Adrika's POV

         I knew the fact that I layed in front of them was crazy. The life they lived with me wasn't mine. I was not the Adrika they know. Time travel. A character from history. This wasn't something you will see everyday. Or was normal. I didn't expected them to believe. But they all took it worse than I imagined. Sky was panicking, Emma was crying, Leo was in total denial. The worst was Mads who was dead sure that my mind was tampered and he was asking Cedric to give me a thorough check.

"It's so not possible... How can you say such a thing. You are our Adrika.. My best friend. My sister.." Emma weep.

"Emms... Don't cry.. Look.. It's not going to be any easier if you cry.. I know it's a lot but please you have to have patience. Dear! there is still too much for me to understand. I'm just being frank. May be both me and her are the same people just some how exist in paradox universes." the words I was uttering was sounding adsorb to me. still I did not had much option. These people were my only hope in this strange world.

"The life you are talking abut is our history. It is from this universe. There is no paradox universe in this universe. That theory can only be possible if the history was a story or myth." Sky said in between his panic. Even in this state he was a genius. wait...

"Myth... That's right. Mahabharat was mythology.. I went into it, lived in it. Made it history. This is a paradox universe. I was not supposed to be here. something I did.. something I was not supposed to. Which made this reverse ripple in time and space theory and two universes merged in it. That makes perfect sense." I said. I knew they will not understand. "Leo, how much do you know about the paradox theory?"

"Not loads." he said confused.

"then we need someone who does." I said.

"Before that.. You need to tell everything. Because I still think something is tampering with your mind." Mads said speciously.

"Maddy you are extremely familiar with that particular period of history. Then tell me something about the childhood of queen Adrika?" i said. He looked puzzled.

"That.. that wasn't clear. But it is not uncommon in history." he said.

"Sure is not. Then tell me where she studied? Who was his teacher? Why nobody in Aryavart knew about her until she was in her 20s?" i asked again. 

"Because she was in a different place." he said.

"She was in different time Maddy. She was in 2019. I was in Pennsylvania 2019. A surgical resident. Normal girl in her 20s. Had a normal life. Had friends. A guy I liked. He was my boss. Dr. Sky Herbert. " i looked up to Sky. He looked at me then looked away. It did hurt. "then something happened. I was chosen for a life I could never dreamed of."

"How?" Emma asked.

"That was his birthday. The Janmastami. I was celebrating his birthday like every year. But there was something was very different that day. That day I didn't celebrate alone. My prayers didn't met with silence. The sweets didn't left untouched. My brother came. He came at last. I forced my deity to take the physical form for me." I felt tears rolling down my cheek. So many years had passed.

"Deity?" Leo asked.

"For rest of the world. Yes. For me he was just my brother.Bhrata Krishn came to me at last. But he didn't came alone. He had a mission. He wanted me to go to Mahabharat. The very book which introduced him to me. The very book which as in my veins. Turned out there wasn't everything perfect in after all. He wanted to change something in that." I said.

"Krishn? You mean The Vasudev Krishn. He was a deity to the people in your time. But was your brother? Adrika are you even listening to yourself?" Mads said.

"As insane as it sound to you Madox but that is the truth of my life. Run as much test as you want. Cut me cell by cell you will not find any superbug in me because there aren't any. I'm telling the truth. He is my brother. Because I love him as a brother. Until he told me what I was. The prakritikanya. The power he was waiting for a long time. Because he was going against a powerful force itself, Time." I said. At a speed of a lightening Mads's gun was on my forehead and the other hand on my neck. It shocked everyone. I was shocked a little. I was terrified more.

"Alright. I have had enough. What are you han? A changeling, ghoul a shifter? Are you even a creature? A bot maybe? Because in all these blabbering mess of lies you did said one thing that was true. You are not Adrika. So you better say it quickly and truthfully because I am gonna ask this only once. Where is My Adrika? What have you done with her?" He said. He was furious and was choking me.

"Mads... stop... you will kill her." Leo yelled. Both Sky and he tried to pull him away.

"You damn right I will. If she doesn't tell me where is my Kuwari?" he said.

"She is Adrika. Something has changed in her. But I can feel brother. She is Adrika." Sky pleaded. I was looking into Mads's hypnotic eyes. He was enraged but there was something else. Something familiar that I have seen a lots of time. With my windpipe closing I managed to said,

"legilimency." He left me. I coughed frantically.

"What did you said?" Mads asked.

"Werewolves... werewolves are capable of legilimency. You can see. So are wizards." I said panting.

"Leo aren't getting close to you. I'll see. Legilimens." 

