your lifeless body was in my arms Dristadyumn. I loved you.. Whether I said it or not. Showed it or not but I did. A lot. And your death was a death of another reason for me to keep living. I wanted to go with you. The moment you left.." Adrika stopped as she noticed Dristadyumn was looking at her with a smile

"I know..."

"Then I want you to know that this is your time. I will keep my promise when I'm released from my past completely." She said and her right hand was on her womb. Mads looked at it then to her. He walked up to her to hold her face in both hands.

"I will wait for you."

          Unknown to them there was a witness to it. Krishn always kept a sharp eye on Dristadyumn. Some part of him still doesn't trust the warrior. Why... Only he must know but.. Now that he witnessed this exchange he was somewhat relieved. He wanted Dristadyumn to stay away from his sister and he obliged. Against his own wish. But now he would stay away on his own because Krishn could force him but Adrika didn't had to.

       Everyone joined him on the dining table one by one. Aadi was standing leaning on the wall waiting for his mother. He trusted the man in front of him was his uncle still it's not easy for him to trust anyone easily. It's just not in his nature. Sam was sitting very awkwardly next to Krishn as per his request. Dean downright deny sitting anywhere near him. He was sipping beer on the other end of the table. Emma and Leo were sitting next to each other with Sam. Leo had his watchful eye on Krishn with his wand still in his right hand on his right thigh. Emma was just concerned. And her beautiful face was showing just that.

"I can literally slice the awkwardness with a butter knife right now." Sam muttered to Emma who was sitting on his left.

"You bet. Rika where the hell are you?" She whispered. And Adrika and Mads entered at the exact moment.

"There they are!" Sam said with a relived sigh.

"Oh my dear God!" Emma exclaimed.

"Adrike... Madox! Finally!" Krishn said. "Come on have a seat." He patted the seat on his right.

"Adrika! Seat here."

      Dean said sternly without even taking his eyes off of Krishn. Adrika shot glances to both men on the opposite side on the head of the table seats. She took the seat next to Dean. Followed by Mads and Aadi occupying other vacant seats. Krishn smiled at it.

"Fair enough! I wasn't exactly the brother I needed to. I deserve that." He said.

"You deserve much more than that." Dean spat.

"Dean!" Adrika tried to stop him.

"Its true. Yah.. I have read that book of yours. You always cared more for that other princess and made your own sisters suffer. Why she had a glorified life than two of your own. You took away all of Adrika and Subhadra's rights and gave gift wrapped to her. You don't deserve the devoted sisters like these two." Dean said with the right amount of anger and hatred mixed.

"Droupadi's life isn't for you two criticize Dean. You can't fathom what she went through. I don't let anyone disrespect her." Krishn said in his usual calm voice.

"Don't get me wrong dude. I'm not disrespecting her. Just you." Dean said.

"Enough about past guys. Stop it. We should talk about today and what we are going to do from now on." Emma said in a slightly raised voice to get everyone's attention.

"So... What was it?" Krishn asked as if he wasn't insulted a moment ago. Everyone looked at Adrika.

"Who!" She said correcting his brother. "Ashwatthama! He is Juro."

"So I guessed right.. It was his doing all along." Krishn said.

"You knew?" Leo asked.

"I had my suspicions. It was true that he hid himself from me until now. But one cannot deny ones deeds. He was the most fitting one from our past." Krishn said.

"But I don't understand Bhrata Krishn. I thought with stopping him killing my sons I also stopped him from your curse. How he end up like this then?" Adrika asked. Aadi looked in pain as if he recalled a very bad and very painful memory.

"Because he didn't stopped with your death. And I did cursed him."

"Uttara wasn't pregnant then. Who did he tried to kill?" Adrika was more and more confused.

"He couldn't killed your sons. But he killed someone he loved in the process. He was insane with hatred for the boys. He could not kill them again and disrespect your death. But he wasn't ready to let them live peacefully either. He decided to take something from them. Something that was their lifeline after your death. Something that kept everyone alive after you." Krishn said looking directly at Adrika. He didn't need to say who he was talking about.

"He tried to kill Vri Mumma! My baby sister! He used Bramhastra against my sister." Aadi said. Clearly it made an drastic effect on him. Going through that kind of thing without his mother around, Adrika could understand what her son would have felt.

"That evil bastard." Dean said.

"My daughter.. Was.. She..!" Adrika's voice crumbles.

"She was alright. No permanent damages. Just some horrified nightmares. No more than the boys." Krishn said. Adrika let out a breath.

"I couldn't say the same for Ashwatthama. He already took you from us. I wasn't going to forgive him for my only niece. My Vritika, who was your shadow. One of the two precious parts you left to us. The light of our life and he tried to rob us from that. That was his most vile act during his short period of life after your death. And do you know when he did it? During your mourning. My girl was unconscious during her mother's last rights. This wasn't forgivable. Not even for me." Krishn continued.