        He said before holding both side of my head and looked into me. His hypnotic blue orbs were piercing into my memories. I felt my pupils dilated on the effect of the spell. I saw my whole life in front of my eyes. I saw myself with my friends. Then Sky. Bhrata Krishn. Subhadra. Baldau. First meeting with Nakul. The anklet. Chhote kumar. Karn. Island... Dristadyum saying that his only desire in life was me. Kids. Aadi. Vriti. Prithvi. Island. War. Death of Iravan. Drinks with Dristadyum. My death.. I saw him revisit some memories but it was too blurry for me. I saw a face. He was smiling. It was the last thing I remembered before I was snatched out. I was on floor. Maddy was too. Leo had his wand out. I felt blood rushing from my nose. And Mads was trying to hold himself up. He was middle of the change. Maybe it was out of control and Leo cast the counter spell.

"What did you see?" Leo asked Mads. He looked to him then me and said

"Everything. She isn't lying. But.. Adrika. You are not completely her either. I saw some memories of us. Sprinkles really but it was there. Our Adrika is in there. Deep down. Locked somewhere in your raw subconscious." He said. I looked at him and wiped some fresh blood from my nose then nodded. His face soften. "I'm sorry.. I.."

"It's fine. Really. You saw there something. I could feel you visit and revisit a particular memory. Like you were.. I couldn't see it. It was blurry." I asked him.

"My most cherished memories with you... With my Adrika." He said. Something told me that he wasn't being completely honest. But I let it slide.

"So.. What now?.. Why this happened?" Sky asked.

"I'm not very sure. But as per last lines of bhrata Krishn, it is the consequences of something. He said I need to get answers to my questions before I get ready for him to answer me." I said.

"How?" He asked.

"I don't know. But I must have left something. Somewhere. But as I don't remember anything, that is not going to be a walk in the park." I said.

"You were right. We do need a paradox theory expert, who can explain us what is happening and how much we can extract from your mind." Leo said.

"Extract? How?" I asked.

"There are too many processes. Not very secure most of them. But doable." He said sheepishly.

"Great... Do we know someone like this?" I asked.

"No.. But can find. I can make some calls. Maybe little more than normal. Give me some time." Emma said.

"I have some contacts who deal with weird." Mads said

"I can talk to some wizards and warlocks. I will dig some up." Leo said. I smiled at them. Then I looked back to Sky. He was sitting  there hanging his head down.

"Sky?" I said. He looked up to Mads directly avoiding looking at me. I didn't know why, but that was affecting me much more than I was comfortable with.

"Maddy.. Are you certain our Adrika is still in there? And solving it will bring her back?" He asked. I also looked at

"Positive." He said looking at me. I looked back to Sky and he nodded his head and got up.

"Ok.. Then. I will call the universities around the globes and merit schools. They can track down someone interested in paradox theory." He said.

      And off we go. They started calling, texting, e mailing, and all the Other Modes of communication known to men. I was sitting and reading some history about my own past. Works that I have done. It couldn't kept me busy for long. Nothing was comforting. I was scared and awkward around everyone now. Their look for me has changed. They weren't looking at me as their loved one but a freak. Leo was trying too hard but his discomfort was seen. Emma became extremely professional with me. Like an perfect little employee. Only Maddy. He seemed indifferent. But maybe because there wasn't any emotions seen on him generally. But most painful was Sky. He was completely avoiding eye contact with me. He send medicine through Emma. Name changed, personality maybe but he was still the man I loved. The man that was everything to me. His eluding wasn't bearable. I went to kitchen to make dinner and also to avoid being in the room with them. I made simple yet numerous number of dishes to keep myself busy. Roti, rice, meat, vegetables, curd everything. I was making some sweets for storage when I heard someone clearing throat. I looked back to see Sky.

"Why are you are straining yourself?" He asked. 10 hours. It took him 10hours to see me in the eye to talk.

"Just trying to do something I guess." I said. I couldn't control my tear and it rolled down. I saw pain in his eyes. He looked away from me as I wiped my eyes.

"I get it. It must have been way too nerve racking for you. Everything would have been too damn new for you right." He said.

"Me... I'm kind of experienced in this. But yah.. I'm scared, I'm angry. I'm just a whole total mess. I just... I can understand how you must have been feeling. How are you holding up Sky?" I said.

"The love of my life, my wife of past five years just said she isn't my wife. What do you expect? He said. I was about to say something to him but I didn't. Instead I said.

"I get that. I can understand if you don't wanna deal with me. Really... I can sleep in my office. It's comfortable and won't be awkward for you if I am not in front of you all the time." I said.

"No." He immediately said. I looked up to him.