"How low this guy can scoop to?" Emma said.

"Now I regret my death. I wish I was there to kill him there and then." Mads said.

"Oh.. He got worse. Believe me brother. He did." Krishn assured him.

"Good. He deserves it." Emma said.

"But now he is back and does have some power." Sam said making everyone returning to present.

"I still don't know what he want from you behna?" Krishn asked.

"My child. He wants my child. I saw it in his memories but I could not stay longer to see why. He was too strong for me." Adrika said.

"A child between yugas... Of course it's special. But yet I cannot think what use it would have for him." Krishn replied.

"It was his cure maybe. From the curse!" Leo said finally looking a little relaxed.

"Or maybe it is his form of revenge. On the person because of who he has this doomed life." Mads said to Krishn.

"You can be right my old friend. When I cursed him, he swore on his father's death that he would make me feel the same pain and helplessness he wad feeling. This is a war between me and him."

"What wasn't? Mahabharat was too." Mads said.

"Mahabharat wasn't my doing Mads. It's results sure was though." Krishn said with a light laugh.

"Aren't wizards supposed to know about curses and counter curses?" Sam asked to Leo.

"Well it's beyond any magic I studied. It's old world magic. Very powerful and very forbidden. I can talk to some old warlocks but... " Leo was cut by Krishn.

"Don't bother Leonard! There are very few who would know about these kind of things. And they are definitely not in this part of world. Eastern magic is old and traditional."

"Well then you know about this?" Leo asked.

"I don't claim to be an expert in this but I surely know some experts."

"Who are we waiting for? Call them." Dean said excitedly.

"These are not some witches downtown Dean. These are powerful and very influential. The kind of people you don't summon. You go to them." Krishn said.

"Who are you talking about?" Adrika asked.

"Them... " Krishn said tapping a screen.

"Dad..!" Adrika's faint voice said.

"Your father? I mean.. As in your real father?" Dean asked.

"I don't understand." Adrika said.

"Well it's not my place to describe anyway. All I can say is, it's much more complex than you thought." Krishn said.

"So we need to go home." Adrika said to herself. She was itching to go home but at this point with this new piece of information she wasn't sure what to feel.

"There is no easy way to say this but your world is about to crumble. Be prepared meri behna."

       The rest of the dinner was quite and eventless. Those last words of Krishn gave everyone enough to think that they all preferred to do it in silence. After dinner they all went to their rooms to retire for the night. Adrika wasn't sleepy at all. After a while the roof of her room started to create pressure on her chest. She needed fresh air to which she went to the rooftop expecting it to be vacant but there was another occupant. Krishn wasn't sleeping too. He was quietly standing at the edge. His metal flute was in his hand.

"I knew I would see you here meri behna."

           He said not bothering turning back. Adrika went to him and two of them stood in silence admiring the beauty of the forest in silvery moonlight. Adrika broke it by saying,

"About Dean's outburst, he is very open and blunt almost about everything."

"Adrike! I didn't created life and beings to be praised all the time. I created beings with mind, thinking, emotions. They aught to question and love and hate... Atheism is also in my creation. They believe in my non existence. Still it is belief."

"You can't possibly accepting his accusations."

"His words were not accusations meri behna. Accusations are fact. True or not, but facts indeed. What Dean said was just his reactions to facts. I didn't think he accused me. And even if, accepting and denying can only be possible if it was a two colour world. If anything in my creation have two shades. Who would have known better Adrika that gray is our reality."

        Krishn was right. Gray indeed was their reality. But then why now they were thinking about Juro to be complete black. Could there be any grayness in his actions too? But Adrika was too tired and worn out for this complex contemplation. She pushed the thoughts away and tried to keep her mind blank to force her body to rest. The next morning was a pleasurable one. They all wake up to the melodious tune of Krishn'a flute. Even Dean who was little aloof with him could not help but feel at peace. They all started their morning routine. And assembled for tea at the end. Adrika was making morning beverages. She handed Krishn his glass of warm milk while everyone started showing up. They all took their beverages and went to outside to enjoy it in the autumn sun. Where it was decided to get breakfast at Nora's. Mads called in advance for the large party. They all went away to get ready. It was Adrika who came out first. She was thinking of calling them to hurry up when the door bell rang. She was shocked who could it be? She thought maybe it's just some camper who aren't sure about path. They were quite common here. She opened the door much surprised to see a familiar face.

"What the hell are you doing here... "

An.
God.. It's been long. I feel like I'm posting after ages. Seriously. I did missed it. As some people here know I'm going through a big change and as I'm getting my stability I will surely fall into my regular schedule. Please bear with me.

Do tell me how it was... Please please please vote and comment.