"What ever happens she is still in there. She is still her. You are still her. At least her shadow. Not being able to have her is devastating itself. I don't wanna loose a chance to see her. That room represent our marriage. We spend our first and every night of marriage there. Living there without her isn't possible. Please stay there. I will sleep on the couch. You will be safe. I won't touch you. Gentleman's promise." He said in a offering way. If this is my life now then I have to start it over all again. I smiled.

"And you will be 'pure' on my watch." I said and we both chuckled.

"Yah well you are the wife of the most charming prince of his time. I heard he was quite a charmer." He said.

"He was. Every occasion when I go out I have to see evil glares of maidens. But he was way too honest. Sweet. Loving. Caring. And.. He was you. Exactly looked like you." I said. He looked to me.

"Good on me then.." He said. I knew he wanted to say something.

"Say it." He looked up to me before saying.

"I'm sorry... For how I behaved with you these past couple of hours. It's not your fault. I don't have any rights to be a jerk with you." He said. I smiled.

"You aren't a jerk... More of an A.." We both chuckled. "But it's justified. If you don't wanna do anything with me then also it will be justified. I'm honoured that you are helping me." I said.

"You are welcome. Now let's go and eat. One thing you that you have is food. Our Adrika hates cooking." He said taking a ladoo and devouring it's taste.

"I found something... " Emma yelled. We both ran to them.

"What is it?" Sky asked.

"Well.. I don't know how reliable it is. But there is a guy, he claimed he traveled through paradox universe." She said.

"Why do you think he isn't reliable?" I asked.

"One he was kicked out of Sciencous because of this. And two, now he lives in Retro." She said looking up from her laptop like device.

"I don't understand." I said to Sky.

"Sciencous is like a university but more like a lab. There they take great minds and give provide them for their research. They also train them for anything that is required." Sky explained.

"Ok.. If he was in there that means he must be have SomEthIng. What about that Retro?" I asked.

"Retro is a place.. Part of our city actually. It's like the lower part of city. This is called the citadel. The lower city is called Retro. People.. Their ways are different over there. Well. Outcast. Criminal. Normally who can't afford the lifestyle here." Leo said. Great.

"What are we.. The Babylonian? Or Mahenjodaro?" I said frustrated. Discrimination inside one city. Like people need more space between them. It's always get on my nerves. "You said you are following Prativindhya's rules in a society. In no way my son can do that." I asked Leo.

"He didn't. But sometimes city creates itself. It's no ones fault or credit actually. The Retro used to be the home of warriors. They used to situated around the city when we were at war with other creatures. But after war, they weren't needed. Some left. Some found different works. Some just couldn't and with time it became this.." Leo explained.

"So the bunch of angry and misunderstood people. Great." I said even more frustrated.

"We need to made sure if he is a real deal or not before zapping ourselves into that part of the town." Mads said. I liked his vocabulary. He reminded me of people of my world. Not past not future. My own world.

"Do we have any contacts in this academy... Sciencous? We can get their research to see if it had any potential." I asked. They all looked at each other.

"We partly own it." Emma said. Wow.

"Partly?" I asked.

"Yah. We provide them assistance with medical related people. We choose, track and train people who are interested. But paradox isn't our field. It is high level of physics. Completely under Juro." Sky said.

"We can call someone from Juro. They work with us can't do a favor?" I asked. Sky smiled.

"Adrika, Juro isn't a place. It's a person. Alexandro Niamh. In short Juro." Mads said. Why I feel I recognised that name.

"Did I met this man, Mr. Niamh before? Of course I have. We work with him. I feel like I know that Name. Can I see a picture?" I said. They all again look at each other. "What?" I asked.

"Cedric.. Picture of Juro please." Sky said.

"This is so vague. Can you show me another one Cedric?" I asked.

"This is the closest thing to see on Juro. No one saw him. We deal with his associates. Sometimes, Mr. Acton his chief Associate. Juro is a genius. He gave a lot to this world. At such young age." Sky said. I was looking at the blurry picture.

"Just like Krishn he says, constant contact with outer world weaken his mind for important matters." Leo said.

"I have sent a mail to them about professor. Zen. In two days you two have a meeting in Sciencous with Juro's jerks. I believe they will discuss with you then." Emma said. She was just a no nonsense girl when it comes to work. I raised an eyebrow about her comment on 'Juro's Jerks'.

"Emma don't like them a lot." Sky said.

"Correction Sky, I hate them. They are these stuck up, evil, rude, pieces of craps." She said. Her face matched her red hair when she was angry. We all chucked.

"I think you need some food. Low blood sugar makes you.. Sorry to say baby.. A bit bitchy." Leo said in a tone that made it clear that he was walking on thin ice.

"Yah.. You all have been working so hard in this past hours. Dinner is ready. Let's go."

         I said pulling Emma away as she was shooting daggers at Leo for his comment. This last minutes with them made us little free and out of awkward zone. Dinner went well. Leo and Emma left after it. Mads went for his usual round around the compound. That left me and Sky again. Well I was done with awkward for that one day so I said I would go and work for a bit. He didn't argue. I knew it will take time for both of us to be comfortable around each other. It's fine actually. I wouldn't have to live someone elses life. I didn't realised when I slept on the files I was working.

Somewhere else...

        In a very old fashioned yet surprisingly dark gothic mansion on a mountain covered in snow, people were working. The environment of outside was cold. It didn't compared to the atmosphere inside it. It was colder. The people who were working did had emotions in them. The place is called 'The nest'. Most advanced and powerful place of the planet. It was Juro's nest. The genius. The tech God of most technologically advanced time in human history. The mystery himself reside in behind these cold walls.

       The room was dark. Black with walls and furniture were not helping also. The only source of light in this place was a humorous screen on which was a picture. Picture of a beautiful lady. Shining and smiling. Full of life. Only thing that has warmth in that cold place. It was a picture of Adrika. And he was standing there. Juro.

        Dark. But breathtaking man of 30. His dark hair was perfectly placed. The light green eyes were admiring every inch of that picture. It was illuminating. He raised his hand and his fingers touched the picture. Like he was caressing the lady herself not the picture. He closed his eyes and sighed with a slight moan.

"It can only be you Adrika." He said in his slow raspy voice. Then he looked over his shoulder to a older man in the shadows and said to him,

"What would you call me if I hate, love and lust someone at a same time?"

"A psychopath." The older man said not looking up from his work.

"Love of me Dear Uncle! What would my life be without your condescension." Jero himself said in a condescending voice.

"And what would you call her?" He asked again turning to the picture. This time the oldman looked up.

"Stop it Juro. Your obsession is what led us here. Now just forget everything. Live and let her live her life. She isn't who you think." He said.

"Forget? Seems like you are too comfortable in your life. Say uncle are you liking it? And stop? Why would I do that? You should be happy Uncle, you are the one complaining about Gray. Now it's all black. Start enjoying Uncle." Jero said.

"If your enjoyment is tearing apart that poor woman's life then I don't see anything to enjoy in it. And for the millionth time, don't call me Uncle. I'm your Chief  associate now." The oldman said frustrated.

"Right. You are enjoying the little roleplay games. What is your name now.. Pardon my forgetfulness as it has been so many. Is it Professor. Hackles? No he died in that lab accident 100 years ago. You are that Army general right? No.. He died 150 years ago?.. Umm.. What about that little old librarian.. Wait he too died 200 years ago.. Who are you now?" Juro said in a mock real concerned voice. "Oh.. I remember Mr. Acton. My chief associate. So.. 'Employee' tell me about why should I stop again?"

          The oldman was Visibly angry and frustrated. He was about to answer when someone asked for permission to enter. The oldman, Mr. Acton, sat at his place once again and Juro turned to the picture.

"I.. Im.. I'm sorry Juro.. But.. It's important." The man stammered.

"It's better be Jammy for your own good." Juro said.

"We have got a mail from Emerald. Herbert's CEO." He said after taking a breathe.
"Go on." Juro promped.

"About paradox theory. A guy who was in Sciencous, couple years back. They want his work." Juro turned to him. Jemmy was froze. He was rooted to his spot as Juro slowly approached him. He placed his hand on Jemmy's shoulder and looked at Mr. Acton.

"Aaha.. See.. You were just old and tired for this Acton. Paradox theory... Jemmy.. Jemmy.. My boy.. You finally done what you were born to do.. Go.. Go on.. Celebrate.. Shoo..." Juro said and Jemmy ran away like a scared animal would run from Lion's grip. Juro was instantly serious.

"She is here. Arrange my meeting." He said.

"You don't know that yet. I don't want you near her until I'm sure it's her. You have done enough damage to the poor girl." Acton said.

"I thought you don't want me to do this." Juro asked innocently to mock him.

"I don't. But that won't stop you. So I will make sure you do it properly." Acton said before leaving. Juro looked at the painting and said.

"I'm coming my sweet.. Sweet Adrike.." He kissed the painting's lips then took out a knife from his belt and slashed the painting in rage.

AN...

Dramatic music. .....

The antagonist is here...

Tell me how it was.

Please please please vote and comment.
It will mean a lot.